Travel Tips | Sri Lanka (Eng.)

SRI LANKA

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VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

Sri Lanka is an Asian country located in an island in the Indian Ocean, in Southwest India. Divided in 9 regions with 25 districts, its economic capital is Colombo, and its governmental capital is Kotte, a suburb inside Colombo. It has a population of approximately 21.1 million inhabitants, who speak the official languages Sinhala and Tamil, but also English.

The first natives, who nowadays are known as Vedas and had Malaysian origin, already inhabited the island when Sri Lankan people migrated there, in the sixth century B.C., according to the oldest registers of that region. Sri Lankan people soon dominated the island,

establishing Buddhism as their official religion as well as establishing sinhala as the Sri Lankan language. From the third century on, Tameis people from the South of India started arriving at the island, initializing a process of wars for power between several nations until 1948, when, finally, Sri Lanka became an independent country.

Due to its history of colonization, the country has a great religious diversity, and although most people are Buddhists, there are also Hindus, Muslims and even Catholics. Very known for its religiosity, the country has a very particular architecture, also influenced

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSSRI LANKA

allows a direct contact with wild animals, such as elephants. And the country is also known by its gemstones. It is the producer with more varieties of gems in the world.

In order to meet Sri Lanka effectively, you should spend at least 10 days there. It is important to check the need for a visa to enter the country, as well as the vaccines which need to be taken before going to the island.

WEATHERJust like most islands, its weather is predominantly tropical; however, the South region of the country has an equatorial climate

by colonizing countries, such as China, India, Portugal (responsible for founding the city of Colombo, in 1517), Netherlands, and the most recent one, England. Sri Lanka is a divided and multicultural country, built in a mixture of architectural and religious influences, added to the magnificent natural beauty of the island, with beaches and exotic landscapes.

There is much to explore in the island: lost cities in ruins, such as Polonnaruwa; ancient historical cities, such as Sigiriya; vast and untouched natural beauties with mountains, forests, rivers and beaches; and the island’s rich fauna, which

while all the North region is tropical, causing drastic weather differences from one city to another. It is common to expect rain during the entire year, but the most rainy seasons are from October to January and from May to July. Therefore, the period between January and April is the best for traveling.

TRANSPORT

The traffic in Sri Lanka, especially in the capital Colombo, is confusing. There are people everywhere walking relaxed, without afraid of the cars which go in their direction. All vehicles go in the same traffic lane. Some of them go in the contraflow, and there is not a specific direction to go. However, the country offers a very integrated transportation service, with bus stations, railways and air lines, and there are both national and private lines inside the island.

Public transportation is very accessible, and often there are buses to almost all destinations which are desired the most; however, they are always full and the times are frequently changed. The most comfortable option is to hire a car, a van, or tuk-tuk with a particular motorist so you can arrive faster to the desired tourist points. Such motorists are not difficult to find, because the hotels always have an indication and even on the streets they are willing to negotiate. Remember that tuk-tuks on the streets have a better price.

There is also the option for land taxi, who go from luxury cars to the popular Tata Nano mini cars, and the air taxi, available to most popular destinations of Sri Lanka in the entire island, with a connecting flight to the airport or for charter tours.

The tours by train are a comfortable option, with many routes and beautiful landscapes. There are two main companies: Expo Rail, which have luxury trains for intercity routes, such as Colombo-Kandy, and Rajadhani Expresso, which complete the same routes but with more accessible prices, with distinction for first, second and third classes. It is possible to buy tickets on-line in the website of the companies. The mandatory tour by train is the route Colombo-Kandy, which is one of the main tourist itineraries and has a duration of approximately three hours.

Other alternative means of transportation are bicycles, with possibility for rent in the main cities, and the touristic bus with the second floor open, in the city of Colombo (Colombo City Tour), with a seven-hour-duration ride.


