SRI LANKA – Pearl of the Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka, previously called Ceylon, is an island nation to the southeast of the Indian mainland in the Indian Ocean.  Hence the name, Pearl of the Indian Ocean, or it’s sometimes called Teardrop of India.  However, it is not Indian, and never has been.  Many Sri Lankans don’t like to be referred to as Indians.  It is roughly the size of Tasmania, although a tad larger.  But in comparison, Tassie has a population of just over half a million, Sri Lanka has 23 million.  Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with many wonderful aspects that tourists can enjoy all year round.  

As I said above, this country was known as Ceylon up to the early 1970s.  Its major export is tea, hence you’ll see on the shelves of Woolies or Coles, its famous Ceylon tea.  I guess the tea didn’t have a name change at the time; too much rebranding.  It is biologically diverse and said to be one of the richest countries in the region as far as species concentration.  Because it’s an island nation, many of its animal life are from the water.  There are many species of whales, including the short-finned pilot whale, Blue whale and Pygmy sperm whale.  You can see dolphins, mongoose, bears, deer, Asian elephants as well as a number of wild cats (leopards, Panthera and Fishing cat).  There is an array of fish – both freshwater and marine.  There are turtles and tortoises plus a multitude of colourful birds.  You can even buy a book on Amazon “Birds of Sri Lanka”.  

Whilst there is a ‘wealth’ of wildlife in Sri Lanka, its people are generally poor.  Sri Lanka is very densely populated with many poor folks living in rural areas off the land and existing through agriculture.  Its capital, Colombo, is a picturesque city, from afar and online picture don’t give the impression of lack of wealth.  Whilst years ago poverty levels were over 20%, today they have dropped below 3%, although pockets of poverty still exist.  Its primary industries include tourism, tea exports, rice, agricultural products, clothing and textiles, fishing, exporting spices (especially cinnamon) and mineral extraction (such as gemstones and graphite).

Sri Lanka boasts a range of climates, which lends to a good amount of plant life on this island – both natural and man-planted.  There are all types of forests (from dry monsoon forests to arid thorn scrub forests to rainforests).  The northern part of Sri Lanka is closer to the equator (but still within the southern hemisphere) and so is warm (and often humid) most of the year round.  However, further to the south, particularly where tea is grown, temperatures drop somewhat to be quite cool.  There are mountainous areas, which naturally are cooler too.    

Sri Lanka has three main ethnic groups, the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese.  For this last group, that accounts for nearly 75% of the population.  The two main languages spoken are Sinhala and Tamil, with English being also recognised.  Less than 24% speak English; mostly those involved in official or commercial activities, and of course the more popular tourist areas.  Almost 75% of the population are Buddhist, with Hinduism being the next largest group, then Muslim and then Catholic.  For this reason, when visiting, there are some things you should do:

• Dress modestly; all people (male or female) should wear long baggy trousers and tops which cover you appropriately.  If you’re visiting temples or mosques, be sure to have comfortable slip-in shoes, as you’ll be required to remove your shoes each time.  
• Even swimwear shouldn’t be too revealing and topless or nude sunbathing is illegal.
• If you’re to the north, at warmer times, the loose-fitting clothing will be appreciated.
• Don’t show any tattoo of buddha on your body (it’s illegal), don’t touch a monk (considered very rude) and don’t turn your back on any image or statue of Buddha (and no selfies of yourself with Buddha in the background).  Basically, show respect to these people.   

And for some interesting facts:

• Sri Lanka has a very high literacy rate; males 93%, females 91% and ranked the highest in Asia.  
• Computer and digital literacy is at almost 65%.
• Volleyball is Sri Lanka’s national sport.
• Their banknotes are different; they are printed vertically on the reverse.
• The word ‘serendipity’ comes from ‘Serendib’ which was the old name that was used by the Arabs and Persians back as long ago as 360 CE (Common Era), also often referred to as AD.
• Adam’s Peak (also known as Sri Pada) is the most revered peak; believed to bear the footprint of Buddha.  

This country has much to offer.  With a recorded history spanning more than 3,000 years, there is much to see and experience.  You, of course, can’t visit this country without taking out a moment to sip a cup of Ceylon tea (it’s like you can’t go to Germany during Oktoberfest and not have a beer).  Thousands of years of different influences have given this country an array of magnificent foods, tastes and cuisines.  We’re sure one could eat their way across this country.  There is everything from curries and roti, Hoppers, Pittu as well as amazing salads, flatbreads, sambol, Parotta and much more.  Their fruits are incredible too and very delicious.  For drinks, beyond the tea, there is coconut water, toddy tappers, palm wine, and a fermented coconut drink that is also quite popular.    

If you can get past all the wonderful food and drink, then there are a number of activities you can do whilst visiting Sri Lanka, including:

• Attending one of the traditional ceremonious festivals
• Photography of the beautiful scenery and wildlife
• White water rafting
• Deep sea diving
• Hot air ballooning
• If you’re adventurist, cliff jumping
• Parasailing
• Hiking
• Swimming (the beaches are well maintained and clean)
• Train rides through spectacular plantations
• Whale watching
• Hanging ten (surfing) is very popular and a well-known surfing destination
• Animal watching, from dolphins to leopards and much in between
• Visiting mosques, temples and museums
• And of course, shopping!  There are many options and choices in this country.   

Before I finish up, I do want to share a few travel tips if you’re planning to visit Sri Lanka:

• Be patient; it’s a high-density country; traffic isn’t great and things will take longer.
• Ask permission before you take someone’s photos.
• Don’t drink the water, or even brush your teeth with it.  Stick to bottled and remember ice is frozen water and there are no guarantees it didn’t come from the tap. 
• Do be polite and respectful; when in their country, remember to respect their beliefs.  These are kind and gentle people who are welcoming, warm and friendly; return that manner in how you speak to the locals.   
• Do keep something aside for tipping (in their local currency, which is the Sri Lankan Rupee); which is generally expected, at around 10%, especially at hotels, restaurants, bar, and places like spas and salons.  Taxis and Tuk-Tuk drivers don’t expect a tip, but it’s customary to round off when paying.  If the service was fabulous, then you might consider 15-20%.  

At Luxury Women’s Tours we’re delighted to bring the Pearl of India to our travel itinerary in 2025.  As with all our tours, we do all the work, so you can have all the fun.  We select the best tours, hotels, locations and places to visit – creating a package which is perfect for you.  And, of course, as our name says, it’s all done in absolute comfort and luxury.  If you’d like to know more about our upcoming trip to Sri Lanka, just click HERE   We’d love to have you along to enjoy the Pearl of the Indian Ocean with other like-minded travelers.  

If you’d like to know about our upcoming Sri Lanka tour, or any of our other fabulous travel destinations, just reach out to us here at Luxury Women’s Tours CONTACT US or email us direct at JAMIE@LUXURYWOMENSTOURS.COM.AU

 Our guests travel in style, are comfortable and have the joy of experiencing superbly curated locations with other like-minded ladies.  Come on – join us.  : )