Insider Tips for Sri Lanka

by Hannah Lockett | January 8, 2020

Here we have gathered together tips and suggestions from our Sri Lanka team on ways to help you make the most of your time in this friendly island nation. There’s more to it than elephants and beaches! And for those that aren’t visiting Sri Lanka, we have a selection of our favourite books, and films that we think will give you a real flavour of the country’s life, culture and traditions.

FOOD & DRINK

Eat Local

The food in Sri Lanka is delicious, and outside the main cities of Colombo and Kandy, it is difficult to find Western dishes. Some of the best food can be found in guesthouse kitchens. Most people eat with their hands, rather than using knives and forks, so all rice and curry places have a sink to wash your hands because no one wants to eat with a dirty hand!

Kothu Roti

Roti (flatbread) chopped up and stir-fried with eggs, vegetables and meat, is a delicious meal, usually available in the evening.

Hoppers

Bowl-shaped pancakes made from rice flour and egg, are mainly available in the early morning or late afternoon.

Arrack

You must try Arrack, it is Sri Lanka’s local spirit, similar to rum but made from coconut flowers

BOOKS

Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje

In Running in the Family, Michael Ondaatje tells the story of a man returning to his roots in Sri Lanka in the late 1970s.

Cinnamon Gardens by Shyam Selvadurai

Cinnamon Gardens takes place in the neighbourhood of the same name during the 1920s. It is a story of family and history deep in the heart of Colombo.

The Ramayana

The legend of The Ramayana is an epic tale of Rama, who travelled to the teardrop island off the coast of southern India to save his princess bride, Sita. It is a purely magical story that is part of the culture, the history and souls of the Sri Lankan people.

FILMS

Elephant Walk

Staring Elizabeth Taylor, this film tells the tale of a young bride of a rich planter who finds herself the only white woman at Elephant Walk tea plantation in British Ceylon.

A Common Man

Ben Kingsley and Ben Cross act as a terrorist and police chief, respectively, in this police drama/thriller. It won the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor awards at the Madrid International Film Festival.

TRAVEL TIPS

Take the Train

The trains in Sri Lanka are not fast, but the landscapes are astonishingly beautiful and the train is the ideal way to appreciate them. The journey Ella is particularly scenic and crosses the dramatic Nine Arch Bridge.

Take a pair of flip flops to Temples

You will have to take your shoes and socks off before entering a temple, even if it is outdoors, so it’s a good idea to take a pair of flip-flops to keep your feet clean!

drummers temple of the sacred tooth kandy sri lanka

Colombo

Visit one of the city’s rooftop bars or atmospheric jazz clubs for a cosmopolitan evening out.

Some of Our Favourite Places in Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Discover the sights and traditions for Colombo with this handy destination guide...
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Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

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Kandy, Sri Lanka

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Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

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Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

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Beruwala, Sri Lanka

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Dambulla, Sri Lanka

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Kalutara, Sri Lanka

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Galle, Sri Lanka

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Ella, Sri Lanka

Discover the sights and traditions for Ella with this handy destination guide.
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