The
tiny island of Sri Lanka is located to India's south in the Indian Ocean. It
is said that since the pre-historic period, India and Sri Lanka share very
close cultural links. Sri Lanka is only a few kilometers away by sea from
India's southernmost tip. Popularly called the Pearl of the Indian Ocean,
Sri Lanka offers great diversity to tourists. Picturesque beaches and hill
stations, jungle safaris, water and adventure sports, religious institutions
and ancient ruins, all add to the beauty of the place.
 |
How To Reach ? |
» Flights : Sri Lanka can be reached only by
air. Colombo is the international gateway for direct flights from Europe,
Asia, Middle East and Australia. Indian tourists can board flights from
Chennai, Trichy, Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai.
» Getting Around : There are interstate and
inter-city buses and trains which runs between the major cities of the
country. Hence, transportation is not a problem here. Flights are also
available between few major cities.
|
When To Visit ? |
March-May and September-December are the best time to visit this
tropical paradise.
|
Where To Stay ?
|
Hotels in all categories are available in all the major tourist
destinations of Sri Lanka like Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Sigiriya.
|
What To Do ? |
» Sightseeing : The main tourist places of
Sri Lanka are Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Hikkaduwa and Sigiriya.
This tropical paradise is also home to several alluring beaches that dots
its coastal line.
»
Shopping : The best buys of Sri Lanka are interestingly beverages and
spices. Sri Lankan tea is gaining popularity all over the world. Pickles and
spices of the country are also in the shopping list of tourists.
» Eating-Out : Rice and curry is Sri Lankan staple
and therefore, dishes like Biriyani and Pulao are very popular. Prepared
with lots of delicious spices, the dishes are particularly loved by foreign
tourists.
|
What To See ? |
» Colombo : The capital city of Sri Lanka
may be noisy and crowded as compared to other parts of the island, but
stores many delights for tourists. These include many big and small Buddhist
temples, a few Hindu temples, mosques and Christian churches. The Parliament
building of the country is also worth a visit. There also are well laid out
parks, a zoo, museums and art galleries. The century-old Clock Tower and
some of the British colonial buildings attract tourists in large numbers.
Anuradhapura: The Sinhalese Kings of Sri Lanka had ruled from this place for
over 1000 years. It was the first capital of Sri Lanka. The Sacred Bo-Tree,
grown from the tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment, is the city's
holiest site. The Thuparama Dagoba temple of Anuradhapura is visited by
Buddhists in large numbers as it is believed to contain collar bones of Lord
Buddha.
» Galle : The port of Galle stores many of the
legacies of Dutch, who had ruled Sri Lanka in the past. The Dutch Fort of
the place built in 1663 is a massive structure that houses museums and
churches. The New Oriental Hotel, built for Dutch governors in 1684, is an
architectural delight.Galle also has some of the finest beaches of Sri Lanka
like Unuwatuna, Weligama and Tangalla beach.
» Hikkaduwa : Hikkaduwa is the most famous
beach resort of Sri Lanka.The place also has great accommodation for
tourists. Various kinds of activities like swimming, sunbathing, surfing and
scuba diving take place in the beaches. There are also plenty of shops
selling local attractions, gorgeous restaurants and a small Buddhist temple.
The place remains full of foreign tourists for most part of the year.
»
Kandy : Just as Hikkaduwa is the most popular beach resort of the
country, Kandy is the most popular hill station. Surrounded by mountains on
all sides, a beautiful lake also flows through Kandy. The buildings of Kandy
have a distinctive architectural character and there are many old shops,
buses, markets and hotels in the place. The island nation of Sri Lanka has
great geographical diversity. This is probably is one of the reasons for
attracting tourists in large numbers.
sri
lanka travel
