Sri Lanka Travel Guide Min
Sri Lanka Travel Guide Min
Sri Lanka Travel Guide Min
Sri Lanka was engulfed in a bitter civil war for 30 years between the
government and the Tamil Tigers, who were fighting for an independent
state for the Tamil speaking minority. The war officially ended in May
2009 when the Tamil Tigers were bloodily defeated.
History
Sri Lanka has more than 2,500 years of continuous written history by
means of the Mahawansha, and was also mentioned in several ancient
Indian texts. One of the most famous is the Ramayana, in which the
island, which was referred to as Lanka, was the island fortress of the king
Ravana, who captured the wife of Rama an incarnation of the Hindu God,
Vishnu. Legend has it that Hanuman the monkey flew over to Lanka and
destroyed the capital by setting it on fire, while Rama and his remaining
troops later crossed over from the mainland by building a land bridge
across the sea.
The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century BC, probably
from northern India. Buddhism was introduced starting from the mid-3rd
century BC, and a great civilization developed in cities like Anuradhapura
(kingdom from c. 200BCE to c. 1000CE) and Polonnaruwa (c. 1070 to
1200). Other later notable kingdoms are the Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa,
Gampola, Kandy and Jaffna Kingdoms.
Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Dutch in the
17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796, and became a
crown colony in 1802. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name
was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.
Climate
Since Sri Lanka is a tropical country, you can expect the rain anytime of
the year in most parts. However, the two major rainy seasons are the
Nort h-East monsoon (October to January) and the Sout h-West
monsoon (May to July).
Being an island, the climate of Sri Lanka changes dramatically from one
part of the country to another. For example at Nuwara Eliya, in the hills of
Central Sri Lanka, has a temperature around -5 to 20°C throughout the
year, whereas Hambanthota, located in the dry zone, has a temperature
consistently around 30-35°C.
In general, Sri Lanka also has very hot temperatures all year long, which is
why most Sri Lankan men wear sarongs while Sri Lankan women dress
lightly with a long dress.
Terrain
Sinhala writing is much more curved than Tamil. After a while, you’ll learn
how to distinguish between the two.
How to get to the lovely Island of Sri Lanka
NOT E: Sri Lankan police will arrest and may deport people sporting
tattoos of Buddha or any other tattoos which can be interpreted as
having religious significance. If you have such a tattoo then it is
strongly advisable to cover it up or avoid visiting Sri Lanka.
Visa rules
New visa rules have been imposed where an online travel authorisation
must be obtained by non Sri Lankan passport holders except Maldives
and Singapore nationals. This has to be done in advance, before entering
the country. The “Tourist ETA visa” is valid for 90 days, starting from the
day is approved, and can be applied for online. Visa charges are USD15
for SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and
Pakistan) and USD30 for others.
By plane
Indian carrier Jet Airways or its offshoot Jetlite flies to Sri Lanka.
Mihin Lanka, Sri Lanka’s first (and only) low-cost airline started operating
in 2007. They fly to Dubai in United Arab Emirates and Tiruchirapalli and
Buddhagaya in India. Mihin Lanka now has non-stop services from
Colombo to Dhaka and Jakarta.
Jet Airways has many flights a day to Colombo from Delhi, Mumbai, and
Chennai.
The budget airline Air Asia now operates from Kuala Lampur, Malaysia to
Colombo, Sri Lanka. This opens ups cheap flight for visitors from South
East Asia as well as those who are visiting South Asia and then heading
to South-East Asia (or vice-versa).
Oman Air has announced flights to Colombo via Muscat and Male, they
seem to have special prices for their new destinations’ start (Frankfurt,
Munich, Paris, Male, Colombo)
Ukrainian Int ernat ional Airlines now has a flight from Kiev to Colombo
via Dubai.
From Canada/USA
There are no direct flights that reach Sri Lanka from cities outside Asia,
the Middle East and Europe. From the American West Coast, the distance
is almost half the globe. Depending on your preferences and how much
spare time you have, you can consider a stopover in Europe or SE Asia or
take a non-stop flight over the North Pole to New Delhi or Mumbai from
Chicago, Newark, New York City (JFK), or Toronto. In many cases, this
may be the fastest route, but check if an Indian transit visa is required.
