If you are a tourism lover or someone who wants to have a first experience in this field, you may be looking for more enjoyment and relaxation, and for less costs at the same time. If you are one of this majority, this is one of the destinations that you will consider.
Let me whet your appetite to visit this small Asian country by telling you that nearly 1.5 million visited it last year 2023, which is double the number who did so the year before.
general information
Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon and known to Muslims as Serendib, is a large island located in the northern Indian Ocean to the south of the Indian subcontinent. Some describe it as the sloping tear of India, given what it appears on the map next to India.
Its area is about 66 thousand square kilometers, and its population is about 22 million people according to the 2022 census. Its climate is similar most of the year, but it varies between coastal areas where the temperature is 27 on average, and drops to 16 in high mountainous areas.
Sinhalese are the majority in Sri Lanka, making up about three-quarters of the population, while Tamils make up about 10%. As for religion, about 70% of the population are Buddhists, compared to about 12% Hindus, about 10% Muslims, and 7% Christians.
The languages spoken are Sinhala and Tamil, both of which are national languages, but you can speak English, which is used by government departments and is spoken by many citizens.
The currency of Sri Lanka is the rupee, with one dollar equaling about 330 rupees. Naturally, this is in the interest of the tourist as prices seem affordable, even if they may seem high to the locals.
With the exception of some upscale shopping malls in the capital, you can get your needs at cheap prices whether you are in the major cities or on the roads connecting them.
In this topic, we will continue talking about the general information that a tourist should know, and then in the next topic we will talk in some detail about the most prominent tourist destinations in Sri Lanka.
We mentioned that the climate is similar most of the year, but it tends to be hot in the summer, so the months of December, January and February may be the best to visit this country, noting that the highlands such as Kandy and Nuwara Eliya are cooler to the point that this must be taken into account in terms of clothing.
Tourist attractions
Nature is the key word in Sri Lanka, as the country has the basic natural elements to attract tourists, which are beaches, mountains and green spaces.
After a short visit to the capital Colombo, you will have to go to Bentota on the Indian Ocean coast, where the sand is pure white and there are various water activities that can be done in the ocean or nearby rivers, such as swimming, boating and even surfing.
In Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, the tourist will have a date with the picturesque natural scenery. The green color that is soothing to the eye is found in the forests and spacious gardens, while the beauty is completed by seeing the lakes, mountains and waterfalls, in addition to watching the animals in the rural areas, as well as watching the elephants in their areas.
Before we leave talking about nature, we must mention the tea plantations that are located in several areas, most notably Kandy. You can also visit tea factories and buy the luxurious Ceylon tea that has become famous all over the world.
Away from nature, the big cities, especially Colombo, have many museums that can be visited, as well as shopping malls that vary in price. Do not be surprised if you find the prices expensive in some of them, contrary to what seems to be the general situation in the country.
Buddhist temples are one of the most important things to visit in Sri Lanka and they are found almost everywhere. Also, buying small antiques, including small elephant statues, will be among the gifts that you would like to buy as souvenirs before leaving this beautiful country.
What about the people?
The Sri Lankan people are largely kind and peaceful, but the disparity between wealth and poverty is clear to see, as on your way to the luxurious resorts you pass through towns and villages filled with tin houses, and narrow, winding roads that do not allow you to drive very fast.
It is worth mentioning here that Sri Lanka witnessed a civil war between the Sinhalese and the Tamils that began in 1983 and continued until 2009, resulting in the deaths of nearly 100,000 people, in addition to the huge economic losses.
In the past centuries, Sri Lanka was subjected to Portuguese, then Dutch, and then British colonialism. The Portuguese influence began at the beginning of the 16th century AD and they ruled it for about a century and a half, before the Dutch occupation came from the fourth decade of the 17th century until the end of the 18th century, when the British occupation began and continued until the middle of the 20th century.
Transportation and food
Public transportation in Sri Lanka is very cheap but it is not suitable for the tourist who will need a private car. The best thing, according to experience, is to rent a car that will accompany you wherever you go throughout the days of your trip.
You will not have any problem getting between distant cities, because drivers in Sri Lanka are used to it and hotels provide them with special places to stay during the night.
As for food, there will be no problem inside the hotels, but if you need to eat outside, you will have two options: either rely on Arab restaurants, which are few, or international restaurants, or try local food that is similar to Indian food.
visa
Obtaining a visa is often easy, and can be done at tourist offices or online for a small fee. It can also be obtained upon arrival at the capital Colombo airport, but this may delay you for some time.
According to the official website of the Immigration Department in Sri Lanka, the cost of a tourist visa ranges between $50 for a single-entry visa valid for 30 days, extendable for the same period, and $75 for a 180-day visa. There is also the possibility of obtaining a tourist visa valid for a full year for $200.
Finally, dear reader, if this report has prompted you to think about visiting Sri Lanka, we promise to complete another report in which we will talk in some detail about destinations within this country, and we will present to you a suggested schedule for visiting and enjoying the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
Next topic:
Bentota, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya: Destinations not to be missed in Sri Lanka
