What to bring from Sri Lanka for memory or as a gift? Exotic souvenirs from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, where every year thousands of Russian tourists spend an unforgettable vacation in the bosom of nature. Away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, our fellow citizens enjoy seascapes, diving, picnicking and visiting local attractions. When it's time to return home, each traveler fills the suitcases with souvenirs and exotic presents for relatives and friends. From this article you will learn what to bring from Sri Lanka for memory. And also all about the peculiarities of shopping in this amazing country.

Gems

Sri Lanka is known all over the world for its precious stones. Amethysts, rubies and topazes are still being mined by locals and shovels. The island of Ratnapura is the center of sapphire deposits, where rare stones of all colors of the rainbow are found. Saturated shades and lack of defects make Ceylon sapphires one of the most expensive in the world. If you are not far from the state mine, then definitely visit the local stone processing factory. Frontiers, armed with files and grinding wheels, will give your sapphires the shape and show the whole process of creating a gem before your eyes.

If you decide to purchase a precious souvenir as a souvenir, then you should go to the Ratnapura sapphire market. Before you buy the right product, consider a few suggestions. Going around all the shops, you can choose the most acceptable offer. Do not forget to check the authenticity of the sapphire at the nearest gemological laboratory, and also carefully inspect it and make sure there is no visible damage. Remember that in the local market it is customary to bargain, and therefore do not hesitate and boldly knock down the price. The average cost of one carat of beautiful blue sapphire in the local market varies from 100 to 150 dollars. So that you do not have problems at customs, contact any local jeweler who will limit your stone and place it in the frame.

Tea from Sri Lanka

Of course, the most anticipated gift, brought from the vacation, will be a bag of elite Ceylon tea. Usually tourists are advised to buy this product in factories at tea plantations. However, many holidaymakers notice that in such places the value of the goods can be greatly overstated. To save money, you can purchase excellent varieties in specialized departments of shopping centers and large supermarkets. It is believed that the presence of a brand quality mark will save you from buying a bad product. You can safely bring tea from Sri Lanka, if on its packaging will be depicted a lion holding a sword in the paw.

Spice

Fragrant spices for many centuries are the pride of this amazing island. What to carry from Sri Lanka, how not cinnamon, cardamom, curry, cloves, ginger and pepper? Having visited one of the "Spice Gardens", you will learn a lot of interesting things about the local flora and will be able to eat exotic fruits. You will be told how to lose weight with spices, take off toothache, stop snoring and get rid of dandruff. In addition, here you can buy natural cosmetics and personal care products, made on the basis of these very spices.

Masks

If you want to bring home something special, then pay attention to the masks made by local masters. Similar souvenirs from Sri Lanka cost from 35 dollars and above. Most of them have special meaning for local residents and always symbolize some aspect of life. Since ancient times, these items have been used in ritual ceremonies and dance performances. Impressive people who believe in mysticism, evil eye and amulets, it is better to abandon such purchases. And those who think rationally, we recommend to visit the museum of masks, located in Ambalangoda. This city is considered the center of craft production, and here you can learn the history of the appearance of attributes, as well as everything about traditional rituals and festivals.

Elephant figurines

The most popular souvenirs from Sri Lanka are wooden figurines of animals. Elephants are a symbol of the island, and the locals happily make their miniature images. The most valuable are statuettes of black or ebony. By weight they are somewhat heavier than their "brethren", and if you want to rub them, then your hand will remain dark traces.

Buddha images

Sri Lanka is often associated with beach rest, but thousands of followers of Prince Gautama's teachings come here every year to honor local shrines. Surprisingly, in this country, almost all residents tend to reach nirvana and try not to take actions that might hinder their ascent on the spiritual ladder. If you are imbued with the spirit of the local population, then you will not have a question what to bring from Sri Lanka. Figurines of the Buddha will bring the atmosphere of the East to your home and will be a reminder of a wonderful holiday in an exotic country.

