Sri Lanka travel guide pdf download. Travel guide to sri lanka. How to find a Russian-speaking guide in Sri Lanka
We cannot help but dwell on the issue of finding a guide. The fact is that we usually prefer to travel on our own, but it was in Sri Lanka that we spent the first part of our trip in the company of driver and guide Akila. Traveling with a person for even a short period of time is not so easy. Therefore, a guide should always be selected based on reviews to make the trip successful and interesting. And the main thing is that the guide does not deceive you. So we decided to leave a review for our guide in Sri Lanka. What kind of person is this, is it worth hiring him, if you meet him, read our article.
Can also be your driver. It is needed to help you understand the country and draw the tourist’s attention to important details during excursions, and will also be useful with its stories and interesting stories. In other words, a guide will be a good help to someone who doesn’t have time to self-study information about Sri Lanka. Or maybe you just don’t want (or don’t know how) to plan your route around the country yourself, studying books or websites on the Internet, then a guide to Sri Lanka will definitely come in handy for you!
I’ll say right away that guides can talk very interestingly about their country, invite you to visit or to various ceremonies. If you find a good guide in Sri Lanka, then he becomes like a friend during the trip, a mentor and guide. And of course, all tourists want the time spent with a guide not to be remembered as a nightmare. After all, it is very important that the guide does not interfere or interfere in conversations when this is not necessary, but at the same time does not forget to take photos of everyone traveling with him.
The question arises, how to choose good guide in Sri Lanka? I answer: only based on recommendations from friends or experienced travelers on the Internet.
Next, I will tell you about my experience traveling around Sri Lanka with a guide. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a negative experience. But it’s worth knowing about this in advance, so as not to repeat mistakes, and most importantly, not to hire the driver with whom we rode.
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How a guide to Sri Lanka found us himself
I'll start by telling you a little background about our trip to Sri Lanka with a guide-driver. We arrived by plane to Colombo from Male late in the evening. Therefore, we decided to spend the night in Negombo, and then in the morning we went by bus to the north of the country, to Anuradhapura (this is one of the cities included in the so-called Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka). Since the road was difficult, we planned to rest the rest of the day and only the next day begin exploring the ruins of the old city of Anuradhaputra.
Everything went according to plan, and now we arrived at the bus station in the city of Anuradhapura. And while we were getting our things out of the trunk, we were immediately approached by a man who, in principle, I didn’t really like. He said: let me give you a ride to the hotel. And he named a very small price of 50 rupees. We happily agreed as we were very tired. I also had a headache, and I rather wanted to rest.
On the way, Aquila started talking about how he would be very happy to show us the city and give us a tour of the ruins.
“Tomorrow,” we said.
- Why tomorrow? Today! - Akila exclaimed joyfully.
“It’s too late,” we objected. After all, it was already almost 4 o'clock in the evening.
“So we’re in a car,” he flashed his gold tooth, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction. “It’s a long walk and a whole day, but I’ll take you for a ride in a car in two hours.” Fast! - he put an end to it.
And although we usually don’t trust the first people we meet, here we suddenly agreed. Akila quickly brought us to a very good hotel, which we immediately liked. We freshened up and decided that we could actually see the sights of Anuradhapura today (we didn’t yet know how many there really were), and tomorrow morning we’d go to Polonnaruwa. This seemed to us at the time a good plan that would save our time and effort.
Review of guide and driver Akila in Sri Lanka
Now I’ll tell you how everything went in the end. In general, an hour and a half before sunset, we went on a tour with guide Akila ancient city Sinhalese. It was actually very easy to travel by car, unlike how we are used to walking. And while guide Akila took us around the dagobas and other attractions of Anuradhapura, he several times started talking about hiring him as a guide-driver throughout the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka.
It turned out that we, lulled by his flattery and very tired, hung our ears and agreed. Although we had never encountered guides before, because we had always traveled independently. We immediately discussed the price - $170 for the entire trip. It included a visit to Polonnoruwa, accommodation at a hotel near the rock of Sigiriya, a tour of Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy and a hotel recommendation in Kandy. In addition to the agreed amount, we had to pay all entrance fees, of course. Akila hastily took a $70 advance from us so that we wouldn’t change our minds during the evening.
Why we decided that we couldn’t handle it ourselves, but would go with a guide-driver, forgetting for a while about the logistics of travel, still remains a mystery to me. Maybe I just didn’t want to strain myself too much, and the price for the entire tour of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka seemed quite normal. Akila was happy. And he even took a happy photo with me at the pool of the ancient Sinhala king.
Sri Lanka guide Akila is still trying very hard to make a good impression on us
Of course, having read reviews on the Internet, we guessed that in addition to excursions to tourist attractions, the guide to Sri Lanka would definitely try to get us to spend more money. And so it happened - he also tried to take us to his friends in tea factories, batik shops and jewelry workshops, so that we would leave our money there, and the satisfied owners would thank the guide for this. After all, all guides and drivers bring tourists to “their” hotels, where they again receive part of the cost of your stay, and for lunch and dinner they recommend going to “their” restaurants. All their own, mafia everywhere. This is inevitable, and we must come to terms with it.
But we were not as simple as Akila expected. We surprised him on the very first day when in the morning we said - take us, Akila, to a restaurant for locals. We want something not very expensive, but tasty, rice with dal, a couple of spicy wadi pies. Akila grimaced: how can they say that this is not a restaurant for tourists, but for Sri Lankans? But he brought it and even had breakfast with us.
Our guide in Mihintale
Then we went to Mihintale, where he handed us over to his friend, a local guide. He turned out to be very nice, knowledgeable and friendly. And in principle, it’s not even a pity that we overpaid him. Although we even saw him give something to Akila.
Then we arrived in Polonnaruwa, and Akila again gave us to another driver. We transferred from the minibus to a tuk-tuk. It turned out that we did not have to pay anything, Akila took care of everything. But we also found out that not only did we not pay the tukker for his work, but also for the tickets. That's how it was.
He drove along an old road through backyards and a hole in the fence into the territory of ancient Polonnaruwa. We were surprised, but did not suspect anything. Then the tuker took us to all the sights of Polonnaruwa, especially without talking or explaining anything, since he knew almost no English. And we hired a guide-driver in Sri Lanka so that he could tell us everything, remember? But it so happened that for the second time he handed us over to other people, probably his friends.
And then another omission occurred. We missed the famous cave monastery in Polonnaruwa, interesting for its several very valuable Buddha statues. The guide did not take us there, because at the entrance to this monastery they check tickets, which we did not have.
Our driver in Polonnaruwa
- So how did you like it? - Akila asked, beaming with his smile and stroking his plump and well-fed belly, meeting us at sunset on Lake Bendivewa.
— Beautiful place“,” we mumbled, suspecting that now we wouldn’t really like the continuation of the conversation.
And so it happened. Akila said:
- You forgot to give me the money for the tickets. I let you go, and then I just remembered.
Silent scene. Everyone throws up their hands. We pretended that we did not understand him.
And so, while we were traveling to Sigiriya, our guide Akila raised this issue about paying for tickets several times. But we laughed it off: “No ticket - no money.” Akila cried that he paid the tukker a very, well, simply a very large amount of money. We knew the approximate cost of tukker services in Polonnaruwa, since we ourselves planned to hire someone so as not to have to walk. And Akila blatantly lied, tripling the amount.
In the evening we still didn’t give Akila the money for the tickets to Polonnaruwa. He was very angry and almost cursed us then.
