Sri Lanka, whose ancient name was Ceylon, known as “the pearl of the Indian Ocean” and as “Tear of India” for its shape and its geographical position, immersed in the Indian Ocean south-east of the India is a wonderful tropical island of legendary beauty.
Perfect destination for those who love to spend their holidays in close contact with nature and local traditions, rediscovering the past among cities rich in history, archaeological sites and extraordinary natural beauties.
What to see in Sri Lanka
The island never disappoints its visitors, offering breathtaking landscapes that will remain, forever, etched in the mind or immortalized in photos.
But what to see in Sri Lanka?
The Cultural Triangle, defined as “the cradle of Sinhalese civilization” and developed between the cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy.
Let’s see specifically what to visit: Anuradhapura with its three great monasteries: Mahavihara, Jetavana and Abhayagiri, which are part of the Sacred Enclosure; Polonnaruwa with the Royal Palace, the Quadrangle, the Time of Rock; Kandy, the cultural capital of the island, with Buddha’s Tooth Temple and the Royal Palace.
Absolutely unmissable Dambulla, a fundamental place of pilgrimage from the discovery of the troglodyte caves with more than 150 statues of the Buddha. The main site consists of 5 caves and is located on a hill 160 meters high.
The Golden Temple, surmounted by a giant Golden Buddha about 30 meters high, does not go unnoticed. Among the many attractions of Sri Lanka, the Rock of Sigiriya also called the Rock of the Lion, judged by the locals as the eighth wonder of the world, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1982; Adam’s Peak, a sacred mountain, 2243 meters high, a Buddhist pilgrimage destination.
Yala National Park is worth a visit, to be explored by renting a jeep or through organized excursions, which gives us a great biodiversity of flora and fauna, with humid monsoon forests, semi-deciduous trees, thorny forests, prairies, marine and freshwater areas , sighting wonderful leopards, elephants, monkeys, storks, birds (white-tailed eagle and flat-bellied eagle), reptiles.
The beaches are spectacular: Unawatuna, surrounded by the Rumassala promontory that protects it from the winds of the Indian Ocean, ideal for privacy lovers, where you can practice snorkeling; Mirissa, located between Galle and Matara, in the shape of a crescent with beautiful pink sand, the starting point for whale watching, Tangalla, where you can go to nearby Rekawa to observe sea turtles but also renowned for restaurants and attractions.
Curiosities and traditions about Sri Lanka
There are many curiosities and traditions of Sri Lanka.
His most important animal is the elephant, a very precious ally in the daily activities to carry loads, as well as for the development of the tourist economy, so much so that in the 70s the largest elephant orphanage in the world was built in his honor: the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, where the cubs are raised and then introduced into their natural habitat. In the folkloric field, do not miss the Kandy Esala Perahera Parade, 10 days, between July and August, full of fun among torches, festively decorated elephants, whip snaps and the procession in honor of the Sacred Tooth of Kandy, in addition to the pagan festival of National Day, in February.
In the kitchen, let yourself be overwhelmed by spicy rice-based dishes with vegetables, meat and fish, flavored with sambol, grated coconut with the addition of chilli or hutney, a fruit jam. The most popular local dish? The hoppers, pancakes with eggs or honey and really delicious yogurt.
