Sri Lanka holidays

You might say Sri Lanka has been hiding in plain sight with countless scores of travellers have passed overhead on their way to someplace else, but years of uncertainty kept Sri Lanka off many itineraries. The country is moving forward quickly as more and more people discover its myriad charms. Lying between the more trodden parts of India and Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka’s history, culture and natural beauty are undeniably alluring. It’s the place you haven’t been to yet, that you should.

Sri Lanka information

Average flight time

11h

Time difference

GMT +6h

Currency

Sri Lankan rupee

Language

Sinhala & Tamil

A guide to Sri Lanka

Temples

The culture of Sri Lanka mixes modern elements with traditional aspects and is known for its regional diversity. Sri Lankan culture has long been influenced by the heritage of Theravada Buddhism passed on from India, and the religion’s legacy is particularly strong in Sri Lanka’s southern and central regions.

Beaches

Surrounded on all sides by the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has plenty of beautiful beaches for you to retreat to when the tropical temperatures get a bit too close for comfort. Beach bums can catch some rays at a quieter beach such as Passekudah Bay, there’s SCUBA diving for all you adventure enthusiasts at Hikkaduwa and party people can make themselves at home on the dancefloors of lively Unawatuna beach.

Rainforest

When you’re ready to escape the tropical climate of the coast and lowlands, head for the hills, with their temperate, achingly green charms. Verdant tea plantations and rainforested peaks beckon walkers, trekkers and those who just want to see them from a spectacular train ride.And then there are the beaches.

Wildlife

Sri Lanka is a wild life hotspot with countless national parks and forest reserves. And if you happen to be here in the paradise island, an experience that you cannot miss is a visit to a national park. Safaris can be arranged from any hotel or you can simply hire one of the many safari jeeps to take a wild ride into a park to see, up close the many amazing beasts that roam the island. The peninsula has a natural heart that throbs wildly, and you can discover it at its pristine best at Chundikulam. The name may ring a bell only for a few people. But Chundikulam National Park became a bird sanctuary as far as 1938. It is the best place to capture birds in their most unguarded, spontaneous, intimate or dramatic moments.