Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Welcome to Sri Lanka
Endless beaches, timeless ruins, welcoming people, oodles of
elephants, rolling surf, cheap prices, fun trains, famous tea and
flavourful food describe Sri Lanka.
The Undiscovered Country
You might say Sri Lanka has been hiding in plain sight. Countless scores of travellers have
passed overhead on their way to someplace else, but years of war and challenges such as
tsunamis have kept Sri Lanka off many itineraries.
But now Sri Lanka has found its place on the itineraries of ever more travellers. Several
years after the war ended, the country is moving forward quickly even as questions about
the war continue to spark debate. Lying between the more trodden parts of India and South-
east Asia, Sri Lanka's myriad appeals are undeniably alluring.
So Much in So Little
Few places have as many Unesco World Heritage Sites (eight) packed into such a small
area. Sri Lanka's 2000-plus years of culture can be discovered at ancient sites where le-
gendary temples boast beautiful details.
Across the island, that thing that goes bump in the night might be an elephant heading to
a favourite waterhole. Safari tours of Sri Lanka's pleasantly relaxed national parks en-
counter leopards, water buffaloes, all manner of birds and a passel of primates.
Rainforests & Beaches
When you're ready to escape the tropical climate of the coast and lowlands, head for the
hills, with their temperate, achingly green charms. Verdant tea plantations and rainforested
peaks beckon walkers, trekkers and those who just want to see it on a spectacular train ride.
