Sri Lanka

Known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka lies like a teardrop, falling from the tip of India's South Coast. Once a little-known treasure, thousands of travellers stumbled upon the island by some 'fortunate accident' and so began to call Sri Lanka the Isle of Serendipity. Known for its white-sanded beaches and turquoise sea, its abundance of rare wild-life and rich foliage, its precious gem mines, its rolling hills carpeted with the best tea in the world, and its rich history and cultural heritage, Sri Lanka is a breath-taking get-away

POPULATION

Sri Lanka's population is a colourful mosaic of different ethnic and religious groups. The Sinhalese people form the largest ethnic group in the nation, composing approximately 74% of the total population. Sri Lankan Tamils form 18% of the population, and are concentrated mainly in the northeastern part of the country. "Indian Origin" Tamils, brought from India as indentured labourers by British colonists to work on estate plantations, are distinguished from the native Tamil population that has resided in Sri Lanka since ancient times. These "Indian Origin" Tamils still reside mainly in Sri Lanka's hill country where Tea is grown. There is a significant population of Muslims, who trace their lineage to Arab traders and immigrants and they are concentrated in the eastern provinces. There are also small ethnic groups such as the Burghers, of mixed European descent, and Malay people. Sri Lanka also has a unique community of indigenous people called the Veddahs. They are believed to be the first inhabitants of Sri Lanka and are thought to be related to the aborigines of Australia, the Nicobar Islands and Malaysia.

RELIGION

As a result of its ethnic diversity, Sri Lanka also is home to various religious faiths and is one of the few countries to celebrate every religious holiday as a national holiday. Buddhism is considered the official religion of Sri Lanka. The school of Buddhism followed in the country is the Theravada School and it was first brought to Sri Lanka in 2nd century BC by Mahinda, the son of Ashoka, the Indian emperor of that time. Buddhism is an important part of Sinhalese culture and the two are strongly linked. Hinduism is practiced by 18% of the population, whom are almost exclusively Tamil-speaking, as well as immigrants from India and Pakistan such as the Sindhis, Telugus and Malayalees. Hinduism is dominant in the Northeastern province, where Tamil people are in significant numbers. Christianity is practiced by 7-8% of the population, especially by the Portuguese and Dutch Burgher people. The Portuguese first brought Christianity to the island in 1618 when many Tamil Hindus and Sinhala Buddhists were encouraged to convert to Catholicism. While most Sri Lankan Christians are Catholics, there are also significant numbers who adhere to Dutch Reformed Church and the Anglican Communion. A significant portion of Sri Lanka's population is Muslim. The Muslims of Sri Lanka claim descendancy from the Arab traders who made Sri Lanka their home even before the advent of Islam. They can be categorized into two groups, the Moors and the Malays.

THE PEOPLE & THE LANGUAGES

For a small island, Sri Lanka has quite a large population of 19.8 million and its adult literacy rate is a little over 86%. The life expectancy is 70 years for men and 75.4 years for women. Sinhala and Tamil are both the official languages of the nation, with 80% speaking Sinhalese and 18% speaking Tamil.

Sri Lanka's climate can be described as tropical, in other words, hot and humid. Its position between 5 and 10 north latitude endows the country with a warm climate, moderated by ocean winds and considerable moisture. The mean temperature ranges from a chilly low of 16oC in Nuwara Eliya in the Central Highlands, where even frost may occur for several days in the winter, to a high of 32o C in Trincomalee on the northeast coast. The average yearly temperature for the country as a whole ranges from 28 to 30oC. Seasons - monsoon

COLOMBO

The business area of Sri Lanka contains The World Trade Centre, the President's Residence and several colonial structures where you can observe the influence of the British Empire on the country's architecture. If you're interested in learning more about the Island's cultural heritage, there are several Museums and Local art galleries in Colombo that tell Sri Lanka's tales far better than anyone. The Colombo National Museum, Sri Lanka's finest museum, is a grand colonial building that houses many of the island's historical treasures, such as 4000 archaic palm leaf manuscripts, rock sculptures from ancient cities and royal weapons of Sri Lankan kings. The Natural History Museum and the Dutch Period Museum are also great places to visit if you want to get a complete look at Sri Lanka's historical background. Sri Lanka's religious diversity can be seen immediately as you drive through Colombo, with its colourful mosques and hindu temples, opulent Buddhists temples, and grand Churches. Many of these religious places welcome tourists who are interested in exploring their places of worship.