Silk

Products made of noble material will be a wonderful gift for any woman of our country. High quality fabrics and saturated colors will conquer the hearts of even the strictest representatives of the better half of humanity. Shops in silk factories provide tourists with a huge selection of a variety of products. You can buy saris or other elements of national clothes, linens, bedspreads or light summer scarves. The cost of such gifts will be high enough, but you will not doubt their origin.

Cotton

Sri Lanka is known all over the world as a manufacturer of clothes and home textiles. In numerous shops and shops of the country you can buy products made of cotton at fairly low prices. For example, the average price of a woman's tunic varies from five to seven dollars. Before buying the desired product, make sure that it has no significant defects. The fact that the garment industry of this country works mainly for export, and most defective or substandard things remain on the domestic market.

Cosmetics

Every woman wants to bring home from the new country all the best to take care of herself. Cosmetics from Sri Lanka contains a minimum amount of chemistry and consists mainly of natural ingredients. Unfortunately, the maximum period of its use is two months, which means that you can not store fragrant creams and masks for a long time. Therefore, try to go through a maximum of health and beauty treatments while on vacation. Sri Lanka is a country with a huge number of SPA-salons, cosmetology rooms and Ayurvedic hotels. Pamper yourself with herbal baths, relaxing massage, various types of wraps and oil therapy. Cosmetics from Sri Lanka, made from extracts of herbs, will help you to restore strength. And also feel young and beautiful.

Fruit

Many tourists, having thought what to bring from Sri Lanka, decide that it is best to treat friends and acquaintances with exotic fruits. The warm climate and fertile land of this country allows holidaymakers to feast on exotic fruits all year round. Drinking coconuts, several kinds of bananas, mangosteen, sapodilla, rambutan and lychee are just the beginning of the list of delicious berries and fruits. Experienced travelers advise to make purchases in rural markets, where the price for them will be lower.

Alcohol

What to bring from Sri Lanka to friends or relatives of a male? You will not be mistaken if you give them a branded alcoholic beverage, which is the pride of this country. This is arake - vodka, infused with local herbs and having a specific taste. Those who like to drink argue that this type of alcohol does not cause a hangover and is even good for health. Experts also recommend a red rum "Calypso" and beer "Lyon" of local production. To avoid problems, do not get carried away by unknown varieties and remember that from the country you can take out no more than three liters of alcohol.

What to bring from Sri Lanka. Reviews and tips from tourists

All who have successfully rested in this wonderful country, are happy to share their impressions of their vacation. We'll tell you a little tricks that will help you easily find the items you are looking for and save money at the same time.

1. Exchange currency for tourists is most profitable at the airport immediately after arrival. Checks for purchased goods should be kept until the end of the trip, so that before you fly home you can easily exchange unspent funds at the current rate.
2. The cost of the same goods at different points can be very different. So do not buy your favorite souvenirs in the first store, and walk around the neighborhood and ask the price.
3. Sri Lanka is the country in which it is customary to bargain. But you need to do this as gently and kindly as possible. Talking to the seller, you can significantly reduce the price.
4. Remember that the highest prices for souvenirs are installed in places most popular among tourists.
5. If you want to make purchases on the market, then go there on Saturday or Sunday. The sooner you get there, the more you can save. Local residents, knowing about profitable offers, try to buy at the weekend all the necessary for a week ahead.
6. Jewelry in this country is not of high quality. It is better to bring beautiful stones from here and hand them over to the specialist already at home. Beware of making similar purchases on the beach and in small shops, even if the business owner is ready to provide a guarantee and a certificate.
7. Experienced tourists prefer to shop in Colombo, in local markets and in small shops. Imported goods are sold mainly in large supermarkets, and the prices for them are quite low.
8. Buying jewelry and various trifles, you are interested in the seller, where his goods were manufactured. Quite often, beads and bracelets are brought from China or India.
9. Step away from stereotypes and try to find an unusual souvenir yourself. For example, in some stores you can find utensils made from cinnamon and coconut shell.

Souvenirs from Sri Lanka, photos of which you can see in our article, are quite bright and beautiful. Such gifts will be pleasant to present to colleagues, relatives and acquaintances. After reading that tourists are brought from Sri Lanka, you can easily make a shopping plan and do not miss any important details.