An introduction to Sri Lanka

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Guest article by Viktor, on Serendip Travels

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Sri Lanka is a small island south-west of India with about 20 million inhabitants. The country is not very big - the area is about twice the size of Småland. In this post, I want to tell you about some of the highlights, as well as some more exotic, lesser-known experiences.

Wide variation

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Sri Lanka is the sheer variety that can be found in its relatively small area. Fine beaches, beautiful nature in the highlands, lots of culture, rich wildlife and opportunities for different types of adventure.

Travelling by train in the Highlands

One of the most memorable experiences is travelling by train in the highlands. The train, which is often an older model, winds through the highlands among rainforests and tea plantations. The landscape is intensely green and the views are often breathtaking.

The train chugs up the mountain, locals hanging out of doorways and train cars slamming into each other. Every now and then a vendor comes along to sell local sweets or a drink. The lower class you choose to travel, the more interesting and less predictable, but also of course less comfortable.

Palace on Mount Sigiriya

Almost a must during your stay in Sri Lanka is to go up to the palace at Sigiriya. Sigiriya is an improbable rock formation, some 200 metres high, in the middle of the rainforest, and was the capital of Sri Lanka in the 4th century.

King Kasyapa built the palace on top of the mountain and decorated the walls on the way up with paintings. Halfway up is a mighty gate built in the shape of a large lion. There are 1202 steps up to the palace, and once there you are rewarded with a fantastic view.

Try rafting

A less common option is to spend a night in Kitulgala - Sri Lanka's rafting centre. Here you can stay at, for example. Rafter's Retreatwhere you live in huts with one side open to the rapids. It's cool to fall asleep to the roar of the rapids. Another option is Ceylon Adventures, which is more like living in a tent with a roof overhead.

During the day you do your rafting, jump into a rubber boat with a guide, get your own paddles, glide slowly in the river, and accelerate in the rapids - a real adrenaline rush. Among other things, you go under the bridge where the film "Bridge over the River Kwai" was shot. After the rafting, a tip is to visit the small, cosy, unspoilt village on the other side of the river, reached by a small wooden boat.

More gems in Sri Lanka

Those were some of the highlights of Sri Lanka. But there's a lot that hasn't been mentioned, including safaris in Yala National Park, whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa, many of the amazing beaches or hiking in Ella (where accommodation at the fantastic 98 Acres is hard to beat).

But perhaps the best thing is to just stop and look at everything going on around you. Take in everyday life. The good food, the smells, the sounds. Talk to the locals, who have been fluent in English since colonial times. It is possible to get close to Sri Lanka.

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