We conferred, wondering whether we should let him go altogether and continue to travel on our own. We have already paid the seventy dollar deposit, including payment for the hotel. But there is one more day left, with big moves. On our own it would have taken us three days for the remaining journey. Therefore, to save time, we decided to drive with Akila to Kandy, pay the remaining $100 as agreed, and forget it. Of course, this was our mistake.
In the morning, Akila was again joyful and satisfied, did not contradict anything, and did not start talking about money. He quickly brought us to Sigiriya and left us at the ticket office. After exploring Sigiriya, we returned to the car, and again Akila was silent. Then we went to Dambulla in silence, and again walked around the temples on our own. And finally, our silent guide-driver in Sri Lanka brought us to Kandy.
On the roads of Sri Lanka
Let me remind you that Akila was silent the whole way, and in Kandy he first brought us to a hotel with his friends. We decided not to be capricious and see if the place was good? But no, like the place where we spent the last night in Sigiriya - it was a rather dirty hotel, and not at all the promised “inexpensive, clean, with wi-fi, air conditioning and TV” room. We persistently asked Akila to take us to the hotel that we chose. He was terribly unhappy, but did as we said.
And now the time has come to say goodbye. Dima took out the promised money. But then Akila put on a whole performance. Crumpling the piece of paper where all our calculations were recorded, shouting to the whole street that he would ask Buddha to punish us, he began to refuse to take the money, demanding more. And he even locked the car and refused to give us our things until he received money for tickets to Polonnaruwa. I had to call him a thief and threaten him with the police. Only then did he get scared and quickly calm down, and we took our backpacks from the car. Having given him the initially agreed upon amount - 100 bucks, we said goodbye with relief.
The old owner of a guesthouse in Kandy, forced to witness this terrible scene, did not interfere with what was happening with Buddhist fortitude. Only after Akila left did he simply say, “This is a bad man!”
Here is a review about the Sri Lanka guide Akila, who did not fulfill even half of what was agreed upon and tried to cheat. I hope that this story will be useful to you, and you will not only avoid Akilu, but also immediately bring other similar guide-drivers to the surface and be more decisive than he and I.
Good luck on your travels!
- By the way, choosing the right guide and driver is very important not only in Sri Lanka, but also in – for sightseeing. We share the experience of our relationship with Cambodian tukers: read about it.
P.S. Do not confuse this guide Akila from Anuradhapura with another excellent guide in Sri Lanka Akila, who has long established himself among Russian tourists, and also speaks Russian. This man is younger and prettier.
While we were driving around Sri Lanka with a driver-guide, we came to the conclusion that the attractions Cultural triangle In fact, it is best to inspect by car. This is very convenient when it takes you to yet another ancient ruin, and you don’t have to think about how to get there. The main thing is that you need to clearly stipulate all the conditions, the amount of remuneration, the timing and all the details convenient for you in advance.
But it’s better to travel around the mountainous part of Sri Lanka or along the coast on your own, choosing those cities and beauties that interest you.
Sri Lanka, also known as Ceylon, is an island in the southeast of the Hindustan Peninsula. You should go here to take a break from city life, dissolve in peace and tranquility, make several excursions to see the main attractions, and spend the rest of the time on the beach. And, of course, try the local tea “first hand”, because it is thanks to tea that the former name of the island “Ceylon” is known throughout the world.
How to get to Sri Lanka
You shouldn’t count on a cheap flight from Russia or the CIS countries to Sri Lanka; nevertheless, the island’s remoteness from our country plays a role and affects the cost of tickets.Let's look at the website, which will find the best deals from air carriers, how much it will cost us to fly to Sri Lanka and back from Moscow in May 2016. At the time of writing, there is still almost six months left until May, but we all know that it is better to look for tickets in advance, otherwise you will have to pay more, or even run out of tickets. By the way, we have already written a detailed article “” about searching for tickets. 
So, round trip tickets cost on average about 30 thousand rubles. The most profitable option is a flight with Etihad Airways for 29,748 rubles in both directions. You will have to make a transfer in any case - there are simply no direct flights from Russia to Sri Lanka, so 1 transfer is already included even in the most optimal route.
There are also few options for exactly where to fly in Sri Lanka itself, or rather just two - the capital Colombo or Hambantota Airport. Here, when choosing, you should be guided by which place on the island you have chosen for your vacation, and which airport is closer to this very place.
Sri Lanka currency and visa
Currency
The official currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee LKR. At the exchange rate at the end of December 2015, one Russian ruble is equal to two rupees. In turn, one rupee is divided into 100 Sri Lankan cents. Banknotes in circulation on the island are 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 rupees. In coins there are 1, 2, 5 and 10 rupees, as well as 25 and 50 cents.Coming to Sri Lanka with only rubles is not the best idea, since even if you find an exchanger ready to exchange Russian rubles, the rate there will definitely not please you. The best option is to bring US dollars to Sri Lanka, which you can exchange for local currency anywhere. 
If you still have money from other Asian countries from previous trips, for example, Indian rupees or Thai baht, feel free to take them with you on your trip, changing them will not be difficult.
Bank cards they accept it on the island, but you can often become victims of fraud, so it’s better to leave the card as a last resort.
Visa
Residents of Russia require a visa to visit Sri Lanka. Fortunately, you can arrange it in advance online through the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) website http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/. On the website, you will have to fill out an application form and pay a fee of $30. The decision to issue a visa or to refuse it is made within 24 hours.It is important that your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end date of the trip.
Climate of Sri Lanka
Anyone who has ever been to countries with a similar climate (for example, most Asian countries) knows what the rainy season is. It also exists in Sri Lanka, and lasts from May to October. It is during the summer that almost the entire annual precipitation falls on the island. But from November to April, a holiday in Sri Lanka will in no way be overshadowed by the weather - with general dryness, the air temperature stays around 27-30 degrees Celsius, and the water temperature is usually not lower than 25 degrees.Transport on the island
Public transport in Sri Lanka is represented by a completely standard set: trains, buses, taxis and tuk-tuks typical of Asia.Buses are convenient for short trips inside cities. This is not the most convenient and comfortable form of transport on the island, since most buses are long overdue for retirement. But there is also a plus - you will pay nothing for the trip, about 1-3 rupees per kilometer. Commercial buses cost a little more, but are often equipped with air conditioning. In general, it is easy to determine the level of comfort of a bus by the letter assigned to the route number - regular N, semi-comfortable S and comfortable A/C. 
For more long trips Between cities you can use regular express buses, which differ slightly in their level from regular ones for the better. The stops of such buses are most often located at bus stations and near railway stations.
Trains also come in different comfort classes. You can view train schedules and their routes on the official website of Sri Lanka Railways www.railway.gov.lk. However, there is often a problem with the schedule - trains are constantly late, so take this into account when planning your route. 
If you don't want to depend on schedules public transport, then you can rent a car. We wrote how to do this in the article “”. I would like to add that in Sri Lanka there is left-hand traffic, which takes some time to get used to, as well as a completely different driving culture than ours: a lot of horns, little space, chaotic traffic, constant overtaking on highways in turns and more, as well regular violation of all possible rules. In principle, persons over 21 years of age are allowed to rent a car in Sri Lanka, but we still recommend this type of transport to slightly more experienced drivers.
Main cities and attractions of Sri Lanka
- most Big city Sri Lanka and also the capital. This is where your journey around the island will most likely begin, as Colombo is home to the largest international Airport Sri Lanka. Even if you are going to relax at a resort, we recommend that you still set aside at least a day to explore the beauties of Colombo.
