Sri Lanka is a pear-shaped south Asian island country. It is known for its glorious history and heritage. It is also the first south Asian country with high development and a good human index per capita. Different cultures and traditions vary by Sri Lankan state, which makes Sri Lanka unique.
The capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo, with a population of 21.44 million. It is a democratic country with natural beauty, different cultures, rituals, historical and religious sites, and beautiful long beaches with lush greenery. Its diverse landscape ranges from rainforests and plains to highlands and sandy beaches.
It is home to many cultures, languages, and ethnicity with its unbelievable historical relics. Most of the population is from the Sinhalese ethnicity, but the minority is Tamil which also has an influential role in the island’s history. In Kandy and some nearby regions, you can especially observe the Sinhalese populace as the majority ones, while in the other region, they are found in mixed ratios. This allows a variation in culture and tradition which is the beauty of Sri Lanka.
Though it is small in size, it has a lot of amazing things to offer visitors. Sri Lanka is famous for shopping items, gems, and Batik items, endless exotic beaches, wildlife and adventurous activities such as surfing and trekkings, rituals and exotic animals; also famous for tea and different complimentary food, etc. Sri Lanka combines historical, spiritual and natural elements and is home to eight UNESCO SITES.
Its beaches are listed among the 100 best beaches in the world. As it is rich in culture, its cultural show is the most famous event for foreigners. The Folklore Dance from history shows the uniqueness of the Sri Lanka and many other interesting, unique shows such as walking on the fire with everlasting faith in God. These are some highlights of their culture and cultural faith towards God, making them unique and attracting tourists worldwide.
Sri Lanka is ethnically, linguistically and religiously diverse with a unique blend of modern and traditional elements. People worldwide are attracted to its culturally diverse, unique traditions and the natural beauties, hill area, sacred places and endless beaches with its amicable people.
Sri Lanka experiences a tropical climate, so it is always slightly humid. The temperature ranges from 14 to 18 degrees between the nights and days. Because of the influence of the beachy atmosphere, the days have a nice swift of air throughout the day, so the environment around here is amicable and pleasurable.
Where is Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is an island nation in Southasia, located in the Southeast of the Arabian sea. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka is known for its varied topography along with the distinguished highland, plains and coastal belt. It lies between 6 to 10 of north latitude and 80 to 82 of east longitude spreading over 65, 525 sq km.
Sri Lanka Major Attractions
Sri Lanka has several places to chill with friends and family. Some of the major attractions of Sri Lanka are mentioned below:
Sigiriya
It is an ancient rock fortress which is declared the 8th wonder of the world by UNESCO. It is located in the north Matale district near the town of Dambulla in the central province of Sri Lanka. It is a valuable historical site that has both historical and archaeological significance. Sigiriya is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning. Its name was Singhagiri after its unique structure of a lion. This place was a Buddhist Monastery. The rock is a lava plug from an ancient long extinct volcano. Sigiriya city has different types of gardens: Water Garden, Cave, Boulder Garden, and Terrace Garden. There are a lot of places in Sigiriya that give you goosebumps and make your visit worth it.
Kandy
It is a large city surrounded by mountains in Central Sri Lanka. Kandy was the last capital of the ancient king’s era of Sri Lanka. It is in the island's mountainous and thickly forested interior with its tropical rainforest climate. It is known as a dreamland adventure and perfect for fun-seekers; also home to natural beauty and biodiversity. Kandy is also the capital of the central province and is both a religious and administrative city. Kandy is home to one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world, the Temple of the Tooth Relic( Sri Dalada Maligawa). Kandy offers so many amazing places to visitors, such as the Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy Lake, Hulu River Waterfall, Royal Botanical Garden, Ranweli Spice Garden, Knuckles Mountain Range, Bahirawakanda Temple, Ceylon Tea Museum, Kandyan Art and Cultural Center, Batik Factory, Gem Museum, and Lapidary and so on. Kandy has every amazing thing to brighten your day and is one of the best places to visit.
Nuwara Eliya
It is located in Central Province, which means City on the Plain or City of Light. It is the capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with an altitude of 1,868m. Its climate is considered cool and known as the coolest area in Sri Lanka. Sinhala and Tamil are used in this area, but English is also used widely. This area is most famous for tea production due to its picturesque landscape and temperate climate. Some attractions are Golf Course, Trout Streams, Victoria Park, and boating and fishing on Lake Gregory and Horton Plains National Parks, an open grassy woodland where the species found are Leopard, Sambar, and the endemic purple-faced Langur. Also, some endemic birds include dull-blue flycatcher, Sri Lanka white eye, etc. Also, explore some Hindu temples with great significance in their association with Ramayana. Nuwara Eliya is full of cultural heritage and natural beauty, and enjoys every moment with its warm hospitality.
Colombo
It is the commercial, industrial and cultural capital of Sri Lanka, located on the island's west coast.It is the largest city with a population of 5.6 million. Colombo is the island's developed city, financial centre, and tourist destination. It is a vibrant place with a mixture of modern life and offers a variety of bars, restaurants and shopping centres, colonial buildings, etc. Some attractions are Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park, Beira Lake, Colombo Racecourse, Mount Lavinia beach, Dehiwala Zoological Garden, Nelum Pokuna Theatre, Colombo Lotus Tower, National Museum, Independence Square, and Hindu Temple, etc. These attractions please you with their fantastic beauty.
