Sri Lanka, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located between the Laccadive Sea in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east. The island is situated about 30 km (19 mi) south east of the southern coast of India. Sri Lanka consists of a main island and a number of smaller islands. Until 1972 the country was known as Ceylon.

capital of Sri Lanka. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is a satellite city and located within the urban area of Sri Lanka's de facto economic, executive, and judicial capital, Colombo.The culture of Sri Lanka is influenced primarily by Buddhism and Hinduism. Sri Lanka is the home to two main traditional cultures: the Sinhalese (centred in Kandy and Anuradhapura) and the Tamil (centred in Jaffna).

Sri Lanka is famous for its rich biodiversity, large cinnamon and tea exportation, and stunning natural wonders! It’s also known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean and has diverse cultural and religious elements across the nation.

Sri Lanka was called Ceylon. But aside from that, Sri Lanka is also known as “the teardrop of India.” Indeed, its pear-like shape resembles a drop of tears in the Indian Ocean. Sometimes, Sri Lanka is also called the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.” Perhaps because of its rich natural heritage, biodiversity, and precious gemstones. Cricket is the national sport of Sri Lanka; it is also the most popular sport among its residents. In fact, Sri Lanka is one of the few countries that have won a Cricket World Cup!

Sri Lanka is many things. A mesmerizing and magical place, it is a beach lovers paradise kissed by tropical seas, and a haven for budget travelers and foodies with cheap prices, flavourful food and famous teas. There are oodles of heritage, wildlife, and incredible landscapes just waiting to be hiked.

Things to See and Do in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a small country with an incredible variety of sights and attractions. The highlights can be roughly divided into four categories: Cultural attractions, stunning landscapes, wild animals, and fantastic beaches.

Sigiriya Fortress

Tagged as “the Eighth Wonder of the World”, Sigiriya is a magnificent rock fortress complex with substantial archaeological importance. With this, it is one of the top tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. Nestled at the heart of northern Matale District, the Sigiriya rock plateau towers up to 200 meters high. Surrounding it are majestic fortifications, gardens, fountains, and ponds. The main entrance of the complex is sculpted to look like huge lion claws, which used to be part of a whole lion rock statue before the upper parts of the lion were destroyed.

Yala National Park

Home to over 700 animal species, Sri Lanka is famous for its rich biodiversity. Wildlife enthusiasts will definitely enjoy Yala National Park, the country’s top wildlife park. It spans of forests, grasslands, and lagoons; it has the world’s highest concentrations of leopards; and, it has an impressive amount of bird species that mostly flock to the paradise from November to January.

Galle Fort

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Galle Fort displays awe-inspiring colonial relics vis-à-vis tropical trees, a sprawling beach, and chic cafés. When visiting Galle Fort, definitely don’t miss the Galle Lighthouse — the very icon of the Fort which has stood since 1848. Further, enjoy a stroll across the snazzy neighborhood: Historical sites and museums, picturesque restaurants, and charming locals await your visit!

Adam’s Peak

Sri Lankans consider Adam’s Peak as the most sacred mountain in the country. It towers over 2,200 meters tall in central Sri Lanka. Near its summit, you will find the Sri Pada (or sacred footprint) — a rock formation which is known as the footprint of the Buddha in the Buddhist tradition, and as the mountain of Shiva’s light in Hindu tradition. Christians and Muslims also view the mountain as sacred, as they consider the same formation as the footprint of Adam upon his banishment from the Garden of Eden.

Temple of the Tooth

Supposedly, one of Buddha’s teeth has found its way to Sri Lanka. According to legend, the tooth was first appointed to the Abhayagiri vihāra (a major monastery site in Anuradhapura). Because of its sanctity, the tooth found several threats in foreign invaders — apparently, a Burmese king even offered £50,000 as a ransom for the relic! Today, the relic peacefully sits in the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.

Ramayan Trail

One of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, Ramayana is a highly important element of Hindu literature. In this epic, Rama’s army builds a bridge over a sea to cross to the abode of King Ravana. This route is now known as the Ramayan Trail, which sees many places in Sri Lanka. Hindu devotees from all over the world head to Sri Lanka to walk the Ramayan Trail, which includes: Ashok Vatika, the Koneswaram Temple, the Thotupola Kanda, Chilaw, the Sanjivani Hill, Kandy, and Ramboda.