Let’s take those who are curious and want to wonder about Sri Lanka like this. I have prepared a Sri Lanka travel guide that will make you both curious and enlightened!
Sri Lanka is a very colorful country that we hear about from time to time, often not mentioned, often forgotten, and don’t care where it is. lanka. Sri Lanka seems to be getting a little overshadowed when people are running around saying “India is India”. However, Sri Lanka is one of the places as important as India with its cultures and natural beauties.. I have made it my mission to give him the value he deserves.. Whether it’s for the enlightenment, a bone-warming sea vacation, or getting lost in the natural beauty, I’m here with a Sri Lanka tour guide to show you around Sri Lanka!
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Where?
There is confusion about Sri Lanka. Someone asks, Where is Sri Lanka in which country?. Let’s say it from the beginning: Sri Lanka is already a country on its own.. island country. Located just below India. He has no other neighbors.. If you go south from Sri Lanka for a long time, Antarctica will be the first piece of land you will see.
History
Human history in Sri Lanka goes way back. According to precise sources, it goes back to about 125,000 years ago.. However, according to some theories, it is possible to see humans or humanoids here 500 thousand years ago.. They’ve been here ever since. The Veddas were the first to settle here after the settled life.. Veddas, an ethnicity still found in India and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan history, due to its close proximity to India, almost parallels it.. Many events in India echo here as well.. For example, Buddhism resonates here as well.. In fact, they are sometimes subjected to Indian occupation, but most of the time they get along together..
Sri Lanka also receives the share of India during the colonial period.. Sri Lanka, which first fell into the hands of the Dutch, was later ceded to the French and eventually became a British colony.. It can only declare its independence in 1948..
Area, Population and Cities
A large island country compared to its peers Sri Lanka. Approximately 65 thousand kilometers. This is almost equivalent to one-tenth of Turkey.. The population of Sri Lanka is a bit large: around 21 million.
There are 17 cities in Sri Lanka. Its capital is Colombo. The population is well distributed in these cities.. Colombo is the most populous city with 500 thousand people.. It is followed by Kaduwela with 250,000 and Maharagama with 200,000.. The average population of other cities is around 90,000.
Language and Religion
Sri Lanka’s largest ethnic group, the Ceylons (or Sinhalas). They make up 75% of the population. Sri Lankan Tamils, Moros and Indian Tamils make up the majority of the remaining population.. Tamils and Moros, peoples found in both India and Sri Lanka.
The official languages of Si Lanka are Ceylon and Tamil.. However, it also contains traces of long years of British colonialism.. It is also possible to come across English as the state language.
Sri Lankan religion is Buddhism. 70% of the population is Buddhist. The remaining population has adopted Hinduism, Islam and Christianity..
Economy
Sri Lanka’s economy is not doing well, but it is a fairly fast growing economy. The official currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee and 1 Sri Lankan Rupee is approximately equal to 3 cents.. Yes, 3 cents.
The most important source of Sri Lanka’s economy is agriculture.. Ceylon tea, rubber, cinnamon, coffee and sugar are important trade products.. In the country that opened to the free market after 1977, private initiatives started after this date.. So a relatively new economy. In 2010, significant breakthroughs were made in the service sector and thus, it entered the list of countries with the fastest growing economy.
Climate
Sri Lanka receives precipitation throughout the year because it is a tropical region with a monsoon climate.. Monsoon rains are seen especially in two periods, between May and July and between October and January.. Most of the time, these rains are not dangerous..
The temperature does not change much throughout the year. However, there may be temperature differences between regions as it is very affected by the winds.. For example, while the average temperature varies between 5 and 20 degrees in high places, it can reach 30 – 35 degrees in low altitudes.. So it’s a nice place to have a sea vacation. Just be careful not to be in the monsoon season or your vacation might be too romantic!
How to Get There
We were relatively lucky on our trip to Sri Lanka. TC. Sri Lanka does not require visas for its citizens up to 15 days. It’s easy to go. But expensive. There are direct flights from Turkey, especially to the capital Colombo.. Sri Lanka flight ticket prices are a bit salty. It varies between 1500 – 2000 TL. However, you can go via the Maldives or India.. In this case, the money you will pay for the flight ticket will decrease a little.
Accommodation
Sri Lanka hotel prices are suitable for every pocket. Actually, they’re not bad at all.. Especially the coastline is swarming with hotels. It’s a little harder to find a hotel in the interior of the island, so prices may increase a bit.. But don’t worry, it doesn’t burn much pockets.. If you have little or no budget, it is possible to find accommodation between 50 – 100 TL per night.. Moreover, very convenient places. If you increase the budget a little, you can find 5-star hotels between 200 – 500 TL.. These hotels are perfect for a sea holiday away from everything.. In other words, you can actually make up for the budget you set aside for your flight ticket with hotels.
