Sri Lanka is a tiny country under India — a teardrop of an island in the Indian Ocean. Despite its size, however, the country is an extremely popular travel destination, named in international publications as one of the top places to visit! What exactly makes Sri Lanka so renowned as a travel destination?
There’s a lot of adventurous things to do, if you’re an adrenaline junkie! Scuba diving and snorkelling is a beloved activity, which makes sense because Sri Lanka is famous for its beaches. If you’re staying in one of the Hikkaduwa Hotels then you’ll be really close to the action, as the area holds one of Sri Lanka’s 3 marine national parks. You can also try skydiving, which will give you a panoramic view of the mountains that will be truly breath taking! And if you want the views without the thrill, then there are places that offer hot air balloon rides, a gentle and relaxing way to drift among the clouds and see some truly spectacular sights!
Another reason why Sri Lanka is beloved is the food, as the authentic Sri Lankan culinary field is a wide range of dishes that use locally sourced organic ingredients creating flavoursome, healthy dishes, as well as incredibly spicy curries that feature seafood and meat. A must try while you are here is rice and curry, which is simple in concept but complex in execution. At its core, it is rice (white or red) and a collection of curries, that will most probably include dahl or parippu, as well as various vegetables and at least one meat. Another dish that many fall in love with is Kotthu — which is sliced up pieces of a soft roti that is then fried with vegetables and meat. It’s served steaming hot and is incredibly tasty, making it one of the most popular dishes in the country.
In addition to food, Sri Lanka holds a lot of interesting sights that people love to visit. For example, Sigiriya has everything you would want from a historic site — a sordid backstory, a solid hike and ruins that are atop an impressive amalgamation of nature and human architecture. The scenery is beautiful, the water gardens are lovely to explore, and it overall makes for a unique experience. The country also has a number of national parks such as Yala, Wilpattu, and Udawalawe to mention a few. When you take a tour you’ll be able to see elephants, deer, and the endemic Sri Lankan leopard! There are also a number of bird species to discover.
A big reason why Sri Lanka is so renowned is because of its people. The country is often called the land of smiles, and it’s true that everyone is very generous with their smiles! Hospitality is something that comes naturally, and you will hear people freely greet visitors, and will be very helpful with directions and things like that when you are lost. Speak to the locals, as they will most likely be willing to share interesting places to visit that not everyone will know about.
