Hello Friends!
Looking for a good place to visit next winter? Want to experience different weather and collect amazing experiences? Today I'm telling you about a country rich in biodiversity - Sri Lanka. Maybe you've heard about it before.
Things to Do in Sri Lanka
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Would you like to experience this? Before we go to Sri Lanka, let's learn more about it.
Sri Lanka's Flag
[Photo link]: Do you know what Sri Lanka's flag means?
Location
Sri Lanka is a small island nation surrounded by the Indian Ocean in South Asia. India is to the northwest. Sri Lanka sits southeast of the Indian subcontinent in the Indian Ocean. The Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar form the sea border between India and Sri Lanka. The sea distance between India and Sri Lanka is about 25 kilometers. Sri Lanka also shares a sea border with Maldives to the southwest.
Sri Lanka's geographic coordinates
Latitude: 5°55′ to 9°51′ North
Longitude: 79°41′ to 81°53′ East
Size
Sri Lanka covers 65,610 km² (25,300 square miles). It's 432 km (268 miles) from north to south and 224 km (139 miles) from east to west.
History
Sri Lanka has over 2,500 years of written history, but its history goes back to prehistoric times. Ancient human settlements and even an old iron factory ruins have been found.
Ancient chronicles like Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa provide written evidence about Sri Lanka's history. According to these, Prince Vijaya from Lala in India accidentally came to Sri Lanka in the 6th century BC. He married a local princess named Kuveni, starting the Sinhalese nation.
Anuradhapura was Sri Lanka's first kingdom. Later, the capital moved to Polonnaruwa, Yapahuwa, Dambadeniya, Kotte, Sitawaka, and Kandy because of enemy attacks.
Later, Portugal, the Netherlands, and England ruled Sri Lanka as a colony. Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain on February 4, 1948, but as a dominion. In 1972, Sri Lanka became fully independent from the British Empire and became a republic. Since then, it's called "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka."
Different nations used various names for Sri Lanka in the past: Sinhale, Ceylon, Taprobane. In Ptolemy's map, Sri Lanka is called Taprobane and is drawn larger compared to other countries, showing its importance then. Chinese Buddhist monks like Fa-Hien and Hiuen-Tsang mentioned Sri Lanka in their travel records as it was an important stop on the Maritime Silk Road.
In the past, different nations came to Sri Lanka for trade. Elephants, pearls, gems, and spices were main trade goods from Sri Lanka, as shown in inscriptions and written sources.
[Link]: Did you know the Tonigala inscription in Sri Lanka is the world's oldest document about banking systems, interest rates, and fixed deposits?
People
Sri Lanka has people from different ethnic groups: Sinhalese, Tamil, Malay, Muslim, Burgher, indigenous people, and others. There's diversity among these cultures.
Language
Most people speak Sinhalese. Some speak Tamil. Many people also know English, though some find English difficult.
Religion
The main religions in Sri Lanka are Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Catholicism, and Islam.
Festivals
Like many countries, Sri Lanka celebrates various festivals throughout the year: Sinhala-Hindu New Year, Vesak Festival, Poson Festival, Esala Festival, Poya Days, Christmas, and Sri Dalada Perahera are some main festivals. Religious celebrations at Buddhist temples, Hindu kovils, and Catholic churches happen every month.
Every month, Poya day is a holiday in Sri Lanka. Except for essential services, government offices and many private businesses close on Poya days. Buddhist people visit temples for religious activities. On major Poya days like Vesak, Poson, and Esala, there are even free food stalls (dansala).
Money and Banking
Sri Lanka's currency is the rupee. One US dollar equals about 300 rupees. International bank branches are in many cities, and most shops accept debit cards. But in rural areas, card payment might not be available, so keep some Sri Lankan rupees with you for transactions there.
Transportation
Government buses and trains are the main public transport. Private buses, taxis, domestic flights, and boat services are also used.
Some tourists rent tuk-tuks or motorbikes to drive themselves around Sri Lanka.
[Link]: How can a foreigner get a license to drive in Sri Lanka?
Taking the train to tourist destinations like Ella is a dream for many tourists. The train journey from Colombo to Badulla is a must-have experience. The train slowly passes through tea plantations, mountain ranges, colonial-era bridges, small towns, and green paddy fields, taking you to a wonderful world.
[Photo or video link]: A train journey from Colombo to Badulla
Sri Lanka's National Flower
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Sri Lanka's National Bird
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Sri Lanka's National Animal
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Climate
Biodiversity