Overview

Sri Lanka, an island country in South Asia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation. Sri Lanka means "Sacred Island" in Sanskrit. The country has a long history dating back to 16,000 BC. The Arabs called the country "Serendib" meaning "Jewel Island". Greeks called it "Taprobane", and the Portuguese as "Ceilao".

Activities & Attractions

Sri Lanka offers a truly amazing variety of attractions with its rich cultural and eco-diversity. You will find white sandy beaches, lush greenery, exciting adventures, amazing wildlife and a rich heritage. It has been center of Buddhist religion and culture since ancient times. You can also find a large number of meditation centers and spas. The ancient cities in the country date back to the 3rd century B.C.

Anuradhapura, one of Sri Lanka's premier ancient cities was the most extensive and important of the Sri Lankan royal capitals. It is also a UNESCO heritage site. It is famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. The city is considered to be sacred to the Buddhist world and is surrounded by many monasteries. The Avukana Buddha Statue, one of the tallest statues in Sri Lanka, is located here. There are also many ruins and temples.

Colombo is the largest city and the political, economic and cultural centre of the country. It is the home to a majority of the Sri Lanka's corporate offices, restaurants, zoos, museums and entertainment venues. The most important of those is the Beira Lake that lies in the heart of the city scrolling across 65-hectare and the Excel World Entertainment Park. There are also plenty of historical attractions like Fort, Cinnamon Gardens and Pettah attracting every traveler to Sri Lanka.

One of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka, Kandy is the most visited place. The focal point of the town is the golden-roofed Dalada Maligawa. There are numerous shrines and temples in and around Kandy, where you can see rare paintings, frescoes, and stone carvings. There are many national parks in Sri Lanka. The Wilpattu National Wildlife Park is Sri Lanka's largest national park. You can see elephants, leopards, spotted dears, wild pigs, crocodiles and more. There are many activities like canoeing, kayaking, hiking, trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, elephant safari, caving, camping and many more for visitors to Sri Lanka.

Lodging

Sri Lanka is more expensive than South Asia or India but still is reasonable. The cost of accommodations varies from season to season. The food is reasonably priced but it is higher in the guesthouses than the local restaurants. There are a lot of accommodation options available across the country ranging from good hotels, villas, apartments, and bungalows.

Transportation

You can get to the country either by air or waterways. In the country roadways are the most used mode of transport. There is also an extensive railway network, harbors and airports. Both train and bus are the cheapest mode of transport. The only international airport in Sri Lanka is Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake, 30km north of Colombo.