What makes Sri Lanka a hidden gem?

Any traveller looks for just three things on a trip: A naturally beautiful country, friendly people and excellent food. A traveller visiting Sri Lanka gets to experience all these and so much more – there is picturesque beauty as far as the eye can reach, history and tradition at so many different places, a good climate and umpteen stunning beaches.

Get your Sri Lanka visa for a longish holiday in this island country. Make sure your Sri Lanka tour package covers places that showcases the unique:

1. Fantastic topography: You will be left amazed by the diverse topography of Sri Lanka. From beaches that change in appearance from pristine white sandy ones to rocky alcoves, and from various lagoons and dense jungles to swanky but flat city areas, Sri Lanka offers much to see and experience. Then there are misty mountains, lush tea plantations, waterfalls and large swathes of green meadows. Sri Lanka balances the countryside and its city character exceedingly well.
   
   
             
2. Rich history: Sri Lanka is replete with anecdotes and relics from its rich historical past. It shows remnants of its connection to the Indian epic, Ramayana, as well as many examples of its ancient architectural prowess. There are scores of old temples in reasonably good condition to visit, apart from the Cultural Triangle, an area housing six World Heritage Sites. You can look at frescoes, murals, old palaces, stunning stone work and filigree as well as dome-shaped dagobas. Then there are signs of its colonial past, with a Dutch fort and an old township at Galle.
   
   
3. Adventure sports: Since the country is an island, it has an ample coastline that offers tremendous opportunities for wind surfing, water skiing, banana boating and snorkelling, among many others. Plus, there are over 100 rivers, in which you can sail and go kayaking. All adventure sports are safe and tested by trained professionals. You and your family can have a whale of a time trying different adventure sports here. If you choose to stay on land, you can go trekking, biking and hiking.
   
   
4. Flora and fauna: The country’s beauty can be attributed in a large part to its astonishing variety of flora and fauna. Sri Lankans are proud to preserve this aspect of their country, and justly so – the world’s first wildlife sanctuary was set up in Sri Lanka in the 3^rd Century! Today, the country boasts of excellent jungle corridors, parks, zoos and reserves. You can book a jungle safari or make your way through a wonderful ornithological tour.
   
   
5. Warm people: Sri Lankans are some of the nicest, most gracious people in the world. They take hospitality quite seriously, and they pride themselves on taking care of tourists to the best of their ability. Even your local tour guide might invite you into his home – do not decline the invitation to visit the home of a local, or it is perceived as an insult. When you visit a Sri Lankan home, carry a gift for the host and hostess and eat the way the locals do.

Sri Lanka, heritage sites, one awesome trip

One of the better ideas you can have this year is to take a long overdue family vacation. An even better idea? Checking out Sri Lanka this year.

Why Sri Lanka? Because it has verdant landscapes, the best food and the warmest people. It is fairly easy to go from spot to spot and discover new surprises at every turn – the country has every prospect that pleases the senses. You can go on a spiritual retreat or shop for local textiles and spices. Or you can simply be a beach bum and enjoy your honeymoon there. It is little wonder that many couples include Sri Lanka when booking an international honeymoon package, because the country affords privacy and warmth all around.

However, there is one aspect of Sri Lanka that not many visitors are aware of at first. The country is home to several UNESCO certified world heritage sites, and each is worth looking at a million times over. From temples to forests and from entire towns to sacred cities, there are as many as eight world heritage sights to explore. These are guaranteed to take you back in history and refresh your knowledge about the country’s ancient heritage. Some of these sites are protected highlands that will take your breath away with their stunning beauty! So be sure to include these sites in your tour itinerary when you book your Sri Lanka visa.

In no particular order, then, here are Sri Lanka’s eight UNESCO world heritage sites:

1. Galle. This town was the country’s oldest port and it developed into a prosperous town by the 18^th Century. Post this period, the British arrived in the country and developed another harbour at Colombo. Today, it is still remembered as the country’s first centre of trade and commerce.
   
   
2. Anuradhapura. This city bears the marks of Sri Lanka’s ancient heritage even today – history buffs will revel in the many ancient monasteries and archaeological sites present here. It was the country’s first official political capital and still bears the hallmarks of religion, culture and historical social life.
   