Temple Gangaramaya- the most popular religious place among tourists in Colombo. The temple was built about one hundred and twenty years ago and immediately became not only a spiritual center, but also a center for training future monks. You can visit some of the school’s premises and a museum that tells about Buddhism and the famous “graduates” of the school and their achievements in the field of Buddhism. Entrance to the temple grounds is free and it is open from 6 am to 6 pm every day. The temple is located at Sri Jinaratana Rd Slave Island, Colombo 2.
National museum- one of the main art centers on the island. It houses a collection of paintings by local artists, as well as works by local artisans. No better place, to get acquainted with the colorful Sinhala art than this museum. The museum is located on Sir Marcus Fernando Mw. and is open every day from 9am to 6pm except national holidays. Entry costs 600 rupees for adults and 300 rupees for children.
A park " Viharamahadevi" - one of the many parks in the city. This one is considered the largest of them, and, of course, the most popular among tourists. The park was built by English colonists, which is why it could be called a “quintessentially English park” if famous statue Buddha. It is located in the prestigious Cinnamon Gardens area of the city and is open to the public from 8 am to 6 pm.
Halle is a large port city in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka. His fort is recognized as a UNESCO monument, and the nature around is worthy of all praise. If your holiday in Sri Lanka takes place near Galle, it would be a crime not to come here. Now we will explain why using examples. 
The Halle Lighthouse is a historical, albeit restored, landmark that is part of the Utrecht Bastion in the Galle Fort, which, as already mentioned, is included in the List World Heritage UNESCO. The fort, like the lighthouse (more precisely, its predecessor) played a significant role in the life of the city and its port. You can view the lighthouse for free at any time of the day or night. By the way, Galle Fort is the only surviving fort in Asia built by colonists many centuries ago.
Temple Yatagala Rajah Mach Viharaya- one of the oldest Buddhist temples on the island, whose history goes back more than two thousand years. Another feature of it is its location, because the temple is located in a rock. The caves and artificially created rooms were painted by masters thousands of years ago, and today all this is available to visitors, because the temple has been perfectly preserved. Entrance inside is free, it does not have specific opening hours - you just need to have time to visit it during daylight hours. The temple is located about five kilometers from Galle, in the village of Unawatuna, where you can easily get there by bus, tuk-tuk, rented vehicle or taxi.
Reserves Halle- attract tourists with a variety of landscapes, alluring mountains, clean beaches and, of course, such unusual flora and fauna for you and me. The most iconic reserves: Sinharaja, rich in rare species of plants and animals; Mount Rumassala, the climb to which will not be easy, but will be more than compensated by the impressions from the views opening from the peaks; Kottawa, famous for its arboretum. The nature reserves of Sri Lanka are interesting because great amount plants and animals can only be found on this island and nowhere else.
Cultural capital of Sri Lanka, famous rich history and a huge number of spiritual centers. The city is located in the center of the island, which makes it unsuitable for a beach holiday, but an excellent choice for a cultural holiday. And given the fact that transport between Gandhi and the major resorts of Sri Lanka is well established, you can easily combine these two types of recreation. 
Temple tooth Buddha- The temple, located in the former residence of the kings, is famous for its relic - the tooth of Buddha, one of the four that survived the cremation of Buddha. There is always a huge queue to the shrine, but besides this, the temple has something to look at - frescoes, statues and even a library. Entry to the temple costs 1000 rupees and is open from 5:30 am to 8 pm. It is located on Sri Dalada Veediya Street.
Museum tea- as you know, Ceylon has long been considered the world capital of tea. So it would be strange not to visit a museum that will tell you about the history of growing tea bushes and harvesting, as well as the process of producing the tea drink itself. The museum is located on Hantane Street, in the building of an old tea factory. Entrance - 500 rupees, from 8:15 to 16:45 any day except Monday.
Palace complex- residence of kings until the beginning of the 19th century. On the territory of the palace today there are not only the living quarters of the royal family, but also the Temple of the Tooth Relic, as well as National Museum Kandy, which houses a huge collection of art from all over Sri Lanka. There is also an artificial lake and a beautiful royal park for walks. Visit the territory Palace complex You can visit for free (except for the temple and museum, where there is a separate fee) during the daytime.
Natural attractions - the incomparable nature of Sri Lanka can surprise even tourists who come to the island not for the first time. Mountains, waterfalls, lakes, lagoons and tropical forests - what else can you say? Here is a small list of where you can go on your own or book an excursion directly from your resort or from the city of Kandy: Udawattakelle Nature Reserve, national park Horton Plains, Hunas Falls, Pusevalle Falls, Mount Sigiriya and much more.
Nuwara Elia- small resort town ok, famous for its tea production, nearby waterfalls and golf courses. Many excursions to neighboring reserves are sold in local travel agencies and on the streets, and the city itself in some places resembles Europe, since many of its buildings were created by the colonists. 
Botanical garden Hakgala- this Botanical Garden- one of a kind. This is all because of its location, because Hakgala is considered a high-mountain botanical garden, which makes it unique. More than 6,000 plants grow here, many of which are unique to Sri Lanka. You can visit it all year round, it is located 10 kilometers from Nuwara Eliya along the A5 highway.
National a park Yala- the most famous and very first national park on the island. From Nuwara Eliya and closer cities (for example, Hambantota or Tangala), excursions to this amazing corner of Sri Lanka are regularly carried out. Here, in the midst of wild nature, are the ruins of ancient cities and monasteries, which are now occupied by wild animals. The best way see the park - safari (from 6 am to 6 pm), which costs 5-6 thousand rupees.
Waterfalls- a separate attraction of the city of Nuwara Eliya. There are so many of them here that you definitely want to see them all, because each of them is unique in its own way. There are also very tall ones, such as Bambarakanda Ella, more than 240 meters high, there are also romantic ones, dedicated to lovers, like Brides’ Waterfall, and there are also completely unusual ones, for example, local beer is brewed from the water of the Laksapana Falls waterfall.
Teahouses plantations- the heart of Nuwara Eliya. This is where the main tea production on the island is concentrated. You can buy an excursion to one of the tea plantations, which is offered by local guides, or you can simply enjoy delicious fresh tea and don’t forget to buy a few packs as souvenirs for friends and family, because you won’t find the same quality of tea as here in a store near your home .
Beaches and resorts of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is most often associated in our minds with resort holiday, which is easy to understand, because there are simply an incredible number of beaches suitable for relaxing and swimming on the island!
Bentota- the most popular beach on the island, famous for its cleanliness and comfort, and is also proudly included in the list of ten best beaches Asia. In addition to beach holidays, you can also do water sports here: windsurfing or diving.
Arugam Bay- the resort on the southeast coast was chosen by servers all over the world. The waves here are simply amazing, but the passive beach holiday is not very good - due to the special microclimate here, the beaches are especially hot and exhaustingly thirsty every second.
Batticaloa- one of the hottest cities on the entire island, located on its east coast. There are a lot of sandy beaches in the city of the same name, because it is located on a wide sand spit and is surrounded by lagoons and all kinds of reservoirs. A great place to combine city sightseeing with beach holiday.
Beruwela- a resort preferred by wealthier tourists. The weather and water temperatures here are excellent almost all year round. This is where the 130-kilometer-long beach begins, so you don’t have to worry about running out of space (as on any beach in Sri Lanka)!
Wadduwa- a resort town near the capital Colombo. Very popular place among tourists due to easy accessibility from the airport, and of course, because of the golden beaches and beautiful scenery.