ATTRACTIONS

CITIES AND TEMPLES

- Colombo, the actual capital of the country, was built by Portuguese people in the sixteenth century, and nowadays it is an architectonic mixture of modern buildings with the old ones, which had British, Portuguese and eastern influence. Besides being the economic center and the doorway to the country, the city has several touristic points, such as the National Museum of Colombo, Temples such as Gangarama Vihara,

theDehiwala Zoo, the Clock Tower, the City Hall Headquarter, the residential areas with beautiful mansions, the luxury shopping centers, the street markets and the night life with casinos and night clubs.

- The City of Kandy, the second biggest one in the country, is the cultural center of Sri Lanka, and it was also the center of resistance of Sri Lankan people, when their territory was dominated by the Portuguese and Dutch. It is considered a holy city, because it houses the biggest Buddhist relic of the country: Buddha’s tooth, contemplated in the Temple of the Tooth.

- The city of Sigiriya is one of the historical cities in ruins of Sri Lanka. It is famous for being built over a huge granite rock, and it can be accessed by a ladder of 1250 stairs. Nowadays considered as an UNESCO World Heritage, the city which already was capital of Sri Lanka was built in the fifth century B.C. by the king Kassyapa. The ruins provide a beautiful idea of how was an Asian urban center at that time, with geometrical gardens, fountains, pools and buildings, among them, the destroyed palace and throne in one of domination wars.

- Anuradhapura, another old capital of the country, was built in the fourth century B.C. Considered a holy place by the Buddhists, nowadays it is an UNESCO World Heritage. Its ruins are formed by several famous buildings, such as Loyamahapaya Palace and the queen’s palace; Buddhists temples, such as Abhayagiri Dagaba, Isurumuniya and Sela Cetiya; and gardens, including the holy fig Sri Maha Bodhi, caves, statues and skyscrapers of that time. Around it, there are also several monasteries.

- It is located in the city of Dambulla the biggest and best preserved complex of temples built inside a cave. Known as the Temple of the Real Stone or as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, it was built in the middle of the first century B.C., when it served as shelter for the refugee king after an invasion to Anuradhapura. The access is through a staircase in the rock, and it has 5 caves, Buddhist temples decorated with gold and painted frescos, and over 100 images of Buddhas, including the most famous one: the 15-meter laying Buddha. The city also has the biggest range of rose quartz mountains of South Asia.

- The city of Polonnaruwa, preserves historical ruins of the 12th century, time of the ancient kingdom of Ceylon, when it was the capital of the country. Attacked and burnt down, it was forgotten for many years, but nowadays it has stunning landscapes, with temples such as Lankatilaka; sculptures of Buddha, such as Gal Vihara; columns which show the dimension of the prosperity that kept the city, Popular Forum and Royal Palace. It is one of the most desired attractions in Sri Lanka, and it also is an UNESCO World Heritage.

BEACHES AND NATURE- Fine and gold sand, with clear and warm water, and a beautiful vegetation of coconut trees is the description of Sri Lanka’s beaches. The most beautiful ones are in the South region of Colombo. Colombo Beach is the most visited and busy one, due to its easy accessibility. Negombo Beach is famous for its coconut trees and its charming fishing village, while Mount Lavínia is a surfing beach. Other beaches of the region are Kalutara andBentota, where it is possible to see whales and dolphins close to the coast.

- The most famous beach is the beach of Unawatuna, which is praised as one of the best beaches in the world, by Discovery Channel. It is a paradise for divers and surfers, and it has a great infrastructure of restaurants and hotels. For people who want to explore more, the beaches of Beruwala andGalle are known by their natural beauty. And the beach of Hikkaduwa, which has white sands and a rich marine fauna, is ideal for diving and relaxing.

- In the city of Pinnawala there is the famous elephant orphanage, where it is possible to


watch them from a short distance. And in the city of Kitulgala you can find Adam’s Peak, a mountain with a foot-shaped stone in its peak. The legend tells that it was the first place Adam stepped on after leaving Paradise. For Buddhists, it is Buddha’s footprint; for Hindus, it is Shiva’s. For adventurous people in the city, it is also possible to go rafting in the famous Kwai River.

