When you hear of Sri Lanka, you’ll likely imagine lush green landscapes, tropical weather, and thriving cities with its own unique blend of culture and modernization. However, if you plan on visiting Sri Lanka as a tourist, don’t just go to the usual tourist destinations. You’ll have more fun if you explore not just Colombo and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte but also other areas of the country that you might not have heard of before. Why become a “usual” traveler, when you can go over the top with your experience?
Sri Lanka has a history of more than 3,000 years, and it is home to some of the world’s most ancient relics and cities. These include Digamadulla, Polonnaruwa, and Anuradhapura. Aside from these, famous theaters, hospitals, monasteries, temples, palaces, and townships are found in Sri Lanka that both their citizens and tourists extremely enjoy. With 21.2 million people to help you teach all aspects of Sri Lanka’s culture, politics, society, and heritage, there’s a lot of ground to cover depending on your interests.
Sri Lanka: The Things, Places, and Culture to Check Out
Sri Lanka can definitely be an amazing place to be, especially if you’re looking for a unique place to visit in Asia. Tours from providers such as Voyage By Me can make your travel experience tailored to your expectations, while other tours also make visitors surprised by providing them with pre-built promos they can avail of. Regardless of your preferred option, it’s better to know in advance what’s waiting for you Sri Lanka. Here are some of them:
1. Get on an awesome train ride from Kandy to Ella
A lot of tourists fancy the Kandy to Ella train ride because of the sheer beauty you can witness. You can purchase a ticket for as low as $1.50 and embark on a five-hour journey to explore the vast beauty of Sri Lanka’s landscape. Savor the moment; look outside the window and admire the beautiful scenery – ranging from fields to cityscapes. You can even view the landscape through an open door (but be careful!). There are a food stand and a toilet on the train for your convenience. Don’t forget to go local by interacting with people in the carriages. This train ride is a must when you visit Sri Lanka.
2. Venture into the unknown in Sri Lanka’s islands
A lot of people will recommend you to enjoy Sri Lanka’s waters because there are a ton of islands to explore in Sri Lanka. If you’re the adventurous type, you can go to some islands in the northernmost part of the country. The biggest of these islands is called Delft, which is a named by Dutch colonialists. In Tamil, it is called Neduntheevu. This sleepy and untamed island is home to wild horses and 4,500 people. The islands surrounding it hold mysterious wonders of their own as well.
3.Get intimate with Sri Lanka’s waters
A lot of countries boast of magnificent aquatic life, and Sri Lanka is no different. At the south of Sri Lanka is the deep continental shelf, which is favored by blue whales. Go to Sri Lanka between January and April, and you’ll see a lot of whales en route to the Indian Ocean through the Bay of Bengal.
4.Taste unique seafood dishes
Given its proximity to India in the north, Sri Lanka is home to a lot of familiar dishes. However, what perhaps makes the country very unique is the way they use their fish and seafood. They really use fresh seafood for most of their cuisine. If you love curry, you should try Jaffna crab curry and squid curry, both renowned curry dishes around the world.
5.See an actual tea kingdom in Nuwara Eliya
If you’ve heard of Sri Lanka, you may have heard tales about the good tea you can find in the country. This is an influence of English people, who took over the country centuries ago and brought their love for tea. Today, Sri Lanka is home to large tea estates; don’t forget to bring home authentic tea samples if you can. If you’ve heard about the Lipton brand, you can go to Haputale Mountains in Hill Country, where Sir Thomas Lipton himself started his tea conglomerate.
6.Witness leopards and elephants roam about in national parks
If land animals are your fancy, you can actually interact with elephants and leopards in the country. Sri Lanka’s most famous land animal is the leopard. They’re protected in many national parks in the country, especially in Yala National Park, which is perhaps the most famous leopard sanctuary in the world. The park stretches one kilometer and a large number of leopards. It’s said Yala National’s leopard population is the densest in the world. Meanwhile, at Uda Walawe National Park, you can interact with elephants that roam freely.
The Bottom Line: Sri Lanka and Its Hidden Treasures
If you want to fully enjoy Sri Lanka as a traveler, you’ve got to immerse yourself in its environment and culture. One of the best ways to do this is to explore the “hidden” aspects of Sri Lanka listed above. You can add them to your itinerary, especially if accessing them can be convenient for you.
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