Tropical beaches
Fertile rainforests
Timeless ruins
Misty hills
These are just a few of the many gems that are hidden away in the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lanka, previously known as Ceylon, is a little island nation situated to the south of India. This gem of an island is the most perfect place to visit due to a number of reasons.
It may not be realistically possible to find a ‘perfect’ country in the world because every nation has its flaws.
However, for travellers, perfection is simply based on the cost, safety, natural beauty, people, historical monuments, cuisine and wonder of a country. That being the case, Sri Lanka is indeed a perfect nation and has everything a traveller could possibly desire.
A Brief History of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka was a colony of three different European nations – Portuguese in 1505, Dutch in 1658 and Great Britain in 1796. When Sri Lanka was under a British colony, it was referred to as Ceylon, hence the world-famous Ceylon Tea which is grown in the hill country of this incredible island.
It was in 1948 that Sri Lanka gained independence only to fall back into a brutal civil war 35 years later. This civil war lasted for 3 decades and finally came to an end in May 2009.
However, Sri Lanka as a nation has evolved massively since then to move forward from its gruelling past.
All things Nature
Sri Lanka is a haven for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. The island’s abundance of flora and fauna means it has stunning views, beautiful nature trails, glorious waterfalls, hillsides covered with tea estates, misty mountains disappearing into the clouds and countless yards of paddy fields. Not to mention the occasional elephant crossing your path.
Sri Lanka is probably one of the greenest countries you’ll ever see and yet, its landscapes are highly underrated. To drop some facts:
- It has 26 National Parks
- Beautiful tropical beaches
- Lush rainforests
- Misty hills
- It is home to 125 species of mammal, 433 birds, 245 butterflies, 96 snakes, 97 lizards and 383 spiders.
- And over 6000 elephants.
Two experiences you should not miss out on are the astonishing sight of around 300 elephants gathering by the lake of the Minneriya National Park and the glorious leopard sightings at the Yala National Park.
All about the Taste
Sri Lanka has one of the BEST cuisines in Asia, flavoured with exotic spices. The famed rice and curry, kottu (a popular street food), hoppers and the classic fish curry made from freshly caught seafood are some of the dishes you must definitely try out if you are ever on the island.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are found in abundance in Sri Lanka. And the country is also famous for its homegrown tea, cinnamon, coconuts, cashews and spices, which are also some of its major exports.
The Sri Lankan cuisine experience wouldn’t be complete unless you eat with your hands. Don’t ask me how or why, but for some reason, the food tastes a million times better when eaten this way. So, ditch the cutlery unless you are at a fancy restaurant and experience a truly authentic Sri Lankan meal.
Unity in Diversity
Diversity is seen everywhere on the streets of Sri Lanka. The island is filled with a fascinating blend of warm and welcoming citizens.
Sri Lanka has a population of over 21 million people who belong to four major religious groups – Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims. These ethnic groups coexist with one another peacefully and respectfully on this beautiful island. The national flag of Sri Lanka, one of the oldest flags in the world, also represents diversity – the Bo leaves signify Buddhism, the orange stripe represents Hinduism and the green stripe represents Islam.
So, all in all, Sri Lanka is as good as it gets. It’s not only diverse, beautiful and stunning but also completely affordable. This is probably why the pearl of the Indian Ocean made it to the number one spot on Lonely Planet’s top 10 list of countries to visit in 2019.
What’s your take on this? Is Sri lanka truly perfect or is it a perfect illusion?!
