Sri Lanka Sights

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country and an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of India. Sri Lanka belongs to South Asia which includes countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the Maldives.

According to wholevehicles, Sri Lanka has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The inhabitants of that time were converted to Buddhism as early as the third century BC. The first real civilizations in Sri Lanka were founded in this period around the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. In the late Middle Ages, the Tamils ​​came to Sri Lanka from South India and founded a kingdom in the north around Jaffna. This caused the necessary unrest and wars in Sri Lanka. From the beginning of the sixteenth century, parts of Sri Lanka were colonized. Honored by the Portuguese and later by the Dutch. In the beginning mainly to trade with the Kingdom of Kandy. At the end of the eighteenth century, the British took over the authority of Sri Lanka from the Dutch and it became a crown colony of the United Kingdom. Among other things, they have ensured that today the entire island is populated and that there are railway lines. In many places in Sri Lanka the clear influence of the British on the country is still visible. At that time, Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon. In 1948 present-day Sri Lanka became an independent country within the British Commonwealth. The name was changed from Ceylon to dominion Ceylon, the British monarch remained the head of state of Sri Lanka. In 1972 the name was permanently changed to Sri Lanka and ties with the United Kingdom were further severed. In 1948 present-day Sri Lanka became an independent country within the British Commonwealth. The name was changed from Ceylon to dominion Ceylon, the British monarch remained the head of state of Sri Lanka. In 1972 the name was permanently changed to Sri Lanka and ties with the United Kingdom were further severed. In 1948 present-day Sri Lanka became an independent country within the British Commonwealth. The name was changed from Ceylon to dominion Ceylon, the British monarch remained the head of state of Sri Lanka. In 1972 the name was permanently changed to Sri Lanka and ties with the United Kingdom were further severed.

From the early 1980s to 2002, a civil war raged in Sri Lanka between the government and the Tamil Tigers. This militant Tamil movement fought for an independent Tamil Eelam. This civil war lasted almost 26 years and killed 70,000 people.

In 2004, Sri Lanka, like large parts of Asia, was hit by a tsunami. This tidal wave has claimed the lives of 35,000 people in Sri Lanka. The effects of this tsunami are still visible on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka.

Sights

A large part of the sights that can be found in Sri Lanka have to do with the long and special history of this island or with the beautiful nature that can be found there. For example, in Sri Lanka there are several beautiful nature parks, historic cities and Buddhist temples. The most famous nature parks in Sri Lanka are the Udawalawe national park, the Yala national park, the Minneriya national park and the forest reserve Sinharaja. Other well-known natural attractions in Sri Lanka include the Peradeniya Botanical Garden, the Seaturtle shelters, Liptons Seat and Horton Plains. Horton Plains National Park is particularly popular for its phenomenal views at Land’s End and World’s End. The main historical sites in Sri Lanka are Polonaruwa, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and the Lion Rock and Galle Fort. Within the old city walls of Galle, many remnants of Dutch rule can still be found, so some streets still have Dutch names. You will also come across an old Dutch church with graves with Dutch texts in it. Galle is today one of the most popular tourist places in Sri Lanka.

The most famous temples of Sri Lanka are the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the Golden Temple of Dambulla, the Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee and Buduruwagala. The Temple of the Tooth is probably the best known and most visited. According to the legend, the Buddha’s canine tooth is said to be kept in this temple. Every year during the Kandy Esale Perahera, the tooth is ridden on elephants through the city.

other well-known sights in Sri Lanka are Ella Rock, the dance shows in Kandy, the various herb gardens and the elephant orphanages. Be critical about which elephant orphanages you visit. Elephants are and remain wild animals, frequent contact with people is not good for them.

UNESCO

In 2017, there are eight different inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage List in Sri Lanka. The first registrations in Sri Lanka took place in 1982 when three registrations were immediately added in Sri Lanka. These included the Holy City of Anudhapura, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and the ancient city of Sigiriya, better known as the Lion Rock. These three ancient cities were added to the list because of their historical value. In 1988, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, the Sacred City of Kandy and the fortifications and historic center of Galle were added to the list by UNESCO for its biodiversity. The city of Kandy was included in part due to the presence of the Temple of the Tooth and the Kandy Esale Perahera, the largest religious festival in the world. The Golden Temple of Dambulla, a historic Buddhist complex was incorporated in 1991. To visit this special complex you have to overcome quite a few stairs. The various painted caves are among the most beautiful and detailed in Sri Lanka.