- The city of Nuwara Eliya is the region where the plantations of the country is located, including tea, where the best tea in the world is produced: Ceylon tea. It is possible to visit the plantations and goclimbing or treeking in one of the three mountains of the region, or visitBridal Veil Falls, Kamboda Falls, Ravana Falls and the biggest fall, but with difficult access: Bambarakande Fall.

- The most famous natural reserve of Sri Lanka is the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, located near Kandy, and it presents its visitors to beautiful landscapes of the country’s flora.

WHERE TO STAY

With options for every taste, Sri Lanka offers hotels and resorts in the atmosphere which the tourist prefer: on the beach, in urban centers, in mountains and in the country. Some provide a relaxing experience with SPA services or are comfortable with good restaurants and stores. But the prices may drastically change, depending on the region and on the time of the year.

In main cities of Colombo and Kandy it is very easy to find lodging. It is possible to find accessible prices in hostels or domestic lodges. If you prefer, you can pay more in luxury hotels and resorts.

One of the biggest hotels of Colombo is the Galle Face Hotel, founded in 1864, it has a modern retro design, and it is the icon of the rich heritage of the colonial period in the country. Another one which is equally known is the sumptuous Taj Samudra Hotels Resorts


and Palaces. Although it is very luxurious, its restaurants, bars and SPA services are easily accessible and open to the public.

The hotels in Colombo are Cinammon Grand, Havelock Place Bungalows and the most centralized one, close to city attractions: Park Street Hotel.

Most hotels in the coastal region of Sri Lanka are resorts. Some of them are: Lunuganga, in Bentota, built by Sri Lanka’s legendary architect, Geoffrey Bawa; Amanwella, in Tangalla; Reef

Villa & Spa, in Wadduwa; and The Fortress Resort & Spa, in Koggala. In Galle, there are also several options, such as Amangalla, Galle Fort Hotel and The Dutch House.

To the travelers who will go to Sri Lanka on their own, it is worth to note and search for lodgings close to urban centers or to the desired attractions, always remembering that the locomotion can be precarious in some heavenly parts of the island, causing you to lose more time than you expected and affecting the course of the trip.


DINING OUT

Sri Lanka’s gastronomy is strongly influenced by its geographic factors: since it is an island, there is the strong habit to eat fish and seafood; as well as for its location in maritime route, providing different spices and herbs, being curry the most used one in the preparation of meals. Since it is an Asian country, the presence of rice in its various forms also compound daily meals of Sri Lankan people. Due to the large quantity of coconut trees in the island, the coconut milk becomes an essential ingredient of this cuisine, used in the preparation of most meals. Vegetables also complement most of the meals.

TYPICAL DISHES- The most simple ones of the region are Fish curry, chicken, meat and also vegetables and grains.

- Mallung is prepared with vegetables cut in thin pieces, dried shrimp, grated coconut and spices;

- Sambol (Seeni Sambol) is a combination of juicy fishes from Maldivas with spicy onions, and it can be eaten with conserves or cookies;

- Lamprais, prepared with chops, sambols, special shrimp paste, eggplant, curry and rice, are greased in a banana leaf and taken to the oven;

- Buriyani, which is rice boiled in beef broth; Pol Symbol; is a combination of grated coconut, onions, pepper, lemon and salt; and Polos Pehi.

- The desserts are: Halape (brown sugar mixed with coconut), Kavum and Kokis (fried candies), Thalaguli (a kind of bakery ball), Wattalapam, Dodol (coconut milk, rice flour and coconut sugar), Pani Valalu (honey rings), Athirasa and Kiribath (rice cooked in coconut milk).

RESTAURANTSIn Sri Lanka it is possible to eat well without paying much for it. One of the icon restaurants of the city of Colombo, due to its localization in the recently reformed “Dutch Hospital” (hospital built in 1677, which has already functioned even as a police station of Colombo, and that nowadays is a commercial complex) is Ministry of Crab, very visited because of its

crabs. As well as The Gallery Café, reformed by Sri Lanka’s famous architect Geoffrey Bawa. Nihonbashi, which serves Japanese food, is elegant and the 38th best restaurant in Asia. Zaza has the option to be a coffee shop, a bar, or a restaurant. Other good restaurants in Colombo are: Chutneys, Curry Leaf, Seafood Cove, Beach Wadiya, The Cricket Club Café, Coco Veranda and Chesa Swiss.

