Discovering the richness of
the island of Sri Lanka
I discovered Sri Lanka during a summer trip in 2013 and it has since become my second home. This small island rich in mountain landscapes, beaches, surfing spots, wildlife parks and a deep-rooted Buddhist culture, invites you to disconnect in a caring and resourcing atmosphere. So I wanted to share with you what life is like there, whether you want to stay, live or simply marvel at it from behind your screen.
Visit the island
Sri Lanka is your next tourist destination?
I give you my advice to prepare your trip,
plan your visits or find the right accommodation…
echarge your batteries
Need to lighten up from the pressure and stress of everyday life?
Discover how Sri Lanka is THE destination to find your balance and reconnect to yourself.
Living here
You want to move to the island to change your life? With my experience, I tell you more about the main principles and good advice to take the plunge.
A few words on the Sri Lankan island
A little geography
The island of Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean, southeast of India. Its capital is the city of Colombo, in the southwest.
A peninsula with a tropical climate, it offers a great diversity of landscapes: green hills, forests, mountain ranges (including Mount Pidurutalagala, which rises to 2,524 metres), magnificent beaches, lagoons and more than twenty national parks. The latter are home to a rich fauna including endemic species: elephants, leopards, monkeys, bears, more than 400 species of birds, reptiles, turtles, orcas and dolphins.
A rich history
Situated at the crossroads of the worlds, Sri Lanka experienced successive waves of Portuguese, Dutch and British colonisation before gaining independence in 1948. The island has inherited a strong multicultural character. Among the 22 million inhabitants, 74% are Buddhist, mostly Sinhalese, 15% Tamil (mostly Hindu) and 9% Muslim. The spirituality induced by Buddhism has given rise to the construction of numerous temples which contribute to the architectural richness of the country.
A destination for everyone
If you like nature, the richness of the flora, the diversity of the landscapes, the postcard beaches and the animal reserves will delight you. Do you prefer sports? Surfing, snorkeling and diving to discover the coral reefs or hiking in the mountains are waiting for you! Looking for relaxation? Go to the sumptuous beaches of the south and try your hand at meditation. And if you are interested in history and culture, you will discover the old walled city of Galle, the Buddhist temples, the fortress of Sigiriya, the caves of Dambulla, the ruins of Polonnaruwa and of course the cities of Colombo, Jaffna and Kandy.
The Sri Lankans speak mostly Sinhalese but also some English which is taught as a first foreign language and will help you to make yourself understood on the spot. The local currency is the Sri Lankan rupee.
Little things to know about Sri Lanka…
1 country and 4 religions
The country is approximately 70% Buddhist, 12% Hindu, 10% Muslim and 7% Christian.
The old name of the island
In 1972, the Sinhalese Buddhists renamed the island of Ceylon to Sri Lanka, which means ‘shining island’ or ‘island of happiness’.
The setting of Indiana Jones
The exteriors of the movie “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” were shot in Sri Lanka, in Sigiriya to be precise.
4th largest tea producer
With nearly 350 000 tons produced per year, Sri Lanka is the 4th largest tea growing country behind China, India and Kenya.
My last posts
Prepare your sri lankan trip
Before you fly to this beautiful island of the Indian Ocean, here are my tips to anticipate your trip : what season to go there, what papers to prepare, how to get a tourist visa or what to put in your suitcase…
8 good reasons to visit the island of Sri Lanka !
In these tumultuous times, where the covid-19 pandemic has shaken up our habits and our liberties, millions of you are wondering where you are going to be able to travel abroad as soon as it will be possible again? And this future trip must be magnificent to make you forget these difficult months.
Change of life : In Sri Lanka it’s possible!
Some of you may have said to yourselves but why not go and live abroad? Why not make this dream come true, a dream that has been mentioned so many times by family and friends during those moments of sharing when we like to rethink our lives.Why not take advantage of...
Kandy,
major pilgrimage place for all Sri Lankans !
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been to Kandy, even though it’s a bit far from the south coast where I live, it’s always with the same delight, wonder and happiness that I return.
Polonnaruwa, archaeological site on 122 hectares !
Come on today I’ll take you to Polonnaruwa, an archaeological site in excellent conservation that will offer you a cultural and physical visit in the open air.
Anuradhapura : the most alive of the ancient cities !
I know what you are thinking: historical and archaeological places with temples are everywhere in Sri Lanka…so why see this one? With these few lines I will try to convince you that this site is worth the detour !
Photos : Oliver Sjöström et Fredrik Öhlander / Unsplash