After my trip to Dubai, I was casually browsing the internet when I stumbled upon Sri Lanka tourism. To my surprise, the Sri Lankan government was offering free visas for Indian citizens. That’s when I realized it was the perfect time to visit this beautiful country. In this blog, I’ll share my experiences and explain why Sri Lanka might just be your next ideal destination for a relaxing vacation.
One fine day, while I was in Dubai, I received a call from a close friend with whom I had worked during my summer internship at HackerRank back in 2019. Being a good friend, he suggested traveling together, and after some discussion, we decided that Sri Lanka would be our next travel destination.
We planned to explore the central, northern, western, and southern regions of Sri Lanka. Although we initially intended to visit the eastern part of the country as well, the poor transportation infrastructure posed a significant challenge, disrupting our timelines. I’ll share more about my experiences in the upcoming sections of this blog.
First Day in Colombo
On our first day in Sri Lanka, we landed in Colombo, a city that surprised me with its simplicity yet modern infrastructure, surpassing my expectations. We spent the day exploring Colombo and acclimating to the environment. Our itinerary included visits to the Gangaramaya Buddha Temple, Independence Square, and the Red Mosque. In the evening, we strolled along the Galle Face Front beach, enjoying a pleasant and relaxing walk by the sea. It was a fulfilling day, packed with visits to several iconic spots in Colombo.
Colombo city
Hindu temple in Colombo city
Galle Face Front in Colombo city during evening
Kandy
The next day, we took a train to Kandy, a hill station in Sri Lanka. Departing from the Colombo railway station, the journey to Kandy took about three hours. Interestingly, Sri Lanka doesn’t have an online booking system for train tickets; everything operates offline, and cash is the preferred mode of payment. Upon arriving in Kandy, we checked into a hostel, freshened up, and then headed to the Ambuluwawa Tower, about an hour’s drive from the main city. The tower’s spiral staircase becomes narrower as you ascend, making it quite challenging to climb, especially for those uncomfortable with heights.
With my friend at top of Ambuluwawa Tower
After visiting the Ambuluwawa Tower, we spent some time exploring the main city of Kandy and found ourselves craving pizza. We came across a Pizza Hut outlet but were utterly disappointed—the pizzas just didn’t taste right! I mean, who puts pineapple on a pizza?
Kandy City Sunset
The next day we planned to visit Sigiriya Rock and Pidurangala Rock. Sigiriya village, located about three hours from Kandy, is accessible only by road, so we rented a TukTuk for the journey. Sigiriya Rock, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is famously known as the ancient kingdom of Ravana.
When we arrived in the scorching midday heat, we discovered a long queue for Sigiriya Rock. Uncertain if we could complete the visit before evening, we opted to trek Pidurangala Rock instead—and what an incredible decision it was! For adventure enthusiasts and trekking lovers, this was a perfect choice. The trek included sections of rock climbing, which added an exhilarating twist.
Reaching the top of Pidurangala Rock rewarded us with breathtaking views, including a distant glimpse of Ravana’s Lanka. Despite the intense afternoon heat, the experience was absolutely worth it!
Towards top of Pidurangala Rock
Final stage of Pidurangala Rock
Pidurangala Rock Views with Sigiriya Lion Rock
After descending from Pidurangala Rock, we stopped for lunch at the Barista Café in Sigiriya village. On our way back, we realized that renting a TukTuk was a poor decision—we should have opted for a private taxi instead. The TukTuk proved to be quite uncomfortable in the sweltering heat and didn’t serve us well.
During our return journey, we visited the Dambulla Caves, another UNESCO World Heritage site. However, reaching the caves required climbing numerous stairs, which left us completely exhausted by the time we got to the top, especially in the intense heat.
Barista in Sigiriya
Sleeping Buddha in middle of trek to Dambulla Caves
Dambulla Caves View from Inside
After visiting the Dambulla Caves, we returned to the hostel by evening and relaxed after dinner with our fellow hostel mates. We met some new friends from France and Germany who had traveled specifically to explore Ravana’s Lanka, also known as Sigiriya Rock.
