Sri Lanka, translated from Sinhalese it literally means “Beautiful country” And how right they are! This beautiful island southeast of India is Asia in miniature. Don't compare it with other Asian countries, Sri Lanka is unique! From the beautiful beaches to green mountains. From elephant safari to sailing through a lagoon. This beautiful island will steal your heart right away!
The nature of Sri Lanka is truly beautiful, the great variety between the mountains in the interior and the beautiful beaches make this country incredibly varied. And that for a country that is only as large as the Netherlands and Belgium combined. Sri Lanka is a special country for me, it was my first Asian country which made a big impression! So much so that I went there again a few years later. Personally, I met very nice people there who have even visited me in the Netherlands. Sri Lanka is a country that has a special place for me, travel to the island and you will soon discover why this country is truly one of the most beautiful countries in Asia!
Although I have been to Sri Lanka twice, this was largely with the Aid to Sri Lanka Foundation. Through this foundation I have been able to get a beautiful and unique image of this country. Slept in small villages to visit all kinds of people for an interview in order to create a personal development plan. Even going to a water treatment plant to give an entire village a health boost with clean water!
Although I have not been to all the tourist spots because of this, I have described a few things for you in this blog!
How long do I need for Sri Lanka?
Although Sri Lanka is not a very large country, the distances are quite long due to the chaotic traffic. Whether you rent a TukTuk, have a driver, or travel by public transport. It takes you a few hours to travel from place to place.
Depending on your pace, I would recommend at least 2 weeks for Sri Lanka. In 2 weeks you can get a good first impression and still see a lot of highlights. You can complete a tour in 2 weeks, such as: Negombo/Colombo-Annaradhapura-Dambulla-Kandy-Ella-Negombo.
With 3 weeks you can slow down the pace a bit, so you have more time on the south coast. In the direction of Galle you also have beautiful beaches with an interesting Dutch history.
With at least a month and longer you also have the chance to see the less touristy places and to take your time to fully enjoy all the beauty.
Even shorter time? Consider staying in one place in Sri Lanka and doing some day excursions from there. Like Galle for relaxing on the beach. Or Kandy to get an impression of the interior of Sri Lanka. Colombo is not worth going to. This busy city has little to offer for those looking for a true Sri Lanka experience. It's nice to see, but you won't find the real beauty of Sri Lanka there.
Quick facts Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka is virtually connected to India via a land bridge called the “Adams Bridge” which, according to legends, was swept away by a god to make Sri Lanka independent.
- Sri Lanka used to be a colony of the United Kingdom and was called “Ceylon” at that time. Although the Dutch got there first.
- Sri Lanka is one of the largest tea producers in the world.
- Despite similarities with India, Sri Lanka is much quieter and cleaner than India. However, the kitchen has a lot in common, and the people just like to shake their heads!
- Sooner or later you will come across wild elephants that simply walk across the road as if they were participants in traffic.
- Somehow, ketchup always has to be on all dishes.
- Due to British history, most people speak English very well! And people drive on the left. And tea is part of the culture.
Highlights Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has many destinations to offer, from lovely cities such as Kandy to beautiful nature. I have been there twice myself, where I slept with local friends, which meant I made very different journeys than the average backpacker. Sleeping with a priest in the little-visited north, for example, or in an elderly home in Kandy where the old people on site have organized a great evening for our visit. Spend the night with a friend of mine who lives in Negombo and regularly visits the Netherlands. Quite unique, and not something the average traveler goes to. During my visits I also played the tourist role, of course. This overview includes the relevant things you can also visit! And if you want I can give you some numbers!
Negombo, relaxing Laguna town for the start of your Sri Lanka trip!
Located near the main airport, Negombo is a very nice start to your trip through Sri Lanka. From the airport, go to one of the many accommodations at the Negombo Lagoon to recover from your trip. The Negombo Lagoon is pretty much the Everglades of Florida, but of Sri Lanka. At the Muthurajawela By Boat company you can take in this beautiful lagoon by motorboat, where you will sail past crocodiles, exotic birds and all kinds of other animals that can be found in this area!
The fishing town of Negombo offers a vivid first impression of your Sri Lanka trip. On and around the Pitipana bridge you will find all kinds of fishing boats that bring their catch to the local fish auction. Bring your clothespin for your nose! The entire atmosphere in this town is very relaxed and will certainly give you a first impression of this beautiful country in a relaxed way!
Kandy, the heart of Sri Lanka!
Kandy, located in the heart of Sri Lanka, is the 2nd largest city in Sri Lanka! As the center of the country, you can't really ignore Kandy on your trip through Sri Lanka. Whether as a destination or as a stopover, this city is interesting enough to spend a few nights. The city's main attraction is the impressive Temple of the Tooth. Surprisingly, this temple is said to house a canine of Buddha. Take off your shoes and enter this beautiful temple complex where you will enter a mysterious and beautiful setting where many Buddhists come to find their strength.
Despite being the 2nd largest city in the country, the city of Kandy is very compact! Near the Temple of the Tooth you will find the center where there are several nice hotels and hostels including good restaurants. We ourselves slept in an elderly home where an acquaintance of ours does volunteer work, so it is unique! Kandy is built around a lake, which is why it is called Kandy Lake. The city centers around this lake and you often come here as the central part of the city.
From the city, the enormous white Buddha statue is actually unmissable, the Sri Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya is an enormous white Buddha of 30 meters high that overlooks the city!
