10 essentials: what to see and do in Sri Lanka in 10 days

Know Sri Lanka It has been one of those coincidences of destiny that appear one day and that remain marked on you forever.

Un authentic country completely away from mass tourism that, fortunately, still retains its essence.

There were many doubts I had before travel to sri lanka, an Asian country located on a large island that took the name of Ceylon during the british colonization.

Where is Sri Lanka and what is it like?

Due to its location on the map, it was not clear to me if it belonged to India, since the island is located in front of that country, nor was it clear to me what to expect from this trip.

That's why I decided to visit it with hardly any prior information about what I was going to find. And I really have to admit that it was a big surprise.

Sri Lanka shows a tremendous cultural and religious variety, in an absolutely privileged environment of jungles, forests, natural parks, waterfalls y beaches.

The best things to see and do in Sri Lanka: essentials

After our trip, and based on our experience, below I detail the essential places to see in Sri Lanka in a 10 to 12 day trip.

Colombo: what to see and do in the capital of Sri Lanka

Columbo is currently the capital of sri lanka, but it has not always been this way.

We are talking about a city without a historical tradition, since the appointment of Colombo as the capital of Sri Lanka is summarized in a political decision linked to the country's commercial interests.

30 percent of the world's maritime traffic passes through Sri Lanka's waters and locating a large port was a vital issue for the country's economy.

Despite not being a historic city, Colombo is a place worth spending a day if you travel to Sri Lanka.

Especially considering his proximity to the airport, making it an ideal stay for the beginning or end of the trip.

If you are going to spend a day in the city, there are some points that are worth knowing.

Climb the Lotus Tower

The main one to see the city from above would be climb the Lotus Tower, with its 350 meters high, the tallest tower in all of South Asia.

La Lotus Tower It is a building that can almost be said to have just been opened and has a viewpoint at 253 meters which costs tourists 20 euros to go up, but which serves to see all the important points of Colombo.

Mosques and Buddhist temples in Colombo

Being a modern city, Columbo It does not have places with many years of history, but it does have a great mixture of religions, that's why some of the most interesting visits are to see their Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim temples.

Essential in that list of places to see in Colombo should be included the Red Mosque of Jami Ul-Alfar and the Buddhist temple of Gangarama Semma Malakaya.

If you want to get into city life, the place is Aslam Market, as a prominent historical place Independence Memorial Hall of the country, and if you are looking for contact with the sea where you can go for a walk, the place is Galle face green.

Sigiriya, the most important tourist site in Sri Lanka

Sigiriya is undoubtedly the most important tourist place you have to visit in Sri Lanka.

World Heritage Site from 1982, Sigiriya was home to one of the most important civilizations in the country's history.

What to see and do in Sigiriya

Sigiriya It is a place full of mysteries and legends, since like the pyramids of Egypt, it is very difficult to understand with the data we have, how a civilization from the 5th century AD could have been able to build something like this in such hostile terrain. .

The visit to Sigiriya: The Lion Rock, is, without a doubt, more than a visit, an adventure through history, a place to let your imagination fly trying to find out how a civilization with such precarious technology was able to build this jewel.

The climb is not easy with its 1.200 steps, but the reality is that it is one of those places where the effort is worth it.

For the local people it is almost like the origin of their country, although there are remains of other previous kingdoms.

Sigiriya is what they consider to be the most important place in its history and first capital of Sri Lanka.

Kandy, the most important Buddhist city in Sri Lanka

Kandy It is the most important city in the interior of Sri Lanka and one of the most sacred points for world Buddhism, not only in Sri Lanka.

The Temple of the Buddha Tooth in Kandy

This is because in Kandy is the Temple of the buddha tooth o Sri Dalada Maligawa

In fact, a visit to Kandy basically focuses on seeing this temple and learning about its importance within Buddhism.

To give you an idea of ​​the importance of this temple for Buddhists, it is like Mecca for Muslims or The Vatican for Catholics.

The fact that the aforementioned tooth is in the city is a true miracle, since it went through many adventures before finally staying here.

All the kings of the different kingdoms fought to have it in their domain.

It became a sign of power to have it under your control, a king was not powerful enough if he did not have the Buddha tooth.

The tooth arrived in Kandy from Polonnaruwa through several sites previously, and was even in the hands of the English during the colonization of Sri Lanka in 1815, finally returning it before the country's independence.

Once a year, in the month of May, coinciding with the full moon, the birth and death of Buddha is celebrated 2.500 years ago, a festival called vesak which we were lucky to see because it coincided with our trip.

It is the most similar to the eastern where all the Buddhists gather around the temple to visit it and approach the room where the buddha tooth.

Access is very restricted, you have to wear white (although it is not mandatory), you cannot see your shoulders, belly, knees, you cannot enter with tobacco or lighters and you go through metal detectors like in the airport.

Additionally, during those three days of festivity, alcohol cannot be sold by law throughout the country.

Nuwara Eliya, English colonial style in Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya known as Little London since its climate is very similar to that of the English capital and completely different from the rest of the island.