Marissa- this beach takes a well-deserved place in the list of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. The tourist infrastructure is not very developed here, and there are not many hotels and restaurants. But this is precisely what makes the beach attractive to many travelers - privacy, originality, magnificent scenery and tranquility. Marissa is perfect for traveling with children, as there are several budget guesthouses located here, and the gradual change in depth allows children to swim near the shore.
Negombo- resort town west coast Sri Lanka. "Golden Mile" - that's what they call it local beaches cities. The tourist infrastructure is well developed, and the city itself and its surroundings are also very interesting from the point of view excursion holidays.
Tangalle is a resort town in the south of Sri Lanka, which is famous for its very mild climate. Sandy beaches stretch for miles, there is a wide choice of hotels and apartments, and you can grab a bite to eat at one of the many tourist cafes. The width of the beaches is not very large - literally a couple of tens of meters, and you are already surrounded by palm trees, but this only adds to the originality of Tangalle. This resort is also great for surfing.
Unawantuna- a resort in the south of the island, which is most often chosen by travelers with children. The weather here is always pleasant and the climate is mild, but more importantly, due to the reefs that separate Unavantuna Lagoon from the ocean, waves are not dangerous and storms are not a threat.
Uppuveli And Nilaveli- resorts in the northeast of Sri Lanka, which are increasingly becoming popular among tourists. The reason for this is ideal conditions for everyone aquatic species sports (especially diving). And also whales and dolphins, which you can accidentally see from afar or specially on thematic excursion.
Hiksaduwa- another mecca for diving lovers, and all because of the incredible beauty of the coral reef stretching along coastline. Moreover, this perfect place for holidays in the off-season, since the climate is moderate even in the summer months, and there are beaches suitable for swimming and relaxing.
Although many tourists from Russia come to Sri Lanka, there is still not such a large selection of operators offering group excursions with Russian-speaking guides. Moreover, due to big size islands, many excursions here last at least 2 days. That's why Sri Lanka is so attractive independent travelers who want to create their own route and travel around the island at their own pace.
If you are not one of those travelers who are capable and, what is also important, are not afraid to travel around the island on their own, then you can seek the services of one of the Russian-speaking guides in Sri Lanka. Fortunately, there are plenty of such guides here. Some Sri Lankans studied in Russia and mastered the Russian language well. Upon returning to their home country, they began to use their knowledge of the Russian language and knowledge of the history, culture and attractions of the island in order to help tourists from Russia get to know Sri Lanka better. Naturally, all this is done without thanks, but still the cost of an excursion with a private Russian-speaking guide in Sri Lanka is relatively inexpensive.
As a rule, Russian-speaking guides in Sri Lanka have their own car, in which they conduct excursions. But sometimes the guide only offers the services of your assistant, and you will need to take care of transport yourself (although often the guide offers the opportunity to rent a car with or without a driver for little money). Naturally, in this case, the cost of the guide’s services will not be very high, but you will have to pay for the transport yourself. But still, I repeat, in most cases a private Russian-speaking guide in Sri Lanka has his own car. That is, in essence, by contacting such a guide, you get a car with a driver and a guide rolled into one.
The main advantages of contacting a Russian-speaking guide:
+ Communication in one language allows you to discuss all the details down to the smallest detail. There should be no misunderstanding.
+ The guide usually has his own car, so the cost individual excursion turns out to be low, since you, in fact, only pay for gasoline and guide services.
+ You can create any route and spend as much time as you want in the place you like.
+ The guide can also act as a translator and your assistant, so it will be easier for you to travel with him.
Excursions around Sri Lanka with a Russian-speaking guide
A guide can advise you on many different routes around Sri Lanka, depending on what you want to see. However, you can create your own itinerary. To do this, you just need to study well the information about attractions, cities, beaches and other places that may be of interest to you. After that, find all the places of interest on the map and imagine how it would be better to drive through these places. But, in any case, you will need to coordinate the route with the guide. Perhaps he will tell you about some nuances that you did not know about before.It is better to book excursions around Sri Lanka with a Russian-speaking guide in advance. You must understand that during your stay in Sri Lanka you will not be the only tourists from Russia on this island, so there is a high probability that when you contact your guide a couple of days before your trip to Sri Lanka, he will tell you that he simply has no free days.
As for prices for excursions in Sri Lanka with a Russian-speaking guide, they may vary. The main factor influencing the cost of an excursion is its route and duration. Also, the cost depends on the specific guide. There are popular guides that many tourists turn to. Therefore, such guides have raised prices for their services.
It is also worth remembering that the cost of a tour of Sri Lanka with a Russian-speaking guide usually does not include the cost of entrance tickets to various museums and other places. So you will have to pay separately to enter these places.
How to find a Russian-speaking guide in Sri Lanka
Many guides have their own pages on social networks, including the Russian VKontakte network. So we advise you to first look for guides in these networks, typing into the search queries like “excursions in Sri Lanka”, “guide in Sri Lanka”, etc. Try different options, as guides call their groups differently.What to see in Sri Lanka? We have collected in one article the best attractions of Sri Lanka that you should definitely visit during your holiday on the island: photo, video and description, as well as a map with their location.
Excursions or independent visit?
Most of the sights of the island of Sri Lanka can be seen either as part of a tour or on your own.
If you have time, it is more convenient to rent a car and travel around everything interesting places Sri Lanka on its own. If you come on vacation on a tour for 5-14 days, you will have to choose only a few of the available places, since it is impossible to visit them all in a short period of time.
How to find cheap flights? They are easy to find through the search engines Aviasales and Skyscanner. It is best to search in both search engines and consider different departure dates.
What to visit in Sri Lanka: TOP 10 interesting places
Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is the first capital of ancient Ceylon, located 200 km northeast of Colombo. You can get from the capital by bus, which takes 6 hours. There is a railway connection between the cities; the train takes 5 hours.
All attractions are concentrated in the old town of Anuradhapura. Entrance for tourists is paid everywhere, but can be purchased for 3,700 rupees single ticket. With a ticket you can visit the Abhayagiri complex.
All monuments can be seen in two days. Due to the heat, it is recommended to explore the sights from some form of transport: a bus or a rented car. A parking space costs about 25 rupees.
It is also worth visiting the sacred Bodhi tree for Buddhists. This ancient ficus grew from a cutting taken from the tree under which Buddha became enlightened. Therefore, the Bodhi tree is the most sacred and oldest in Sri Lanka.
Inspection of the sacred tree will cost a tourist 200 rupees.
Video about the sights of the city of Anuradhapura:
What to see nearby:
- 50 meters from the Bodhi tree is the Bronze Palace. It was built before our era and has lost its original appearance. It is prohibited to enter the palace grounds.
- You can see the largest brick stupa, Jetavana, for free. This large structure was built in the third century AD. Located 300 m from the tree.
- At a distance of one kilometer from Bodhi is the Isurumuniya Palace, carved into the rock. It was built before our era. Entrance is paid and costs 200 rupees.
- You can visit the Ruvanvelisiya and Mirisaveti stupas for free. Both structures are located 200 meters from the tree.
- In the northern part of the city is the Abhayagiri complex. On its territory there is the second tallest stupa of the city of Anuradhapura, there are Buddha statues, a museum, a pond and two lakes.
- You can explore the Vessagiriya caves, the royal palace of King Vijayabahu and artificial ponds for free.
- A visit to the folk art museum will cost 300 rupees.
Gal Viharaya in Polonnaruwa
Monuments in Polonnaruwa are available not only for inspection with group excursions, but they can be visited independently and explored in 2 days.
A must see in Polonnaruwa is the Rock Temple or GalViharaya with its huge Buddha statues. This temple has no analogues and is located on the territory of a huge Archaeological Park. Entrance to the park is paid, the ticket price is 3250 rupees.
