Explore Sri Lanka
A Land Like No OtherSri Lanka is a country of extreme geological contrasts. Widely known as “A Land Like No Other” is home to some of the rarest animal species, and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Sri Lanka is also the land of pearls.
Sri Lanka has seduced travellers for centuries. Poised just above the Equator amid the balmy waters of the Indian Ocean, the island’s legendary reputation for natural beauty and plenty has inspired almost magical regard even in those who have never visited the place. Romantically inclined geographers, poring over maps of the island, compared its outline to teardrop falling from the tip of India or to the shape of a pearl, while even the name was given to the island by early Arab traders – Serendib – gave rise to the English word “serendipity”.
Undoubtedly the finest island of its size in all the world.
Sri Lanka packs an extraordinary variety of attractions within its modest physical dimensions, and few islands of comparable size can boast a natural environment of such beauty and diversity. Lapped by the Indian Ocean, the coast is fringed with idyllic – and often refreshingly undeveloped – beaches, while the interior boasts a compelling variety of landscapes ranging from wildlife-rich lowland jungles, home to extensive populations of elephants, leopards and rare endemic bird species, to the misty heights of the hill country, swathed in immaculately manicured tea plantations. Nor does the island lack in man-made attractions. Sri Lanka boasts more than two thousand years of recorded history, and the remarkable achievements of the early Sinhalese and Tamil civilizations can still be seen in the sequence of ruined cities and great religious monuments that litter the northern plains.
The glories of this early Buddhist civilization continue to provide a benchmark of national identity for the island’s Sinhalese population, while Sri Lanka’s historic role as the world’s oldest stronghold of Theravada Buddhism lends it a unique cultural identity that permeates life at every level. There’s more to Sri Lanka than just Buddhist, however. The island’s geographical position at one of the most important staging posts of Indian Ocean trade laid it open to a uniquely wide range of influences, as generations of Arab, Malay, Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers subtly transformed its culture, architecture and cuisine, while the long-established Tamil population in the north have established a vibrant Hindu culture that owes more to India than to the Sinhalese south.
Most Famous Destinations In Sri Lanka To Explore
All visits to Sri Lanka currently begin at the Bandaranayake International Airport (CMB) just outside the Colombo, the island’s capital and far and away from its largest city – a sprawling metropolis whose contrasting districts offer an absorbing introduction to Sri Lanka’s myriad cultures and multilayered history. Many visitors head straight for one of the west coast’s beaches, whose innumerable resort hotels still power the country’s tourist industry.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins.
Polonnaruwa
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1982.
Kandy
This sacred Buddhist site, also known as Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the country.
Galle
Galle is a pretty exotic wonderful place to go for a peaceful and quiet vacation. Galle has an exotic beach.
Explore Sri Lanka’s Most Valuable Tourist Attractions
All visits to Sri Lanka currently begin at the Bandaranayake International Airport (CMB) just outside the Colombo, the island’s capital and far and away from its largest city – a sprawling metropolis whose contrasting districts offer an absorbing introduction to Sri Lanka’s myriad cultures and multilayered history. Many visitors head straight for one of the west coast’s beaches, whose innumerable resort hotels still power the country’s tourist industry.