When you hear of Sri Lanka, you might think of a sunny island full of beaches, spicy food, and beaches again. Now that I’ve actually visited, I can tell you that it is all those things, and so much more!
The number one thing that washed over me after I landed and walked around the city on my first day was how friendly people were! Many are quick with a hello, some like to chat and over the weeks I spent, I learnt that if I talked to the locals, I would find places that weren’t on the maps and weren’t recommended by the internet — whether pathways to sites or hikes and waterfalls that no one else takes or travel to, or even places to get a stellar rice and curry from! A lot of people know a handful of English at the very least, so communication isn’t as big a problem as you might think it is. Of course, it’s always good to be cautious and read up about scams — and keep your head on straight if you think a situation is becoming iffy then leave it! But for the most part, the people are genuinely helpful, and I had some really good experiences by feeling free to talk to them.
And then it was off to the beaches! It’s difficult to pinpoint my absolute favourite beach from around the coastline, as they’ve all got unique qualities that make them awesome. For example, I was wondering where to stay in Hikkaduwa because it seemed like a popular basepoint for beach related activities, and it turned out to be a fun filled location, thronged with beachgoers and for good reason! Hikka is an electric destination, and the beach is as vibrant in its atmosphere as the sun is hot! The highlights of Hikka are definitely trying out surfing — don’t worry if you are a beginner, you can bag a board and a lesson for a decent amount and paddle away to your heart’s content. I’d also recommend snorkelling. Hikka is one of the country’s marine parks, and there’s coral and rainbow coloured fish to spot and admire. In terms of beaches, the ones in the North and East coasts tend to be pristine, almost untouched in their beauty, and the waves are gentler. Down south is where the action is, and you can have a lot of fun. As a fun side note, did you know that beach weddings Sri Lanka are pretty popular? You sometimes spot a wedding shoot or the ceremony itself, right on the sand. Sometimes it’s foreigners who have come from abroad, and sometimes its locals bedecked in fancy traditional outfits, which are amazing to see up close!
Another highlight of the country is its food — there’s quite a variety of cultures, including western and east asian fusions — making for an interesting cuisine that I enjoyed exploring! Price wise it’s also pretty cheap, as you can have whole meals for the equivalent of 2–3 dollars. Rice is a staple in the country, so Rice and Curry is almost the national dish. The best part was, I had this dish a fair amount of times but I’m pretty sure I never had the same combo twice! The base is, of course, rice, and even here I’m sure that I had a few different varieties depending on where I ate. There’s always bound to be at least one meat dish — a spicy beef, chicken or fish curry. There’s also usually dahl (or parippu) and maybe a potato gravy. Other than that, the possibilities are endless. There are sambols made from leaves and coconut, vegetables that can be fried or curried, and there are additional things like chilli paste and papadam that you can add! I tried out a good variety, and I didn’t always know what I was eating, but it was a good experience either way! When I was staying on the coast I also had a lot of kotthu — which is fried pieces of something called godhamba roti, soft and more pliant than regular roti, mixed with an assortment of vegetables and meats and sometimes even cheese! It’s hot and spicy comfort food, and the making of the kotthu is a performance in itself. Other foods I really enjoyed were string hoppers — best eaten with a really spicy meat curry and a mellow yellow potato curry to balance things out, as well as kiribath, also known as milk rice. It’s creamy, soft, and tastes delicious with curries or with this sambol that I was sometimes served that had a lot of onions and chilli in it. All in all I’d say, definitely try out all the kinds of food you can.
Sri Lanka also holds a number of great hikes, and the majority of my time in the hills was spent in Ella. Ella Rock is one of the best climbs, it takes some effort and the view is so worth it! There was a man at the top serving tea and it’s one of the most satisfying things in the world to sit quietly after a climbing enjoying a hot cup of tea and gazing over green valleys! For a much less strenuous climb with equally amazing views, I climbed mini Adam’s Peak at dusk, and it was lovely. There are so many beautiful waterfalls to see — I spotted a few while on the road — and many can be reached via hikes that I’m thinking about trying out the next time I go! Another thing I enjoyed about being in the hills was the climate — it’s not nearly as hot as Colombo or down south, but it’s not cold enough for a thick jacket, meaning that it was perfect weather for trekking.
I also visited places in what’s known as the cultural triangle connecting three ancient cities and kingdoms together — Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy. One of the most well-known places in this area is Sigiriya — a huge rock fortress that tells the story of the majesty of nature being merged with innovative human invention. The story goes that two brothers fought over the throne and one ran away and hid himself in a palace perched on the top of this rock. Not much remains of the palace, but the gardens below are still intact to a large extent. It was nice to roam around, reading the occasional signs for some titbit about history, and slowly climb up the stairs to the top. Once again, the view was really nice, and the next day I climbed the mountain next door, known as Pidurangala, and from the top of this one you can see Sigirya in all its glory! Biking around Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura was also a really lovely experience, as the ruins leafy, ancient artefacts that sometimes are just stones overrun with moss and grass that make you wonder who lived there and what the purpose of the layout was, and at other times are towering sky high masses that are majestic to experience. There are a number of temples in the area, some really old and steeped in history like the famed Ruwanvelisaya that sparkles against the blue sky. I walked around a few more and didn’t quite catch all the names of the palaces, temples, and residences of various segments of society like monks, but it was a very peaceful experience. In Kandy I visited the Dalada Maligawa, a famous temple that holds a very important relic. It’s also called the Temple of the Tooth and holds a famous parade once a year which I didn’t get to see! Still, the experience was nice and Kandy is an interesting city, both modern and ancient at the same time!
Towards the end of my stay I decided to visit the Udawalawe national park, and I went on a safari. The main animal to see there was the mighty elephant, and the group I was in managed to spot quite a few — resting underneath trees, suddenly crossing our path with young ones in tow, and casually eating while ignoring us. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and not just my trip. Overall, I had a very meaningful trip in Sri Lanka, and I hope to be back soon!