Tickets must be purchased in advance from the Polonnaruwa Museum. The park is huge and it is recommended to travel around it by car, motorcycle or bicycle.
In the park there are several temples and monasteries, a stupa, a complex royal palace. There are also artificial ponds and stupas here.
Photo and description: Gal Viharaya © vasse nicolas,antoine / flickr.com
How to get there:
- Polonnaruwa is located 200 km east of Colombo. It is very inexpensive and convenient to travel to Polonnaruwa by train. There are two services: one train leaves early in the morning and arrives at noon. The second one departs at 7 pm and arrives in Polonnaruwa at midnight. Ticket costs from 185 to 600 rupees.
- The second option is bus service. Due to the heat, it is better to take the earliest possible flight. The trip from Colombo to Polonnaruwa takes 6 hours and the ticket costs 160 rupees.
Sri Lanka attractions nearby:
- Naipena Vihara Hindu Complex;
- King Nissankamalla Palace;
- The ruins of the library and the statue of King Parakramabahu are 2.5 kilometers from the park;
- Near the ruins of the library you can see the Sea of Parakrama - a lake created by order of the king.
Sigiriya
One of the most famous attractions in Sri Lanka according to TripAdvisor is Sigiriya (Lion Mountain). This is a 370 m high rock with a complex of cultural monuments inside and on the top. She is the subject of many tourist routes and is protected by UNESCO.
Tickets to visit cost 3900 rupees. The price includes a visit to the museum, where they will tell the history of all the buildings.
Panorama overlooking Lion Rock:
How to get there:
- You can get there by buses No. 48 and 49 from Pettah bus station in Colombo to the Inamaluwa stop. There you need to change to bus No. 490/1, following the route Dambulla - Sigiriya. The total travel time will be 6 hours.
- From Colombo, buses towards Lion Mountain depart every 30 minutes.
What to see near Sigiriya:
- Pidrunagala Cave Temple, located 1.5 km north of Sigiriya, entrance tickets cost 200 rupees;
- Dambula city and cave temple;
- The city of Polonaruwa with attractions.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy
Kandy is the second most populous city, located literally in the center of Sri Lanka.
The city is famous for its Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is the main Buddhist temple Sri Lanka. It is located on the shore of a man-made lake. The temple itself has retained its original architecture, which can be seen from the outside and inside. Entrance to the temple is paid - 1500 rupees.
Photo: Temple of the Tooth Relic – the main attraction of Kandy © Jorge Lascar / flickr.com How to get there:
- To get to Kandy from Colombo, you need to travel 120 km, traveling directly east by bus number 1, departing from Pettah bus station. Travel time will be 4 hours.
- You can get even faster from Colombo to Kandy by train, in just 2.5 hours.
In addition to this Buddhist shrine, there are other attractions in Kandy that are worth seeing:
- The largest botanical garden in Asia is located 12 kilometers from the city.
- An elephant nursery where little elephants left without mothers are raised.
- A stone's throw from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth is the National Museum of Kandy. It occupies part of the royal palace and houses the royal regalia and other historical artifacts. Ticket price is 500 rupees. Here, on the territory of the palace, is the International Museum of Buddhism. Entrance to the museum costs 500 rupees.
- Not far from the Temple of the Tooth Relic, there are four Hindu temples. There are also Hindu temples outside Kandy.
- Within the city limits there is the amazing Udawattakele Nature Reserve - a forbidden forest, a piece of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. You should definitely visit it to understand what the real nature of the island looks like.
Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu Park is located 180 km north of Colombo and 30 km west of Anuradhapura. Within its borders there are six dozen lakes. In terms of size, Wilpattu Park is the largest in the world. It is also the oldest park on earth.
To see more attractions in the park, it is worth renting a car. Entrance costs 2300 rupees.
There are a huge number of local and visiting birds here. There is a Bengal monitor lizard, a large and active predator. You can also see local marsh crocodiles, reaching 4 meters in length.
The park is home to deer and monkeys, as well as elephants and leopards.
Photo: Leopard in Wilpattu National Park © Shashin Wijenayake / flickr.com How to get there:
- You can come here from Colombo and other cities by bus. The driver must be warned in advance to stop at Wilpattu Park.
What to see nearby:
- Sights of the city of Anuradhapura;
- Temple of Mihintale.
Golden Temple in Dambulla
The Golden Temple is located in small town Dambulla and is included in the whole temple complex, consisting of six temples and caves. The city is located near the rock of Sigiriya. You can see everything in 1 day.
The complex was built in the first century BC. In the twelfth century, more than 70 gilded Buddha statues were installed here.
Very close to the Golden Temple is the Museum of Buddhism. There are also ticket offices where you can buy tickets to the temple, which cost about 1,500 rupees.
There are many paintings on the theme of the earthly life of Buddha, as well as water that defies gravity and flows upward.
Panorama from the mountainside where the temple is located:
How to get there:
- You can get to Dambula from almost any city by bus. They arrive at the city station, from where you can walk to the temple in 20 minutes or take a tuk-tuk for 100 rupees.
Attractions of Sri Lanka nearby:
- If you move 100 m away from the temple, you can see the Museum of Buddhism. There is a collection of rock paintings here. A ticket there costs 250 rupees.
- You can tour the Somavati Stupa for free. It is located at the foot of the small mountain on which the complex is located.
- It will be interesting for tourists to visit the Dambula market, which is located near the bus station.
Unique Sinharaja Park
In Sinharaja Park you can see what the rainforests of Sri Lanka looked like. Rare plants and animals exist in a small area of the park. Sri Lanka's last wild elephants, leopards, monkeys, three species of endemic deer, reptiles and a variety of insects are still found here.
The excursion to the park is on foot. The flora of the rain forest is very widely represented here. Many plants are now found only in this park. It is not uncommon to find a tree 50 meters high. There are beautiful waterfalls
Entrance to the park is paid and costs 500 rupees. If you were unable to arrive early, you can stay overnight in a special camp, which is located at each entrance, so that you can go on an excursion in the morning. A four-hour guided walk will cost 1,600 rupees, an eight-hour walk will cost 3,200 rupees.
Photo and description: Sinharaja Park © Stefan Krasowski / flickr.com How to get there:
- From Colombo you can get to Sinharaja Park by bus. The forest is located very close to the city of Galle.
The nearest attractions are located in the city of Unawatuna:
- Japanese Pagoda, free entry;
- Unawatuna Temple, also free entry;
- Yatagala Temple in the vicinity of Unawatuna;
- Turtle Farm, entrance – 400 rupees.
Adam's Peak
One of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka - Adam's Peak. This is a 2243 m high mountain, the top of which can be climbed as part of an excursion.
At the top there is a depression resembling the imprint of a giant foot. This is the "sacred footprint" of the Buddha. For followers of Hinduism, this is a trace of the supreme deity Shiva. And Christians consider this imprint to be the trace of the Apostle Thomas. A temple was built over the trail.
To climb to the temple, you need to overcome more than 5 thousand steps. The length of the stairs is 8 km. Every 150 meters there are platforms on the stairs where you can rest, buy water and food.
Many people begin their climb at night in order to reach the top by dawn. The staircase is well lit. It is always windy and cold at the top of the peak, so you need to take warm clothes with you.
The ascent lasts from 3 to 5 hours, and the descent takes no more than an hour and a half. Entrance to the climbing stairs is free.
