Sri Lanka, a relative teardrop of an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of India, the world’s most populous country, is often overlooked by tourists. While Maldives, Mauritius, Singapore, and Near and Far East nations offer bundles of adventures, you could be missing a trick by not sampling this paradise island.
The economic wheels well and truly fell off in 2022 in Sri Lanka. Many tourists opted to give it a wide berth amid reports of troubles, protests, while widespread water and electricity shortages didn’t help its case on the tourism front.
Having spoken to various people who have travelled there – we also visited around a decade ago – the feeling is Sri Lanka has ridden out most of the crisis that engulfed it. They still point to many sides of the island that will slowly envelop the traveller.
Columbo
Sri Lanka’s vibrant capital is a head spinner for most tourists as traditional and colonial heritage rubs shoulders with the ultra-modern tower blocks that are racing up. It is a city of contrast with a mix of fabulous mansions, lush green areas, shopping malls, fascinating restaurant choices, street markets and the magnificence of the Indian Ocean ever close by.
Like any capital, Columbo careens from the chaotic to the catatonic, from busy to sleepy, depending on what you want. If you don’t want to walk the streets looking at the city’s architecture, jump on a double-decker for a city tour.
If shopping is high on your list of must-dos, Columbo offers a cracking experience from markets to chic shipping malls dotted across the city; if it’s something more leisurely, then you should be able to watch a cricket match, enjoy a round of golf at the Royal Colombo Golf Club or take in the Columbo National Museum, packed with treasures and art dating back to 4th Century BC.
While Columbo has a thriving night scene and excellent restaurants to dine in, you can also enjoy a massage at one of the many spas or experience the quietness of the 30-acre Dehiwala Zoological Gardens.
No trip is complete without a visit to one of the many temples, with the Gangarama Vihara being one of the most venerable temples in the country, decorated with wonderful brasswork, stone carvings, and other Buddhist art.
Galle
On the southwest tip of Sri Lanka stands the UNESCO-protected Galle Fort. Created by the Portuguese in the 1500s, it remains one of the best-preserved fortified cities built by Europeans in Asia.
With a fusion of European and South Asian styles, Galle offers architectural delights from the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial rule. It is made immensely easy to immerse yourself in the area as it is completely car-free, so wandering the town is a must-see, any time of the year.
Landmark buildings include a Dutch Reformed Church, the Lighthouse, and a number of buildings that have been lovingly restored into hotels, restaurants, and arty cafes. As a World Heritage site, Galle is said to have been a key trading post for cultures from the Persians to the Egyptians and the Europeans. From Columbo, Galle is with relatively easy reach by car, coach or rail.
Kandy
As Sri Lanka’s second-largest city, Kandy is worth the travel alone to get to and appreciate the mountain range, tea plantations, colonial buildings and religious sites. At the beating heart of Kandy, and the most popular reason tourists flock here, is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites.
As the hill capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy is also a city of kings, where the last was King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha. It was also the last kingdom of the country before gaining independence from the British in 1948.
It is also home to many beautiful waterfalls and mountains, such as the Hanthana mountain range, and is close to Knuckles Mountain, a great hiking spot. For more fascinating sights, take in the rainforest outside the city or take time to reflect on Kandy Lake (Bogambara Lake).
Andy Probert is an independent journalist based in Turkey. He writes about travel, aviation, new tech and business. His work has appeared on the BBC, in The Daily Telegraph, Hurriyet Daily News and other newspapers worldwide.
