Historical Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean, just off the southeastern coast of India. Despite its modest size—slightly larger than the state of West Virginia—Sri Lanka has a population of about 20 million people, almost equal to the population of Texas. The island is rich in natural resources, and has a diverse economy based on agriculture, mining, fishing, manufacturing, and tourism. 
• On becoming an independent nation in 1948 Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon) seemed to be headed for a future as a stable and prosperous democracy. Since the 1970s, however, the country has been torn by violent struggles between the two main ethnic groups, Sinhalese and Tamils that make up its population. Sri Lanka suffered severe damage and loss of life from the tsunami of 2004. 

1. Language: Sinhala, Tamil,  English
2. Currency Accepted Here Sri Lankan Rupee, US Dollar, Indian Rupee
3. Country Code: +94
4. Capital of Sri Lanka:  Legislative capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.Executive and judicial capital is Colombo.
5. Sri Lanka is known as the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" due to its natural beauty.
6. The country is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the ancient city of Sigiriya, the sacred city of Kandy, and the  Old town of Galle.
7. It is one of the world's leading exporters of tea.
8. It is one of the best places in the world for wildlife enthusiasts.
9. It has a unique cuisine with diverse flavors and influences. 
   

• Sigiriya - An ancient rock fortress with stunning frescoes and landscaped gardens.
• Kandy - Home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the beautiful Kandy Lake.
• Ella - A small town with breathtaking views, tea plantations, and the Nine Arches Bridge.
• Galle - A historic city with a well-preserved Dutch Fort, charming streets, and beautiful beaches.
• Yala National Park - Famous for its wildlife, including leopards, elephants, and diverse bird species.
• Anuradhapura - An ancient city with well-preserved ruins and significant Buddhist sites.
• Mirissa - Known for its beautiful beaches and whale watching opportunities.
• Nuwara Eliya - A hill station with lush tea gardens, colonial architecture, and cool climate.
• Polonnaruwa - Another ancient city with impressive ruins and archaeological sites.
• Arugam Bay - A popular spot for surfing with a laid-back atmosphere and pristine beaches.
  

• Most Necessary Documents For Indian Travellers
• Visa
• 6 months valid passport
• Name on visa must be the same as on passport.
• 2 Passport size photographs
• Travel Insurance (recommended) 
• Valid Tickets
  

• The Meals are generally in coconut oil
• Non Veg. & Veg. items are often on buffet table so please look for the Green dot or ask before picking doubtful things from menu.
• Vegetarian food outlets outside the hotel can be few and limited so if you are not in group please plan your meals in advance. 

How is the mobile roaming & connectivity facilities in Sri Lanka? Which local mobile operator has good network?

• There are SIM card shops at the Colombo airport so if anyone requires to purchase the SIM card than Colombo airport is the best option.
• Dialog and Mobitel are prominent providers offering good network coverage and prepaid plans suitable for tourists.
• Airtel Simcard also works in Sri lanka but the roaming plans are on costly side. Local sim cards are more preferable and cheap option.

What are the Hotel room Category available in Sri Lanka?

• Mostly rooms are twin bedded, King bed options are also available but they are less.
  

What is Indian Custom rule for gold and goods?

• As per the Indian custom rules, A female can bring gold of value up to 1 lac Rupees only.
• And male can bring gold of value up to 50000/- Rupees only.
• You Can bring Rs.35,000/-per Adult worth of Goods, Rs.15,000/-per Child worth of Goods and 1 Laptop duty Free.

What are the tipping rules?

• Though tipping is not mandatory, it is a normal practice to give Tip to the Bellboys, local countries tour guide and in the restaurants.
• It is as per your wish. They do expect token at the expected services. 
• Normal tipping rules to Bell Boys is 50 Srilankan rupees per Bag and 300 Srilankan rupees  per Person to guide and drives
  

Luxury Hotels and Resorts: Located mainly in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, and along the southern and western coasts. Examples include:

• Shangri-La Hotel,  Colombo
• Jetwing Lighthouse, Galle
• Heritance Kandalama, Dambulla

Boutique Hotels: These offer a more personalized experience with unique decor and intimate settings.

• Galle Fort Hotel
• The Wallawwa, Negombo

Mid-Range Hotels: Comfortable and reasonably priced, often with good amenities.

• Cinnamon Red, Colombo
• Habarana Village by Cinnamon
• Hotel Sigiriya

• The transport vehicle will generally follow pre-approved itinerary. 
• So if you wish to have the car for yourself to casino or any other places other than itinerary, it has to be informed prior and will be at an additional cost.
• Drivers will only speak English. They neither understand nor speak hindi language.
  

• Negombo Fish Market: A great place to buy seafood.
• Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct: A shopping center with historic architecture.
• Tsunami Photo Museum: A museum dedicated to the 2004 tsunami.
• Vogue Jewellers (pvt) Ltd: A jewelry store with great service.
• Sooriya Weaving: A textile factory outlet where you can buy handmade products.
• Waruna Antiques: A store filled with beautiful antique pieces.
• One Galle Face: The best mall in Sri Lanka, offering luxury brands and a wide range of food options. 
• Good Market: A shop that offers organic and natural food options.
• Colombo City Centre: An upscale shopping center with high-end shops.
• Lihiniya Gems: A family-owned business with a great selection of gems.

•  Kandy temple visit requires fully covered dressing& very decent dressing.
• Whale watching is an adventure activity. Sea sickness is very common on these trips. So avoid if you are prone to get uncomfortable under such conditions.
• Rain is little unpredictable in a year so please be prepared for the same.
• If travelling during the winter season than pls carry light woolens.
• Advised to carry mosquito repellent in all seasons.
• Kindly carry Indian adaptor for charging
• Tipping Is Advisable 
• It’s a country with the hills at the center & low plains near the coast. So all rain water gets drained down into the sea. So many of its kings built tanks or lakes to store water. 
• It has many world heritage sites under UNESCO
• The sightseeing places like Sigiriya Rock or Dambula cave temple will have approx. 800 steps to climb so one needs to know this if it’s planned in the tour.