Photo: view from Adam's Peak at sunrise © Manu Praba / flickr.com How to get there:
- You can get to Adam's Peak from Colombo by bus departing from Pettah bus station and going to Hatton. You can also come here by train.
What to visit nearby in Sri Lanka:
- Badulla city and attractions;
- Sinharaja Rain Forest;
- Elephant nursery in Pinavella.
Ratnapura
At the foot of Adam's Peak is the city of Ratnapura. From Colombo you can come here by bus or train. The length of the route is 100 km.
This is the center of mining of Sri Lankan gems. The world's largest sapphires were found here. There are no modern high-rise buildings in the city and entertainment venues. Strange huts are visible everywhere, covering the entrances to the places where gems are mined.
Tourists who come here on an excursion will see how they are mined. The bravest ones can go down inside, underground and examine the structure of the mines.
The work of gem miners is very primitive. The rock is mined using a pick and shovel and then washed in the local river. The sediment from larger fractions is sorted out manually. The tour will continue to the factory for processing the mined jewelry.
Photo and description: gem mining in Ratnapura © hassage / flickr.com What to see in Ratnapura:
- There is a state museum in Ratnapura, where there are collections of jewelry made from local precious stones, tools of the most primitive tribe of Sri Lanka - the Veddas, and the remains of prehistoric animals.
- There is a very revered Maha Saman Deval temple near the city.
- Local market, which is located right in the city center. This market is why many people visit Ratnapura. Here you can buy precious stones very cheaply.
Botanical Garden Peradeniya
The Botanical Garden of Sri Lanka is one of the best in the world.
The park flows big river Sri Lanka - Mahaweli. Here it forms a loop. The park was created on the site of the ancient royal gardens, which were laid out in the 13th century.
There are collections of heat-loving conifers, ebony trees, palms, bamboos, ficus, and ferns. The main asset of the park is the collection of decorative and species orchids.
There are corners dedicated to the design of gardens and parks. This is a suspension bridge, a Japanese garden, a flower garden, alleys of different palm trees, a spice garden, and its own waterfall.
There are named trees planted in the garden famous people from all over globe. This includes trees planted by Nicholas II and Yuri Gagarin.
Entrance to the garden is paid. Entrance fee is 1500 rupees.
Photo: Peradeniya Garden © Buddhika Rangebandara / flickr.com How to get there:
- From Colombo you can take a bus to Kandy. In Kandy you need to take buses No. 644 and No. 652 and get to the stop called “Botanicgarden”.
What attractions can you see nearby:
- Temple of the Tooth Relic;
- Sigiriya;
- Royal Palace of Kandy;
- Dambula.
Hikkaduwa
Sri Lanka has beautiful beaches with the purest ocean water. Hikkaduwa is a resort located on south coast Sri Lanka about 100 km from Colombo. If you go from Bandaranaike airport, a taxi will cost about 9 thousand rupees.
The beaches here are large with a wide strip of excellent clean sand. There are windswept beaches with real ocean waves, and there are closed beaches where the waves are not felt at all.
Is here and coral reef. It was severely destroyed by the waves of the 2004 tsunami. You can see sea turtles and a variety of fish swimming in the shallow waters.
The Hikkaduwa Coral Garden is one of the most popular attractions in Sri Lanka.
Photo: Sri Lankan coast near Hikkaduwa © Amila Tennakoon / flickr.com What else you can see in Hikkaduwa:
- National Park;
- Gem mines;
- Monument to Tsunami Victims;
- The Mask Museum is 10 kilometers from Hikaduwa.
Sights of Sri Lanka on the map
On the map below you will find the location of all the attractions of Sri Lanka in Russian.
To display only the points of interest on the map, click on the menu icon in the upper left corner and uncheck all categories except “attractions”.
Sri Lanka is island country in south Asia. If its neighbor India resembles a large icicle in outline, then Sri Lanka is a drop that falls from this icicle directly to the equator. Advertising often compares Sri Lanka to paradise. In fact, it is true. Cream color sandy beaches, framed by the greenery of coconut palms, picturesque mountains, tea plantations, national parks where wild elephants and other exotic animals roam freely, ancient cities, colonial fortresses... Sri Lanka is not very large in size, but it is very diverse.
Buddha Shakyamuni, Muhammad Ibn Batutta Anton Chekhov, Arthur Clarke. This is a shortened list famous travelers who visited a wonderful island in a warm Indian Ocean. You can also add yourself to this list. Moreover, it is not as expensive as it seems, but it will be remembered for a lifetime.
Sri Lanka Map
general information
Full title– Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Don’t let the word “socialist” confuse you too much. In the seventies of the last century, this country really built socialism, but of a slightly different type than in the Soviet Union. Nobody banned private property in Sri Lanka, and the land was not socialized, although cooperatives vaguely reminiscent of our collective farms were indeed created.
Historical names: Lanka, Ceylon, Taprabana, Serendib.
Square Sri Lanka - 65,610 km², that is, Sri Lanka is more than three times smaller than Belarus.
Population– 21.7 million people, that is, there are more than twice as many Sri Lankans as there are Belarusians.
Capital and largest city– Colombo (about 700 thousand inhabitants).
State– a presidential republic with a strong parliament and local government.
Traffic on the streets- left-handed.
Electricity- 110-120 volts, the connectors are usually Indian with 3 plugs, but our sockets work fine.
Time: add 2 hours 30 minutes to Belarusian time.
Languages
There is only one in Sri Lanka official language – Sinhalese. It belongs to the Indo-European family and is distantly related to the Belarusian language. The alphabet is of Indian origin, very far from ours and completely unreadable.
The second important language, spoken (or at least known) by a good half of the population, is Tamil. It is used as an official one locally. It comes from South India, is in no way related to Belarusian, is absolutely unreadable and incomprehensible.
Fortunately, it is widely used in Sri Lanka. English language. Almost everyone speaks it, writes advertisements and road signs, publishes newspapers, and reads books. Knowledge of English in Sri Lanka is much better than in neighboring India.
On Russian language spoken by some traders in the markets, service in chain hotels, sometimes doctors and even businessmen. Many Sri Lankans studied in the former USSR. But don’t count on being able to negotiate in Russian everywhere without problems.
Money
The national currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan rupee, which is divided into 100 cents. It is very unstable and is constantly decreasing in price, although not as quickly as our Belarusian ruble. Both banknotes and coins are used here. Due to inflation, bills are more common than coins. Check Sri Lankan Rupee to Dollar exchange rate at this moment You can use a currency converter.
It is better to exchange some money at the airport. I warn you right away that the rate at the airport is not the best. But at the airport exchange offices they change quickly. The rate in city banks will be approximately the same as the airport rate, but the exchange process takes a little longer. In hotels they change without any problems, but if you want to change at a good rate, you need to bargain.
Where good course Sri Lankan rupee? Correct answer: at market traders and gas stations. They exchange at the rate of their national bank, or even higher. However, exchange at the market and gas stations (as well as in hotels) is a thing practiced by everyone, but not entirely legal, so ask quietly. There is no need to be afraid of punishment for illegal exchange or deception during the exchange. As a rule, everything is done quickly and honestly, but still beware of shouting or running around the market with a bunch of dollars in your fist. In hotels and at the market, and sometimes even in a store, you can pay in dollars or euros. But better - rupees. Prices in dollars and euros are always higher.
Look for ATMs in the central part of cities.
