Sri Lanka: description, sights, cities

The island of Sri Lanka invariably attracts many tourists every year. This is not surprising: beautiful nature, rich history and culture, excellent beaches, wonderful climate ... We will talk about all these features of the island in the article. We invite you to discover such an amazing place as the island of Sri Lanka.

Briefly about Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a very ancient country, which is also known as Ceylon. The endless rice fields and vast tea plantations are the pride of this island. The local population adheres to the traditions, but at the same time there is freedom of religion in Sri Lanka. Many sacred temples (mostly Buddhist) and relics attract pilgrims from all over the world to this country. Mysterious southern Sri Lanka beckons to itself different categories of tourists. They come here to see a complete exotic world, to enjoy nature, and also to swim in the waters of the Indian Ocean. Local beaches with golden sand are delicious.

In Sri Lanka you will find hidden gulfs and bays, underwater coral gardens, as well as the remains of sunken ships and much more ... Rest on the ocean coast, familiarizing with Buddhist shrines, national nature parks, secrets of growing tea and its production, communicating with cheerful and open Lancians - all this guarantees you an unforgettable experience of visiting this island.

Where is Sri Lanka on the map?

This exotic country is located on a small island in the Indian Ocean. The list of historical sites protected by UNESCO (130 in all) includes seven objects located on this island. Sri Lanka is an ancient state with deep traditions and rich history. This is the center of Buddhism, where there are important monuments of this teaching. However, not only the historical heritage forms the exotic of the country. Sri Lanka on the map is only 800 kilometers from the equator. Here you will find all the riches of the tropical islands. The Lankans say that they know only three colors - the blue of the ocean and the sky, the yellow tones of the beaches and the greenery of the vegetation.

Flight from Moscow to Sri Lanka

Currently, there is only one direct flight Moscow - Sri Lanka (Colombo). In this case, it operates only in the winter and does not have a strict timetable. Charter flight Moscow - Sri Lanka is carried out by an air carrier "Aeroflot". The distance from Moscow to Colombo is about 6700 km. Consequently, the travel time is approximately 8.5 hours.

Sri Lanka: time and climate

Those who are going to the island, for sure, will wonder what the difference in time is. On the island, the time is 1.5 hours ahead of Moscow in summer, and in winter - by 2.5. As for the climate, it is here both subequatorial and equatorial monsoon. It is complicated by the relief, as well as the orientation of the island, its location from north to south. About 29-31 ° C is the average annual temperature in the flat terrain of the island of Sri Lanka. The season practically does not affect the temperature. In the mountain part, it varies from 16 to 24 ° C. All the year round, the water temperature in the sea is above 25 ° C on the island of Sri Lanka. In January, therefore, you can safely swim, as in July.

As for humidity, it is high here and almost always exceeds 75%. The amount of precipitation is from 1000 (eastern and northern regions) to 5000 mm per year (south-west coast). From May to September, the rainy season lasts, which causes the south-west monsoon. The north-eastern monsoon determines the inclement weather from October to April on the island of Sri Lanka. The rainy season, however, may shift somewhat over time. It depends on the area. In general, the climate of Sri Lanka is very favorable for tourism. In January, when it's cold in our country and so want summer, tours here are very popular.

The population of the island

The population of this island is about 18 million people. Of these, more than 500,000 people live in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. The ethnic composition of the population is rich. It is a multinational country. Its population consists of Tamils, Sinhalese, Burghers (descendants of the Dutch and Portuguese) and the Moors.

Language and religion

Singhali is the state language in Sri Lanka. Also Tamil and English are equivalent to state ones. As we have already mentioned, Buddhism is very common on the island. In addition, the main religions are Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. To clothing, the island of Sri Lanka does not impose strict requirements, however, it is not recommended to visit temples in clothes with open shoulders and back, in shorts. In addition, when you enter, you should take off your shoes. Buddhists are approximately 70% of the population, Tamils (Hindus) - 15%, Christians - 8%, Muslims - 7%. In this country, freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution, but the dominant position here is given to Buddhism.

sights

A lot of attractions for every taste offers the island of Sri Lanka. Tours will be of interest to various categories of tourists. "Resort triangle of Sri Lanka" is the most popular excursion program on the island. It includes an introduction to three cities - Kandy, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. Let's talk about each of them.

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is the first capital of the Sinhalese state. This city is unique, it was built in the 2nd century. BC. E. In his lifetime he saw 113 kings. The exact date of foundation of Anuradhapura is unknown. According to the astrological tradition of the Indo-Aryans, it was named after Anuradha, a star in the constellation of Scorpio. King Pandukabhai in 380 BC. E. Approved this city as a capital. To the west of it, the Basavak Kulam reservoir was built to supply the population with water. The city in its heyday occupied an area of about 52 square meters. Km, and its population reached several tens of thousands. In the 1st century AD E. Were built a water pipeline, bridges and roads, palaces, temples, monasteries, cemeteries and hospitals.

For 1.4 thousand years, Anuradhapura was the capital. This is a real masterpiece of Sri Lanka architecture. And nowadays Anuradhapura is the capital of Buddhism. In order to visit it, many tourists come to Sri Lanka every year. The city is on the Aruvi River. Tourism is developed here, agricultural products are processed, as well as a number of handicrafts (woodcarving, etc.).

Polonnaruwa

The next city, Polonnaruwa, was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to the 13th century. This is one of the main cultural and historical centers of the country. To this day, preserved Hindu and Buddhist temples, the ruins of the Royal Palace. The main attraction of the city is Gal Vihara (12th century BC). These are 4 huge statues of Buddha, carved into a granite rock.