The latest inscription is the central highlands of Sri Lanka. This includes the area called the place of eternal winter by the people of Sri Lanka. Most of the central highlands of Sri Lanka are used for tea plantations.

Climate

There are several tropical climates in Sri Lanka. The precipitation periods and the average precipitation per period determine which tropical climate occurs in which part of Sri Lanka. The highlands of Sri Lanka above 2,000 meters do not have a tropical climate but a Mediterranean climate. This is due to the lower temperatures that occur in this part of Sri Lanka. The tropical monsoon climate occurs in the southwest and northeast and the tropical savanna climate in the central part. The average rainfall in the central part of Sri Lanka is considerably lower than in the other parts of the country. Most precipitation falls in the higher southern part of the country. The greatest chance of prolonged precipitation in these parts of Sri Lanka is April through June and in October and November. Precipitation in the central northern part of the country is actually negligible. After a heavy rain shower it still feels a bit clammy, but the rain itself seems to have evaporated. With the exception of the higher parts of Sri Lanka, the average daytime temperature is slightly above thirty degrees Celsius. The coastal areas of Sri Lanka have a slightly lower wind chill due to the constant sea breeze.

Geography

Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of India. It is a pear-shaped island separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. The Bay of Bengal is located northeast of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka consists for the most part of coastal plains that are largely covered with forests and large grassy plains. The central southern part of the island is formed by a mountain range. The Pidurutalagala can be found in this mountain range. At 2524 meters, this mountain is the highest point in Sri Lanka. The most famous mountain in Sri Lanka is Adam’s Peak. This 2243 high mountain is considered a sacred place by the Buddhist population of Sri Lanka. Other well-known mountains in Sri Lanka are the Totapalakanda, the Kirigalpotta and the Sri Pada.

The Sri Lankan coastline is formed by rugged rocky coasts interspersed with long stretched beaches and bays. Off the coast of Sri Lanka, beautiful small islands, lagoons and coral reefs can be seen in some places. If you are planning to go snorkelling, go with a guide, they know where to find the most beautiful reefs.

There are about a hundred large and small rivers in Sri Lanka. The largest and most important is the Mahaweli Ganga. Other well-known rivers in Sri Lanka are the Kelani River, the Maha Oya, the Madu Ganga and the Kalu Ganga.

The largest and most important city of Sri Lanka is Colombo, the administrative capital of the country is Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. This city was already the capital of the Kingdom of Sri Lanka from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century and became it again in 1980. Colombo is generally still seen as the capital of Sri Lanka. Other famous and important cities in Sri Lanka are Kany, Galle, Trincomalee, Ella, Tangalle, Negebo, Nuwara Eliya, Matara and Hikkaduwa

Travel advice

There are security risks throughout Sri Lanka. These risks are mainly related to the heavy rainfall that can occasionally occur in Sri Lanka and the floods and landslides that can occur. In addition, it is not wise to go off the beaten track in the north and northeast of Sri Lanka. Civil war has long been raging in this part of Sri Lanka. Uncleared minefields can be found in some places.

Do not take pictures of military objects or soldiers during your trip. Homosexuality in Sri Lanka is prohibited and punishable. This also applies to foreigners.

Travel documents

In order to travel to Sri Lanka, you must be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months on the day of departure from Sri Lanka. You must also be in possession of a tourist visa. You can apply for this visa from the government of Sri Lanka. What many people do nowadays is easily arrange the Sri Lanka visa online in the Netherlands. The visa has a maximum duration of thirty days. If you want to stay longer in Sri Lanka, you will have to apply for another visa.

Info table

Capital city Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte
Phone (country code) 94
Internet domain .lk
Language(s) (official) Sinhala
Language(s) (colloquial) Sinhala, Tamil and English
Religion(s) Buddhism
Time zone(s) UTC+5:30
Time difference summer In Sri Lanka it is 3.5 hours later than in the Netherlands
Time difference winter In Sri Lanka it is 4.5 hours later than in the Netherlands
Daylight Saving Time Control no
Currencies Sri Lankan Rupee

Sri Lanka Sights