Another fast and easy idea is to use Middle Eastern airlines from the US
with stopovers in either Qatar, Bahrain, or the UAE (no transit visa
required). For example the Dubai-based Emirates offers daily flights from
SFO, LAX, Houston Hobby (IAH), and Toronto (YYZ) with a very short
stopover before the short flight to Colombo. Emirates Airlines offer non-
stop service to Colombo two to three times daily from Dubai. In 2013,
SriLankan Airlines joined the Oneworld alliance which allows through
ticketing with American Airlines, as well as several Asian, European, and
Middle Eastern airlines.
By ship
If you would like to travel via cargo ship, please note that according to the
customs office in Tuticorin it is considered illegal for a cargo ship to
transport passengers from the Tuticorin Port to Sri Lanka.
Cruise Ship
Sri Lanka has been included in its destinations list for 2011 by American
cruise operator Zegrahm Expeditions. The line plans four voyages that
stop in Sri Lanka in 2011.
A tour around in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is rapidly expanding its infrastructure and public transport
services, making independent travel easier over time. As of now, however,
many roads are still thoroughly potholed and at times terrifying due to
local driving traditions. Together with occasional massive crowds
(especially on holidays), often lacking luggage space and occasional
harassment of women travelling alone, buses may not seem like the most
appealing way of travel for some. Yet, they offer great opportunities for
interaction with locals, are cheap, plentiful and come in different qualities.
If you’re on a very tight budget, the standard public buses (CTB) lack air-
con and are regularly pretty overcrowded, but they’re dirt-cheap for
western standards and run everywhere all the time. Private buses charge
about double but are still cheap and often do have air-conditioning and
often guaranteed seats. Your best bet is to inform upon arrival in a
destination about your way out, and if possible secure a seat already. In
all cases, arrive early and preferably travel light. If you’re carrying a lot of
luggage, you might have to purchase a seat for your backpack if you don’t
want to keep it on you lap or under your feet.
Trains offer good alternatives when they are available, and the standard
trains are only slightly more expensive than the private buses, if at all.
One of the advantages is that 1st and 2nd class train tickets can be
reserved several days in advance. Sri Lankan Railways has a useful
website in English. There are also more expensive private trains with 1st
class wagons and good service to some of the destinations. These
obviously come at higher prices, but are still a reasonable and convenient
option for travellers on a mid-range or higher budget, with a trip from
Colombo to Kandy costing around LKR1700/USD13.
Three-wheeler
By car
Rent ed cars usually turn out cheaper than three-wheelers, and are less
prone to road accidents—and are recommended by most hotels. Rented
cars often come with their own drivers. Often the automobile itself is free,
whereas the driver will charge a fee for his services. Some drivers/guides
are government-licensed; some are extremely knowledgeable and multi-
lingual, specializing in historical and cultural knowledge, and
environment/natural history for your visits to the ancient sites and the
natural reserves. It is not recommended to try driving yourself, unless you
are very adventurous, as the driving style is very different from wealthier
countries.
Tour operators
Tour operators are happy to get you a van and a driver who will take you
all over the island but beware, the roads are bumpy and slow. If you book
off-the-cuff when you arrive, ask to be shown on a map where you are
going before agreeing to any ‘tour’ of the island and research before you
arrive so that you have a clear idea of where you might like to travel.
Senseless backtracking to lengthen the trip and increase the cost is a
real danger, as is a driver’s wish to take you on unwanted shopping
expeditions in an effort to gain commission. Travel websites specialising in
Sri Lanka are easily found and have greatly increased the choice that is
readily available to independent travellers seeking tailor-made tours. The
best of them will produce clearly-stated travel itineraries and some are
flexible enough to make late changes to itineraries. Ask to see their
booking conditions and anti-fraud policies.
Taxi companies
Taxis are a better way of getting around Colombo than three wheelers
as, due to the metering, they often turn out to be cheaper. Rates are
about USD0.55 and they have full day packages (approx 8 hours and
80km) for around USD 40. They will also take you outstation for around
USD 0.30-0.35 per km with no waiting charges. You can also set up your
own itenary and travel around that way as opposed to whatever the tour
operator tells you.
By bus
By train
Sri Lanka has an extensive railway system serving all major towns and
cities in the island except for the North. The Railway system in Sri Lanka
is very picturesque when entering the hill country because of the winding
tracks along the mountains especially on the Badullu-Nanu Oya line.