Nuwara Eliya
The next morning, we took the train from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is a mountainous region with tea plantations, similar to Darjeeling and Ooty in India. On our first day, we explored the local tea plantations and visited the Damro Tea factory, where we tasted some tea and bought some as souvenirs for friends and family. Afterward, we had lunch and visited the famous Sita Temple, where Ravana is said to have kept Sita after capturing her. At the time, the temple was under maintenance. We also explored the footprints of Hanuman, which are located behind the temple, believed to be from when he came to meet Devi Sita.
Next, we headed to Lake Gregory, a popular spot in Nuwara Eliya for a relaxing lakeside walk, enjoying the beautiful views of the plains and the lake. As the evening set in, the temperature dropped significantly, and the city quieted down by 9 pm. After searching for dinner spots, we finally found a café where we enjoyed hot chocolate with marshmallows and some Italian food.
Sita Temple, Nuwara Eliya
Tea Plantations in Nuwara Eliya
Horton Plains National Park and Ella
After our brief stay in Nuwara Eliya, we headed toward the southern coast of Sri Lanka, known for its beautiful beaches and stunning views of the Indian Ocean. The journey was long, as road travel was the only available mode of transportation. Along the way, we visited Horton Plains National Park, where we went hiking through the park’s diverse wildlife. It was an incredible experience to spot live deer, leopards, and endangered birds while hiking.
The hike is best done early in the morning, as it takes around six hours to complete the entire route across the park. There are several notable spots within the park, including the trek to the highest point in Sri Lanka, where the World’s End plateau meets the sky, along with waterfalls and forests. This is why the hike takes a full six hours to complete.
Morning view of Horton Plains National Park
Sunrise in Horton Plains National Park
Ready for hiking Horton Plains National Park
Hiking track in Horton Plains National Park
Trek to World’s End
Returning from the Horton Plains National Park
After exploring the national park, we had lunch in Ella city, where we also enjoyed a refreshing orange coconut drink, known locally as King Coconut. We then visited the famous Nine Arches Bridge, a popular and Instagram-worthy spot, and also took a trip to Ravanna Waterfalls. Afterward, we continued our journey to Mirissa and arrived by evening.
I was truly amazed by the hiking experience in the national park—it was one of the best I’ve had in my life. I highly recommend adding it to your bucket list when visiting Sri Lanka.
Closing - Mirissa, Welligama and Ahangama
After arriving in Mirissa in the evening, we took a break and met some new people at the hostel where we were staying. The next day, we explored Mirissa Beach. Our original plan was to go snorkeling with the Blue Whales in the Indian Ocean, but we later learned that the tours offering such activities were operating illegally, without proper authorization. So, we decided to abandon that plan.
Initially, we had considered visiting Trincomalee, but the road transportation proved to be a hassle, so we opted to stay in Mirissa instead. We then decided to explore nearby beaches, including Weligama Beach and Ahanagama Beach. Ahanagama Beach was absolutely stunning, and riding a rented scooter along the Indian Ocean road was a blissful experience—one of the best moments of my life, something that words in this blog can’t truly capture.
At Weligama Beach, we spent half the day taking surf lessons. It was an amazing experience, as it was my first time learning to surf. It wasn’t easy at all! Navigating the ocean, trying to balance on the board when the waves came, and managing the surfboard when the high tides hit—it was all a crazy but unforgettable experience.
Mirissa Beach
Post Surfing Lessons in Welligama
Indian Ocean view from Ahangama
After spending two days in Mirissa, we took a bus back to Colombo to catch our flight and return to Delhi, India. As a destination, I’d say Sri Lanka is worth a one-time visit. The country has much to offer, but due to its struggling economy and transportation challenges, there’s still room for improvement. Horton Plains National Park was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post! I’ll be back with another travel blog soon—until next time :)