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Capital

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Currency

Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)

Language

Sinhala, Tamil

Best Time

Dec–Apr

Time Zone

IST (UTC+5:30)

Sustainability Politics
Flag of Sri Lanka
Welcome to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Tea Hills and Ancient Temples

Welcome to Sri Lanka, an island nation where lush tea plantations, ancient temples, and pristine beaches create remarkable diversity. Sigiriya's ancient rock fortress rises dramatically from the jungle, its summit offering sweeping views and remarkable frescoes. The hill country's rolling tea plantations, particularly around Nuwara Eliya, offer cool mountain air and stunning scenery. Sri Lanka's ancient cities, including Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, reveal centuries of Buddhist history and monumental architecture. The southern coast offers golden beaches, whale watching, and vibrant fishing villages. Yala National Park offers excellent safari opportunities, including one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. Traditional Ayurvedic wellness retreats reflect the island's deep-rooted holistic health traditions. Sri Lanka invites travelers to discover an island of extraordinary natural and cultural richness.

Popular City

Colombo

Colombo mixes colonial-era architecture in the Fort district with the bustling Pettah Market, where narrow lanes are organized by trade much as they have been for generations. The Gangaramaya Temple combines Sri Lankan, Thai, Chinese, and Indian architectural influences in a single, richly decorated complex. Galle Face Green, a long oceanfront lawn, fills each evening with kite flyers and street food vendors as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean. The National Museum traces Sri Lanka’s history from ancient kingdoms through colonial rule under the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. Colombo’s mix of colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers reflects the city’s rapid development in recent decades. It serves as the practical gateway before exploring the island’s ancient cities, tea country, and beaches.

Travel News

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Popular City

Kandy

Kandy, the last capital of Sri Lanka’s ancient kings, is home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world, said to house a tooth of the Buddha himself. The temple sits beside Kandy Lake, a peaceful walking loop through the heart of the city. The Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, just outside the city, showcase an enormous collection of orchids and a dramatic avenue of towering palms. The annual Esala Perahera festival fills Kandy’s streets with elaborately decorated elephants, dancers, and drummers in one of Asia’s most spectacular religious processions. The surrounding hills lead into Sri Lanka’s tea country, with plantations offering tours explaining the production of Ceylon tea. Kandy’s spiritual significance and hill-country setting make it the cultural heart of Sri Lanka.

Travel Tips

Helpful information to consider before and during your visit.

Before You Go

  • Confirm passport validity and entry requirements.
  • Check whether a tourist visa is required.
  • Keep digital copies of important documents.
  • Consider purchasing travel insurance.

Money & Payments

  • Review the local currency and exchange rate.
  • Carry some cash for small businesses and markets.
  • Check for international bank transaction fees.
  • Learn the country's customary tipping practices.

Stay Connected

  • Review your mobile carrier's international plan.
  • Consider purchasing a local SIM or eSIM.
  • Download maps for offline use before traveling.
  • Avoid sensitive transactions on unsecured Wi-Fi.

Transportation

  • Research public transportation before arrival.
  • Use licensed taxis or reputable rideshare services.
  • Check which side of the road vehicles use.
  • Confirm whether an international permit is needed.

Electricity

  • Check the country's voltage and outlet type.
  • Bring the correct plug adapter for your devices.
  • Use a voltage converter when required.
  • Pack a portable charger for longer excursions.

Weather & Clothing

  • Review the seasonal weather before packing.
  • Bring layers for changing temperatures.
  • Pack rain protection when appropriate.
  • Use sunscreen even on cool or cloudy days.

Food & Water

  • Research whether tap water is safe to drink.
  • Communicate food allergies clearly.
  • Try traditional dishes from reputable vendors.
  • Observe local dining customs and meal times.

Safety

  • Secure valuables in crowded tourist areas.
  • Avoid displaying large amounts of cash.
  • Share your itinerary with someone you trust.
  • Review current government travel advisories.

Language & Etiquette

  • Learn a few polite words in the local language.
  • Respect dress requirements at religious sites.
  • Ask permission before photographing people.
  • Follow local traditions, laws and social customs.