Make sure, if you can, to sit on the right side of the train, as it offers the
better view. Travel by train is itself a journey to remember, be it travelling
to Central Sri Lanka or travelling on the coastal line is just amazing.Highly
recommended to travel by train if you are travelling outside Colombo. The
Hill train to Badulla is an amazing journey. Preferably choose the express
trains, and try to get a reservation beforehand, if you can. There are
special Observation cars for tourists that like to take in the scenery.
Trains can be slower than buses, depending if you are on a line that offers
an express train or not, but more comfortable and even less expensive
than buses.
You can look up train schedules on the official site: 4 or using one of the
two Android Apps available: 5 6 . Be advised, however, that these will only
give you results for direct connections between stations.
There are three classes of railway cars, although 1st and 2nd class are
only available on some Intercity and Express trains. Travelling 3rd class is
not as bad as it may sound. Often the difference between 3rd and 2nd
class is only a missing armrest between seats.
By plane
Cinnamon Air (air taxi), No 11, York Street, Colombo 01, +94 11 2
475 451. A Domestic Airline offering daily scheduled flights from
Bandaranaike International Airport to Sri Lanka’s most popular
destinations.
Amazing attractions in Sri Lanka
Please be aware that to get into many of the tourist sites in Sri Lanka,
you, as a foreigner will be charged up to ten times more than locals.
Beautiful villages which look like England in Nuwara Eliya. There are
many tea estates and Hakgala gardens too.
Wildlife in Yala National Park & Wilpattu for the best wildlife Safari
experience. Go to Udawalawe to see elephants and Kumana (Yala
East) for birdwatching.
The unexplored Sri Lanka in Jaffna and the islands in the Northern
Province (Delft).
With a recorded history of more than 2,500 years, Sri Lanka has a rich
cultural and natural heritage and its World Heritage Sites are among the
absolute highlights in the country. With eight recognized entries, Sri Lanka
currently has the second greatest number of listed World Heritage Sites
in South Asia (only India, with 30, has more) The most recent addition
however are the vast Central Highlands, which were inscribed in 2010.
Other than these, Sri Lanka has identified two prospective World Heritage
Sites: Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara and Seruwila to Sri Pada
(Sacred Foot Print Shrine), an ancient pilgrim route along the Mahaweli
river in Sri Lanka.
Fun stuffs to do and places to go in Sri
Lanka
There is nothing that you “can’t do” in Sri Lanka and there are a variety of
things that you can do depending on your preference. These are some of
the list of things you can do:
Surfing – from November to April you can surf on the western and
southern coast. Best place for the beginners is Weligama on the southern
coast. You can rent a board for LKR1,500 per day or LKR400 per hour.
Lessons cost LKR2,500 per hour, but bargain.
Kit esurfing – from April to September you can kitesurf eastern coast.
Best place for the beginners is Kalpitiya (Sethawadi and Kappaladi
lagoons), where you can find kite schools and the best conditions in Asia.
Hiking - Horton Plains National park offers a nice hiking opportunity to the
spectacular view at World's End.
Go to Mat ale and climb the Sigiriya or Pidurangala Rock, see the ancient
frescoes and enjoy a panoramic view of the area.
Go to Rat ht hot a, Mat ale and climb Riverstone, see the Mini Worlds' End
and directly travel to Wasgamuwa.
Go to Mirissa and Kalpit iya and watch whales and dolphins with
privately operated boat tours.
Go to Yala Nat ional Park, Wilpat t u, Wasgamuwa for the best wildlife
Safari experience. Udawalawe to see elephants and Kumana (Yala East)
for bird-watching.
Sri Lanka is still a very cheap country compareable with Southeast Asia.
Local street food costs around €1, a meal in a local restaurant €2-€5, a
bottle of the local Lion beer is €1. All across the country there are simple
accommodations, hostels and homestays. The prices vary depending on
the equipment at €10 to €20. On the coast many small boutique hotels
opened up in the last years with prices of €20 to €30 per night in a double
room. For more comfort expect to pay more than €40.
Currency
The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee: LKR. There are coins for 25 and 50
cents (bronze), 1 rupee (old version is big and silver, new version is small
and gold,) 2 rupees (silver,) and 5 rupees (gold,) as well as banknotes
ranging from LKR10-5000. Coins that are more than a few years old are
typically in quite bad condition.
Things to buy
Handicrafts of Sri Lanka. For reed, cane, cotton, paper, leather, wood, clay,
metal, and gemstones have been transformed and re-expressed in an
array of batiks, toys, curios and jewelery, all exquisite hand made
treasures.
