Sri Lanka Travel Tips – Travel Smart

Sri Lanka is just around 30 kms of sea away from India, though we have stayed in all our life and being to Sri Lanka was more or less like traveling to south India, but there was few things that differs a lot between the two nations. This article is for people who want to travel to Sri Lanka and even after lot of research on the net you have not found proper tips on the trip. Here are few thumb rules and tips for your smooth trip to Sri Lanka,

1. Apply for E-Visa for Sri Lanka

Unlike many other Asian countries, Sri Lanka doesn’t offer a visa on arrival. However, you can apply for an electronic visa or eVisa. An eVisa is a double entry visa for 30 days, which is usually enough for most of the travelers. The fee for an eVisa is $35  for all the countries but is only $20 or INR 1400 for SAARC countries of which India is a part.  For a longer stay visa, you can apply directly at the embassy.

2. You will land at Negambo and not Colombo

When you book your flight to Sri Lanka, your ticket will say that you’re flying to Colombo. In reality, it’s not Colombo but the suburb area of Negombo, which is a different place entirely and is an hour and half away from Colombo. So if you want to book a hotel not very far from the airport, book at Nigombo . Nigombo is also well connected to all the parts of Sri Lanka, so this is not as much of a stress, just that don’t get confused.

3. If you have a Buddha Tattoo? Hide it!

Sri Lanka has a zero tolerance for tourists with Buddha tattoos. In fact, there have been cases in the past wherein tourists with Buddha tattoos have been arrested and deported. A few weeks back, A tourist lady was stopped by the police at Kandy railway station for carrying a bag with Buddha face but luckily she escaped trouble. Oh, and also, one of the pop musicians Akon was also barred an entry to Sri Lanka because one of his music videos featured a Buddha statue next to skimpily clad women. Back in 2012, three French tourists were sentenced to 6 months in jail for clicking pictures of them kissing a Buddha statue.

Some countries regard the usage of religious objects and symbols in ornaments or fashion as disrespectful. So if you have a Buddha tattoo, please hide it while you’re in Sri Lanka.

4. Tuk Tuk Scams

Well these scams are all over Asia. We live in India, here we encounter to all this everyday. But in Sri Lanka, it is bit unique. Sometimes the Tuk-Tuk driver stops you in the middle of nowhere and asks you for an increased fare. He can say that he calculated wrong and you have to bear for a fare double than what was quoted. However it is on your handling skills. I have paid little extra in this situation. Try to pay them after you get down even when they insist on a full advance payment. There are well connected buses all over Sri Lanka, try to take them.

5. The Best way to travel internally is by Train

The real beauty of Sri Lanka can be felt over a train ride for sure. While in a train coach you see tea estates, forests, waterfalls, hills, monkeys and elephants along the tracks. You can walk around and even sit by the door and get lost in the beauty. These things is not possible on a car drive coz the stretch is different, plus trains are comfortable. Did I mention that the train ride from Kandy to Ella is supposed to be the most scenic one?

6. Drinking Sri Lanka – Arrack & Lion lager

If you compare the costs with the neighboring countries, drinking in Sri Lanka is expensive. Arrack is Sri Lanka’s local spirit, which is like rum and is made with coconut flowers. Yes coconut trees have flowers! Arrack can cost you around INR 900 for a bottle.

The most popular local beer in Sri Lanka is Lion Lager and it costs 250 LKR (INR 140) if you buy it from alcohol shops. Of course it costs double or even triple when you buy it in bars and restaurants.

7. Sri Lanka is much beyond beaches

Tourists think that Sri Lanka is mostly about the beaches, but no they couldn’t be more wrong. Sri Lanka can be divided into four zones – the beaches, the hill country, forests and historical places. To explore the country, you need atleast 10 full days if not more.

8. Tap Water in Sri Lanka

If you are an Indian, the tap water of Sri Lanka is pretty safe for you. But you find it a risk to drink tap water, please stick to bottled water. The cost of bottled water was a little higher if you compare it to most of the Asian countries.

9. Costs can be extreme (Low and High both)

Everything in the beach towns is expensive, even the supermarkets. I am from India, and I cannot think of paying more than INR 300 for a breakfast on the upper end. In beach town it can be INR 600 for a regular breakfast. On the other hand, the cost will drastically drop if you just go little away from the tourist places. So plan accordingly.

10. ATMs and Banks

First point here is there is a big chance that your ATM card may decline to work at most of the ATMs. You will have to search for the bank which accepts your card. It is better to carry some cash currency while traveling to Sri Lanka. Another important point is that Most of the banks shuts at 3pm. So do all transactions in the morning to avoid stress.

11. Sri Lankan Food and restaurants

You will fall in love with Sri Lankan food. It is similar to South Indian food with very a mild difference. Try their Rice and Curry meal combos, which has more than one curry, daal, beetroot salad and “Sambal”. Sambal (or sambhal) is a dry preparation of shredded coconut with red chilies, curry leaves, and a few herbs that Sri Lankans eat with their food. Sri Lankan roti is like India’s Malabari Parotta, Kothu (or Kottu) is what Pad Thai is for Thailand – an affordable meal that is popular with backpackers. I also enjoyed egg samosas in Sri Lanka, which are very spicy and way different than Indian’s samosas. In smaller towns, a meal can cost around 100 LKR (less than INR 70), but can go as high as 500 LKR in bigger towns. I will write a full blog post about Sri Lankan food soon.  P.S. Like in many parts of south India, Sri Lankans call Restaurants as hotels. Don’t get confused.

12. Plug Points and electrical sockets in Sri Lanka

The plugs in hotels or homestays can easily fit Indian and European plugs. You don’t need to carry a universal adapter while traveling in Sri Lanka.

13. Is Sri Lanka safe for single female travellers?

As a rule of thumb, dressing sensibly, befriending other travelers for company and trusting your sixth sense will go a long way in keeping you safe. Just like India, you will need to appear confident and at times intimidating to ward off trouble. I met several solo travelers on my trip. Solo girls were doing fine and were loving the trip. So I can say, it is safe as long as you don’t invite problems.

Sri Lanka is beautiful, it is green in true sense. I believe every traveler who wants to see the world should keep Lanka in in his early itinerary, there is lot of walking and trekking. If you have been to Kerala or Coorg for that matter you will feel like home. If you are from a bigger city like Delhi, you will feel like you are in a evergreen paradise. Be it beaches or mountains, animals or bids, Sri Lanka is a place to explore.

Keep traveling, Live More!