Standard of living and prices
The standard of living in Sri Lanka is the highest in South Asia, so there are no slums like Indian ones, hungry children, but beggars are sometimes found. Almost the entire population is literate. However, the standard of living is noticeably lower than in Belarus. There are, of course, very wealthy people, but the majority are poor. Do not particularly trust the stories of the Sri Lankans themselves about their salaries, country houses and other delights of life. Like all Asians, they love to brag about what they never had. The price level is comparable to Malaysia, much lower than in Europe, higher than in India. You can live modestly but tastefully in Sri Lanka (including hotel, transport and food) for 30 - 40 dollars a day, if you wish - even cheaper, but also more expensive.
Approximate prices in Colombo: lunch in a cafe without alcohol - 2-5 dollars, in a cafe at a large hotel - 10 - 30 dollars, local beer (quite normal) - 1.5 dollars for a 0.5 liter bottle, a can of lemonade - 0. 7 dollars, wheat bread (0.5 kg) – 0.64 dollars, liter bottle drinking water- a third of a dollar. Fruits of local origin are sold in great abundance, appearance you can’t always determine what it is and what it’s called, but, most importantly, it’s not expensive. Large fruits such as coconuts or papaya are sold individually or in pairs, the rest are sold in 10 pieces (if you buy less, you will still pay for 10). Travel on a city bus costs 0.2 dollars. Bargain with auto rickshaws (tuk-tuks). Let taxi drivers turn on the meter. The fare per kilometer is less than half a dollar plus half a dollar for landing.
Visa
Until 2012, Belarusians, like citizens of most other European countries, flew to Sri Lanka without a visa. Now we (not only Belarusians, but all foreigners) are required to buy a visa. But don't worry. The visa is obtained at the airport upon arrival. Before reaching it border control, you will see a special table with a large Visa inscription. As a rule, there is always a queue around him. There you will pay 25 dollars for a visa. They will give you this visa at passport control.
But it is advisable to pay before arriving in Sri Lanka. There is an e-visa for this. It is obtained through this site: www.eta.gov.lk. In the left panel, select Russian.
An e-visa costs $20. Paid by card. You will receive a payment notification by email. You can print it out and take it with you, or you don’t have to take it, because your name and payment information go into the border guards’ database. In this case, there is no need to stand in line. You just go to passport control, where they give you a visa and say: “Welcome to Sri Lanka!”
A tourist visa is valid for 30 days. Then you can extend it.
Note:
To obtain a visa, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka. At passport control they sometimes ask for a return ticket (printout electronic ticket quite suitable). On the plane or airport you will have to fill out a migration form. If you do not know English, then it is better to do this on the plane, where there will always be a Russian-speaking flight attendant or another Russian-speaking passenger.
Nature
The coast of Sri Lanka is low and consists almost entirely of sandy and sometimes rocky beaches. There are mountains in the south-central part of Sri Lanka. The most high mountain Pidurutalagala reaches 2524 m above sea level and, in general, cannot be compared with Everest or even Mont Blanc. More popular among Sri Lankans and visiting travelers picturesque mountain, which is called Adam's Peak. It rises 2243 m above sea level. Northern part The center of the island is rather hilly, but the hills are not very flat, sometimes they look like raised rocks.
Sri Lanka - green Island. In the sense that there are trees or bushes everywhere here. In areas set up as fields, cream color predominates during the hot season. But don't let the greenery fool you. The idea that nature in Sri Lanka is natural and crops grow on their own is very misleading. Since ancient times, Sri Lankans have been practicing a rather complex farming system, building huge reservoirs and dams, and planting artificial plantings. All this requires a lot of work, no less than in Egypt when building the pyramids. Pristine tropical forests and savannas are preserved only in some national parks.
Outlandish birds, monkeys, insects and lizards can be seen throughout the country. Tame elephants are found much less frequently, mainly in the south and west of the country. In Colombo, elephants are a curiosity, but in Kandy they are common. Real wild nature, no less interesting than the African one, is found in national parks - wild elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, leopards, deer. However, tigers and lions, if they once lived in Sri Lanka, are no longer here. Visit national parks much cheaper than in Africa or India and quite affordable even for a budget traveler.
A handsome crocodile I met in a national park
Climate
Sri Lanka - tropical island. The air temperature on the coast remains almost unchanged throughout the year and is approximately 28 degrees Celsius. In the mountains, temperatures sometimes drop to 20 degrees, or even lower, but there is never frost or just real cold in Sri Lanka. When traveling high in the mountains, it makes sense to take a jacket with you, but in other cases, warm clothes are completely unnecessary. Our summer is considered the season of monsoons - tropical rains, which are not very different from the Belarusian rains, but come every day. In the mountains there is much more rain than on the coast. In summer, it makes sense to take an umbrella with you on the road.
Possible problems
Until recently, Sri Lanka could be considered quite safe country. After graduation civil war Ethnic and religious conflicts periodically occurred in this country, but they were not widespread, big amount victims or unprecedented atrocities, they did not concern foreigners at all. But on Easter 2019, explosions occurred in several Catholic churches and five-star hotels in Colombo, and there were casualties.
Unlike neighboring India, you rarely see outright deception, fraud, shortchange and deception here. But in tourist places locals like to inflate prices for foreigners, so before buying or traveling on a tuk-tuk, find out the real price from the hotel or from ordinary people. The Moors of Sri Lanka have a bad habit of forgetting about the exact amount of the advance payment, feeding in hotels on credit at unspecified high prices, forgetting to give change, and saying nasty things about competitors. Otherwise, they are normal guys and sometimes very sincere. Do not hesitate to write down how much they were given and how much you owe, use the services of their “bad” competitors. Then unexpected problems will not arise.
All Sri Lankans, regardless of religion, love to drink. They will treat your drunkenness with understanding, but they will expect the same from you. By the way, drinking beer and other alcohol on the street is prohibited.
Guides and waiters in expensive restaurants will expect tips from you. Add 10% to waiters, and ask guides for the standard tip price in advance. In all other cases, you do not need to pay a tip.
Do not listen to stories that in Sri Lanka it is not customary to take photographs with your back to Buddha, or to enter Hindu temples or meet girls. All this is possible. If you violate unwritten etiquette, you will be forgiven as a foreigner. But it’s better not to break the laws.
How to get to Sri Lanka
From Minsk to Colombo there are almost 7 thousand kilometers, so everyone thinks that flying to Sri Lanka from Belarus and back is very, very expensive. In fact, the flight may be cheaper than to some European countries.
Now about departure airports.
From Minsk
Flights from Minsk-2 airport to Colombo
Etihad (from $1,150 roundtrip, but more often even more expensive)
Turkish Airlines (approximately $940 - $1,200 roundtrip).
If you want to save money, then fly through Kyiv or Moscow.
From Kyiv
Flies from Kyiv Zhulyany Airport to Colombo low cost airline Flydubai. A ticket purchased a month costs about $680 – $700 roundtrip.
The budget company Air Arabia flies from Kyiv Boryspil Airport. Her ticket is more expensive - 720 - 750 dollars, but in winter time the price drops significantly.
From Moscow
From Domodedovo Airport we offer:
Air Arabia ($580 – 620 roundtrip)
Emirates ($650 – 720 roundtrip)
Qatar Airways ($690 – $710 roundtrip)
Transport
Cheap and very effective in Sri Lanka bus transport. There are regular buses without air conditioning (they travel with windows and doors open and stop frequently) and air-conditioned buses (they travel completely closed and rarely stop). Air-conditioned ones cost one and a half, or even twice as much, but they are faster and there is no crowding, which happens in unconditioned ones. Judge the price for yourself - a one-way ticket for a regular bus from Colombo to Arugam Bay costs less than $10. And this distance is approximately 250 km. Sri Lanka also has Railway. Train tickets should be purchased in advance. They always cost more than the bus. We will not consider domestic flights by plane due to their outrageous cost and short distances.
