Sri Lanka is a tourist paradise with an abundance of tourist attractions like the sunny beaches, glorious ancient cities, salubrious hill country, beautiful fauna & flora, exquisite handicrafts, world renowned gems, traditional dance & drama, colorful festivals, smiling people and not forgetting the mouth watering Sri Lankan cuisine. Sri Lanka is fast becoming the shopping centre of South Asia. Not only that. It is also the ideal venue for Meetings, Incentive travel, Conferences and Exhibitions. Sri Lanka is the Nature's gift to eco-tourism enthusiasts.
Colombo, the main point of entry, is a bustling metropolis of big businesses and small bazaars; while Kandy – the last royal citadel – is the cultural center and home to the legendary Temple of the Sacred Toot Relic, and the spectacular festivals of the perahera. Galle, the ancient port, is a town within a medieval fortress; while Nuwara Eliya, in the salubrious up-country, nestles amidst picturesque tea gardens and dazzling waterfalls. In the “Rajarata”, or king’s domain, are the ancient cities of Anuradhpura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Sigiriya.
The huge irrigation tanks that dammed rivers and also harnessed the rain from the 1st Century BC are known as wonders of a unique hydraulic civilization and still provide the water for the rice fields of today. At the beginning of a new millennium, Sri Lanka still beckons as a land of splendor far beyond the limits of a tropical island.
Remains of this ancient civilization of the country reflecting the character, imagination, culture, philosophy, and the faith of its people are seen in the form of ruined cities, buildings, palaces, reservoirs, parks, Buddha images, temples, sculpture and painting throughout the Island. However it is at the major archaeological sites of Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy that the glory of the Island’s past can be seen in its true form still living among the several ruins. These ancient cities can be reached easily from Colombo in a comfortable morning's drive through green paddy fields, acres of coconut palms and alongside deep jungle where wild animals roam.
Sri Lanka's classical architecture, sculpture and painting are predominantly Buddhist. “Stupas” sprinkle the countryside, and there are several extravagantly large Buddha's sculptures, notably at Aukana and Buduruvagala. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa have the most impressive archaeological legacy, but Kandy is the most thriving cultural centre today. Colonial remnants include Dutch forts, canal and churches and British residences, clubs and courthouses. Galle in the southern is the finest colonial city on the island.
Over thousands kilometers of palm fringed sandy beaches encircle the Island. Sri Lanka is never out of season for a beach holiday. There is always some part of the beach that has friendly and warm waters. The beach resorts in the West Coast, South Coast and the East Coast are popular among the tourists who enjoy taking a dip in the warm waters and relaxing on the sandy beach.
The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka offer a salubrious cool climate in complete contrast to the hot climate in the plains. The mountain slopes are covered with acres and acres of tea with its fragrant aroma mingling with the fresh air. Nestled among the mist covered central hills in a cool basin does Nuwara Eliya, the hill resort, resemble a little English village. Road leading to this hill station winds through miles and miles of ‘green carpet' of tea bushes where tea pluckers are seen busily picking the buds that go to form the most popular brew in the world, the “Ceylon Tea”. Visitors driving through the central hill country will see acres and acres of mist covered tea lands fondly termed the 'Green Carpet' with white tea factories standing tall breaking the green carpet. If it is the morning then the tea pluckers can be seen at work with the wicker baskets hanging down their backs. A freshly brewed cup of tea can be tasted at the 'tea shops' opened at some roadside tea plantations.
Beautiful waterfalls cascading down the mountain slopes enhance the beauty of the hill country. The geographical formation of the Island with the central highland sloping down to the coastal plains has resulted in several rivers and streams starting from the central region flowing down the hilly slopes in a radial pattern, creating beautiful waterfalls in several places in the hill country.
Sri Lanka is fast becoming the shopping centre of South Asia. Several new shopping Malls are opened up in the City offering international brands of men’s and women’s wear. Garments manufactured in Sri Lanka are of the highest quality, which is in great demand in most countries including USA and UK. Souvenir hunters will find the Handicraft shops including the government handicraft emporium ‘Laksala’ very interesting with a large and wide array of local handicrafts on offer. All popular makes of electronic items are available in the City and in the Duty Free shops at the Airport. The duty free prices are highly competitive with other duty free shops in the region. Shopping in Fort, Pettah and along Galle Road is a fascinating experience. Tourist shops approved by the Ceylon Tourist Board are found in all tourist resorts.
Sri Lanka is well known for its blue sapphires, red rubies, cat's eyes, alexandrites, tourmalines, zircons, garnets, moonstones, amethysts, and topaz, among several other varieties that are in great demand. Sri Lankan gems have found their way into the highest echelons in international society. The popular gem mining area is Ratnapura (City of Gems) but, gems are found in most parts of the country. In the early days Sri Lanka was called Ratnadipa, the ‘Land of Gems’. Sri Lankan jewellery carry a complete range of head to foot ornaments that includes head and hair ornaments, earrings, chokers, necklaces, rings, bracelets, waist chains and anklets. They are made of gold or silver and very often studded with Sri Lankan gems. Gem and Jewellery shops are found in almost all cities and towns in Sri Lanka.
Buses and trains as the dominant modes of transport. Buses, ranging from smoke-spewing monsters to modern private coaches, are cheap and plentiful. Train travel, while slower, is considerably more comfortable. Motorbike and self-drive car hire are becoming increasingly popular. It's common to rent a car with a driver for a day trip or a few days' tour of the island. Local transport consists of buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws.
Cotton garments are the ideal as Sri Lanka is a tropical island. However, viscose/cotton mixed garments are commonly worn. Light clothing is recommended in the lowland areas and light woolen clothing is suitable in the hill country. A sun hat and sunglasses may help to escape the heat during daytime.
Those who intend visiting Sri Lanka could fly via Bangkok, Singapore or Malaysia from where Sri Lankan airline, the Sri Lankan national carrier operates its flights to Sri Lanka. Currently the Vietnam Airline and Sri Lankan Airline jointly offer special airfare for their passengers traveling to Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Interested travellers can obtain more information from this Embassy or the travel agent. A Travel Information Counter at the Colombo Airport operates twenty-four hours of the day to assist visitors arriving in the country.
Sri Lanka offers the travelers a wide variety of hotel accommodations from full-service luxury resorts and moderately priced bungalows to economical hotels and bungalows modeled on traditional architectural styles. Whether price, comfort, or lifestyle is your consideration, Sri Lanka’s natural beauty ensures a pleasant experience and memorable stay in the country.
Usefull Links
Sri Lanka Tourist Board Sri Lanka Travel Agencies Sri Lanka Hotels Sri Lankan Airline 