The food is very cheap generally, with a cheap meal costing about a
dollar. The most expensive, tourist-orientated places seldom charge more
than ten dollars. The staple food of Sri Lankans is rice and curry – a
massive mound of rice surrounded by various curries and delicacies. If you
want to eat a cheap lunch you can follow the Sri Lankan crowds and duck
into any of a million small cafes, confusingly called ‘Hotels’. These normally
sell a rice and curry packet, as well as ‘short eats’, a collection of spicy
rolls. This is ideal for backpackers and those who want to get past the
touristy hotels selling burnt chicken and chips – you’re charged by how
much you eat, and unless you’re absolutely ravenous it probably won’t
cost over a dollar.
If you are taking road trips outside Colombo, there are endless options for
places to stop on the road for lunch. Rest houses and hotels along major
roads throughout Sri Lanka have good restaurants, and will offer both Sri
Lankan and Western menus. If you are less adventurous, you can easily
get good sandwiches and soups at these restaurants. These places have
excellent rice and curry plates, and you will be served many different
types of curries over an extremely generous portion of rice. These meals
are extremely delicious and will leave you full and happy at the end of the
meal. Eating will definitely be a memorable experience in Sri Lanka.
Kot t u (Kot hu) Rot i (a medley of chopped roti, vegetables and your
choice of meat) is a must-have for anyone – tourist or otherwise – in Sri
Lanka. It is uniquely Sri Lankan and tastes best when made fresh by
street vendors. However, several kottu roti restaurants have been closed
down due to their use of stale and old roti, which made some patrons sick.
Use caution, and even better, talk with the locals to figure out where the
best kottu roti restaurants are.
Other food that you should try are St ring Hoppers , Hoppers, Pit t u and
Kiribat h.
Thambili the juice from king coconut, is very refreshing. It’s sold at the
side of streets throughout the island, you know it’s clean as the coconut
is cut open in front of you and it’s cheaper than bottled drinks at about
R30/- each. Soft drinks are available almost everywhere, normally in
dusty-looking glass bottles. The local producer, Elephant, make a range of
interesting drinks – try the ginger beer and cream soda. “Coca Cola” and
“Pepsi” also available in large and small sizes (plastic bottles) including
several local soft drink brands – all available at rapidly multiplying
supermarkets all across the country and grocery shops.
The most common local beer is Lion Lager (140 LKR in “wine shops” or
200-300 LKR in restaurants in March 2012). For something a bit different
try Lion St out . It is characterized by its tar-like oiliness of body and
chocolate finish. Other brews include Three Coins, which is brewed by
the Mt Lavinia hotel chain, allegedly to a Belgian recipe.
The traditional spirit is Arrack, which costs about 4 USD for a bottle, and
is often drunk with club soda. The quality can vary depending on how
much you want to pay. However, widely recommended brand would be
“Old Reserve” and worth paying 7.5 USD for it.
The Ceylon Tea is the common name for tea grown in the island nation
of Sri Lanka, which was known prior to independence as Ceylon. There is
Ceylon black tea, white tea, and green tea.
Where to sleep in Sri Lanka
Accommodation in Sri Lanka has been transformed in recent years. What
would be recognized as the modern tourist industry began in the 1960s
with traditional beach hotels built on the west coast which were aimed
primarily at the package holiday crowd and traditional travel operators.
But the past decade has brought a major change, with the growth of
villas, boutique hotels, and small independent and individualistic properties
offering a huge array of choice.
With the end of the civil war and the defeat of the Tamil forces in May
2009, tourist arrivals have been going up,and as there still aren’t a great
many decent hotels it’s probably better to book early.
Where to go to get educated in Sri Lanka
Buddhist St udies and Pali Language. The universities of
Peradeniya and Kelaniya offer a variety of Buddhist studies and Pali
language courses in English.
Medit at ion. You may find monasteries and meditation centres that
offer meditation courses (generally free of charge) in the
Lanka_monasteries_2008_jan.pdf Buddhist Publication Society
guide.
