Srilanka known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean is blessed with very good Weather. Being a Tropical Country, makes it conducive for traveling all year round. Therefore, it does not matter too much, when you come to visit Srilanka. But there are some minor points that you may wish to know before booking your Holiday.
Though Sri Lanka is a small country, the Weather varies a lot. Within a drive of three hours, the Temperature could go from 30 degrees to 10 degrees, from nice and Sunny to rainy and misty. This mystical nature`s wander makes Sri Lanka a unique destination. No matter what time of the Year you come, the Sun is guaranteed.
January – April
This is a good time to visit Srilanka as there is very little rain around, during this time. This is the best time to see Whales. Swimming in the Sea is possible in the South and West Coasts. This is a good time for water sports such as surfing and snorkeling. January is a bit cooler by Srilankan standards and April is tilted towards the hot season. The Country goes to the Holiday mood after the 13th of April because of the Sinhala New Year. April is the best time for Kitesurfing in Srilanka which is becoming more and more popular every Season.
May – June
This is the time that the South- West Monsoon kicks in. There is some rain around and the humidity climbs up as well. This is not the Ideal time for a beach Holiday in SriLanka, but it is a good time to travel around the country sightseeing. The sites will be unique over this time with very few tourists around. Most of the sites will be for your selves to explore compared to lining up to visit sites during the busy Season.
July – September
This is the time for family Holidays. Lots of families are seen in July/ August. Though there is little rain around, this is a good time to visit SriLanka. The Elephant gathering in Minneriya
National park happens during this time of the Year where you get to see hundreds of Elephants with babies. The Perehera in Kandy [Procession] takes places in July/ August to pay homage to the Tooth relic of Buddha which is a unique highlight.
October – November
This is the time of the North- East monsoon. But this does not mean it would rain all day. The North East monsoon is not very heavy and usually, it rains in the late afternoon. This is a fairly quiet time in Srilanka. You can swim in the Sea in the North and East during this time of the Year. .
December
This is the best time to visit Sri Lanka as far as the Weather is concerned. This is the coolest month in Srilanka which would be the ideal temperature for you. The temperature will be around 25 Degrees. This is the busiest time of the year for sure and a lot of families visit SriLanka during this time of the Year.
Unique Travels offers fantastic affordable tours to make your holiday the most memorable Holiday. We will make sure that you are well looked after by our very experienced field staff. Our mission is to make sure that you will have your best Holiday in SriLanka To find out more information about our tours and SriLanka's most beautiful places, visit our website Today!
Sri Lanka is considered a Vegetarians paradise with so many options on offer. We have over 30 different types of vegetables in this Country that a widely available and on offer at most restaurants. You can pick and choose what you like. Being an Island Nation we are never short of Seafood and you can try a variety of fish, Prawns, Crab, Octopus, Calamari etc
1) Srilankan Kottu
Kotthu is the iconic street food in SriLanka. This is available in every town. You can try Vegetable, Fish, Meet and Egg Kotthu. In touristy towns you can have cheese and many variations which are not traditional, but an introduced version for tourists. The base of this dish is Roti , Nan bread or parata. The chopped up Roti is grilled with vegetables and spices. You can then add what you like to it to suit your taste. The chopping of the Roti is done on a metal plate with a metal blade which makes a sound, sometimes rhythmic, especially if the cook is experienced.
2) Fish Ambul Thiyal
This is a signature dish of Srilanka which is unique to us. This has derived from a traditional method of preserving food with Tamarind, Lime and other citrus spices. This is usually eaten with rice and has distinctive sharp taste The dish a very popular in the Southern region of Srilanka.
3) Milk Rice
Milk rice is usually served at Breakfast. This is rice cooked in coconut milk. The rice is sticky and is very creamy. The Srilankans eat it with a spicy salad, but you can have it with Banana if you wish. It is served in blocks and is very filling.
4) Pol Sambol
It is made with grated coconut, onions, and chillies. The colour of the dish indicates the level of spices being used. If it is dark red, brown or orange, it is on the spicy side and if it is yellow or cream colour it would be mild. This is a side dish and you need to eat it with rice or bread.
