The Pearl of Indian Ocean, Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka lies within the Indian Ocean and is separated from the peninsula of India by the Palk Strait. As the country is near to the Indian subcontinent, you would observe a close cultural interaction between Sri Lanka and India for many years.
The typical civilization of Sri Lanka, hailing from the 6th century BC, is characterized by two factors. One, the preservation of Theravada (the orthodox school of Buddhism having its literary traditions within the Pali language) and second, the development across two millennia of an irrigation system in the arid parts of Sri Lanka. Due to the influences of Hinduism and Islam, civilization was further enriched.
Sri Lanka’s tropical climate, sandy beaches and incredible cuisine are just among the various reasons to include this beautiful South Asian country in your travel bucket list. The beautiful landscapes, amiable localities and British colonial heritage makes it a mesmerizing destination. This small island nation otherwise referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, has been the most favourable destination of avid travellers.
If you want to explore Indian Culture – the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular people or society, it differs from place to place within the country. Their languages, architecture, Artforms, Music, food, and customs differ from others despite following the same religion. Indian Culture is often showcased as an amalgamation of several cultures, as it has a history that is several millennia old.
Few countries can point to such an influential figure in the development of a stylish and successful tourist sector than can Sri Lanka with Geoffrey Bawa. Bawa was responsible for linking Sri Lanka’s ancient and modern architecture. He had a deep understanding and appreciation of the country’s cultural heritage from the ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, to the influences of the Portuguese and Dutch periods and his travels worldwide also ensured an appreciation of more contemporary styles. This specialist tour has been put together to enable those interested in architectural design to experience the works of Bawa while staying in the hotels designed by him, as well as this island’s ancient architectural heritage and natural landscapes that influenced his creations.
With a history as long as many ancient civilizations, Sri Lanka is positioned within the crossroad of the East and the West. As is known for its multicultural society, the country celebrates many festivals, ceremonies and events. Usually, around mid-April every year, the whole country is enveloped with a festive atmosphere to mark the Lunar New Year.
One of the best and the well-known festival in Sri Lanka is,
Kandy Esala Poya Perahera (Buddhist) -Another huge Poya celebration is the Esala Poya Perahera in Kandy. Esala Poya is the day that celebrates the arrival of the Buddha Tooth Relic to the famous Temple of the Tooth. Perahera means procession in Sinhalese. Peraheras take place every Poya holiday on small scale in Colombo and other places around the island, but none compare to the week-long celebrations in Kandy during Esala Poya. With a Perahera procession every day for a week, the experience is unbeatable. Dancers, musicians, dressed elephants, rituals and more, every day until the last night which is the biggest Perahera of all. The best way to make sure and get a seat at one of the Peraheras in Kandy next year is to book through an agency like Lakpura.
As you head for a culinary tour around Sri Lanka, you would be taking your travelling experience to a whole new level. You will discover the simplest kept secrets in cooking and the authentic culinary arts of Sri Lanka. During the tour, you’ll start off with the lesson pertaining to cookery in Negombo, which is a famous location for seafood in Sri Lanka. Then you’ll visit the North where you’ll taste authentic Jaffna food. Later, you will be travelling towards the central region of Sri Lanka, the “Cultural Triangle” where you will grab an opportunity to taste different sorts of Sri Lankan authentic village food items. At a certain area, you will experience the homely environment of the inhabitants and will be able to know more about the Sri Lankan spices, vegetables and more that has always been a part of the lifestyle. Next, we will proceed to Capitol Hill capital of Sri Lanka, “Kandy” which is the heritage city where traditions and culture may be a highlight. Here, you’ll experience the last cookery session of the tour and know more about the Sri Lankan traditional sweets made for special occasions.
Is Sri Lankan food similar to Indian food?
Even though rice and curry are served during meals, Sri Lankan food is very much different from Indian food. You may also perceive the difference when you are busy enjoying a local lunch buffet. However, there’s some similarity when Sri Lankan food is compared with South Indian coastal cuisines. For instance, the cuisines especially in Jaffna are more or less similar to South Indian cuisines.
Sri Lanka has been known for biological endemism with 16% fauna and 23% flowering plants. The entire country has over 90 species of mammals (including elephant, leopard, bear and monkeys), many butterflies, over 80 snake species (including deadly cobras and vipers), and about 435 species of birds.
Sri Lanka has earned the recognition of being the world’s oldest recorded wildlife preserve. Two thousand years ago, within the 3rd century BC, a neighbourhood in north-central Sri Lanka was put aside by the royal decree to be freed from hunting. Today, 8% of the land is preserved as a park or a sanctuary.
The Sri Lankan landscape looks beautiful through the ages due to dagobas, temples and monasteries found across many regions. Thousands of sculptures, frescoes and innumerable ornate woodcarvings have lifted the spirits of Sri Lankans. Semi spherical dagobas exist in any size, from a modest earthen mound to something that is similar to the size of an Egyptian pyramid. At the ancient, royal cities, dagobas reveal the influence on the landscape.
Dagobas, Temples and Monasteries
Various dagobas, temples and monasteries are some of the tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Many of them are well-preserved and are often located at locations that may be exciting to visit.
Northern Plains
The northern region of Sri Lanka is characterized by many plains and some part of the region comprises the Minneriya park, which is found on the brink of Polonnaruwa.|
Bambarakanda waterfall, Kalupahana
Bambarakanda is one of the largest waterfalls in Sri Lanka. It’s also worth exploring Bambarakanda because the area has much more to view than merely the waterfall.
Birdlife
Sri Lanka is the habitat for around 450 species of birds. Most of the time, you will see ducks and geese as you traverse regions. However, the birds are found depending on the climatic zones.
Horton Plains National Park
Horton Plains is one of the landscapes in Sri Lanka that you must surely visit. This park is known for its biodiversity because you will come across many species of rare plants and animals. Besides, the area has a catchment basin for many rivers.
Savannahs in the South
As you travel across the southeastern region of Sri Lanka, you will find many savannahs which are a habitat for rare animals of Asia.
Even when you might not be fond of shopping, you could buy souvenirs and postal cards while you are in Sri Lanka. This would show how much you care about your loved ones once you return back home with unforgettable memories. The country is the perfect destination to buy handmade gifts. t-shirts, bags, mugs and wooden artefacts. But, that’s not all. Here’s a list of things you can certainly purchase apart from the items stated above.
Few things to buy in Sri Lanka (apart from elephant themed items)
Tea, Traditional masks, Coconut shell kitchen utensils, Batik items, Spices, Gems and jewellery, Sarees and sarongs