Sri Lanka is an island located off the South coast of India. It is well known for its Tea and precious Cinnamon spice, but it has so much to offer to its visitors.
This country has a very old history and the remains of its ancient kingdoms, dating back almost 3000 years ago, still stand today. Cities like Anuradhapura or the impressive palace of Sigirya offer a true travel back in time and make you wonder about their ancient mysteries. Buddhist religion also has a major role in the country and the multitude of temples all over the island signals its strong presence, often connected to historical happenings.
The temple on top of Adam’s Peak, for example, is hosting an extremely important celebration that gather thousands and thousands of pilgrims of different religions to climb the steep stairs of the mountain. Climbing along the locals was incredibly fascinating and seeing so much dedication and effort to get to the temple was truly remarkable.
The vibrant culture and the extraordinary food traditions can be easily discovered in cities like Kandy or Ella, often surrounded by endless tea plantations and wonderful parks.
Nature and wildlife are definitely a big part of Sri Lanka and many are the places where they can be experienced. Sinharaja rainforest was one of my favourite destinations. So rich in animals, reptiles, insects and beautiful plants, this reserve in the heart of the island is a must visit for the true jungle lover. This is also where I saw my first carnivorous plant in the wild, namely the endemic species of Nepenthes called Nepenthes Distillatoria.
Udawalawe National Park has been a great place to meet the majestic Elephants, along with the colourful Peacocks, constantly showing their feathers during mating season.
The coastal areas, the golden beaches and towns like Galle and Matara in the South are also incredible places to experience the local culture, especially through visiting the wonderful local markets, the perfect spots to try new flavours and taste some new exotic fruits.
This country is so diverse that requires long time to truly explore it all. So many are the possibilities that for sure I will have to come back to visit more.