5) Hoppers
After Kotthu, this is the most popular street food in Srilanka. The base of Hoppers is Rice flour, Coconut milk and yeast. You can have an egg in it if you like. This is often eaten with a spicy salad made with chillies, onion, lime and salt.
6) Sri Lankan Dhal Curry
Dhal curry is also called the lentils curry. This is most common dish in Srilanka. Lentils are cooked in coconut milk. A mixture of spices called the curry powder is added to the curry to make it spicy. This is a side dish and you can eat it with rice, bread or roti. The taste of Dhal curry varies from region to region
7) Sri Lankan Chicken Curry
This is the most popular meat dish in Srilanka. The chicken is on board to add more flavour to the curry. The coconut milk and spices in the curry make it a very special Srilankan dish. This is often eaten with rice. If the curry is red or brown it is on the spicy side.
Do not miss these dishes when you are on holiday in this beautiful Island Nation. If you wish to learn more about these dishes and Srilankan cuisine please to visit https://www.theuniquetravel.co.uk for more details on visiting Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is a country with many festivals. Most of them are Buddhist festivals where the Srilankan traditions are well exposed. Hindu, Muslim and Christian festivals too are celebrated in Srilanka, showcasing the ethnic unity and the harmony of the people. All the festivals are public Holidays in Sri Lanka and this allows the people to celebrate these festivals in style. Srilanka has over 30 public Holidays and most of them are to, celebrate the Festivals. Out of the many festivals we have, we have picked the top five and listed them below.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations
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This is by far the most popular festival celebrated in Sri Lanka. The traditional Srilankan New Year arrives on the 14th of April at the given auspicious time by the Astrologist which varies every year. All the traditional food and sweets made over the New Year is a key feature in the celebrations. Every one join in the traditional Srilankan games making it a fun event. This is the family time for Srilankans and most families get together leaving big cities like Colombo deserted. The instrumental factor of the celebrations is the pre-determined auspicious times for activities such as the first meal, first bath, first day to work or school etc of the New Year prolonging the celebrations for about a week.
Vesak Poya
This is called the festival of light or the festival of enlightenment. This falls on the full moon day of the month of May to commemorate the Birth, Enlightenment and passing away of Buddha. The whole Country will be illuminated with colourful pandalls and lanterns. People travel around for days sightseeing enjoying the so much varied art work. The temples get very busy with people dressed in white offering flowers and lighting oil lamps.
Vel Festival
This is a Hindu festival that is held in July /August. The event exhibits Hinduism’s rich cultural and religious legacy. The celebrations mainly take place in Colombo where pilgrims gather for the procession. You hear the sound of drums from a distance, smell the burning incense, chants, and colourful dances in their vibrant costumes parading the streets of Colombo. The celebrations honour the defeat of bad forces and evil . The Vel festival is dedicated to God Skandha, The God of victory.
Kandy Esala Perahera
This is by far the most popular event for Tourists. This procession is claimed to be the largest unpaid procession in Asia. There are colourful dances , over 50 Elephants , Drummers and temple officials walking in the procession that will fill the streets of Kandy in the central hills of Srilanka. There are self-mortification activities such as walking of fire, hanging on hooks etc. This festival is held to pay homage to the Tooth relic of Buddha that starts ten days before the full moon day of August and finishes on the full moon day.
Maha Shivarathri
This festival is been held to celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva to Parvati and is an important for Hindus. . This festival takes place in March and there are many traditions that are followed by the devotees during the festival People come to temples in bright and vibrant dress for the event. This festival is mainly focused on the spiritual attributes. Above are a few of many festivals SriLankans celebrate. Within your holiday of two weeks, there is every chance that you could experience a festival as we have that many.
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Sri Lanka is well known for its cultural heritage. The most popular region among tourists is the cultural triangle. Within two days you can visit the most popular cultural sites in Sri Lanka. Having a long written history that dates back to the 3rd Century BC has been instrumental in developing the Tourism industry in SriLanka
Sri Lanka has eight UNESCO World heritage sites. Having this many sites, in a small country is great. The most visited ancient city is Polonnaruwa, The Rock fortress of Sigiriya is claimed to be the 8th Wander of the World. Anuradhapura is the most impressive ancient city with massive relic Temples. Dambulla is the largest painted cave temple in the World. Kandy was the last indigenous Capital of the Country and it still remains the cultural hub.
