The climate pattern in Sri Lanka is similar to India, with the main monsoon from June to September, winters from October till February, and summers from March to June. The monsoon is actually a good time to travel within Sri Lanka as the greenery is at its best shade of green, hotels offer good rates because of the low season, and it’s not too crowded. Winters, of course, have their own charm with thick foggy mornings and evenings in the hill country area, which has the popular destinations of Nuwara Eliya and Kandy.
With so much to offer to tourists in terms of sightseeing options, you can choose to cover this country as per your choice of vacation type and also the number of days you have.
Short 3-Night Vacation
For a short 3-night vacation, the best is to cover the beach destinations down south from Colombo, which are just 2–3 hours’ drive from the airport. The best places to stay are Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, Unawatuna, Galle, and the choice of stay depends on the kind of holiday you are looking for. If you want a relaxed holiday with not much sightseeing or activities, then Bentota is the place to go. If you want to do a lot of activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, coral viewing, whale and dolphin watching, then the best places to stay are Unawatuna or Mirissa. There is also a thriving nightlife in Unawatuna with a lot of nightclubs, pubs, and discotheques in the area. Another option is to stay in Colombo to enjoy the nightlife and casinos there and maybe do a one-day excursion to see the beaches in and around Bentota.
Longer 5-6 Night Vacation
For a longer duration holiday of 5 or 6 nights, it’s best to go for an itinerary covering the major highlights in Sri Lanka – Kandy (the former capital and home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the holiest shrine in Sri Lanka), Nuwara Eliya (famous for the Seetha Temple), Bentota (beaches), and Colombo. In this short 5-6 days itinerary, you get all of Sri Lanka in a short capsule – culture and heritage, Ramayana sites, vast vistas of tea gardens, cool weather, beaches, and of course the capital city of Colombo.
Adventure and Wildlife Lovers
For the adventure and wildlife lovers, there is a whole gamut of experiences waiting for you. From hot air ballooning, trekking, wildlife safaris, and birding at the Wilpattu, Kaudulla, Minneriya, or Yala National Parks, to exploring the rainforest ecosystem inside Sinharaja Reserve, ziplining at Ella, snorkeling, and scuba diving at Unawatuna, and so much more
Ramayana Sites
Who can forget the centuries-old relation between India and Sri Lanka through the Ramayana! An itinerary of about 7–8 days can cover all the important locations in Sri Lanka associated with the Ramayana, from temples founded by Shri Rama, Ashok Vatika, Hanuman’s footprints, Seetha Temple, Agni Pariksha place, caves where Ravana used to meditate, and many other such locations.
Buddhist Heritage
India and Sri Lanka share another centuries-old relation bound by Buddhism. There is a rich tradition of Buddhism in both countries, and an itinerary of about 6–7 days can cover all the major Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka – Dambulla, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Mihintale, Kelaniya, and so on.
So, a trip to Sri Lanka must be on the bucket list of every traveler because the destination has so much to offer to all age groups and for all holiday themes. Accessible with a short flight from most major cities in India, easy and free visa, breathtaking scenery, very hospitable people, and most importantly, a holiday at a budget that doesn’t pinch your pocket!