3. Cave temple of Dambulla. Temples are always a mirror to the yesteryear culture, and this one is revered as the country’s first seat of Buddhism. It boasts of the largest cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, several of which still exhibit statues and paintings depicting Buddha. There are a staggering 153 Buddha statues in stone, apart from carvings and idols of a few Hindu gods, famous kings and queens.
   
4. Central highlands. If you’re attracted to flora and fauna, this is the site for you. It boasts of varied species of plants and animals, bolstered by the presence of the Horton Plains National Park, the Knuckles Conservation Forest and the Peak Wilderness Protected Area Zone. You might need a couple of days to see everything!
   
5. Sinharaja Forest. Don’t be fooled by the name: this site is not known for lions. However, it boasts of the largest biosphere reserve in the continent and comprises of a virgin rainforest housing rare amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. There are also several exotic types of flowers and herbs.
   
6. Polonnaruwa. This city was one of ancient Sri Lanka’s political capitals till wars over succession undermined its status. However, it was touted to be one of the most beautifully designed cities of the ancient world, with excellent town planning principles employed while setting it up. Even today, it bears many marks of its glorious history – you can find many archaeological remains here that bear testimony to its historical status and wealth.
   
7. Sigiriya. The most astonishing feature of this ancient fortress city is its breath-taking castle built by the powerful King Kashyapa in the 5^th Century. The castle is a feat of engineering and architectural planning, and it overlooks a stunning Lion Gate and wall of frescoes. In the same complex is situated a smaller palace that was built to repel invaders. Do visit this especially if you work in the construction/architecture/interior design industry to get pointers on how ancient builders constructed structures on a large scale.
   
8. Dalada Maligawa/Temple of the Sacred Tooth. The most special part of this temple is the ‘tooth relic’ of the Buddha. This tooth was jealously guarded by the ruling kings, since it was believed that those owning the tooth would automatically own the land. This site is difficult to access owing to its location in the mountains. When you visit, do drop by on a Wednesday to witness the ceremonial bathing of the tooth.

Here’s toasting Sri Lanka!

If you are looking for an ideal holiday with the best of food, sightseeing and local residents, you need not look beyond Sri Lanka. The beautiful island country was recently racked by civil violence, but it is completely safe to visit now. Also, the visa application process is simple. As long as visitors respect the local customs and traditions, they can have the most enjoyable stay in the country.

Beautiful Sri Lanka

The procedure for applying for a Sri Lanka visa is:

- Sri Lanka insists on Electronic Travel Authorization before entering Sri Lanka. You can get more information on this by logging on to www.eta.gov.lk. This authorization is deemed complete with the relevant form filled out and the stipulated payment made.

- Your Sri Lanka visa will be granted only when you furnish complete details of your purpose of visit (tourism or business), length of stay, place of accommodation in Sri Lanka and arrival and departure dates. Your Sri Lanka visa can be categorized as Visit Visa (for tourism or business), Residence Visa (for non-Sri Lankan nationals who wish to reside in the country for temporary or permanent purposes), Transit Visa (for those passing through Sri Lanka on their way to another country and Gratis Visa (given to holders of diplomatic passports).

-  The visa will be granted to you if you have a confirmed return ticket to your country of residence and if you have enough funds in your bank account to finance your stay and return journey from Sri Lanka,. Please note: Your passport must be original and valid, and your purpose of entering Sri Lanka is approved by the visa issuing authorities.

India shares some major cultural mores with Sri Lanka – both countries believe, for instance, that warm hospitality must be extended to all visitors. Like Indians, Sri Lankans are welcoming towards visitors, and they are also quick to offer assistance when they see a tourist in distress. You will be surprised by how gentle a Sri Lankan resident can be with foreign travelers.

Solo women travelers can freely explore public spaces and use the local transport without fear of being harassed by men. Young couples on honeymoon can also explore the country without fear of any threat or persecution by the locals.

Also, Indians visiting Sri Lanka will confess to being struck by the cleanliness of the streets. Sri Lankans take utter pride in presenting a clean image of themselves. They have excellent garbage disposal systems, and their public toilets are many in number and properly maintained.