Official Name: The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a fascinating place known as “The Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” a gorgeous island worth exploring. I have encountered some of the best people in the world here, the best for me (not for everybody since we all have different preferences). The people here are polite, respectful, clean (yes, you can have little at times but be very clean), and caring. I went there solo (solo travel) in my 50s and I was so well taken care of… I made tight friendships that last until today.
Nations Online Project. Sri Lanka. [format]. “Map of Sri Lanka, Asia.” URL: https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/Sri-Lanka-political-map.htm. July 9, 2024
I never felt unsafe anywhere in Sri Lanka. I always booked myself places in “touristy areas” at least at the beginning of my journey to learn my way around and then hop to local places. Western females do get attention (and I am older), and those catcalls will come, no matter how old you are. Like anywhere, ignoring is the best approach, particularly at the beginning of the journey where we are still testing the waters.
We all learn different things while traveling. These are some of the important things I learned…
- I learned Sri Lanka is VERY different from India. It has a lovely distinct culture.
- I learned these people are polite, courteous, kind, and loving….by far one of the best folks I have ever encountered during my travels. I made real friendships here not just acquaintances.
- I learned Sinhala and Tamil are the main languages and they speak English very well in most urban areas of the country
- I learned tea is an essential part of not only business and the country’s workforce but also it is one of the very best. However, these tea plantations still need to provide better wages to their workers (mostly women working all day under the hottest sun) so that equity is not a word with no meaning. Lipton tea was created here
- I learned the relic of the Tooth of Buddha, upper canine, is at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth in the city of Kandy..mind mind-blowing!!
- I learned that Sri Lanka has the world’s oldest recorded wildlife preserve, and it is a paradise when it comes to flora and fauna. Please don’t ride on elephants. Elephants should be seen in their natural habitat and not as trained animals used for work.
- Sri Lanka holds one of UNESCO’s sites, which is the Sigiriya Rock fortress (also called Lion’s Rock), which was built as a fortress more than 1,000 years ago.
- It has the highest literacy rate in Southeast Asia.
- I learned that there is a variety of faiths. However, Theravada Buddhists are the majority, followed by Hindus, Muslims, and Christians.
- Sri Lanka is the oldest continuously Buddhist nation to date. Theravada Buddhism was introduced in the 2nd century BC, and it has been Sri Lanka’s major religion since then.
- I learned that it is such a beautiful country! I would like to stay there for a long time.
- I learned how to make curry…sort of….
- I highly recommend a visit to this lovely place with incredibly friendly people!
Terrorist Attack in Sri Lanka, April 2019
When I was there in 2019 there was a deadly terrorist attack on Easter in the country. On April 21st, 2019, three churches and three luxury hotels were bombed by Islamic terrorists, followed by smaller bombings in the city of Colombo. The tragedy killed almost 300 people and injured many more. I was scheduled to be at one of those churches to visit during Easter and at the last minute, I decided to travel instead. Fate.
This was Sri Lanka’s worst single terror attack. I was born Catholic (baptized without warning 😉 and I felt deeply hurt about this tragedy where so many lives were lost. By NO MEANS does have anything to do with the core of the Sri Lankans…I felt how deeply they were hurt by the attack regardless of their religion.
I never felt unsafe and I traveled extensively throughout the country.
You could find banners like this everywhere in the country
Transportation around SL
There are plenty of buses, AC and non-AC vans, trains, and my absolute favorite TUK-TUK!!!! There is the option, like in most places, to hire a car and a driver. During my visit to Sri Lanka, I traveled by regular buses (yes hot but fun!!), AC vans, and trains all around the island. I don’t mind the heat, dust, you name it.
Tuk-tuks, rickshaws, can be found anywhere in Sri Lanka. It is a fantastic way to see the country! Nothing like a tuk-tuk with 90’s F / 30’s C temperature ….the wind and the shade inside the tuk-tuk will be of utmost help@
tuk-tuk
Totally inspired
Buses take you everywhere, however, most don’t have air conditioning. I don’t mind the heat so it was a great way to travel and to meet locals
Lovely bus riders helping me along the way!
My bus my big suitcase
Traveling around in Sri Lanka
Train travel is a MUST in Sri Lanka. The train ride is by far one of the most scenic train rides in the world. My travel from Kandy to Ella was magic and I met a dear friend Father Nalin Fernando with whom I am still in touch today. Train travel can cover 80% of travel in Sri Lanka
Traveling off-grid allows me to gain a new perspective on the country. My interactions with locals expand my horizons and it provides me with the honor and opportunity to look t things in a different way. Oh the beauty of experiential learning (learning by experience supported with empirical data…haha the academic comes out at times;-)
where to stay, what to see
*NOTE: NONE OF THE PLACES OR EXPERIENCES BELOW WERE SPONSORED
Colombo
I decided to stay in a Sri Lankan home. I do need to say that Airbnb is not as affordable as it used to be, however, it is a venue that I trusted while choosing where to stay. I stayed in Margaretha’s Nest….a joy! I was part of the family…💕 and Eryanga was amazing!