Bombings and assassinations were a firm part of both sides in the conflict,
and there is heavy security in all sensitive locations. While the separatists
have never targeted tourists there have been deaths, notably in a
landmine explosion at Wilpattu National Wild Park in 2006, and some have
been wounded by terrorist actions. War is, after all, dangerous. In general,
though, traffic accidents kill more people than terrorism. It’s quite safe to
travel in Sri Lanka and many tourists from all over the world started to
come to the country after the end of the civil war. You’ll see many foreign
tourists at the tourists sites, mostly Westerners. Locals will greet
foreigners with a smile and are generally helpful. It is recommended to
avoid going alone after dark. Pickpocketing on public transport is
uncommon, but take precaution.
Violent crime is not usually any more serious a problem for tourists in Sri
Lanka than it is anywhere. There has been an increase in violent crimes
involving tourists in the past few years, but it is still very rare. Tourists
should exercise the same care and attention as they would at home.
Con artists and touts are a serious problem throughout all tourist areas.
Using the services of a tout for accommodation, local travel, etc. will most
likely increase the price. First time travelers to Sri Lanka may find
themselves the victim of scams, however seasoned travelers to Sri Lanka
are very rarely scammed and it is simple to avoid becoming a victim of
scammers by taking precautions:
If you have been told your hotel is closed or full, give them a call. If
you are a first time visitor to Sri Lanka, don’t admit it as it will make
you a target for the scam artists.
Unless you absolutely have to, do not agree to hire the same driver
for more than a day at a time. They are a dime a dozen at each city
and the whole country is so small that you will not have trouble
getting between towns via Bus, Train, Tuk Tuk or another driver if
you have to. Even though you agree on a daily or hourly rate, the
drivers will all generally attempt to make more commission out of
you by forcing you to visit one of their friends businesses (e.g. spice,
carving or gem shops). Calmly and firmly say you are not interested
and if they continue to force you to go then find another driver –
they are very common and you will have no problem finding another
one.
How to stay healthy in Sri Lanka
Vaccinat ions are recommended for Hepatitis A+B and Tetanus.
Also, obtain the Typhus vaccination outside of tourist areas
especially in the wet season. The CDC also recommends
vaccination against Japanese encephalit is 9 .
Filaria: Sri Lanka is the first country in the South Asia region to
eradicate Filaria 10 .
Visitors should avoid drinking water from the tap. It is best to stick to
bottled water for both drinking and tooth-brushing.
There are tiny little flies that live in the sand. Any contact with the
dry sand usually results in bites and subsequent painful scratches.
So avoid even a little sand on your skin, including legs.
Visitors should avoid drinking water from the tap. It is best to stick to
bottled water for both drinking and teeth brushing. Leafy, raw
vegetables and salads should also be avoided, as they are washed
with tap water.
How to gain respect in Sri Lanka
There are several customs that, specially for Western travellers, would
take a bit of getting used to.
It is cust omary t o remove shoes and wear respect ful at t ire (i.e.
no miniskirt s, t ank t ops, short pant s, et c…) when visiting
temples. It is also the custom to remove shoes before entering a
home, though this is not as strictly followed as in places such as
Japan.
The country code for Sri Lanka is 94 . Remove the intercity prefix (0)
before the area code when dialling internationally into the country (i.e.,
0112 688 688 becomes +94 112 688 688) when dialling from abroad). The
two next numbers after 94 represents the area code, they are different
for every district for more information see Telephone numbers in Sri
Lanka.
Mobile
Dialog and Mobitel are two operators that have sales offices at the airport
inside the arrivals lounge. Dialog Mobile has the widest coverage in the
country including rural areas and has the best quality GSM / 3G /
HSPA /4G network. Mobitel also has a 3G/HSPA network. All the mobile
operators are having same call rates due to floor rate tariffs. Therefore it
is advisable to go to the network which offers you the best quality. All
Mobile Operators offers cheap IDD Call rates.
If you want to surf internet, best way is to buy a HSPA dongle and a
Mobile Broadband connection. Dialog Mobile, Mobitel, hutch, Etisalat and
Airtel offers prepaid Mobile Broadband services which can be activated
and used immediately.
Dialog is the Vodafone Roaming Network in Sri Lanka and offers the best
range of Value added services for Roamers and the rates are cheaper.
Etisalat and Airtel also provide cheap roaming rates specially to India.
India, High Commission of India 36-38, Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri
Lanka, 94 11 2327587, 94112422788">+94 11 2422788, 94 11
2421605, fax: 94 11 2446403, +94 11 2448166.
Japan, Embassy of Japan, No. 20, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 07, Sri
Lanka, 94 11 2693831 /2/3FORMAT, fax: 94 11 2698629.