Welcome to Sri Lanka - The Wonder in Asia
Know as Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is an Island nation having strategic importance due to its geographic positioning in the world busiest trade route and has long history for international trade. Sri Lanka has a rich heritage and culture that spans over 3,000 years and beyond.
Known as Pearl of the Indian Ocean - Sri Lanka located south of India in the Indian Ocean
Wonder of Asia - Untouched beauty of Sri Lanka
This beautiful Island is the land of the Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Burghers, Malays, Kaffirs and the aboriginal Vedda and has multi religious environment predominated by rich Buddhist heritage. Sri Lanka is a rapidly developing country with high growth rate and peaceful society, highly favorable for tourism industry due to its natural beauty.
Harmony is the theme of life in this Island
The administrative capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte situated in the suburb of the commercial capital, Colombo. Sri Lanka traditionally exports tea, coffee, gemstones, coconuts, rubber, and native cinnamon. However, there are many other modern industries adding strength to the economy of the Island.
Administrative Capital - Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte - Image of Parliament building of Sri Lanka
Commercial capital - Colombo - A view from the beach-side
Coastal view of Colombo city
Clean and beautiful greenly commercial capital of Sri Lanka
The island is rich with tropical forests, sunny beaches, waterfalls, ancient architecture and beautiful landscapes with different cultivations and forests having a high amount of biodiversity. The country celebrates all cultural and religious events year around.
Beautiful Beach-side with shallow water
Greenly forest - home to many rare species
Countryside with tea estates merging with think jungles in the hill country
Hill country is the birth places to so many rivers in the Island
Glimpse of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has become a centre for tourism and for many international conferences. Sri Lanka hosts frequent regional and international seminars, conferences and trade shows related to many disciplines. Sri Lanka has high rating on the Human Development Index and highest literacy rate in the region. Disciplined and hospitable people, beautiful and clean environment has made this Island the permanent holiday destination for many tourists.
Infrastructure and facilities to host world class conferences
Sri Lanka has set to become the wonder in Asia, possibly overtaking regional tourist hotspots like Bali, Thailand, Maldives, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. The infrastructure including road network, highways, telecommunication, banking, health, accommodation and transport have improved tremendously and geared to provide lifetime leisure experience to tourists.
Sri Lanka is a destination that offers rich and diverse opportunities in leisure for tourists giving real value for money spent.
Main cities are rapidly connected by expressways
Comfortable tourist coaches dedicated for tourism are coomon
Air Taxi service provide quick access to hill country and down south
Railway provide lifetime experience in upcountry and coastal journeys
If a dream of a tourist to visit a destination that has sun bathing golden beaches, rising silver waves, misty mountains, greenly cultivations, stealthy leopards, giant whales, mighty elephants, a majestic heritage, priceless gems, fragrantly spices, clean environment, lovely tea and, highly hospitable multicultural society with warm smiles, that dream destination would be undoubtedly the Sri Lanka.
Many options in one tour
Popular destinations in Sri Lanka
Anyone travelling to Sri Lanka has so many options to spend his or her vacation with full of lifetime experiences. A traveller who could be riding the waves in the beautiful coast in the morning hours could be admiring the green mountains or wildlife by evening as tourist can reach each destination within couple of hours.
Diversity
Sri Lanka is called miracle in Asia as this beautiful island is packed with diversity that you cannot find anywhere is the world. This diversity extends to every sphere of life in this country. Surrounded by sun bathing beaches, the Island is rich with thick jungles, misty mountains, wildlife, cultivation, waterfalls, beautiful rivers, lagoons, and wetlands.
The coastal plain ends towards the central area where the land starts to ascend into misty mountains, covered with blanket of greenly forests and rolling tea plantations. Silvery waterfalls adds colours to the greenly countryside.