It is located in one of the highest areas of Sri Lanka, so the wealthy people of the island use this area as a second home to escape the oppressive heat that can occur at certain times of the year.

Nuwara Eliya It has a small town where some very prestigious clothing brands are also manufactured, such as North Face o Patagonia, and that is why it is possible to buy high-quality garments at almost bargain prices.

It also has a huge park that surrounds the lake that dominates the town.

Nuwara Eliya It is a small area of english colonial style in the heart of the island, where also the famous is cultivated ceylon tea which is then sold to everyone.

It is possible to visit this area tea plantations and factories where you can see the entire production process.

Sri Lanka is the fourth largest tea producer in the world since it was the English in their colonial process who established it along with coffee.

But in recent years coffee has been disappearing, especially after a plague that hit the island.

Since that moment, the center of the island changed its crops and they have such quality that there is a special tea that was only produced for the Queen of England.

Polonnaruwa, historical site of Sri Lanka

The remains of Polonnaruwa are, without a doubt, the most important historical area of ​​Sri Lanka, along with Sigiriya.

The complex of Polonnaruwa It corresponds to what was the capital of the 12th century, and is made up of several temples and the remains of a old royal palace.

It is very curious that, like the entire island, the best preserved part is the religious part.

And in Sri Lanka the religion was much more powerful than the kings, and that is why the temples were built with better materials than the palaces.

And that has led to much better conservation of the temples.

En Polonnaruwa Up to 3.000 monks lived there, and although it stopped being the capital in 1017, a symptom of the power of this city was that the buddha tooth.

There were many temples in the old city, so the ideal thing to do during your visit is to spend time seeing several of them while touring the old city by bike.

Minneriya National Park: Where to See Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a true paradise for elephants, where around 6.000 specimens live in freedom.

In fact, it is quite common to see them crossing roads, especially near national parks.

There are several areas of the island where it is possible to see wild elephants because throughout the year they move around the island, but we took a 4×4 excursion to see them in Minneriya National Park.

These types of excursions are usually done first thing in the morning, or else in the afternoon, when sunset is approaching because elephants usually go to areas where there is water to drink.

Being a visit in the middle of nature, it is not one hundred percent guaranteed that you can see them.

For example, we started the visit raining, which are very bad conditions to see them, but we were lucky and we were able to see them.

In the end the sun even came out, making this visit one of the most impressive of our entire trip to sri lanka.

How and where to see the 9 Arch Bridge

Probably the most viewed photo of Sri Lanka is the Bridge of 9 arches.

Thanks to Instagram, there are hundreds of people who have among their essentials in this country seeing the bridge just when the train that runs through the entire island passes over it.

But as often happens in these places that become fashionable for Instagram, it is a visit that usually disappoints.

Especially if you are not prepared for what can happen.

In all those guides Instagram It is never said that once you arrive in the town of Ella, to get to the bridge you have to do well doing a trekking, or with a tuk tuk.

In either case there is an animal in the area that usually comes out to greet you, and they are the leeches.

The entire environment is full of these small animals that stick to your feet and suck your blood.

It's okay because they don't transmit diseases, but it is a little uncomfortable, especially if you're not wearing the right clothes.

In short, it is a place that is very worthwhile, especially for the wild environment where it is located in the jungle interior of the island, but you have to know that when you visit the bridge, the leeches are waiting for you.

Negombo, the footprint of the Portuguese

Negombo It is a very visited place on the island, especially on the first day of the trip or the last due to its proximity to the airport.

A very peculiar place on the island with many hotels and tourist areas, but which nevertheless keeps some secrets for those who want to open their eyes and look.

This area was very frequented by The Portuguese, first colonizers of the island, and their influence can still be felt today.

Especially when you notice that it is full of Catholic churches, when in reality the majority of the population is Buddhist.

It is also a fishing place and it is common to find fishermen going out fishing or areas full of fish drying rooms.

Best beaches in Sri Lanka: where they are

Sri Lanka has areas of awesome beaches.

It must be taken into account that it is a very frequented place for couples in Honeymoon that spend a few days in Maldives, and then they take a tour of the island.

The most famous area of ​​beaches on the island is the south, where some of the most beautiful are, but you must take into account the climate of the island and the month in which you visit.

If you are looking for beaches and visit the island in summer, the east is much more interesting since it rains less, but if your visit is in the months of January and February, you should choose the south.

Don't expect to find crystal clear waters like those of the Maldives, but the impressive landscape of the Maldives is guaranteed. kilometer-long beaches among palm forests.

Tricomalee and colonial history

Trichomalee It is an area of ​​the island that reflects very well the historical and colonial past of Sri Lanka.

You have to know that it is a Buddhist majority country, despite having the influence of India so close to Hindu tradition.

And that is precisely why it is shocking to see in Trichomalee un hindu temple on top of a colonial fortress.

The Portuguese settled in this area and it was later the Dutch who built a fortress.

Por eso Trichomalee It is such an interesting place because of its mix of religions and cultures.

And if that were not enough, its waters and beaches are some of the best on the island for diving.

Don't forget to visit the town with its authentic fish and vegetable markets. Around Tricomalee there are several very interesting fish drying facilities.