Sri Lanka, what to see in five simple tips. The Asia of elephants, the Caribbean sea and almost deserted beaches like the Maldives, here are the tips for the first trip to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, Ceylon, Lacrima dell'India, Serendipity: many names for a single island that boasts the same Caribbean sea, the same fine white sand of the Maldives and, together, offers an enviable cultural heritage, remaining much cheaper than most destinations exotic.
If you are still convinced, here are five reasons to visit Sri Lanka.
Almost deserted tropical beaches
With around 1600 km of coastline, Sri Lanka offers a wide choice of beaches, shaded by tall coconut palms and heated all year round by temperatures ranging around 27 ° C.
There are as many beaches as there are types of travelers: from the festive Hikkaduwa where nightlife reigns supreme, to the sandy crescent of Arugam Bay which, with its high waves, is the meeting point for surfers and sports enthusiasts. water; from Galle to Unawatuna you can discover quiet strips of sand, where the turquoise sea is so clear that it is possible to snorkel.
Face to face with elephants
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is home to around 80 specimens and allows visitors to bottle-feed cubs, help feed adult elephants, or simply watch them play in the water while they bathe.
Cultural triangle
When the sea starts to get tired, you have to turn towards the hinterland which offers no less than seven UNESCO heritage sites. The temples of Dambulla, built inside five caves, with their millenary frescoes and 157 statues depicting Buddha, transmit all the religious sacredness of the country. From here you can also admire the Sigiriya fortress, a gigantic monolith, a vestige of ancient royal splendor: over 1200 steps to reach the summit, the view of the gardens below is priceless.
The sacred city of Kandy, the religious capital, holds a tooth of Buddha: the relic is carried on the back of an elephant during an annual procession, during which the traditional costumes and dances of the island can be admired.
The food
A trip to Sri Lanka would not be complete without tasting the colorful, spicy and often very spicy local food. Along the streets, street vendors rush to offer dishes that can satisfy every palate: coconuts, rice and curry wrapped in banana leaves, appa (crepes with egg inside), kottu (crepes cut into strips and seasoned with vegetables, meat, eggs and spices). Traditional foods include kiri bath (rice cooked with coconut milk, typically served for the New Year) and watalappan, a very popular pudding made from palm sugar.
Breathtaking views
There is a train that takes you back to the colonial era, along the Colombo-Ella route, and offers incredible views of hills cultivated with tea. You can decide to break the journey and stop in Nuwara Eliya, where temperatures are exceptionally low compared to the national average, to visit a tea factory, admire some waterfalls or photograph the tea leaf pickers who, with huge wicker baskets on their shoulders , they move slowly between the ordered rows.
