Overview for Sri Lanka
Fringing the coasts is an array of gently arcing golden-sand beaches, now making a comeback after the devastation wreaked by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Zoom closer to spy the giant tanks (artificial reservoirs) built by the first Sinhalese rulers around the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Pollonaruwa. In the Hill Country, a layer of cotton wool clouds obscures the view, mirroring the misty mornings travellers often experience in this area of verdant tea plantations.
Irrespective of their cultural background, Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim locals will welcome you with pride. Pride in their criminally underrated cuisine, pride in their national parks and wildlife, and – especially – pride in their national cricket team. The sport that frequently stops the nation is always worthy of discussion. How will the boys do in the upcoming series against Australia?
Faced with funding a war and weathering a global financial crisis,
Sri Lanka’s proud population has been doing it tough for a few years.
But equipped with a stellar combination of scenery, culture and history, a growing focus on sustainable tourism and (hopefully) a more settled society, Sri Lanka is firmly back on the radar for curious travellers seeking unique experiences.
Best Time to Travel
Climatically speaking, the driest (and best) seasons are from December to March for the west coast, the south coast and the Hill Country, and from April to September for the ancient cities region and the east coast. December through March are also the months when most foreign tourists visit, the majority of them escaping the European winter. Travelling between May and November has its advantages as the beaches and attractions are less crowded and many hotels reduce their prices.
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When To Go:
Sri Lanka is a typically tropical country with distinct wet and dry seasons but has two monsoons. The southwest monsoon, called Yala blows from May to August with the dry season in this area from December to March. The northeast monsoon called Maha blows from October to January and the dry season in this area is May to September.