Sri Lanka – Little charm of Asia

Sri Lanka is an island nation located to the south of India. The characteristically tropical and warm climate makes it a must-visit, especially if you come from a cool place.

Sri Lankan culture is influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism. You will find everything pretty cheap here. Though Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages, English is widely used, especially for commercial purposes.

Getting around

You have to rely on ground transportation to travel around the country, because of the scarcity of domestic flights. Although trains and buses are very cheap, they are slow, crowded, and often delayed. Thus, it is best you hire a car, taxi or tuk-tuk.

Reasons to visit Sri Lanka:

Biodiversity

Sri Lanka has a variety of landscapes to offer, ranging from rainforest and arid plains to highlands and sandy beaches. Sri Lanka is home to more than 90 species of mammals, more than 80 species of snakes and around 435 species of birds. This is the reason why it is one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world.

Wildlife

Numerous national parks in the country are responsible for preserving this biodiversity. It is estimated that Sri Lanka has the highest concentration of Elephants in the world. The rare Sri Lankan Leopard can be spotted at the Yala National Park. You should go whale watching in Sri Lanka, the best spots for which are off the coasts of Mirissa and Trincomalee.

Cuisine

The food in Sri Lanka is quite flavorsome, the main highlight of which is the seafood. The most sought fishes include fresh tuna, shrimp, crab, lobster and squid among several others. Make sure you try out the Sour Fish Curry, Chicken Curry, and dishes made using Wood Apple.

World-famous Tea

Tea is one of the biggest income sources for the country. Sri Lanka is the fourth largest producer and the second largest exporter of tea in the world. Roughly 20% of the tea sold around the world comes from Sri Lanka. Ceylon tea is the world’s most popular iced tea base. As this tea is grown only in Sri Lanka, it has been aptly named (Sri Lanka was formerly known as Ceylon).

Gorgeous Beaches

For all the beach bums, there are quite a few beaches to relish seafood as you plunge yourself into the calmness and stunning beauty of the beach. As a tourist, surfing at the Arugam Bay is an obvious must-do. The best surfers across the globe come together to take part in International Windsurfing competitions, putting Arugam bay one of the best surfing hotspots in the world.

Architectural Legacy

There are various world heritage sites in Sri Lanka which you just have to visit. Sri Lanka is well-known for its ancient Buddhist ruins, which can be dated back to as long as 2,000 years!

The city of Polonnaruwa, once the capital of the Chola and Sinhalese kingdoms, is famed for its ancient ruins. Make sure you visit the ruins of the Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu, which was built in the 10th century. It was originally a 7 storey structure. However, as a result of damage suffered because of fire during invasions, now only parts of 3 floors remain.

The Lion Rock in Sigiriya is arguably the most iconic landmark in Sri Lanka. It is a huge square shaped rock (approx. 200 m) which rewards you with a 360-degree view. Every side of the rock offers you a unique view. Just beware of monkeys and bees while climbing.

The flora and fauna, biodiversity, seafood, attractions, and many more factors effectively make Sri Lanka a little charm of Asia.

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