Kandy

Kandy is the center of Buddhism and the religious capital of the island. In the center of this city an artificial lake was created. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth of the Buddha (Dalada-Maligawa) is on its bank (in the photo below).

The city is rich in historical monuments. These include the patio and the palace of the last King Kandy. There is also an archaeological museum, near which there is a botanical garden and a university with a picturesque campus. Not far from these historical monuments are rubber and tea plantations. Kandy is located 116 km from the capital of the island, Colombo. It is famous as a center of crafts and arts, as well as bazaars, granlets, a museum of jewelry. This place is great for sightseeing and shopping. Nearby you will find views of the legendary mountains with beautiful Hindu and Buddhist temples.

Pyradenia

Pyrenia (Royal Botanical Garden) is located 4 km from Kandy. This is one of the largest gardens in Asia. There is a large collection of tropical plants and trees. The gardeners of the island broke into the park areas a large hilly area. In these zones, various types of tropical flora are represented. Another interesting feature of the garden is over one hundred species of ornamental orchids growing here.

Dambula

Another local attraction is Dambula. It is a temple built in the 1st century BC. E., Bearing the name of the Sleeping Buddha. It is the largest cave temple in South Asia. Dambula consists of five caves. Not only the temple itself, but also its painting is the largest in South Asia. In Dambula there is a huge collection of Buddha statues. At the same time, many of them are more than two thousand years old.

Mount Sigiriya

We recommend you to visit the Lion Rock (Mount Sigiriya). This picturesque mountain is located in the center of Sri Lanka and is one of its main attractions. The lion's rock is protected by UNESCO. On this mountain, at an altitude of about 180 meters, a picturesque town was built. It is surrounded by gardens with swimming pools, fountains and unusual staircases, the steps of which are carved between the jaws, throat and paws of a huge lion. One of the attractions of this place is the gallery of frescoes, which depicts a procession of half-naked palace ladies or princesses, who seem to soar in the air. These murals are covered with a special composition of egg white mixed with honey of wild bees. And to this day their bright colors have not faded. Today, unfortunately, only 17 out of 500 frescos have survived.

The peak of Adam

Another interesting mountain is Adam Peak. Since antiquity this place is a pilgrimage of believers. They make an ascent to this mountain in order to touch their feet at the top of the sacred footprint with their lips. Muslims believe that it was here that Adam, the first man, first stepped onto the ground.

Colombo

The capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo. There are many temples, cathedrals and mosques. The most famous temple is Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara. This is a great example of Sinhalese art and architecture. The frescoes that adorn the walls of the building tell us about the numerous lives of the Buddha. For example, about how he visited the temple, about the legends and myths associated with his name. Other attractions of Colombo include St. Anthony and Peter's Church, St. Lucia Cathedral, Jamul Alfar (the main mosque of Sri Lanka), as well as the Hindu temples of Old and New Katirezan and Ganeshan.

Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka offers a lot of interesting places to tourists. The weather, however, may not allow you to see all the sights of this country. On hot days, many prefer beach trips to the island. However, the inconveniences associated with the weather can be avoided if your choice is Nuwara Eliya (Sri Lanka). The weather here is rarely too hot for walking. The resort of Nuwara Eliya is located at an altitude of about 1900 m above sea level. It is located at the foot of Pidurutalagala. This mountain is the highest peak of Sri Lanka. Here you will enjoy a favorable mild climate (the temperature averages 15-20 degrees), as well as mountain landscapes, picturesque valleys and meadows. All this makes this place a popular resort. Nuwara Eliya, the land of blessed climate, is also known as "Little England", as it is called on the island of Sri Lanka. Tours have been in constant demand for many years.

Elephant nursery and Bo tree

Elephant cattery, owned by the state, is located in the city of Pinnavel. It was created to save animals that have been affected by poachers or left without parents. Today it is inhabited by more than 60 elephants.

Sri Lanka is the country where the Bo tree grows, which is considered to be the highest in the world. To him already more than two thousand years. We also recommend visiting the endless tea plantations. This is the pride of Sri Lanka, thanks to which the island became world famous. Also very popular are Sri Lanka spices, gems, exotic fruits, batik.

Transport

It should be noted that in this country the left-hand traffic. Most of the roads are in the highlands. Traffic rules are almost not observed by pedestrians or drivers. In this regard, it is best to rent a car with a driver on the island of Sri Lanka. The prices for this type of services are acceptable - the approximate cost for 1 km is 20 cents. You can also rent a car for personal trips. At the front desk at your hotel you can get the necessary information about transport on the island of Sri Lanka. Prices for car rental start at $ 20 per day.

National cuisine

The kitchen here, even close to the usual European version, is quite sharp. The most popular type of food in hotels is a buffet. Those who do not like sharp, it is worth consulting with the waiter about what to take. Mineral water, like other drinks, is not included in dinner or dinner in Sri Lanka. This island is especially fertile for vegetarians.

Curry rice is the most common food product in Sri Lanka. Also popular here are seafood dishes (try lobster and sea shrimp), fish, meat, vegetables and poultry.

Local strong drinks are not recommended for abuse. The main one is arak. This is a coconut moonshine, which even the local population does not drink much, but for a change you can try a little.

On the island you will find inexpensive and beautiful tropical fruits: avocados, bananas (more than two hundred varieties), papayas, mangoes, avocados, oranges, coconuts, etc. Pineapples are especially good here.

Tip

Usually the accounts of bars, restaurants and hotels already include a tip, which is 12.5%. You can decide for yourself whether to give more. Porters, chauffeurs and guides are usually tipped. They, as a rule, are expected from Russian tourists, but from the Germans - no.

One of the best places to relax is Sri Lanka. The time spent here is never forgotten.