Anuradhapura
It is the capital of the Anuradhapura District and an ancient capital of Sri Lanka. It is famous for preserving the ancient Sinhala Civilization and is listed as a World heritage site. Some of the lists of Temples are Abhayagiri Vihara, Dakkhina Stupa, Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya, Isurumuniya, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Jetavanaramaya, Mirisawetiya Vihara, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, etc.
Polonnaruwa
It is the second-largest city in the Northcentral province, Sri Lanka. It is known as the second most ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka and has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Also, Polonnaruwa is the most beautiful and cleanest city in the country. Its healthy environment and friendly people attract tourists from all over the world. Enjoy its natural beauty and an ancient historical site.
Sri Lanka Packages
Some of the famous Sri Lanka tour packages are mentioned below:
Booking Procedure
You have to go through a series of steps for booking Sri Lanka tour packages which are elaborated below:
STEP 1: You have to send a query with all your requirements in the very beginning, and in accordance with that, we will respond to you. You can simply contact us via WhatsApp (+977 9823404148) or mail at the following mail address (outbound@holidaystonepal.com) |
STEP 2: We will send you the quotations after receiving your queries. The quotations will carry the complete information about the package from the beginning of the tour to departure, along with the cost with all inclusions and exclusions. |
STEP 3: After receiving the quote, you have to confirm as soon as possible, as there is no such privilege of holding the room prior, and there may be unavailability of hotel rooms and flight tickets if the delay is caused. |
STEP 4: After the confirmation, You have to send us the complete payment; we will only start your trip preparation by hotel booking, visa procedure, and flight booking simultaneously. |
STEP 5: After receiving your payment, we will send you all the trip details, such as hotel vouchers, visa and flight tickets. |
STEP 6: You need an arrival visa for Sri Lanka. For this, you must fill out a form at the airport or online. You have to pay some amount (USD 25 for SAARC nationals) as a visa fee; only then will you get a stamp on your passport. This will allow you to stay in Sri Lanka for 30 days. While travelling, you must carry your original passport with at least six months of validation, two to three passport-size photos with white backgrounds and some supporting documents such as marriage certificates in case of married couples. |
Above mentioned steps will guide you in booking the packages for Sri Lanka.
Things You Need to Know
Things you must consider before visiting Sri Lanka are cited below. Give it a look to know more:
Nepal Immigration Rules
Even after the visa is granted, you need to pay special care to Nepal immigration. Immigration will undergo a series of procedures, and you have to be completely honest with them, be ready for their interrogations, and carry all the necessary documents(in the case of the married couple, please carry your marriage certificate). There you have to state your purpose of visit clearly. Based on your statements, they will run a background check, from your travel history to financial activity. If immigration suspects you and stops you, then you will not be able to travel. In such cases, we will not be responsible.
Money to Carry/Cash Requirements
You can carry USD 1200 to 1500 for personal use. The sightseeing charges are included in the packages, but for extra expenses such as shopping, you need to carry some USD. You can only take USD 1500 at most, for taking more than that, you need to go through the law procedure.
Things Not to Carry
Don't carry any weed or drugs with you. It may result in a very deadly situation. So, avoid carrying such things.
Airport Pick Up
Our local representative will pick you up. What you need to remember about airport pick-up is that there may be multiple exit lanes sometimes. We will notify you of the exit lane where our local representative will be present, and you need to go to that particular lane; otherwise, you may not meet him/her in some other random lane. So, pay good attention to this.
Why Book with Us?
We can give several reasons for you to book your Sri Lanka tour with us. Some are mentioned below:
A Customized Trip
We will customize the trip per your needs and preferences. You can ping us if you want to upgrade the hotels, change the airlines, or expand the tour. We will make the modifications suggested by you; however, the itinerary remains the same, and only slight changes are performed.
Private Arrangements
All the transportation will be arranged privately; you don't have to worry about sharing your trip with a stranger. And if you like to make your moment even more unique and special, we can make private arrangements per your request. The arrangement costs will not be included in the package; you must pay extra.
Quality Hotels
Our prime consideration is quality hotels. We mainly focus on the accommodation, as the trip relies on it. All the hotels provided to you will be highly sanitised, in the proper location with excellent services. You won't have a word to complain afterwards, and we assure you that the services will delight you. So, book your trip with us without any worries.
Safety and Trustworthy
You can read our reviews on TripAdvisor. Till date, we are able to stay on what we say, “quality service with trustworthiness”. Your safety will be our prime responsibility, but don't violate any rules of the respective region. You must follow the guidelines, stay disciplined, and follow the local customs and practices. Additionally, for your comfort, we will provide you with a local guide from the start of your trip till the departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some queries on Sri Lanka tours are mentioned below:
Do Nepalese need a visa to travel to Sri Lanka?
Nepalese do not need a visa (on-arrival visa) to travel to Sri Lanka for up to 30 days. If you are willing to travel more, then you need a visa. You have to pay USD 25 as a tourist visa fee at the Sri Lanka airport on the day of your arrival.
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
April to September is the best time to explore the ancient cities and coastline of the east & December to March is the best time for sports activity on the west coast and to explore the hill country.
What are the most famous places in Sri Lanka?
The most famous places in Sri Lanka are Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa. These are the most famous cities in Sri Lanka, with many UNESCO-listed world heritage sites.
Which language is spoken in Sri Lanka?
Sinhalese is the native language of Sri Lanka, but English is spoken widely in Sri Lanka. Mainly used for commercial and official language.