Sri Lanka is a country located in South Asia, mainly on the island of Ceylon and several smaller ones. Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte serves as the capital of the country, but many offices are still located in the previous capital - Colombo, which is also the largest city of this island. The inhabitants speak English, Sinhala and Tamil. Most of them practice Buddhism.

Sri Lanka – history in a nutshell

Already in the 1815th century BC, the Sinhala chief founded a state on the island, which developed dynamically for many centuries (until the 1845th century AD). Unfortunately, numerous invasions destroyed the unity of the country. From around the 80th century, the Portuguese ruled there, then the Dutch, and then the British. In XNUMX, British Ceylon was established. However, the Sri Lankans gained independence in XNUMX. In the XNUMXs, a civil war broke out in Sri Lanka, in which one of the parties was the minority inhabiting the island - the Tamils.

Elephants in Sri Lanka

Many people associate Sri Lanka with the production of rubber, tea and coconut oil. However, many people come to see the elephants. We will meet them in Minneriya Park, by the lake of the same name. You can safely view these majestic animals while sitting in a jeep, and the best time to do so is from May to September (during the dry season). An interesting fact is that they almost never have tusks and therefore are not killed for their bones.

Sri Lanka – the most important attractions

This beautiful island cannot be described in a few words. The biggest attractions include Sigiriya, i.e. the Lion Rock, on which the leader Kassapa built a stronghold long ago. Currently, only ruins remain, but the rock itself and the view from it are simply stunning. Galle, on the other hand, is a beautiful colonial-style town that is certainly worth visiting. There you can try not only tea, but also delicious coffee. A must-see when visiting the island are the ruins of Anuradhapura. It is the former capital of the country. One of the oldest trees in the world grows there - the sacred Bodhi fig tree, named after the one under which the Buddha sat. These and other interesting places can be seen thanks to a travel agency Carter, which offers tailor-made trips tailored to individual preferences.

Chinese tea in Sri Lanka

The history of tea in this country began not so long ago - in 1824 - when tea seedlings were brought from China. At first, it did not arouse much interest, but after several dozen years its exports amounted to tens of thousands of tons. Traditional machines are still used to dry it. While in Sri Lanka with the office Carter, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to taste different varieties of tea. Its taste depends, among other things, on: depending on where and at what height it grows.

Activities and weather in Sri Lanka

The port called Mirissa invites those interested in surfing, and you can also go fishing, try snorkeling, and even watch dolphins and whales. The weather allows for water sports because the temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius all year round. Please note that there are monsoons which bring rainfall to different parts of the island. Perhaps the best month for a trip to Sri Lanka will be warm and pleasant November, when the beaches are not crowded.

Sri Lanka is a country where you can meet face to face with an elephant, try delicious tea and bring home freshly pressed aromatic coconut oil. Its exoticism and equatorial climate will turn your trip there into an unforgettable adventure.

A trip to Sri Lanka combined with a holiday in the Maldives

Individual tours around Sri Lanka with a holiday in the Maldives can be a great idea. The Maldives is a paradise archipelago, consisting of over 1000 coral reefs and atolls, with beautiful white beaches, turquoise waters and rich marine life.

You can combine a holiday in the Maldives with a multi-day visit to Sri Lanka to see the most important attractions and discover the richness of Sri Lanka's culture and history. Alternatively, you could do it the other way around, spending most of your time in Sri Lanka and ending your holiday in the relaxing Maldives.

However, it is worth remembering that traveling between Sri Lanka and the Maldives may require a connecting flight or additional time to organize transport. Please also remember that in some periods of the year (e.g. during the monsoon period) the weather in Sri Lanka and the Maldives may be unfavorable, so it is worth planning your trip in good time.