Colombo is definitely worth seeing, full of history as an ancient port that was part of Portuguese, British, and Dutch explorers. You will see the imprint of these backgrounds mixed with the beautiful Sri Lankan unique local ancient art that dates back to the second century BC.
Kandy
Kandy is on a plateau and it is surrounded by mountains and very green….gorgeous!
Kandy, to me, was like being inside a storybook – absolutely beautiful. This city used to be the capital of Sri Lanka, thus it holds so much history and many Buddhist sites, such as the famous Temple of the Tooth. The city is surrounded by mountains, with a gorgeous lake in its center, and is surrounded by biodiversity. A breathtaking city, it is definitely a must-explore and stroll!
I took advantage of exploring the many tourist sites before embarking on my personalized Yoga sessions with Saman (see Yoga Kandy below in the Yoga section of this page) and a brief Ayurveda treatment before my stay at an Ashram in another location.
Sacred Tooth Temple
I was fortunate enough to visit the temple when there were not many tourists, mostly locals, due to the terrorist attack. Unfortunately, at the time of a shaky situation due to the bombings in 2019, the city was on high alert. I had to travel around the country and then return to visit, but it was closed due to the terrorist attack.
I was truly floored by the beauty and genuineness of this place of worship, with an unparalleled portrayal of history beautifully displayed. I recommend hiring one of the professional guides from inside the Palace.
Bahirawakanda Temple and Vihara Buddha Statue
An enormous Buddha statue rises from a hill and can be seen from everywhere in Kandy. Be ready for a steep hike! it is so worth it! A Buddhist place of worship with its Buddha in the position of Dhyana Mudra (Buddha’s meditation posture in his first enlightenment). There is a monastery and an international Buddhist center worth visiting.
MORE about Sacred Tooth Temple
Galle
Galle is a marvelous city on the southwest coast of the island. You can really go back in time with its colonial history by looking at the Portuguese colonist influence in the 16th century, and later the Dutch and British invasions. There is a fort that is a UNESCO heritage site, very well kept, that was first built by the Portuguese and later expanded by the Dutch.
Walking around the Dutch Fort, I met this wonderful lady who handcrafted the beautiful black dress that I proudly wear. This talented lady earns a living by selling exquisitely handmade shirts and dresses, among other things. I highly recommend purchasing from her!
Supporting local artisans and other vendors is a fantastic way to help them make a living.
Hotels/B&B’s/Homes
I usually don’t recommend heavily where to stay because a “home away from home” is quite personal. However, I can attest to the place while staying in Galle that was a major treat at a great price with an amazing owner and friendly staff! I WAS NOT SPONSORED BY THE HOTEL.
I decided to treat myself to a villa, and what a wonderful surprise! I stayed at the “Villa White Queen,” and I was extremely surprised at how beautiful this place is! The architecture is beautiful, and each room has a name. I was in a room called “Cinnamon,” and the furniture is quite different in the rooms at the villa. There is a wonderful pool and plenty of space to venture out and relax, meditate, or do yoga.
A major treat, the owner and manager is a chef, yes! No wonder my food was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I seriously attest that every dish I had here was made to perfection, to a point that I just had a couple of meals out in the city.
The Villa has a spa room where you can treat yourself to a massage from a trained professional masseuse (mine was fantastically done by …). There are precious and non-precious stones around the villa that create the best vibe and ambiance.
T
This villa has a 5-star standard and level of service that far exceeded any of my expectations! THANK YOU Chaminda for doing such a great job; your education, training, and passion can be felt at your place. Oh, you know I am going back, don’t you? 🙂 If you book, just tell them it was Dr. P’s recommendation.
Ella
The train to Ella is one of the most beautiful scenic train rides in the world! Thus, one of the featured pictures on my page was taken while taking this ride along the hill country.
The tea plantations can be seen for a big portion of the train’s scenic route. There are tea plantations worth visiting!
Dr. P
The stoic train conductor professional always
Ella is a very small town with so many things to do, from hiking and white water rafting to visiting temples and smaller towns. It is popular among younger folks, but in my case, I was lucky to find just a few tourists, allowing me to discover less crowded places. The civil war had a negative impact on the tourism industry in the area, which worsened after the terrorist attacks in 2019. A country whose economy greatly depends on tourism means that almost a million jobs are affected negatively.
