The beautiful island nation of Sri Lanka is an ideal holiday destination for all kinds of travelers. Whether you want to trek through rainforest, climb a mountain or loll on a beautiful beach; Sri Lanka has it all. This picturesque island country is what inspires poets to pen down nature’s miraculous beauty in the most expressive way. The country is home to an incredible range of wildlife, including leopards, elephants and hundreds of birds. Sri Lanka is a place to restore hope, and rejuvenate self. It touches your soul and takes you a step closer to nature.
History
The history of Sri Lanka can be traced back to over 500,000 years. The country plays a crucial role in the Indian mythology, Ramayana. It is the rich history of Sri Lanka that gives rise to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The country has witnessed invasions, colonization and evolutions to become what it is today.
People, Language and Culture
People of Sri Lanka are mainly Sinhalese, and speak Sinhala. The commercial language of Sri Lanka is English. The multi-cultural island has four major ethnic groups, Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers. Sri Lankan culture is a blend of modern elements with traditional aspect. A diverse country like Sri Lanka is inhabited by people from diverse religions like Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Theravada Buddhists.
The country is known for its regional diversity and the culture of the country has been influenced by the heritage of Theravada Buddhism passed on from India. Sri Lankan culture includes a lot of rituals. The glorious culture of this country is reflected in its arts, architecture, sculptures and even its food.
Fairs and Festivals
One of the most interesting features of Sri Lanka is that it has more festivals than any other country. The festivals of Sri Lanka offer visitors an amazing chance to experience the diverse cultures and traditions of the local lifestyle.
One of the prominent festivals of Sri Lanka is Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Sinhala and Tamil New Year is celebrated by not only the Buddhists, but Hindus as well. The festival generally falls on the 13th or the 14th of April every year, and marks the end of the harvest season and spring.
Another major festival here is Vesak, which is a religious and cultural festival in Sri Lanka. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the lunar month of Vesak. All the streets, shops and houses are decorated with colourful lanterns, signifying the light of the Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha. During the festival, the entire country and mainly Colombo shines bright with decorations.
Poson Festival, also known as Poson Poya Day is another popular festival of Sri Lanka. It is celebrated by Buddhists to commemorate the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. The festival is of great historical and religious significance, and is the second most important festival for Buddhists right after the Vesak.
Another festival is the Kandy Esala Perahera festival, also known as the Festival of the Tooth. This grand festival is celebrated annually on the full moon day in July or August, as homage to one of the only two survival sacred tooth relic of Gautama Buddha.
Other major festivals of Sri Lanka are Kataragama Festival, Vel Festival, and Deewavali.
Cuisines
Sri Lankan cuisines are as unique as its culture. Majority of the food items of Sri Lanka are derived from Chena cultivation. The cultural festivals here are celebrated with milk rice and special sweets with coconut milk, floor and Honey.
Sri Lankan food is known for its variety of colours and flavours. Majority of Sri Lankans prefer vegetarian food. Famed for its fiery hot spicy flavours, coconut milk is a distinct feature of Sri Lankan cuisines. The specialty in Sri Lankan food is that same food is differently made in different regions.
The dominant spices of Sri Lankan cuisines are Cloves, Cardamoms, nutmeg and pepper. Staple diet of Sri Lanka is ‘Rice and curry’. From Soups, meat, Sea food, Lentils, Vegetables, Sambols, Mallums, Phies to Achcharus, the country serves variety of food options to try from. Sri Lankans also enjoy several juicy sweetmeats like Kavum, kokis, Halape, Thalaguli and Wattalapam etc.
Wildlife
Home to the most impressive wildlife found in Asia, Sri Lanka is famous for Asian Elephants, leopard, hairy sloth bear and flamboyant birds. It welcomes every wildlife enthusiast with its 22 National Parks which are undoubtedly the best in the world. No one can deny the visual treat provided by elephant herds, enormous whales, leopards, dolphins and colourful reefs perfectly teeming with rainbow-coloured fish.
Beaches
Sri Lanka is famous as a beach destination. Immaculate with gorgeous hue of azure waters, white sands and lush jungles, the country encompasses beauty in every form. Sri Lanka has everything for everyone. So, choose this romantic getaway for yourself and your family and spend a wonderful holiday in the quiet and peaceful beaches with a plethora of adventure activities.
Ayurveda and Spa
The beautiful island country rejuvenates your mind, body and soul, healing every tired nerve in your body. Ayurvedic programs in Sri Lanka consist of a range of herbal treatments and various types of revitalizing methods like yoga, meditation and special diets. For those seeking spiritual nourishment, Sri Lanka is the place to be.
Best time to visit
December to March is the best time to visit Sri Lanka. If you plan on seeing the east coast, you'll get the best weather from April/May to September.
How to reach
By Air – The busiest international airport of Sri Lanka is the Bandaranaike Internal Airport. Located in Colombo, Sri Lankan flights from the major countries of the world arrive here.
By Road & Train – Being a separate island country away from India, Sri Lanka is completely inaccessible by train and road.
By Sea – There are few ships that operate from Mumbai port to Colombo on a luxurious cruise liner. The 7-day cruise departs at Mumbai and reaches Colombo, taking you to all the essential destinations like Kandy and Nuwara Eliya along the way.