Sri Lanka is a small hospitable island whose shores are washed by the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is bright saris and beautiful rituals, picturesque beaches and endless tea plantations, high mountains and noisy waterfalls, elephants and leopards, wild jungles and ancient temples, spicy curry and sweet fruits, the most beautiful sunsets and dawns, hospitality and smiling faces.
If you love Asia at its best, with tropical nature, curry, ocean and freedom, then Sri Lanka is the place for you. It is not as contrasting as India, and not as touristy as Thailand, but absolutely attractive. Some out of old habit call this island Ceylon, and remember the rich aroma of delicious Ceylon tea, which was "scarce" a few decades ago. The shortage has disappeared, but Ceylon tea is still the most popular in our country. Tea plantations, as before, occupy most of the territory of the island. In addition to signature tea, Sri Lanka is traditionally associated with the waves of the Indian Ocean, long beaches, bright green jungle vegetation, and an abundance of tropical fruits. And Sri Lanka is Ayurveda, a unique philosophy of life that has been developing for more than 5,000 years and is a comprehensive medical system that has survived to this day.
The average temperature on the island throughout the year is +29. Only in mountainous areas is it possible to decrease to +16 - +24, in places - up to +10 .. The water temperature in the Indian Ocean almost never falls below +25. The only problem is the rainy season.
Interestingly, the rainy season comes at different times in different parts of Ceylon. For example, in the west of the country it rains in summer, and in the east - in winter. Therefore, if you go on vacation to the resorts of the southwest coast, then it is better to do it from November to March, if you go to the east coast, then from April to October.
A huge amount of spices, hot pepper and a very small amount of meat - these are the main characteristics of Ceylon cuisine.
In the resorts, which are located next to the Indian Ocean, there is traditionally a lot of fish and seafood and dishes from them - lobsters, crabs, giant king prawns sit in aquariums waiting to be grilled.
It is worth trying: curry - stewed with meat, fish and vegetables with spices, served with rice, biryani - Ceylon pilaf made of chicken or lamb with the addition of nuts and dried fruits and a lot of spices, appa - crispy cup-shaped pancakes on rice flour and coconut milk - traditional breakfast in Sri Lanka, Kiribati - sweet rice pudding with coconut milk.
Local food should be washed down, first of all, of course, with local black tea, which is traditionally served in porcelain dishes and with milk.
If you are thirsty, the best and safest way to quench it is a coconut, which is called tmbili here. You can buy it anywhere - in small shops and supermarkets, in markets and even on the side of the road.
Another refreshing local drink is called ginger beer - it does not contain alcohol and has a spicy ginger taste and aroma.
Among strong drinks, we can single out local vodka - arak, made from palm nectar, and red rum "Calypso".
Gourmets consider Sri Lanka a "spicy island" where the world's best cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, ginger, cardamom and vanilla grow.
The main attractions of Sri Lanka are concentrated mainly in the mountainous part of the Central Province of the island, as well as in the north-central part of the country, away from both coasts. Next, tourist objects that are most popular among tourists visiting Sri Lanka are collected.
This temple is the most famous Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The temple of Buddha's tooth is located on the territory of the royal palace complex, being part of its architectural ensemble.
The Temple of the Buddha's Tooth is also called Sri Dalada Maligawa, it is part of the UNESCO world heritage and one of the main places of pilgrimage in Sri Lanka.
The rock complex in Sigiriya is called the Lion Rock. The ancient city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for many is Sri Lanka's most famous attraction.
The ancient city of Sigiriya includes a palace on the top, interesting buildings at the foot of the rock and gardens with numerous artificial water bodies in its southern part.
At the top, according to a popular legend told by tour guides, there used to be a royal palace where the Sinhalese king Kasyapa (Kashyapa) lived.
The city of Dambulla (Dambulla) is located at the intersection of several major roads, a settlement on this site is first mentioned in historical chronicles in the 7th century BC.
The main places of the city are the ancient Golden and Cave temples. The cave temple is located in the caves on the slope of the rock, and the Golden Temple is located at its foot.
The Dambulla Cave Temple is the largest and best preserved cave temple. The ancient temple consists of 5 caves - halls of different areas carved out of a monolithic rock. Paintings and statues in the cave temple date back to the 1st century BC.
The Golden Temple of Dambulla built in 2000 with donations from Japanese patrons, this Buddhist temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Below, under the statue, there is a small but very interesting museum, which contains an exhibition of Buddha statues from different countries of the world, inscriptions on ola leaves, paintings and ritual objects.
Nuwara Eliya, or as it is also called, "Little England" is a city located in the highlands of the central province of Sri Lanka.
The main attractions of Nuwara Eliya are Lake Gregory, Victoria Park located on the shores of the lake, endless golf courses, a Hindu temple, the oldest post office in the country, several waterfalls of different heights and many tea plantations and factories where you can learn how it is made the famous Ceylon tea.
