Sri Lanka Holidays
View all our holidays to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Holidays - Why Sri Lanka?
An Asian pearl with a diverse political and religious past, Sri Lanka and its golden Sri Lankan beaches now not only offer relaxing solitude to bathe and take in the sizzling Sri Lankan heat, but also a multitude of historically important structures and shopping and dining options to choose from.
Whether it be the bustling bazaars and beaches of Colombo, the massive mountains of Nuwara Eliya or the natural and spiritual beauty on display in Kandy in the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Temple of the Tooth respectively, Sri Lanka has something to offer everyone.
Beach lovers, people seeking spiritual enlightenment and bargain shoppers alike love a Sri Lanka holiday, a real Gem in the crown that is the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lanka Holidays - Where Is Sri Lanka?
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka – known as Ceylon before 1972, is an island situated in the Indian Ocean, lying directly south of India as part of the Indian subcontinent. Until 1948 when it gained its independence, the tropical island nation of Sri Lanka was under British jurisdiction. Strategically positioned, Sri Lanka is perfectly positioned to act as a natural trade gateway between the Far East, Africa and Europe, from which as a consequence it has picked up many customs and trade opportunities over the years.
Sri Lanka Holidays - Local History
In centuries long ago, South Indian kingdoms invaded Sri Lanka on several occasions due to the prosperity of the country. It's close proximity to India made it a desirable location for Dravidian dynasties such as the Cholas, Pandyas, Cheras and Pallavas. Later, it would come to be invaded by Kings of Kalinga (now known as Orissa), but these Tamil controlled armies would be defeated and sent on their way back to India.
In 1505 Colonial rule began, when the Portuguese and later the Dutch arrived on the island. Whilst some areas along the coast such as Yarlpanam (better known as Jaffna) were taken over by Portuguese rule, central areas such as Kandy remained independent. In 1796, the British took control of the areas previously ruled by the Dutch, and by 1802, all coastal areas were under British rule. By 1815, the British had control of the Capital, Kandy, and in 1818, the entire island was unified as a British colony.
A British Crown colony for over a century, Sri Lanka gained its independence on February 4 th 1948. As a consequence of both British rule and Asian geographical location, Sri Lanka has gained a vastly ethnically and religiously diverse community, one that has witnessed many conflicts and political upheaval along the way. Prior to 1972, Sri Lanka was known by a variety of names; Greek geographers called it Taprobane, whilst Arabs knew it as Serendib, but the most commonly accepted name was Ceylon.
In 1972, the official name of the nation that governs the island was changed to the ‘Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka', then again to the ‘Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka' in 1978. Nowadays, the island is known as ‘Sri Lanka', which literally translates to "Sri" meaning "venerable" and "Lanka" meaning "island".
Sri Lanka Holidays – Colombo
Buzzing with culture and history, the inviting city of Colombo is home to some mystical and religiously important sights, such as the magnificent Ul Alfar Mosque, which sports wonderful 20 th century Asian decorative red and white brickwork, making for a welcoming sacred shrine.
Look out too for the stunning St. Lucia's Cathedral before making your way to the Pettah bazaar district, where the colours and aromas of a vibrant market flow. Here you will find yourself engrossed in fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish ready to eat, whilst close by, glittering gems, gold and silver jewellery catch the eye with their intricacy.
Down by the coast, the beach of Colombo is an absolute haven; here, sunbathers gather en – mass to soak up the sun on the golden sand, palm tree fringed, warm water lapped beaches of this little piece of paradise.
Sri Lanka Holidays – Anuradhapura
The one time capital of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura dates back to the 4 th century BC, including the Rock Temple of Isurumuniya and the sacred Bo Tree, reputed to be the oldest tree on earth. In keeping with the wise and mystical emphasis of the area, in nearby Mihintale we are faced with the spiritual Sinhalese, an amazing set of 1,840 granite steps leading up to the magnificent dagoba and statue of The Buddha, the symbol of the peaceful deity of Buddhism.
Sri Lanka Holidays – Polonnaruwa
Returning to nature, the region of Polonnaruwa is home to the awesome spectacle of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The flat - topped rock of Sigiriya rises 600 feet above the surrounding plains and you will be able to climb the rock to look out on the magnificent frescoes of the Sigiriya Maidens. Back on terra firma, there is the opportunity to bare witness to a host of ancient structures that are remarkably well preserved even to this day, such as the Royal Palace and the Gal Vihare, an awe-inspiring statue of Buddha carved out of rock overlooking the beautiful land below.
Sri Lanka Holidays – Kandy
In keeping with Sri Lanka's wonderful natural delights, the Rock Cave Temple of Kandy, comprising of five caverns, is encompassed within the peaceful, glistening Kandy Lake, which itself is home to some vibrant indigenous flora and fauna.
Following on from touring the natural splendour of the region, we suggest that you take the time to visit Kandy's world famous Royal Botanical Gardens, where an absolute plethora of the world's most desirable plant life is housed. However, no visit to Kandy would truly be complete without visiting the nearby Temple of the Tooth, where the golden casket said to enshrine the tooth of Buddha is kept. Indeed, hundreds of thousands of people a year travel to Temple of the Tooth to prey and pay homage to Buddha.