The sacred city of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura the longest-lived Capital in the World from the 5th Century BC till the 10th Century AD is known for its impressive relic temples. The tallest temple at Anuradhapura was the third tallest monument in the World at that time.The sacred Bodhi tree is the oldest tree in the World with a recorded history that dates back to the 3rd Century BC.Ruwanweliseya is the best-preserved relic temple in the country with a white Cristal on the top of the pinnacle that reflects the sunlight onto the devotees. The Samadhi Buddha statue, The twin ponds, Brazen Palace & Isurumuniya are the other highlights in Anurathepura
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa
The medieval Capital of SriLanka was flourishing from the 10th to the 12th Century AD. The monuments here are in better shape and well preserved as they are younger than the ruins in Anuradhapura. Most of the monuments are close to each other which makes it easier to explore. The ancient city is close to the largest ancient man-made reservoir called Parakrama Samudraya. The highlight of Polonnaruwa is the Rock temple or Gal Viharaya. There are four statues of Buddha carved out of a single piece of granite rock.
The golden temple of Dambulla
The Golden Rock temple was built in the 1st Century BC by a King who was driven away by the South Indians from the ancient Capital. The King lived in these caves for nearly two decades. He converted all five caves into temples. The paintings on the walls and the sealing are amazing. Natural colors have been used to paint the caves
The ancient city of Sigiriya
The Rock fortress of Sigiriya was the Capital of Srilanka in the 5th Century BC for nearly two decades. The 600 feet rock was converted into a fortress with moats with Crocodiles & sinking mud, Stone catapults, and many other obstructers. The views from the top are breathtaking and you get to see the outer rim of the once active volcano. Sigiriya was the inner core of the volcano. This is easily the most visited ancient monument in Srilanka and is a highlight for most people.
The sacred city of Kandy
The most visited city by Tourists is the cultural center of Sri Lanka. The lake in the heart of the city makes Kandy unique. The highlight of Kandy is the Temple of the tooth where the Tooth Relic of Buddha is housed. This is a very active temple with hundreds of pilgrims visiting it daily. The best time to visit the temple is during the ceremony. Another highlight in Kandy is the Royal Botanical Garden which is in an area of 67 hectares.
The Dutch fort in Galle
The Dutch are one of the few living World heritage sites. The fort was first built by the Portuguese. But later on, the Dutch re-furbished and expanded it. You can walk all the way around the fort seeing the highlights such as the Dutch church, National Museum, Dutch Hospital complex, lighthouse, flag rock, and the clock tower
Pack your bags and come on board to the miracle of Asia for a memorable family holiday
Sri Lankan elephants, a subspecies of Asian elephants, can be seen in large numbers at Minneriya and Kaudulla National parks. The best time to visit these parks is from July to November when you get to see the elephant gatherings. Seeing a hundred to two hundred Elephants is a common sight in July and August. The special feature is the number of Baby elephants you see here. If you go on a game drive there is a guarantee that you will see elephants and the question asked is how many. You could watch their unique behavior for hours for sure.
“Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant ― the only harmless great thing.” – John Donne –
There are over three thousand wild Elephants in Sri Lanka and most of them live in the dry zone. Though there is no opportunity to see the gathering, National parks like Udawalwa & Wasgamuwa are infested with a large number of Elephants. Yala and Wilpatthu National parks give you a good chance to spot the Sri Lankan Elephant. But as these are the two largest National parks the Elephants are scatted and usually being spotted in small numbers. The born free foundation is running an Elephant transit home where they treat and nurse orphan baby Elephants. Once the Elephants recover they slowly release them to the Udawalawa National Park.
The Elephant population is stable in Srilanka. There is no poaching as most Asian Elephants do not grow tusks. There is a human–elephant conflict that has been going on for some time. It is being controlled to an extent by building electric fences around the National parks and the bordering villages.
Family Holidays in Srilanka are very popular. The main reason for the cause is the Elephants. The Kids love watching the Elephants playing in the huge reservoirs, Babies being fed by their Mothers, rubbing their bodies against the trees, and endlessly eating. The gentle nature of this giant mammal is indeed a pleasure to observe.
