Srilanka: Inside Travel Guide & Tips

Traversing Sri Lanka is quite a simple thing to undertake. It might be a bit chaotic with trains packed to the gills with people hanging off the edges and overcrowded buses moving along rush roads where lanes are mere suggestions.

People usually speak in English in Sri Lank so once you get to adapt to the chaos, it would not be too complicated to get around.

Before you visit Sri Lanka, you should know certain things to avoid overspending and getting scammed. Below is given some of Sri Lanka inside travel guides and tips to utilize. 

 Visa (Who Need, Price)

For visiting Sri Lanka, you would not get the visa on arrival like most Asian nations rather you need to apply for the visa online. The procedure is not at all time-consuming and it is quite hassle-free. The eVisa for Sri Lanka is a double-entry visa that is valid for 30 days and the fee is affordable.  http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/

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 Is Sri Lanka Safe to Visit?

Even though Sri Lankans have gone through a horrific 25-year civil war, they are very calm in nature with several brutal crimes recorded against foreigners. However, you should always be alert when you use public transport late at night. Especially in big cities like Colombo, Dengue fever is becoming a huge issue.

 Local Currency & Money Uses in Sri Lanka

If you are planning for a trip to Sri Lanka, it is a good choice but you should know about the local currency used in this place. The currency used in Sri Lanka is nothing but Sri Lankan Rupees and if you have this money, you can enjoy your trip to the fullest. The next you just need to know how to get there and the rest will be very easy.

 Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka

 The Dambulla Cave Temple

The Dambulla cave temple is one of the most popular destinations to visit in Sri Lanka. It is the biggest temple complex in Sri Lanka with paintings and statues dating back to 12th century AD. There are five rooms of different sizes in the temple and all rooms are equipped with Buddha in a distinct position looking peaceful and calm. This temple complex is constructed on a black rocky mountain which serves as a great contrast with the white walls of the temple.

 Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is a coastline of Sri Lanka that is above 1600 km and it is suitable for speed boating, windsurfing, and other water sports. It consists of slanting coconut trees and azure skies. It is best if you are intending to surf in turquoise waters. This bay comes in the list of must-see tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. It is a perfect place to allow the southern sun to tan your skin, take in the scent of jasmine, and sip coconut water.

 Trincomalee

Among various similar Sri Lanka tourist spots, Trincomalee is blessed with a charming beach. If you are the one who is ready for an underwater diving tour, you can get the best experience from SLDT (Sri Lanka Diving Tours). Apart from water sports, there are plenty of beaches and temples in Trincomalee. You can also discover a war cemetery that is surrounded by lush gardens and it makes this place one of the best places to experience in Sri Lanka.

 Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya is a 19th-century hill station that keeps its colonial ambiance with its gentlemen’s clubs, golf course, and mock-Tudor buildings. It is one of the most attractive destinations in Sri Lanka for an attractive rail ride. Here you can enjoy the splendid sights of the surrounding waterfalls, tea plantations, and dramatic mountains.

 Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is a town that is famous for its temples. You can spend your day easily by thinking about old city life. This place is full of archaeological and well-preserved treasures with hundreds of old structures like statues and stupas, tombs, and temples. Also, Sri Lanka is filled with heritages and monuments that depict its culture and history.

Read More 10 best places to visit in Sri Lanka

 Things to do in Sri Lanka

There is a lot to do if you are planning to travel to Sri Lanka. You can go on a scenic train ride, go on a safari, drive a Tuk-Tuk, see historic monuments and sights, relax by the beach, and more. You can have a lot of fun doing these activities in Sri Lanka.

• Hike Little Adams Peak

• Go on Safari in Kaudulla National Park

• Ride the Kandy to Ella Train

• Surf at Hikkaduwa

• Explore sunset at the famous rope swing in Dalawella

• Go Hiking in Riverston

• Hike to the top of Diyaluma Falls

• Have a tattoo in Galle

• Climb Sigiriya Rock

• Visit Nine Arch Bridge in Ella

• Explore the markets

Check out here More 8 Things you should do in Sri Lanka

Best Time to Visit in Sri Lanka

The good time to visit Sri Lanka is connected with where on the island you want to go. If you want to go to the south or west coasts, then it is better to go between December and March. If you are planning to make your trip to the north or the east coast, the great time to visit Sri Lanka is from April or May to September.

 How to Reach Sri Lanka (International airport)?

The only international airport in Sri Lanka is Bandaranaike International airport. It is situated in Katunayake that you will reach in an hour by a car drive from Colombo. Bandaranaike International airport has flights linking several cities with Colombo like Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kuwait, Kathmandu, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and more. The other option to travel to Sri Lanka is by water as there is no land connection from India to Sri Lanka.

 Getting Inside in the Sri Lanka

If one really wants to get inside the country, he or she should have an electronic visa beforehand. The process is quite easy and is readily available on the government website. The electronic visa allows people to stay for 30 days in Sri Lanka. Residents from Seychelles, Singapore, and the Maldives are exempt from obtaining an ETA. If you are interested to get around the nation, you can take the help of various vehicles such as trains, planes, rickshaw, motorways, buses, and cars.

 What to Shop in Sri Lanka

You will get various items to shop in Sri Lanka such as handwoven items, saris and sarongs, tea, spices, Raksha masks, Buddha and elephant figurines, moonstone carvings, jewelry and gems, Ayurvedic beauty products, books by Sri Lankan authors, and so on. Moreover, all of these things are available at a very relative cost.

 What to Eat in Sri Lanka

When it comes to Sri Lankan food, it provides popular dishes that have large Indian influence. The food that you can get in Sri Lanka includes samosas, kottu rottis, Sri Lankan fish curry, pol roti and daal, appa, and many more. These food items are available at affordable costs in this place. You can fully enjoy various delicious dishes in Sri Lanka.

 Where to Stay in Sri Lanka

In the case of accommodation, you can choose certain specific places to stay in Sri Lanka. They are nothing but Pedlar’s Inn Hostel in Galle and Palitha Home Stay in Sigiriya. They have the friendliest staff, have the best comfort beds, and these are the great spot to come across with other travelers.