Sri Lanka ~ Information on travel & travel pictures

Ayubowan to Ceylon, The Resplendent Island !

Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka, the Resplendent Island formerly known as Ceylon.

This island country off the south coast of India is one of my favourite holiday destinations.

I began my trip in the capital, Colombo, and toured south past Bentota to Galle, and inland to Kandy and the Sigiriya, taking pictures of everything, even Sri Lankan foods, and fruits.

If you can, allow two weeks or more, as there is much to see and do.

I traveled to Sri Lanka just before the tsunami, and I look forward to going back to see the progress made towards rebuilding the tourism infrastructure.

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Information on Travel to Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon)

• Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka travel? See Sri Lanka Tourism Entry Formalities.

• What language to they speak in Sri Lanka? The Official Languages are Sinhala, Tamil; but English is fairly widely spoken. If you want to try a few phrases, get a Sinhala Phrasebook

• What money do they use in Sri Lanka Currency for Sri Lanka is the Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR) Rates fluctuate, but roughly $1 USD = $100 LKR [See travel currency tiips page]

• Is it safe to travel to Sri Lanka? Tourism had been Sri Lanka's third-largest industry, and vital to the ecomony. We tourists can continue to do our part, but be sure to check news reports about the current political situation and government travel advisory links at Disclaimer.

• Travel Health Check with a travel health clinic several weeks before you plan to travel as health issues change. Some travelers take malaria meds; some don't. (See Vaccinations notes on travel documents page and travel medications tips)

• Books about Sri Lanka When I traveled to Sri Lanka, there were no guidebooks available in book stores in my home town, and I had no time to order any online. Now, there's a new guidebook (Dec 2006) available on Amazon - the Rough Guide Sri Lanka which is still the most recent issue. For background reading about Sri Lanka and Colombo, I liked Anil's Ghost. And A Fine Balance, set in India. And there's a new book out -- Culture Shock Sri Lanka.

• Hotels; Air, etc holidays Find latest deals for Sri Lanka Vacations packages.

• Best time of year to travel? I traveled here in October, and the weather was generally fine, and not too hot; there were a few sudden downpours.

• Get a Sri Lanka Journal and record memories of your Sri Lanka holiday!

• What side of the road do they drive on? IN Sri Lanka, they drive on the left.

• What's the food like in Sri Lanka? See Pictures at Srilanka foods.

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See Sri Lanka Travel Pictures

• Colombo The capital, port and arrivals city for international visitors

• Kandy The historic hill capital in the mountains

• Sigiriya The site of the rock fortress

• Galle and Bentota the resort area along the Indian Ocean

• Sri Lanka foods Hoppers, curries and seafoods

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TIP I travelled from London Heathrow on Sri Lankan Airlines, with each plane with a camera mounted under the belly and in the nose. As the plane lands in Colombo, turn on the television screen mounted in the back of the seat in front of you, to the channel with the view from the nose camera. I know that watching those runway lights come up to meet the landing gear is the nearest I will ever come to seeing what it's like to land a jet! It was amazing, and worth the trip for this alone!