Cuisine
Spicy foods come to mind when India and Sri Lanka are mentioned.. true. They really like spicy food, especially curry sauce.. They have a very large street food culture. From rice to meatballs, they can cook and serve familiar dishes in a very different way.. In this respect, it is an interesting cuisine Sri Lankan cuisine. Besides, seafood is quite wide and delicious.. It is especially rich in fish variety.
Sri Lankans are fond of tea.. There are various types of tea and tea has an important place in their culture.. They have very advanced techniques and knowledge about everything from the type of tea to the way it is brewed.. So make sure to try different teas.. Because even preparing them is a ritual for Sri Lankans..
Shopping
Sri Lanka is an idyllic home for souvenir. It is possible to find many local manufacturers, designers and shops. It is possible to find many products made of silver, bone, ceramics, brass and wood here.. They also make cane pots and straw hats, you can watch their preparation and buy them.
Antique is another option.. There is a very developed antique culture here.. We are talking about antiques not only from Sri Lanka, but also from India.. There really are so many antique shops that it can make your head spin.. You won’t have any trouble finding an antique that suits your pocket and taste.
Make sure to bargain too.. They love the bargain, they love the doer. They even bargain very hard.. Don’t give up! Show them that bargaining is our national sport!
Festivals
Sri Lanka is like India in terms of festivals.. A country with many festivals and ceremonies. It is possible to see such festivals in countries with a deep-rooted cultural history.. Sri Lanka also attaches great importance to festivals and rituals.. Even though some festivals have deteriorated over time and their meanings have changed, there are some that have been very well preserved and moved..
Every year on April 13, Tamils and Ceylons celebrate their new year. If you come across, great times are waiting for you.. But there is a festival that is legendary: Kandy Festival. The most magnificent festival of the whole year, not the summer months, Kandy is actually a Buddhist festival.. It would be more accurate to call it a carnival rather than a festival, because they offer great displays with concerts, dances and costumes.. Especially the fire dancers are above the extraordinary. The festival is actually a walking ritual to the Buddha’s house.. So much so that even elephants join the hiking team!
Places to Visit
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is one of the must-see places in Sri Lanka. It is not only a natural beauty, but also a cultural heritage.. It is actually a rock that rises up from the plain in a very regular way, near the city of Dambulla.. 5. In the 16th century, a palace was built on this rock by Kaspaya, the king of the period, and it was decorated with frescoes.. There’s even a lion-shaped gate here.. The name of Sgiriya comes from sihagiri, which means lion rock.
Dambulla Cave Temple
This cave temple should be at the top of your list of Sri Lanka places to visit because it is quite interesting place. Cave, temple and museum. Makes sense when you think about it, but it’s an incredible place. It is thought that Sri Lankans lived in this cave in prehistory, before converting to Buddhism.. It was later converted into a Buddhist temple.. Nowadays, it also functions as a museum because there are paintings and sculptures related to Buddhism inside.. Must see!
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Yes, you read it right. Elephants are an important part of Sri Lanka’s daily life.. They are often exploited as riding animals, transportation vehicles or even tourist entertainment.. Even elephants that have become crippled, aged and ‘useless’ are abandoned.. This orphanage, on the other hand, takes care of these elephants and offers them a sweet life in their natural environment with their peers.. If you visit, you can see elephants bathing in the river, roaming around, making jokes and pranks at you with their trunks!
Adam’s Hill
Adem Hill, located a little outside of Colombo, is about 2 kilometers long. a tapering mountain. As they do to every beautiful mountain, “Oh, what a beautiful mountain, let’s build a monastery now!” Saying that, our Buddhist friends rolled up their sleeves and built a monastery here, and they did very well.. Because it has a magnificent view. Both from below and from above. One really feels secluded here.. Adam’s Hill is considered sacred by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. On the top of the mountain, there is a depression of 1.5 meters in size, and according to their own religion, this depression is the result of Gotama Buddha, Shiva or Hz.. He believes that it is the footprint of Adam.
Colombo
Actually, there are many places to visit in the capital Colombo.. However, we would like to rave about a little Colombo nightlife. Until recently, it was not possible to talk about nightlife in Colombo, because it did not exist.. But nowadays it has a very colorful and lively nightlife.. Colombo nights with opportunities that can surprise you, from bars and casinos to venues of all kinds of entertainment.. So, if you happen to pass by, make sure to experience it or observe it.. Because it will be an interesting experience!
Sri Lanka is a large island, wave around a lot! Have a nice trip!
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