Ancient cities within cultural triangle connecting cities of Anuradhapura, Dumbulla and Polonnaruwa
Diverse ethnic and religious groups
Hill countryside is couple of hours away from Colombo
Most treasured Wildlife - opportunity to explore with safari
Creative tourism unique to Sri Lanka
Welcoming Beach side awaits your touch
sri lanka -People
Island has multi-cultural, multi ethnic and multi religious society. It reflects the migrations that dates back to hundreds and thousands of years to this island.Sinhalese and Tamils are the main ethnic groups who are originally from India. Muslims and Malays were attracted to Sri Lanka as a result of maritime business lately.People of the island inherits a friendly and warm nature towards the visitors and frequently reflects from their eagerness to help those unfamiliar to the locality and smiling faces.
Different traditions and unique performance
Exclusive dancings awaits for welcoming our visitors
Spirituality all around the Island
Traditional livelihoods - a rare experience for tourists
Sri Lankan dancing - awaits to entertain visitors
Village dancing - a unique way express the village life
Cultural Heritage
The number of world heritage sites are located in Sri Lanka is a recognition its rich cultural heritage that dates back to 2500 years. UNESCO has declared six archaeological World Heritage Sites and one ecological world heritage site in Sri Lanka.
Visitors can experience the enormous Buddhist dagobas and remains of ancient Buddhist architecture in cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, unique and long stairway to the temple at Dambulla and the palace at the rock of Sigiriya at these World Heritage sites.
The city of Kandy lies in the central hills of Sri Lanka, is home to the Sacred Temple of the Tooth that houses the sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. Visitors can experience its distinctive kandyan architecture, art Kandyan dancing, music, and its unique traditional culture.
Visitors will have a different experience at 17th century colonial Dutch Fort at Galle in the southern part of the country. Well preserved Dutch architecture, town system and Fort is a major tourist attraction in the port city of Galle.
Polonnaruwa - the city of great Kings and Buddhist culture
Sigiriya - the passion of ancient Sri Lanka
Galle Fort - Inheritance for foreign influence due to its strategic location in maritime industry
Dambulla - rare Buddhist architecture
Polonnaruwa - Buddhist dominance in ancient Sri Lanka
Exclusive Kandy - the sacred Dalada Maligawa - a world heritage city.
Ancient city of Anuradhapuraya - Home to huge and number of Buddhist Stupas
Festivals Year Around
Multi ethnic and multi Religious Island inherits colourful festivals celebrating Buddhist Hindu, Muslim and Christian religions. Festivals are celebrated with full of cultural engagements and plenty of rituals glamourized with traditional music and dancing.
In this predominantly Buddhist country every full moon day is a public holiday known as poya day. The country celebrates special events of Lord Buddha’s life with colours and rituals.
The Esala Perahera, held in the city of Kandy over 10 days is a major tourist attraction in the country. The pageant held in late July to early August and climaxing on Esala Poya. It is a Buddhist tradition in Sri Lanka and packed with colourful flags, dressed elephants, drummers, traditional dancing and music.
Sinhala and Hindu New Year is celebrated in the month of April. It is an event of national harmony where families exchange gifts and sweets. The event is celebrated with serving traditional sweets while participating in traditional sports events.
Kandy Pageant - A ritual to worship the sacred Dalada Maligawa
Sinhala New year - an event packed with joy, gatherings, harmony and traditional sports
Vesak - Remembering the special events of life of Loard Biddha
Ayurveda & Spas
Sri Lanka has unique medications to heal the mind and body. The Ayurveda treatments is proven eastern medication method over thousands of years. Tourist can experience Ayurveda baths and massages using different kind of oils and herbal medications to refresh mind and the body. Special programs are conducted to introduce yoga, meditation and diets for healthy living styles. Spars are available around the tourist destinations that provide services of Ayurvadic as well as other eastern and western massage therapy, herbal baths and beauty treatments.
Professional and experienced hands
Natural ingredients for massage therapy
Experience the spirituality bliss
Wildlife
The locals inherits practice of conserving the environment and it has been deeply rooted in the Sri Lankan society. Island’s conserved national parks, jungles, sanctuaries and corridors covers 13% of Sri Lanka. Sinharaja forest reserve is the only ecological world heritage site in Sri Lanka. However, there are many other sanctuaries, jungles, corridors and parks possessing high degree of biodiversity in the Island.