In the city of Negombo, close to the Colombo airport, there are several options of restaurants by the sea. One of them is Kings Coconut, with a very inviting atmosphere. A restaurant, in the heart of Kandy, which is worth the meal just for its atmosphere and architecture, is the one in Queens Hotel (former house of a governor in the time of British colonization), with even pianist and waiters wearing white gloves.

Fruits from many stalls of the street market are sweeter and fresher, and it is recommended to buy some of them to eat during the day.

For those who want to run away from typical dishes, there is also the possibility to eat in fast-foods, pizzerias, and international restaurant chain, easily found in Colombo.

SHOPPING

Sri Lanka is a big exporter of clothing, and it is also known as being the producer with greater number of varieties of gemstones in the world. Its jewelry, handicrafts, and decoration articles are very desired due to its quality, differentiated design and handcraft works.

The most popular handicrafts of the region are ritual masks, products of lacquer (resin obtained from plants. It is produced in Asian countries and is used for manual arts), wood carvings, pieces in batik, hand loom textiles and lace. Traditional drawings of Sri Lanka, in “makara” style, are portrayed as mystical animals, such as lion, swan, elephant and the lotus flower. They are usually draw to adorn boxes, trays, vases, cutlery and tea set, but they are also carved in jewelry and are printed in clothes, among other several articles.

The city of Colombo is excellent for shopping, with several luxury shopping centers which have the last international fashion trends and stores with very accessible and negotiable


prices. The main commercial centers of Colombo are Odel: Shopping Paradise and House of Fashion. Other cities which are suggested for shopping are Kandy, which has a variety of souvenirs and typical stores of the country. Galle is known by having several jewelry and gemstone stores. The west coast city of Ambalangoda, with several stores and options, is the best place to buy the famous ritual masks.

There are stores specialized in ethnic clothes of the region, such as Saris for women, offering hand-made garbs in several fabrics. Other national products which can be bought are natural cosmetics for beauty, teas, cigarettes, chocolates and spices, all of them easily found in street stores of the cities of Sri Lanka.

STREET MARKETThe street market of Pettah has a British colonial architecture and takes nearly all the neighborhood with its stalls, stores and traders on the street. Everything is sold: electronics, costume jewelery, handicrafts, vegetables and much more. It is one of the most busy places in the city of Colombo, and it is also where daily life happens. Besides shopping, it is a place for watching citizens and religious figures walking around.

On the beaches it is also common to find street vendors and sellers of handicrafts, which makes shopping an option while enjoying the sun and the beach.

CURRENCYSri Lanka’s currency is Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR) with the symbol (Rs). One Sri Lanka Rupee is divided by 100 cents, so that there are currencies of 10, 25 and 50 cents, and 1, 2, 5 e 10 rupees. Money bills are in the values of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 rupees. It is important to always use small money bills, especially when shopping in Sri Lanka, because, sometimes, most traders do not have change for big quantities of money. Avoid also using dirty or torn money bills, which might not be accepted in some places. There is no problem in using these credit card brands: Visa, Mastercard and Cirrus/ Maestro. They are accepted in most places, and there are ATMs around all regional centers. In Sri Lanka there is a culture for tips. The service charge is 10% in bills of restaurants and hotels, but it usually goes to the owner of the establishment, and not to the employee. For that reason, besides the service charge, they expect to receive tip, so save from 10 to 20 rupees to motorists, hotel’s doormen, waiters and tourist guiders of a specific place, for example.

+940094

110116119112118

CODE OF THE COUNTRY

EMERGENCY

EMERGENCY (AIR FORCE)

POLICE

POLICE (FOR CELLPHONE)

NATIONAL HELP DESK

CODE OF THE CITY

COLOMBO

011HAMBANTOTA

047KANDY

081

COLOMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BANDARANAIKE)

+94 (11) 225 2861

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Travel Tips | Sri Lanka (Eng.)

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