Formerly known as , Sri Lanka is an island country south of India. Its documented history spans 3,000 years and it is home to many religions, ethnic groups, and languages. It is home to two main traditional cultures: the Sinhalese (centred in the ancient cities of Kandy and Anuradhapura) and the Tamil (centred in the city of Jaffna) who co-exist peacefully and are almost physically indistinct.
According to most travel websites, the best time to visit is the first quarter of the year. Land at the Bandaranaike International Airport and head towards the beach town of Negombo. You will be amazed at how clean Sri Lanka is. Negombo is basically a cleaner, friendlier and Sinhalese-speaking fish-loving cousin of Goa and it is almost like looking into a mirror. In fact, there are folk songs in Negombo about Goans and Goa.
The white sandy beach of Negombo with the blue Indian Ocean in the backdrop is simply stunning. If you are lucky, you will see fishing vessels with huge brown-orange sails returning with their catch.
Once you have your fill, hop a train and head towards Colombo. Colombo railway station is the central terminus for most trains and happens to be among the busiest of all stations.
You can either spend the day here in the main city (visit the Gangaramaya Temple and Seema Malaka Temple, where people of all religions come to pray and buy sarongs aplenty) or continue towards Kandy, the heart of Sri Lanka.
With a dense train network, trains are the best way to explore the island country and while in a train, the best seat is actually the door! Galle Fort, an hour from Hikkaduwa, is also a good place to visit. Cricket fans and Kumar Sangakkara lovers could spend another day here because the cricketer has relocated from Kandy to Galle. Walk through the beautiful lanes with the Old Dutch architecture and the ocean breeze encouraging you to tread on.
You will know you have arrived in Kandy when you are greeted by the sight of men wearing sarongs, a lungi with its ends stitched together. Unlike in Colombo, most men in Kandy and in rest of the country stick to this traditional Sri Lankan attire. Women wear a sari but in a different manner with the pallu tucked around the waist, making them look like flowers.
Kandy is a beautiful city with numerous tourist spots such as the Buddha tooth relic temple and the cave temples. But if you are looking for adventure, take a trip to the Lion Rock at Sigiriya, located to the north of Kandy.
Since there are absolutely no trains headed this way, one has to sit through long bus journeys. The trip from Kandy to Dambulla and then to Sigiriya will last a total of 4.5 hours.
Making the climb up the steep steps of Sigiriya Rock is no joke and it takes at least two hours in the afternoon heat. Once here, revel in the architectural genius of King Kasyapa, whose palace (constructed around the fifth century BC) rests atop this massive rock.
The next day, board train from Kandy to Nanu Oya and head to Nuwara Eliya, the birthplace of all Ceylon tea. Nestled among the clouds, all buildings here mandatorily sport British architecture to protect its identity as ‘Little England’.
If you happen to travel during the summer months, you will find Nuwara Eliya in full-bloom with calla lilies, orchids, roses and flowers of every colour and variety growing everywhere in the valley. The mountains are covered with tender green tea plants.
Don't miss out on Sri Lanka's delicious cuisine “ kottu (made from Godhamba roti (a type of Sri Lankan roti) and vegetables, egg and/or meat, and spices), ediappa (string hoppers), ambul thiyal (a hot, sour, peppery dish originally developed as a way to preserve fish in the South of Sri Lanka), seeni sambol (sweet onion relish) and sweets like asmi and konda keum.
Wandering around the picturesque roads which meander through tea plantations is the best way to spend the day here. Drop in to the Blue Field Tea plantation and factory where factory employees will show you how tea is picked, separated and how different types of tea is produced.
Next stop “ Sripada or Adam’s Peak in Dalhousie, which is nothing short of an Everest in the making. Legend has it that the people requested Buddha to give them a belonging or reflection of his being that they could worship and he descended upon this tall peak and left a footprint.
While most Buddhists climb this seven km vertical devil of a mountain to pay obeisance to Buddha’s footprint housed in a temple on top, travelers make the climb at night and brave the freezing cold to watch the glorious sunrise while perched above a dense carpet of clouds.
And as you board the plane back home, you will be filled with a calmness and gentleness. This is the essence of Sri Lanka that you will take home with you and which will make you return to this island nation again.
Day 1: Bandaranaike International Airport to Kandy via Negombo and Colombo
Day 2: Kandy to Sigiriya via Dambulla
Day 3: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya via Nanu Oya
Day 4: Nuwara Eliya to Adam’s Peak, Dalhousie via Hatton
Day 5: Adam’s Peak, Dalhousie to Hikkaduwa via Colombo
Day 6: Hikkaduwa to Galle and then the whole evening in Colombo
A UNESCO world heritage site, the massive rock is located around four hours north of Kandy and is surrounded by lush tropical forests. Atop this huge rock are ruins of the royal palace of King Kasyapa of fifth century BC. The entire area includes remnants of a ruined palace, surrounded by an extensive network of landscaped lotus gardens and ponds. The western wall of the rock is covered with around 18 frescoes depicting females, believed to be either the queens or priestesses. The rock derives its name from the
Kottu literally means chopped roti. It is the most prominent of Sri Lankan street foods and is tava-fried mixture of shredded Godhamba roti, chopped vegetables, egg and/or meat, and fragrant condiments and spices. The best part is hearing the music while the chef prepares kottu with two steel flat knives!
The best seat aboard a train headed towards central Sri Lanka is actually the door. The entire journey calms you down, mainly because the temperature drops at least 10 degrees! Tall eucalyptus trees and vast tea plantations cover the ground as far as the eye can see!
All Sri Lankans, ALL, have their tea without milk. Tea served everywhere in Lanka, even at the vending machines, is flavoursome. But the real fun lies in going to a tea plantation and factory in Nuwara Eliya and sipping on complimentary cup of black tea while watching a sudden shower of rain, in the middle of summer.
While most Buddhists climb this seven km vertical devil of a mountain to pay obeisance to Buddha’s footprint housed in a temple on top, travelers make the climb and brave the freezing cold in order to watch the glorious sunrise while perched above the clouds.
Viharas are common sights across the country, which is predominantly Buddhist. These are monasteries and praying spaces for the Buddhists. Mahayana Buddhism is the major sect.
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galle Fort was built by the Portuguese and was then remodeled and expanded by the Dutch colonizing forces. Inside the fort is a small and quaint old world similar to Mala-Fountainhas in Panaji. With the view of blue sea, huge white waves and almost zero traffic on the narrow lanes in the fort, one does get transported back in time.
This Sri Lankan traditional fire devil mask is supposed to subdue enemies and bring friendship and harmony, we were told. Galle is full of smaller replicas because they are mainly created in Ambalangoda, about 25 km up the coast from Galle. These masks are used in various dramatic rituals in Sri Lanka are classified as mythological, demonic, animal-spirit and human figures.
Train journeys along the Western coast of Sri Lanka are for those who love the sound of the ocean. Every passing train is sprayed with droplets of the Indian as huge waves crash against concrete tetrapods and boulders.
After the old Temple sunk into the lake, Lankan government commissioned Geoffrey Bawa to create a new design for the temple. The result was this beauty in the heart of Colombo. The temple is spread across three raised platforms in the lake, connected to each other and to the mainland by foot bridges. The temple is a symbol of calmness on the backdrop of highrises in the capital city.
This magnificent structure resembles the US Capitol building but unlike its US counterpart, it has a huge golden statue of Buddha located opposite the main entrance, across the road in the Victoria Park.
