Sri Lanka is compact and accessible as a country and is packed full of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Many travelers find the people welcoming and friendly and the country is amazingly diverse in nature. There are an array of the beach areas along the coast where you can enjoy some sun and sand, or you can travel to the cooling hill stations in the center of the country. Wherever you choose to go you can expect a relaxing visit in one of the most naturally beautiful spots in Southeast Asia.
Ella Rock offers hiking for experienced climbers and can be quite difficult. The rock is majestic and has gorgeous views over the town of Ella and it takes about 4 hours to complete the hike and is steep near the top. Still, the surrounding scenery makes this well worth it if you are feeling adventurous.
Travel time:
6 hours 52 minutes by road (1,600 LKR)
8 hours by train (800 LKR)
3 hours by plane (1,300 LKR)
Clothing: Good shoes that are suitable for walking as it gets slippery near the summit.
Distance from Colombo: 210 km
To the south of Arugam Bay lies Kumana National Park. Here you will find a huge range of animals like elephants, leopards, snakes, and an array of tropical birds. Many visitors come here for a safari trek with a guide who will explain all about the flora and fauna of Sri Lanka.
Travel time:
11 hours by road (11, 250 LKR)
6 hours by plane (48,000 LKR)
Clothing: Good shoes for walking and long clothing to protect from insects.
Distance from Colombo: 210 km
If you want to try diving in Sri Lanka then there are a number of companies that will take you out to explore the sea off the coast of Mirissa. You can witness the pretty coral here as well as a wealth of aquatic life.
Travel time:
5 hours 25 minutes by road (1,190 LKR)
3 hours 22 by train (130 LKR)
Swimsuits. Diving equipment can be hired in Mirissa.
Distance from city center: 4 km
Galle Face Green is a promenade along the scenic shoreline of Colombo. There is a beach area here as well as bars and food outlets. After dark locals flock here for some sea air and local seafood.
Best mode of transport: By car
Duration of travel: 8 minute
If you come here in the early evening you will be able to enjoy the sunset views.
Distance from city center: 11.3 km
Kelaniya Temple is a Buddhist temple in Colombo that dates from 55 BC. It is known for its reclining Buddha and in January it sees the annual Duruthu Maha Perehera procession. There is also an impressive 18 foot statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
Best mode of transport: By car
Duration of travel: 25 minutes
Dress modestly and remove shoes when entering the temple.
Distance from city center: 2.7 km
The Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil in Colombo is an important site for Hindus and one of the religion’s oldest and largest temples in the country. The temple is a riot of color and is known for its ornate carvings that depict scenes from famous Hindu legends.
Best mode of transport: By car
Duration of travel: 9 minutes
Dress modestly and remove shoes when entering the temple.
Arugam Bay:
Arugam Bay is very busy in the summer months when people come here for the surfing. In October and November the beach is quieter although you can still surf, but if you come after this period then many of the beach tents and operators close for the winter season.
Mirissa:
The island town of Mirissa has a quiet beach with clean waters and some good waves if you want to learn to surf. Both beginners and experienced surfers can find something to enjoy as you can find bigger waves a little further out. There are also surf lessons available on the beach.
Weligama:
If you want to go surfing but you want some bigger waves than the ones at Mirissa, then it’s best to go to neighboring Weligama which is just along the coast. The name actually means ‘Sandy Village’ which tells you all you need to know about this quaint coastal town.
Liberty Plaza was the first shopping mall in Sri Lanka and was opened in the 1980s. It has a range of local shops as well as good electronic outlets. You will find a range of shops selling camera equipment as well as other local curiosities, but note that it is closed on Sundays.
Majestic City is known for being one of the oldest shopping malls in Sri Lanka and is a popular place for both visitors and locals. The mall spans seven floors and has almost one hundred shops. You can buy anything from clothes to children’s toys here and there is also a food court and cinema.
Odel is one of the best loved malls in the city and spans an impressive 33,000 square feet. You can buy all the latest fashions here including designer brands as well as local picks. There are also books stores, electronics shops, and children’s area as well as foreign food area like sushi bars and French bistros.
Hoppers:
A kind of pancake, Hoppers are made from rice flour and coconut milk. They can be either sweet or savory and are often served with an egg that has been scrambled into the batter.
Kukul Mas Curry:
One of the most common Chicken Curry dishes in Sri Lanka. Coconut milk is mixed with spices to make thick gravy and usually served with rice to soak up the juices.
Kottu:
Made from chopped up dough with meat and vegetables and thought of as the Sri Lankan equivalent of a burger. It is usually sold from carts at the side of the road so it is primarily eaten as a snack.
Mango Tree, 82 Dharmapala Mawatha, Kollupitiya, Colombo 03, tel +94 11 537-9790, 11 537-9791 ([email protected]). Daily 12:00-15:00 & 19:00-23:00. This is one of the best known restaurants in Colombo and is known for its North Indian food. Many of these have been given a modern twist and a full meal costs around 2000 LKR per person.
The Lagoon, The Cinnamon Grand Hotel, 77 Galle Road, Kollupitiya, Colombo 03,tel +94 11 243-7437. 12-2:30PM, 7PM-12:30AM. This restaurant is known for its amazing and freshly caught seafood that is cooked in the traditional Sri Lankan style. It is not as cheap as many other places however and a full meal will set you back around 4000 LKR per person.
Sky Lounge, The Kingsbury, 48, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1, Colombo – 00100, open 5.30 pm to 3 am. The Sky Lounge has made a name for itself as the hippest place in the city thanks to its high end drinking and dining experience. They also serve cigars and champagne as well as a range of ‘molecular cocktails’. As this is a rooftop bar and club, you can look out across to Colombo Port.
The Loft, Colombo Courtyard, Alfred House Ave, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka, open 8 pm to 3 a. This is just the place if you like a trendy venue to come and relax. The bar and club is known for its whipped cocktail and there is also a bar menu. The club is decorated in a quirky style with recycled materials.
ZAZA bar, Casa Colombo, 231, Galle Rd, Colombo 00400, Sri Lanka, open 8 am to 12 am. This bar is made of glass and looks like an outside bar while being comfortably inside so that it doesn’t get too hot. The bar and club plays lounge music and has a cocktail and a light food menu.
List of nationalities who have permission for Visa free entries:
Singapore and the Maldives. Other countries need to apply for a visa before they arrive or on arrival.
List of nationalities who can have Visa on arrival:
All other nationalities need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization in order to visit Sri Lanka. You can either apply for the visa online which is slightly cheaper, or you can apply for it on arrival in Sri Lanka, and the visa is valid for 30 days from the time of entry.
Any nationalities who are not eligible to travel to that country or can travel under certain conditions: N/A
Drug possession is a serious offence in Sri Lanka and can result in a criminal conviction.
Prostitution is legal in Sri Lanka but solicitation is illegal.
The legal drinking age in Sri Lanka is 21.
Sri Lanka is widely considered safe and violent crime is rare.
Road deaths are the number one cause of death for travelers to the region.
The second most common cause of death in Sri Lanka for tourists after road accidents is drowning so visitors should take care when swimming in the sea.
The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil although English is also widely spoken across the country. There are variety of religions in Sri Lanka of which the largest is Theravada Buddhism, as well as Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. As a result, Sri Lanka has a huge number of festivals and 25 public holidays. For years Sri Lanka was rocked by a bloody civil war as well as the 2004 tsunami that devastated much of the region. Now most of Sri Lanka has been rebuilt and the country sees a moderate amount of tourism.