Emergency Planning

  • Save the country's emergency telephone number.
  • Locate your nearest embassy or consulate.
  • Keep medication in its original packaging.
  • Store emergency contacts offline and on paper.

Smart Packing

  • Pack comfortable shoes for walking and tours.
  • Keep essential medication in your carry-on.
  • Bring a reusable bottle where appropriate.
  • Leave room for locally purchased items.

Local Research

  • Check attraction hours and reservation policies.
  • Review national holidays and local closures.
  • Download important addresses before departure.
  • Leave flexibility for unexpected discoveries.
Important: Entry requirements, transportation rules, weather conditions and safety guidance can change. Verify important information with official sources before traveling.

Popular City

Galle

Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site built by the Portuguese and expanded by the Dutch, encloses a charming old town of boutique hotels, cafes, and art galleries within its still-intact ramparts. Walking the fort walls at sunset offers views over the Indian Ocean and the town’s red-tiled rooftops. The Maritime Museum and the old Dutch Reformed Church trace centuries of colonial trade that shaped the fort’s development. Just outside the walls, Unawatuna Beach offers a relaxed stretch of sand popular for swimming and sunset drinks. Galle’s blend of Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial layers, all preserved within a compact walkable fort, makes it one of the best-preserved colonial towns in Asia. It remains a highlight of Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

Local Food to Try

Discover some of Sri Lanka's most popular flavors, traditional dishes and memorable local treats during your visit.

Rice and Curry

Rice and Curry is a well-known part of Sri Lanka's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.

Kottu Roti

Kottu Roti is a well-known part of Sri Lanka's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.

Hoppers

Hoppers is a well-known part of Sri Lanka's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.

String Hoppers

String Hoppers is a well-known part of Sri Lanka's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.

Lamprais

Lamprais is a well-known part of Sri Lanka's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.

Fish Ambul Thiyal

Fish Ambul Thiyal is a well-known part of Sri Lanka's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.

Dhal Curry

Dhal Curry is a well-known part of Sri Lanka's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.

Pol Sambol

Pol Sambol is a well-known part of Sri Lanka's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.

Watalappan

Watalappan is a well-known part of Sri Lanka's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.

Dining tip: Regional specialties and preparation styles vary throughout Sri Lanka. Explore local markets, independent cafés and family-owned restaurants for an authentic taste of the destination.

Little-Known Facts

Sri Lanka

Sudan is home to more pyramids than any other country on Earth, including Egypt, with the ancient Nubian kingdom of Kush having built over 200 pyramids near Meroë, though smaller and steeper than their more famous Egyptian counterparts, and far less visited despite their remarkable historical significance. The country was once home to the powerful Kingdom of Kush, which at one point conquered and ruled over Egypt itself as its 25th dynasty, a reversal of the more commonly known historical direction of influence.

Sudan sits at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile in its capital, Khartoum, where the two rivers, visibly different in color, merge to form the Nile River proper before continuing north through Egypt to the Mediterranean. Historically one of the largest countries in Africa by land area, Sudan split in 2011 when South Sudan seceded following a lengthy civil conflict, reducing its territory significantly while it retained the bulk of the shared population's historical Arabic-Islamic cultural identity in the north.

Sudan has faced significant ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises in recent years, but its ancient Nubian archaeological sites, largely overshadowed by Egypt's more famous monuments, remain a rich and comparatively unexplored resource for historians and archaeologists.
Another little-known fact is that Albanians have a unique cultural tradition called "Besa," meaning "to keep one's promise." This centuries-old code of honor became internationally recognized during World War II when Albania was one of the few European countries where the Jewish population actually increased because local families risked their lives to shelter refugees. Albania also boasts the stunning Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), a natural spring with crystal-clear turquoise water whose exact depth remains unknown despite multiple explorations.

Finally, Albania enjoys more than 300 sunny days each year, rivaling many Mediterranean destinations. The country is also famous for its "sworn virgins"—a centuries-old tradition in remote mountain villages where women could legally assume male social roles by taking a lifelong vow of celibacy, preserving family inheritance and leadership in the absence of male heirs.