The Royal Botanic Garden, located in Peradeniya, a few kilometers from Kandy, annually attracts more than 2,000,000 tourists from all over the world. The garden is surrounded by a tributary of the Mahaveli Ganges and covers an area of about 60 hectares.
Anuradhapura is an ancient city, the capital of the Sinhalese kingdom, located in the north-central part of the island. The capital flourished for 1300 years, but was abandoned after an invasion in 993.
The main attractions of Anuradhapura are the giant dagobas of Tuparama and Ruvanvelisaya, as well as the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree for Buddhists.
Polonnaruwa is the second major ancient city, lost for a while in the jungle, which became the capital after Anuradhapura. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is part of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka.
The transfer of the capital from Anuradhapura was carried out in 993, Polonnaruwa remained the capital until 1293, when it was transferred again and the city was abandoned thereafter.
One of the main attractions of Pollonaruwa is the ruins of an ancient garden city established in the 12th century, as well as the man-made lake Parakrama Samudraya (King Parakrambahu's sea), which has an area of more than 2,500 hectares.
Pinnawela Elephant Nursery was established in 1975 by the Department of Environmental Protection of Sri Lanka to prevent the death of baby elephants who were left without parents.
The nursery was originally located in Wilpattu, but was later moved first to Bentota, then to Dehiwala Zoo, after which it finally found its current location in 1978 on a 10-hectare coconut plantation on the banks of the Maha Oya River.
Yala is the most famous and the second largest national park of Sri Lanka (the first is Wilpattu). Yala has been a national park since 1938.
Yala National Park is located in the southeast of the island. The park is open year-round, but is closed for 1 month each year during the drought. Each year, this date is determined by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Yala National Park includes 5 blocks, 2 of them are open to tourists. Tourists are traditionally offered jeep safaris in the park. Excursions in the park on foot are not possible due to the presence of a large number of dangerous wild animals in the park.
Yala is visited to observe 215 species of birds, including flamingos and peacocks, 44 species of mammals: leopards, bears, elephants, deer, as well as many reptiles, crocodiles, etc.
The national park is a protected area of the central highlands of Sri Lanka. As a national park, Horton Plains was approved in 1988.
The popular tourist attraction "The End of the World" is a vertical rock with a height difference of more than 1.2 km, with an organized observation deck at the top.
On a clear day, the top offers stunning views of the surrounding valleys and cliffs from a dizzying height. At a distance of 1 km from the "End of the World" there is an alternative "Small End of the World".
Ella is a city located in the highlands of Sri Lanka. The name "Ella" means "Waterfall" in Sinhalese, which is quite justified - the region is full of waterfalls of different heights and fullness.
The main attraction of Ella is the surrounding nature of the Ella Gap mountain range. Many tourists come to the city because of the opportunity to take exciting hikes in the mountainous terrain to various natural attractions.
From Ella, you can go on foot to visit popular tourist attractions: Ella Rock, small Adam's Peak, Ravana Falls, as well as the Nine Arch Bridge. The bridge is located between Ella and Demodara and is within walking distance of the city.
Halle Fort and City
Modern Halle is a large Asian port city located in the south of Sri Lanka, on the territory of which there is a Dutch fort of the same name, built in the 16th century.
The fortified Fort is a complex of military structures, steep walls and ramparts aimed at protecting the city of Halle from threats from the sea.
Galle Fort is perfect for hiking.
Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve is located in the southwest of the island and covers an area of about 11 hectares. Biosphere reserves are also called "the lungs of the planet".
For the first time, the status of the Sinharaj reserve was appropriated by the British in 1875, it became an international biosphere reserve in 1978, and since 1988 it has been part of the UNESCO world heritage.
Many endemic species of insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish, as well as birds and mammals live in the Sinharaja Nature Reserve. Primary forests grow in the rain forest.
Sinharaj receives daily rainfall, so early morning to midday is the best time to visit. Entry to the reserve is possible only with a guide.
Ukrainians may not issue an entry permit in advance, but obtain a visa at the airport. For this, in addition to a valid foreign passport (6 months after return), you will need a completed migration card, they may additionally ask for confirmation of the availability of money at the rate of at least $15 per day per person. With this visa, you can stay in the country for up to 30 days.
The national currency is the Lankan rupee, the exchange rate is floating and currently averages 170 LKR for $1.
When visiting temples, you must take off your shoes, so it is advisable to have thick socks with you. Think over the outfit in advance - knees and shoulders must be covered.
Do not drink water from the tap, close windows against insects, birds and monkeys, do not touch snakes with your hands - many are poisonous.
Prices for Sri Lankans and tourists differ, sometimes tenfold. This applies not only to entrance tickets to temples and national parks, but also to cafes, but you should check with the guide where you can eat safely, as the food in Ceylon is too specific.
Each of the tourist sites listed above can be reached by an organized excursion from any city in the country.
Most of the locals who work in the tourism industry speak English
Please check the schedule of tourist facilities on the spot. It may change during the season depending on public holidays, the flow of tourists, weather conditions, and other factors.