In the cities there are municipal buses, private minibuses, taxis and auto-rickshaws (tuk-tuks). In theory, auto rickshaws are always cheaper than taxis. But you have to bargain with auto-rickshaws, and taxis go according to the meter (but don’t always want to turn it on, insist!). Travel from the airport at night to the center of Colombo by taxi costs about 20 dollars, to Negombo beach - 10 dollars, to Kandy - 60 dollars. There is an official taxi stand near the exit. They will also offer several taxi routes around the country “at a very favorable prices" The prices are really not astronomical, especially since the price includes accommodation and food, but for this money you will circle Sri Lanka several dozen times by bus.
If you arrive at the airport during daylight hours, you can take a bus to the bus station in Colombo for a third or half a dollar, but for this you will have to walk about 500 meters to the stop. Most likely, on the way, some tuk-tuk will catch you and persuade you to go for the same twenty.
In many tourist places, bicycles (similar to our Storks), cars and mopeds are rented. To drive mopeds and cars you need a license. The local police don't like violators.
History of Sri Lanka
125 thousand years ago - Pithecanthropus appeared in Sri Lanka
37 thousand years ago - the first modern people moved to Sri Lanka from South India. Their direct descendants are obviously .
6th century BC - Gautama Buddha visits Sri Lanka, where he meets local population, which in Buddhist literature are called by the names of demons. Somewhat later in 543 BC. e. The ancestors of modern Sinhalese, led by Prince Vijaya, migrate to Sri Lanka from Western India. They establish the Sinhala civilization.
3rd century BC – The Sinhalese adopted Buddhism.
2nd century BC - Tamil Hindus migrate to the north of Sri Lanka from South India. A centuries-long struggle begins between the two peoples.
1505 – The Portuguese discovered Sri Lanka and began their conquest.
1638 - Sinhalese princes entered into an alliance with the Dutch against the Portuguese.
1658 - The Dutch finally expelled the Portuguese, captured the entire coast and began to quarrel with the Sinhalese.
1796 - The Dutch colonies in Sri Lanka were captured by Great Britain.
1815 - The British conquered the last Sinhalese principality in Kandy.
February 4, 1948 – Sri Lanka is declared an independent state under the formal rule of the British Queen.
1971 - communist uprising in Sri Lanka, by the way, unused Soviet Union. It ended in defeat, but in 1972 the Sri Lankan government declared a course towards building socialism.
1978 – Sri Lanka became a republic led by a president.
1983 – 2009 - civil war in the north and east of the country between the Sinhalese and Tamils.
2004 – East Coast severely damaged by the tsunami. One of the countries that provided assistance to Sri Lanka was Belarus.
Peoples of Sri Lanka
Little Sri Lanka is surprisingly densely populated, and from the very beginning of its written history - by different peoples. Most Sri Lankans, regardless of nationality, are polite, sociable people and very good-natured towards foreigners.
They compactly inhabit the southern, western and central regions countries. The ancestors of the present-day Sinhalese moved to Sri Lanka two and a half thousand years ago from Western India. They are our distant relatives, although they look a little dark. It is curious that Sri Lanka was culturally dependent on India for many centuries, but the Sinhalese in no way consider themselves Indians. It’s kind of like how Belarusians don’t consider themselves Russians. Accordingly, their attitude towards India is very different.
The Sinhalese practice ancient Theravada Buddhism. Don't expect Buddhist tolerance and forgiveness from them. Theravada probably doesn't encourage this. A well-known fact is that one of the most prominent Sri Lankan politicians of the last century, after whom the airport near Colombo is named, Solomon Bandaranaike, was killed by a Buddhist monk. But Sinhalese Buddhists rarely show open aggression; they treat non-believers calmly. On the coast you can find Sinhalese Christians, usually Protestants or Catholics.
The most vibrant Sinhalese holiday, Esala Perahera, is celebrated in late July - early August in Kandy.
In Sri Lanka, it is customary to distinguish between its own Sri Lankan Tamils, who appeared in Sri Lanka more than two thousand years ago, and Indian Tamils, whom the British resettled during the era of colonial rule to work on tea plantations. The state treats the latter according to the principle: suitcase – station – India, which is what many of them do.
There has been a struggle for supremacy on the island for centuries between the Sinhalese and the Sri Lankan Tamils. The European colonialists reconciled them for some time. But during the years of independence, the confrontation returned. The result was a civil war declared on the Lion Men and their government in Colombo by the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The war ended in 2009 with a victory for government forces, but some tension remains in northern Sri Lanka. In the east, where representatives of different nations live together, it is not felt, on the contrary.
The little people of the Sri Lankan forests were not interested in civilization and maintained their way of life until civilization decided to take care of them. Nowadays, most of the Veddas have been resettled in villages, and their lands are included in national parks. They do not know how to engage in agriculture, they have no education, so in their villages they look like fish thrown out on the sand.
In the village of Dambana in eastern Sri Lanka, through the efforts of enthusiasts and government officials, a Cultural Center Veddov, more reminiscent of a museum. .
Sri Lankan cuisine
The cuisine in Sri Lanka is rich in variety. The simplest dish, costing 1 - 2 dollars in a cafe, is a large plate of boiled rice, which is always served with stewed vegetables and sauce. Naturally, you can order rice with meat, fish, crabs, eggs, coconut and other ingredients, but they will cost a little more. Some restaurants serve several types of sauces at once. You can choose spicy or not very spicy. Sri Lanka is famous for its spices, which are used to make curry mixtures. Each cafe has a slightly different curry, each chef has his own signature recipe. Small rice or wheat flatbreads called kotturoti are quite popular. They, like rice, are served with a variety of ingredients.
In areas populated predominantly by Buddhists and Christians, public catering establishments serve meat - beef, pork, chicken, goat, lamb, buffalo and the like. Hindus do not eat beef and buffalo, and Muslims do not eat pork. On the sea coast and in the center of the country they love fish and seafood. I especially liked the freshwater fish cooked in coconut curry sauce.
There are many fruits grown in Sri Lanka. To be honest, I don't even know half of their names. They are very affordable. Among the ones I like the most are breadfruit (they eat the raw doughy core, which has nothing in common with bread in taste), pineapples, papaya, mango, local sweet and sour bananas the size of a finger. Coconuts are grown for their milk, or rather juice, so they are cut young. One coconut costs more than a can of Coca-Cola, but it is much more refreshing than any lemonade. Coconuts are sold with straws already inserted. After drinking the milk, the straw and the nut itself are simply thrown away.
Sri Lanka is one of the largest tea producers. Sri Lankans themselves drink tea with a lot of milk and sugar, so it tastes like condensed milk. But in a cafe you can ask for regular black tea. Sugar is brought to it separately. They sell it on the streets fruit juices, which are not exactly juices. Usually this is a fruit you have chosen from the counter passed through a blender, to which water and ice are added. Milkshakes are very popular, especially falooda (with pieces of jelly added to it). Sri Lanka makes delicious ice cream.
As noted above, Sri Lankans love to drink. The only thing that stops them from widespread alcoholism is the high prices for alcohol. The most common alcoholic drinks- beer, wine (most often something like our ink), whiskey and vodka. The countryside is full of moonshiners. Moonshine is made from just about anything. But one type of moonshine, made from arak coconut, is produced industrially. It can be bought at any beer store. The taste is disgusting. Quite a democratic drink - punch. This is usually slightly fermented palm sap.