Tourists can experience the unique Sri Lankan wildlife and biodiversity of tropical jungles using exciting safari rides offered with professional guides and experienced drivers.
Access to wildlife in couple of hours from Colombo
Creative site seeing
Explore the countryside with creativity
Jumbos are awaiting to show them off to their visitors
Opportunity to live with nature and experience creative site seeing
Expedience the harmony and coexistence in wildlife
Safari takes you to the real wildlife
Adventure and Special Interest Sports
Sri Lanka is a popular destination for water sports having long beautiful coast ideal for wind surfing , sailing, surfing, water skiing, scuba-diving, snorkelling, speed-boating and banana-boating. Negombo on the west coast, Wadduwa, Kalutara and Beruwela on the south-western coast, and Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala, Tangalle and Hambantota on the southern and south-eastern coasts are the destinations that offers facilities, equipments specifically for water sports with professionally PADI qualified instructos and conducts sporting events.
Vast number of rivers, lagoons and irrigation lakes provide plenty of opportunities for kayaking and canoeing, perhaps combined with a camping. Kalu River and the Kelani River are most popular rivers that most tourist attracts for those sports. Facility for white water rafting is available from Novermber to April in the Kalani River near Kitulgala.
Apart from water sports, varied landscape, wildlife, and archaeological sites offers excellent opportunities for trekking. The popular destinations include the Sinharaja rainforest, the cloud-forests of Horton Plains, the Knuckles mountain range, and Hakgala Strict Natural Reserve.
In addition, para-gliding, rock climbing, cave treks and mountain biking are possible.
Hiking and cycling to explore the real village life and countryside
Water sports
Cycling to explore the country
Hiking to explore pure village life
Rowing to explore the beauty along the rivers
Many spots for surfing along the beach
Food
Sri Lanka cuisine includes many types of rice, spices, vegetables and fruit. Rice is consumed with number of curries that are delicately-spiced to near-dynamite.
There are plenty of restaurants around the country to serve hot and spicy meals at any time around the day offering traditional food as well as western, Arabian and east Asian food.
Sri Lanka has a wonderful array of snacks, known as short eats, named cutlets, patties, fish buns, and Viana buns that are excellent for trips.
Fruit includes the popular mango, pineapple, banana and papaya, but also many lesser-known but distinctive examples such as sapodilla, mangosteen, rambuttan, woodapple, custard apple and beli.
Spicy rice and curry with creative serving
Rice and curry everywhere
Mouthwatering Short-eats
Variety of fruits everywhere
Variety of foods
Variety of curries
Hotels
Hotel industry in Sri Lanka accommodates diversity and has a range of accommodation options. The island provides five star accommodation to iconic colonial-era hotels usually situated in stunning settings. The coastal areas have many resort hotels, where package tourists mostly stay. There are also an increasing number of boutique hotels around the coastline of the country.
Hill country features mostly colonial era hotels other than modern star class hotels, and for those who venture farther afield, perhaps to indulge in adventure sports, there are beautifully converted colonial homes, tea and rubber plantation buildings, jungle cabins, tree-houses and eco-lodges as well as camping under canvas.
Luxury hotels all around the Island
Unique hotels to experience the wildlife
Hotels with village atmospheres
Dedicated Aryurvadic hotels
Hotels providing real village experiences
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Shopping
Sri Lanka offers shopping in variety of forms. It starts from haggling with a handicraft-seller while sunbathing on the beach; choosing fruit from the traditional village store, while side-stepping sacks of rice; or checking out the bargain-priced latest international fashions while enjoying the ambience of a luxurious shopping centres in Colombo.
Sri Lanka offers variety of handicrafts and handlooms with traditional designs, brass work and silverware that make excellent souvenirs. In addition, ritual masks, lacquer ware, batik and handloom textiles, lace, and wood carvings are popular.
