Sri Lanka is situated only 50km from India - it is shaped like a tear which appears to be falling from the Indian continent. The southern part of the country has beautiful, undulating scenery with lovely beaches along the coast. The northern part of the country is a large plain with 2500m high mountains. Sri Lanka is a country which has a bit of everything. There are beautiful white beaches alongside tropical rainforest, and there are thousand-year old desert towns and wild animals from elephants to leopards.Find your travel arrangement to Sri Lanka here
Region and City Guides
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Facts
Local name
Sri Lanka
Capital
Colombo
Size
66,000 km2
Principal Languages
Sinhala and Tamil
Principal Religion
Buddhism
Inhabitants
18,000,000
Government
Republic
Geography
Sri Lanka is situated 50km from India. The island is 350km long and 180km wide. The northern part of the island is an area with plains and mountains, the largest of which is 2524m tall. The southern part of the island is a beautiful undulating area. It is also in this area that the finest beaches are situated. In the south-western part of the country are large areas with rainforest.
Travel preparation
Best time to visit
You can visit the country all year around, however if you want to avoid the rainy-season then visit the south and west coast between December to March, and the east coast between May and September. There are the most tourists in the country between December and March.
Literature
Lonely Planet Sri Lanka
Insight Guides Sri Lanka
Insight Guides Sri Lanka
Local conditions
Weight and Measures
On Sri Lanka, the following units of weight and measurement are used:
Weight: kilo
Length: metre
Cubic content: litre
Weight: kilo
Length: metre
Cubic content: litre
Photography
Ask for permission before photographing persons or religious acts. Besides that, there are no special rules concerning photography.
Drinking water
Water for drinking, brushing teeth or for ice cubes must be boiled for at least 20 minutes. It is preferable to buy water in bottles.
Electricity
On Sri Lanka, the following power source is used:
230/240v AC/50Hz
230/240v AC/50Hz
Behaviour
It is important to respect the inhabitants' religious rituals. Furthermore it is important to wear clothes which cover the body, especially if you visit holy places or private homes. Before entering a private home or a temple, shoes and hats must be taken off.
Business Hours
Shops are open from 09.00 to 17.30 (Monday-Friday) and from 09.00 to 13.00 (Saturday). Banks are open from 09.00 to 17.00 (Tuesday-Friday) and from 09.00 to 12.00 (Monday and Saturday). Offices are open from 08.30 to 16.30 (Monday-Friday, and sometimes also open Saturday morning.
Food and drink
Most food on Sri Lanka is very spicy. A lot of vegetables, fruit, flesh and fish and shellfish are also served. Generally the food on Sri Lanka is fine. Concerning drinks, tea is the national drink and it is considered to be the best tea in the world. Toddy is the juice of palm trees and it is a popular local drink.
Disabled travellers
The conditions for disabled travellers are improving. If you want to travel around in the country it is preferable to contact the places you want to visit before the trip. If necessary it is possible to get help and assistance from the large hotels and travel agencies.
Holidays
New Year's Day, 1st January
Independence Day, 4th February
May Day, 1st May
National Heroes' Day, 22nd May
Ordinary holiday, 30th June
Christmas Day, 25th December
Day after Christmas Day, 26th December
Ordinary holiday, 31st December
Independence Day, 4th February
May Day, 1st May
National Heroes' Day, 22nd May
Ordinary holiday, 30th June
Christmas Day, 25th December
Day after Christmas Day, 26th December
Ordinary holiday, 31st December
Accommodation / Hotel
The accommodation possibilities are good on Sri Lanka. There is everything from five star hotels to inexpensive hostels and guesthouses.
Book your Hotel in Sri Lanka here
Book your Hotel in Sri Lanka here
Camping
There are not many camping possibilities in the country. It is usually only possible in connection with arranged trips.
There is a wide range of hotels in the country. In the large cities, there are five star hotels, medium class and inexpensive hotels. In the small towns in the country, there are one and two star hotels, medium class and inexpensive hotels.
Bed og breakfast or guesthouse
There are many guesthouses and inns around in the country offering comfortable and informal rooms.
Hostels
There are hostels in most cities in the country. The price and quality of the hostels vary, but usually they are of a reasonable standard.
Other Accommodation
In many areas it is possible to spend the night in private homes, which is a way to get an insight into the lifestyle of the inhabitants. Ask the local tourist agency for more information. Furthermore, there are cottages and bungalows.
Local transport
Generally, there are good transport possibilities in the country. There are domestic airline connections for the large cities, and there is also a good bus system, which practically covers the whole country. There are also trains for most parts of the country, however the trains are slower than the buses, which in return usually are crowded.
Planes
There are domestic airline connections between the large cities. There are 12 domestic airports with asphalt landing runs. However, until recently the domestic connections have been cancelled, therefore it is a good idea to check up on that before arranging a trip.
Bus
The bus network is thorough and reasonably quick to use, but it can get quite crowded.
Trains
There are more than 1500km of railway track on Sri Lanka, and the trains service most towns and tourist areas. The trains are often crowded, and it is therefore important to make reservations in advance. Generally a train journey takes longer than a bus trip
Taxi
There are yellow cabs in all large cities, and it is easy to hail one on the street. It is a good idea to agree on a price before taking a taxi.
car rental
There are good car rental possibilities on Sri Lanka, and it is an easy way to get around. It is also possible to hire a car with a driver, and notice that this may be cheaper than hiring a car without a driver.
Special conditions
At the moment the situation in the country is tense. The largest part of Sri Lanka is untouched by the continual hostility between the government security forces and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). However, because of these hostilities it is not a good idea to travel to the Jaffna peninsula and the northern, north-eastern, and eastern provinces. Check out the latest Foreign Office advice.
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