Sri Lanka Holidays – Nuwara Eliya
Styled by hundreds of years of British rule and colonisation, the mountains to Nuwara Eliya serve as a little slice of England. The town was a favourite hill station of the British, and has a post office, a golf club and even an old race course - all straight out of the Home Counties.
Expect also to see many a tea estate which pay homage to one of Sri Lanka's most important trades which has been the backbone of this Asian pearl's economy for centuries. Nearby, there is the opportunity to visit Kitulgala, the site used for the filming of the famous film ‘Bridge over the River Kwai', a spookily nostalgic setting.
Sri Lanka Holidays – Shopping
Purchases to look out for in Sri Lanka include natively crafted silverware , brass, lacquer ware, intricate woodcarvings and delicate ceramics, expertly formed. Straw produced from the native long grasses is also used in a lot of Sri Lankan goods, including elaborately weaved cane baskets, straw hats and coir mats.
For a special souvenir, the fine silk garments and theatrical masks sold in many local shops and on many market stalls are a good starting point, as are piece of clothing made from locally fashioned batiks, cottons, rayons, silks and fine lace.
Of course the 2 of the most famous exports of Sri Lanka are jewels and tea, and wherever you look, there is plenty of opportunities to purchase some fine jewellery and hundreds of varieties of beautifully blended teas.
Sri Lanka Holidays – Restaurants
Serving some exquisite authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, the Palmyrah Restaurant has been serving only the very best culinary concoctions for around 30 years to both locals and enthusiastic foreigners alike. Treating its patrons to traditional seafood platters such as fish curry and crab with rice, the Palmyrah, serves Sri Lankan gourmet with an emphasis on classic Jaffna fare. Equally good are International dishes, which really show off the capabilities of the highly skilled and versatile chefs at this fine establishment.
The Peninsula Restaurant is located almost directly opposite the Kirimandala Mawatha / Nawala Road junction. Jaffna (Sri Lankan northern peninsula) speciality cuisine, the first of its kind in the country.
A fine establishment for both tourist and business meeting meals alike, The Peninsula Restaurant of Jaffna (located in the Sri Lankan northern peninsula) is tastefully decorated in an authentic style, incorporating wood panelling and tasteful modern décor throughout.
Once you have taken in the splendour of this fine eatery, there is always the opportunity you will finally get the chance to savour a superb local dish such as mulligatawny (pepper water) soup, intensively hot Odiyal Kool, various crab meat based dishes including Sri Lanka' s signature fish curry and superb chicken and mutton dishes. Altogether, The Peninsula Restaurant is a must – visit authentic Sri Lankan jaunt.
Sri Lanka Holidays - Cuisine
With a diet based mainly on rice and seafood, it is no wonder that Sri Lankans live long prosperous lives, due in part to the many essential vitamins, minerals, essential fats and proteins that are prevalent in so many of their meals. Wonderfully tasty as well as nourishing, your average Sri Lankan dish in a restaurant may be garnished with spices, but traditional cuisine is normally a more sensible affair, involving a meat or fish curry served with plain boiled rice. A vegetarian alternative would possibly be a vegetable curry served with mallung, a concoction made up of nutritious green leaves chopped and mixed with grated coconut, cumin and a squeeze of lime.
Typical meals include 'Biriyani' which is a spicy concoction of rice meat and vegetables, served as one dish, where the vegetables are cooked as a curry, with ginger, garlic, chilli, coriander, turmeric, cumin, curry leaves and neutralising coconut milk all added in to create an explosive yet mild tasting dish. Other native dishes to look out for include Fried Hot Shrimp served in a pepper, chilli and lime sauce and Kirri Hodi, a vegetarian dish comprising of tomatoes, onions and the usual fare of chillies, which often alternatively served with fish. As you can see and as you will discover, the Sri Lankans love their spicy food!
Sri Lanka Holidays - Weather
Sri Lanka's climate is extremely variable, and although the Island usually enjoys some superbly hot weather to accompany its warm coastal waters, it is vulnerable to monsoons in the off season, which arrive in the tropical zone and the northeast between December and March, whilst they arrive in the southwest between June and October.
Archers Direct Holidays
Archers Direct offer a huge range of great holidays including touring holidays (coach holidays), cruises, beach & resort holidays, river cruises, short breaks, multi centre holidays & twin centre holidays, special interest holidays, rail holidays, & safaris.
We offer year round holiday travel so we have hundreds of holiday ideas for summer holidays, winter holidays, Christmas holidays & Xmas holidays, New Year holidays, half term holidays, Easter holidays, school holidays and bank holidays (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November & December).
We fly direct from the following UK airports: London airports - Heathrow airport, Gatwick airport, Luton airport & Stansted airport as well as Birmingham airport, Bristol airport, East Midlands airport, Edinburgh airport, Glasgow airport, Manchester airport, Newcastle airport & Belfast airport.
Booking direct holidays with Archers Direct means you don't pay travel agent's commission, which is great news if you're searching for cheap holidays, bargain holidays, last minute holidays, holiday deals, discount holidays, package holidays & budget holidays. We offer great deals on trips for single travellers and groups and we are we are members of ABTA & ATOL.