KANDY

Kandy, one of Sri Lanka's finest cities, once a remarkable Kingdom that stood independent amidst the Dutch and Portuguese rule even while all other Sri Lankan kingdoms had fallen. Its beauty, agreeable climate and air of tranquillity have all encouraged its development as the true religious and cultural heart of Sri Lanka. There is much to see in this unique city, with architectural monuments that remain testament to a once resplendent civilisation.

A grand man-made lake lies in the centre of the city, and is a favourite sight for many of the visiting tourists. The famous Temple of the Tooth is said to be the home of Sri Lanka's most important religious relic, the sacred tooth of Buddha Another great place to visit while in Kandy is the Kandyan Arts and Cultural Centre. The centre puts on a show with graceful cultural dancers, drummers and even fire walking! You can even take a walk through the exotic lawns of the Peradiniya Botanical Gardens, and visit the Orchid House or the huge Jaryan Fig Tree and see several rare botanical species. Kandy is at its best in late July/ August for Esala Perahera, a 10 day festival reputed to be one of the most spectacular festivals in all Asia. You will see vibrant processions with dancers, fire throwers, numerous elephants dressed in richly embroidered silks, and men dressed in royal clothes similar to those worn by Kandy's great Kings.

GALLE

Once a major port, Galle is an exquisite city filled with colonial Dutch and Portuguese history and architecture. The imposing Fort is a tourist's treasure; it houses the national Maritime Museum, the National museum and the more recent (1938) lighthouse. The Fort overlooks the sparkling turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and it is easy to get lost in its atmosphere, rich with memories of a bygone era. Galle, famous for its lace, is filled with priceless crafts and antique treasures like jewellery, ceramics, and Dutch period furniture and brass work. The little city of Galle is a fascinating stop, not just for historians, but for anyone interested in learning more about Sri Lanka's historical experience.

NUWARA ELIYA

Nuwara Eliya, otherwise known as "Little England," is a quaint town located in Sri Lanka's beautifully lush hill country. During the British Colonial Period, Nuwara Eliya was a favourite holiday retreat for the cr?me de la cr?me of British society on the island. They turned this town, with its ideal cool temperature and rich foliage, into a beautiful little town strongly reminiscent of England, from the architecture of the houses to the flowers that still peep out of every corner. To this day, Sri Lanka's "Little England" remains almost completely untouched and you feel like you've skipped continents as you enter its city limits. Nuwara Eliya's tradition has remained unchanged as it is still known to be a retreat for the island's elite. During its 'season' in April, the little town comes alive as Sri Lanka's high society flocks there for the horse and motor races, grand dances and exclusive golf tournaments.

Visiting one of the many tea factories perched high on the hills surrounding Nuwara Eliya is definitely a must. It is here that the best of Sri Lanka's teas - the fragrant and delicately flavoured "high grown" - flourish. Nuwara Eliya's Galway Bird Sanctuary is a 27 acre park where you can catch a glimpse of a great variety of rare and tropical birds, an unbeatable spot for nature-lovers. The Hakgala Botanical Gardens, Victoria Gardens and Horton Plains are also great places to visit if you want to take in Nuwara Eliya's unique landscape and carefully maintained flower gardens. "World's End" is another popular site in Nuwara Eliya. It is a terrifying precipice, that drops vertically for about 1,000 feet (328 meters) and falls away almost as steeply for another 4,000 feet (1,312 meters).

BENTOTA

Bentota is a popular city amongst tourists eager to enjoy the beautiful beaches that Sri Lanka has to offer. There are many large luxury hotels in the area and a few boutique hotels that all promise to be a comfortable 'home away from home' as you enjoy the sand and surf. Bentota is well-experienced with what tourists want, so you can arrange almost anything from swimming, diving and fishing to water-sports like water skiing, wind-surfing, jet-skiing and tubing. With so many great hotels within walking distance of each other, you never have to eat at the same place twice. A short walk along the beach will take you through at least 5 beautiful hotels, and the seafood is fresh and delicious at every one of them. The night life is also quite lively during tourist season, and you will be able to meet many people from all over the world and swap stories of your travels.

Visiting the colourful and friendly local beach community will be a treat, you will find that a surprising number of the locals have picked up German and other languages from the tourists frequenting Bentota. So you might be able to get local tips on what to see and do in Bentota. The beaches are also home to Sri Lanka's famous Giant Sea Turtles and you can visit the nearby hatchery at Kosgoda. The hatchery has prepared protected beds of sand for the eggs, laid annually and large tanks to view the young before they are returned to the sea.

The South West is also well known for its Ayurvedic centres. The age-old eastern form of spa rejuvenation treatment, with the use of herbal medicine to de-stress, detox and relax the body. We will be happy to recommend hotels that focus on Ayurvedic treatments and programs.