Women power gender equity, real heroes!
This is a beautiful place to stay, and it truly exceeded my expectations. I am not a climber, but I was able to visit all the towns around and meditate while enjoying the astonishing view from my lodging.
DHOWA TEMPLE
Sri Lanka is such a gift, with so many places to view and visit. It’s full of wonderful temples. I visited the temple located in the UVA province in the village of Dhowa. The ancient site has some stunning murals that are kept in wonderful condition. According to what I was told by the monk inside, this temple dates back around 2000 years!
Ganewalpola
Ganewalpola is located right by Ritigala, actually, this Ashram is posted as a Ritigala location.
I arrived in Ritigala and from there made my way to Ganewalpola in the middle of the beautiful forest. The Ashram is hidden in the most beautiful setting, and all of the architecture carefully and tastefully follows the natural environment.
The food was made fresh daily by a superb chef named Sunil. The chef prepared the food grown on-site and around the Ashram. Sunil cooked in the hardcore Ayurvedic tradition. I had the healthiest most tasteful food that I have ever had in my life, and I have tried food in several ashrams and restaurants. It was beyond a 5 plus star quality!!
I would not find the time to mention all of the people who made my stay, and my healing, beyond my imagination. Shiron, Deepha, Danawathi, Gunnwathi, Mane, Sunil, Dr. Abe, Indunil…sorry if I am missing someone…they were the very best!
An important time for meditation and silence was offered at the Ashram. It was heaven on earth off the beaten path OFFGRID SEAL!
Ritigala
Ritigala is a mountain and the location of a beautiful ancient Buddhist monastery. It is interesting that there is an Ashram close to this place. There is talk about medicinal plants on top of the mountain, and these plants have been known to cure many ailments throughout time.
The ruins of this incredibly large former monastery date from the 1st century BC. Totally worth visiting with a guide.
Trincomalee
Oh Trincomalee, also known as Trinco, is located at the Ester Bay of Sri Lanka.
Trinco is a different type of venue that, if we pay attention to Sri Lanka, is somehow a bit less developed and less cosmopolitan for the lack of a better word. However in my eyes, it is ruggedly charming (I know, I love to make up words that’s is the thesaurus spirit in me:-)
Tirncomalee’s area dates back over 2500 years!! Trinco, as the locals call it, is a very sacred place for Hindus and Tamils. The city developed from a small village dedicated to a Hindu Shrine to a major port city.
One can also identify the Portuguese influence in this area by finding a few Catholic churches including Sinhalese and Tamil’s members.
I stayed at Underwater Safaris where there is the availability of diving and snorkeling, PADI certified
The lodge is by the beach, nothing fancy but all the necessities are covered. It is a great location to do anything needed. There is a restaurant on-site and the rooms have this great balcony type.
It is such a different place with great diversity and wonderful places to dive, snorkel, and beach hop….and a favorite place of mine for my “Iguana Spirit” and professional “snorkelism” awwhhh…..
I spent a long time in and around Trinco. I had a fantastic time with my good friend and experienced diving instructor Rohan Da Silva. I completely recommend him and the crew there; they are very professional and experienced. No need to be extra fancy, just extra experienced.
Koneswaram Temple
This place overlooks one of the most beautiful bays on the planet! On top of a cliff, this temple is very large and it exceeded my expectations. This is a religious pilgrimage center for Hindus in the Eastern province that is located on the site of the ancient Gokanna Buddhist Temple.
This is truly a MUST visit. I went to Sri Lanka at a time of not much tourism, so I was lucky not to have to wait in line. However, Trinco gets VERY hot (even for me, who has sort of chameleon’s blood), so going there in the afternoon and taking water will make your visit very livable.
Tangalle
A wonderful, quite large bay town in the southwest part of Sri Lanka, with a nice beach and great atmosphere. It is a place chosen by Sri Lankans to spend their holidays, and there are many beaches extending from Tangalle itself.
Family time at the beach!
Fisherman going home after a long day
I found the waves a bit strong to swim, so I had to head to the Eastern side to be able to swim and continue enjoying my sun tanning rituals… A good option is to head to Goyambokka to taste the beautiful beaches and have a bit better swimming tide.
I stayed at a very nice place for my budget, very safe and in a great location. Just an affordable beachfront place, which was very convenient, to say the least. I need to add that even though there was little tourism at the time of my visit, the staff was fantastic and very accommodating!
I have to say that I was disappointed since I had to run twice to protect my belongings, just sandals and a beach towel since I was staying at a hotel by the beach…there were people watching where I was going and I was even warned by a fisherman to be careful about my belongings. Time to fix this TANGALLEES, otherwise foreign visitors will avoid going there.
