10 reasons to visit Sri Lanka

• flymeto
• Feb 17, 2018

Sri Lanka is another of the islands where you definitely cannot experience boredom and which will meet all your expectations from an exotic holiday in Asia. You will see endless beaches lining the coast, clear turquoise sea, diverse and almost untouched nature including jungles and hills. This paradise offers much more, but the question is if you break away from surfing which is very popular on the island.

Beaches

Choosing endless beach options in Sri Lanka will be very difficult. Beaches with fine white sand surrounded by palm trees, in contrast to the azure blue Indian Ocean, will not leave anyone cool. It is up to you whether you choose a section with perfectly equipped bars with sun loungers or prefer privacy in a secluded bay.

Sport on the adrenaline

With its extremely long coastline, Sri Lanka is an ideal place for windsurfing, water skiing, surfing, sailing, diving, snorkeling and other water sports. There are training centers on the island where they will teach you to master one of these sports in a short time. Do not forget that surfers are the greatest coolers and so you will fit into their team very quickly.

Diverse accommodation

The island has many impressive hotels integrated into the stunning environment of Sri Lanka. The west and south coasts consist of more resort-type hotels and the work of one of the foremost Asian architects of the 20th century, Geoffrey Bawa. Towns like Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela have colonial-style hotels. Daredevils going further from the coast can stay in colonial houses, plantation buildings or in the jungle.

Food

Sweet, sour, salty, hot, bitter and spice, all at once. Incredible variety of food can be shocking at first impression, but believe that you will miss his taste on departure. There is food at almost every corner and at very reasonable prices. The locals hardly cook and use local food retailers. Be sure to try food from a stall that is not adapted for tourists, as is the case in major tourist areas and hotels.

Tea plantations

Are you tea lovers? Nowhere will you find fresher tea than Sri Lanka. Tea plantations are scattered on all slopes of the island and the altitude determines the distinctiveness of tea leaves. Find your guide to the plantations where you can pick fresh tea leaves yourself. The most important production areas in Sri Lanka include Dimbula, Uva, Ruhun, Kandy, Radella and Nuwara Eliya.

Cultural heritage

Despite the relatively small size of the island, there are eight UNESCO sites that can be easily visited within a week. These include the historic Galle in the south of the island with its famous fortress from the Dutch colonial period. In the heart of Sri Lanka, right in the mountain jungle, Kanda, a hidden kingdom and a religious city, awaits discovery. The gigantic monolith Sigiriya and the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa also deserve attention. The Dambulla Cave Temple and Sinharaja Forest Reserve remain on the list.

Train rides

Traveling by train in Sri Lanka is an incredible experience, so at least plan your trip from Ella to Kandy, which will take you through mountains, tea plantations and picturesque villages. This route is so popular that without sufficient prior reservation of the ticket (a few days in advance at the station), it is not possible to get a seat. Forget your comfort for a while and enjoy traveling with locals in 2nd and 3rd class with open doors.

Exotic animals

Sri Lanka is a popular haven for lovers of exotic animals. Photographers from all over the world come to this island to shoot pictures of animals in an authentic environment. The island offers everything you can think of. Whale watching in Dondra Head, watching elephants in Minneriya National Park, or hike through the Sinharaja rainforest, where you can see everything you can think of. You can count on elephants, leopards, bears, pigs, monkeys, cats, and more than 230 species of exotic birds.

Spiritual experience

Buddhism is growing in popularity and Sri Lanka will show you pure Buddha teachings. You can mingle with local Buddhists at pilgrimage sites and soak up their faith at any time in prayer. One of the most important monuments of Buddhism, the Holy Molar, is preserved in the Dalada Maligawa Temple in Kandy. Another pilgrimage site is Adam’s Hill, a holy mountain for Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims. Visitors go to the summit at sunset to enjoy the spiritual atmosphere even more.

Festivals

As there are inhabitants of all religious groups in Sri Lanka, you can count on very frequent celebrations and festivals. Aluth Avurudda, a Hindu and Buddhist New Year festival held in April, is among the most important. In May, which is the first Buddhist month, you can expect the Vesak festival and in June the Kandy festival, with which you can dive back into the medieval past of Sri Lanka.

If you want to travel but are not yet proficient, this tropical paradise is the best choice for you. It offers all the elements of other tropical islands, it is very safe there and prices for accommodation (7 GBP / night), meals (1 GBP / food) and local transport (1.30 GBP bus) are very low. Moreover, thanks to the diverse landscape and active activities on the island you will not get bored.