Fancy a dose of culture? In Kandy you will find the famous Kandy Dancers, who perform a cultural dance every day at 5:00 PM! You can join the Kandy Lake Club every day!
Dambulla, base for the north!
Dambulla, this small town is perfect as a base for the fantastic surroundings here! From elephant safari to climbing the well-known Sigiriya rock. From Dambulla you can easily reach various highlights in the area. Allow a few days for this place to have time for all the highlights here. This part of Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful and nicest places in the interior!
Climb the famous Sigiriya Rock! A short drive from Dambulla you will find this enormous rock also called the Lion Rock. On top of this enormous rock you will find the remains of a town from the 5th century! But above all, the view from this Lion Rock is fantastic!
Elephant safari in Minneriya National Park
From Dambulla you can also take a very fun Elephant Safari! Although these impressive animals roam all over Sri Lanka, there is the opportunity to see them in a somewhat natural way in the Minneriya National Park. Not only will you find wild elephants here, but also buffalos and all kinds of other animals that live here! You can drive around the lake from an open Jeep, which is a fantastic experience!
Travel on one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world, The train from Kandy to Ella!
The train journey from Kandy to Ella is not done because it is the fastest way, but because of the enormous charm of traveling by train through Sri Lanka. Board the famous train from Kandy to Ella and enjoy the next 7 hours through the beautiful mountainous landscape of Sri Lanka! Enjoy the beautiful tea fields, waterfalls and all the charm you find in the Sri Lankan countryside. Forgot to get snacks and drinks? They regularly pass by your wagon!
Not only are the views fantastic, it is also the charm of being in the middle of Sri Lankan society. The locals travel with you, and you come into contact with your fellow travelers in a fun way. If you step into 1st class, you do have air conditioning, but you cannot hang out of the windows or doors. The 2nd or 3rd class is actually the most fun to regularly hang out like a real local! Of course, be a little careful 😉
Practical tips for your train journey!
Book your tickets as early as possible, and for the best light, take the morning train. As long as you don't take the train after about 3 o'clock, because then you will miss the view because it gets dark. See my tips for where to book your ticket.
- It is best to book your train tickets as early as possible. They are very popular with locals and tourists alike and trains run infrequently. You can do this online at: https://seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/ or on 12go.asia Always print out your online tickets, which can be done at your accommodation or at the station. Always reserve a seat to be 100% sure that you get on the right train. You can also buy tickets on site at the station. Either sold out quickly.
For the best view, it is best to sit from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya on the right, and the last part to Ella on the left! Bring some toilet rolls and enough water. Also keep in mind that the more you travel to Ella, the colder it gets. You also travel a bit into the mountains!
Is the train journey taking too long for you? You can make a stopover in the nice town of Nuwara Eliya! This nice town offers beautiful hikes in a cozy English colonial town!
Practical tips Sri Lanka:
Although Sri Lanka is an incredibly backpack-friendly country to travel around, it is still Asia. Traffic and practical matters are all different than you are used to. Although traveling through Sri Lanka is a lot more relaxing than, for example, neighboring country India 🙂
- Don't overestimate yourself by driving a TukTuk in Sri Lanka. The traffic is incredibly chaotic, and also dangerous. Driving a TukTuk really requires some knowledge, and the traffic is so chaotic that you can easily overlook something. Public transport works great for those who prefer not to drive themselves and want to be tied to a driver.
- Take a power plug with you, or else you can stick a pin in the middle hole of a socket… (use your common sense)
- Elephants are everywhere! Treat them like wild animals, they will crush your TukTuk as if it were a can. So keep your distance!
- When visiting a temple you must take off your shoes. Consider comfortable shoes/sandals!
- Sri Lanka is always tropically warm and humid. It is only a bit cooler in the mountains of Ella. Also take into account the rainy season from May to September.
- Colombo airport is actually in Negombo. (We bet you're thinking "Hey, how stupid")? However, this city is also much more relaxed and fun than Colombo.
- At the time of writing, Sri Lanka has been visa-free for most EU passports since October 1!
- Arrange an E-Sim or a local SIM card to avoid high costs!
End
Sri Lanka, although small, but so beautiful! It is Asia in a nutshell, but with a strong culture. it cannot be compared too much with other countries, even the differences with India are enormous. It feels like a mix of Asia in its own guise. The smiles and cordiality of the people warm your travel heart and have already lured me back once. Visit this beautiful country quickly, compared to other tourist Asian countries, mass tourism is not that bad here. It is not as popular as Thailand, for example. Travel quickly to this beautiful country! Because the charm of Sri Lanka is enormous here!
HAS Foundation (Aid to Sri Lanka)
Personally, I have been to beautiful Sri Lanka twice. Either through an uncle who organizes fantastic volunteer work here! For years he has been committed to helping the poorest people in Sri Lanka. Because I joined that foundation, I had a very unique time in Sri Lanka, where few tourists go. In this blog I have made an overview of the places that you as a tourist can see! Although I would of course also like to connect you to the HAS foundation.
The HAS Foundation (Aid to Sri Lanka) has been involved in the country for more than 40 years. The foundation has managed to build a complete village north of Dambulla where several families have managed to build a new life here from severe poverty. By donating a house and some cows, they have a chance to get out of poverty. Together with personal programs where you can donate a monthly amount through a sponsorship program to young people who, through this money, get the opportunity to study, for example.
Other HAS projects include a water purification plant, which drastically reduced the number of cases of illness caused by contaminated water. This is just a selection of the many projects in this beautiful country! Interested? Take a look at their site 🙂
English (UK) 
Nederlands