Sri Lanka has the widest variety of precious stones among the world’s gem producing countries - blue sapphires, star sapphires, rubies, cat’s eye, garnets, moonstones, aquamarines and topazes being just a dazzling handful. What’s more, Sri Lanka naturally has a tradition in jewellery-making, so you can bring your gems to life.
Buy anything anywhere
Beautiful exclusive shopping malls
Exclusive and unique handcraft reflecting spirituality and culture
Exclusive Gems and jewelery
Rare and priceless gems
Handy craft and hand looms reflecting Sri Lankan culture and traditions
Popular Tourist Destinations in the Island
Destination
|
Tourist Attaraction
|
Distance from Colombo
|
|---|---|---|
Negambo
|
Beach, Luxury hotels, Shopping and restuarants
|
35 km
|
Mount Lavinia
|
Beach, hotels, beachhead restaurants, and shopping
|
12 km
|
Kalutara
|
Buddhist temples, Beach and hotels
|
42 km
|
Benthota
|
Beach, Turtle Hatchery, Brief Garden
|
62 km
|
Ambalangoda
|
Mask Museum, Madu Ganga Wetlands, Buddhist temples
|
85 km
|
Hikkaduwa
|
Beach, corals, hotels and restuarants
|
98 km
|
Unawatuna
|
Beach and coral reefs, Turtle Hatcheries, Buddhist temples
|
120 km
|
Weligama
|
Taprobane Island, Stilt Fisherman, Kusta Raja Gala,Lace-making , beach
|
143 km
|
Mirissa
|
Beach, Whale Watching, Buddhist temple
|
151 km
|
Matara
|
Matara fort/ramparts, Buddhist temples,Pigeon Island, Star Fort, Dutch market
|
160 km
|
Tangalle
|
Beach, Buddhist temples, surfing
|
195 km
|
Arugam Bay
|
Elephant viewing, Lagoon, Jungle , surfing
|
315 km
|
Pasikuda
|
Beach, Surfing
|
320 km
|
Nilaveli and Uppuveli
|
Beach
|
280 km
|
Trincomalee
|
Dutch Fort, beach, hot springs, habour,Hindu historical sites
|
257 km
|
Anuradhapura
|
Ancient Kingdom
|
207 Km
|
Sigiriya
|
Ancient Kingdom & fortress - UNESCO World Heritage Site
|
176 Km
|
Plonnaruwa
|
Ancient Kingdom
|
228 Km
|
Kandy
|
Ancient Kingdom with temple of tooth relic
|
115 Km
|
Galle
|
Fortress
|
124 Km
|
Dambulla
|
Rock cave temple
|
167 Km
|
Maligawila
|
Ancient Monastery with largest statue of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka
|
242 Km
|
Yapahuwa
|
Ancient rock Fortress
|
140 Km
|
Nuwara Eliya
|
Seetha Amman Temple & Gayathri Kovil, garden city, tea estates
|
158 Km
|
Yala National Park
|
Second-largest in Sri Lanka with high density of leapords
|
258 Km
|
Udawalawe National Park
|
Home for Elephants
|
170 Km
|
Kumana National Park
|
Home for variety of Birds
|
203 Km
|
Bundala National Park
|
Home for variety of Birds
|
244 Km
|
Wasgamuwa National Park
|
Home to elephants and many rare species
|
241 Km
|
Wilpattu National Park
|
Home for leopards and biggest national park in the Island
|
204 Km
|
Minneriya National Park
|
Home for Elephants
|
206 Km
|
Horton Plains National Park
|
National park in the hill country famous for sambar and experience the nature
|
181 Km
|
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
|
Home for elephants
|
87 Km
|
Udawalawe Elephant Transit Centre
|
Rehabilitation centre for elephants
|
170 Km
|
Visit Sri Lanka
Important Links
- Sri Lanka Tourism: 882 Things to Do in Sri Lanka | TripAdvisor
Sri Lanka Tourism: TripAdvisor has 243,953 reviews of Sri Lanka Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Sri Lanka resource.
