Sri Lanka travel guide
Sri Lanka packs a great deal into a compact island: ancient rock fortresses, tea-covered hills, golden beaches, leopard and elephant safaris, and some of the finest train rides in Asia. Distances are short, so you can shift between very different scenes in a single week. The Cultural Triangle holds Sigiriya, Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, while Kandy, Ella and Nuwara Eliya anchor the hill country. The south coast brings Galle, Mirissa and Hikkaduwa, with Yala and Udawalawe for wildlife, and the east and north offer Trincomalee, Arugam Bay and Jaffna. Two monsoons mean that some coast is always in season: roughly December to April favours the west and south, while May to September suits the east. It rewards culture seekers, beach lovers and wildlife fans. Travel times between regions are short but roads are winding, so a plan that limits the number of bases works well, and you can plan the route city by city with Zippy Trips.
Capital: Colombo.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Visa on arrival.
Before you go to Sri Lanka
- Currency
- LKR Rs
- Emergency number
- 119
- Plug type
- Type D, G, M
- Tap water
- Drink bottled water
- Tipping
- Optional
- Bargaining
- Common
- eSIM
- Available
- Card networks
- Visa, Mastercard
- ATM fees
- LKR 1,000+ per foreign withdrawal
Cities in Sri Lanka
- Sigiriya The Cultural Triangle hub crowned by the 5th-century Sigiriya Lion Rock fortress, with the Dambulla Cave Temple and lush jungle nearby.
- Kandy The cultural heart of Sri Lanka and last royal capital, home to the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic, set around a serene lake amid misty…
- Ella A laid-back hill-country village famed for the Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, tea plantations and the scenic Kandy–Ella train ride.
- Galle A UNESCO World Heritage Dutch colonial fort town on the south coast — cobbled lanes, ramparts at sunset, boutique cafes and Indian Ocean…
- Colombo Sri Lanka's vibrant commercial capital and main gateway — colonial architecture, buzzing markets, seafront promenade (Galle Face Green) and…
- Mirissa A palm-fringed south-coast beach town renowned for blue-whale watching, surf, Coconut Tree Hill and golden-sand sunsets.
- Nuwara Eliya "Little England" — a cool-climate hill station amid emerald tea estates, colonial bungalows, Gregory Lake and gateway to Horton Plains.
- Negombo A lively beach town minutes from the international airport, known for its Dutch canal, huge daily fish market, lagoon boat rides and…
- Anuradhapura Sri Lanka's ancient first capital and a UNESCO sacred city — vast dagobas, the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree and ruins spanning over a…
- Hikkaduwa A long-running south-coast surf and beach town with a shallow coral sanctuary for snorkelling, laid-back beach bars and a lively backpacker…
- Bentota A south-coast resort town where the Bentota Ganga meets the Indian Ocean — golden beaches, the Madu River mangrove safari, a sea-turtle…
- Trincomalee A historic natural-harbour city on the northeast coast, famed for the clifftop Koneswaram Temple, whale watching, and the palm-fringed…
- Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka's medieval second capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — sprawling 11th-13th century ruins including the Royal Palace, Gal…
- Arugam Bay Sri Lanka's premier surf town on the east coast, famous for the long right-hand point break at Main Point, laid-back cabana stays, and…
- Jaffna The cultural capital of Tamil Sri Lanka in the far north — the sacred Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, the Dutch-built Jaffna Fort, a distinct…
- Dambulla A Cultural Triangle town centred on the 2,000-year-old Dambulla Royal Cave Temple complex, with the Golden Temple below and easy access to…
- Tissamaharama The staging town for Yala National Park: a lake-and-dagoba town on the A2 where almost every Yala safari starts, 20 km from the park's…
- Udawalawe A small A18 roadside town at the edge of Udawalawe National Park, base for the year-round elephant safari and the Department of Wildlife…
Frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka
- Do Indian citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?
- Visa on arrival. Stay: 30 days (Indian nationals; 90 days for Maldivian citizens). Fee: Free for Indian passport holders (30-day tourist ETA). Apply only on the official portal, eta.gov.lk.
- What currency is used in Sri Lanka?
- The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs). ₹1 is about 4 Rs.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in Sri Lanka?
- Accepted card networks: Visa, Mastercard. Typical ATM fees: LKR 1,000+ per foreign withdrawal. Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- Should I tip in Sri Lanka?
- Tipping in Sri Lanka: optional. Appreciated, ~10%; not mandatory.
- Is tap water safe to drink in Sri Lanka?
- Drink bottled water. Unsafe — drink bottled/filtered water.
- What plug type does Sri Lanka use?
- Sri Lanka uses Type D, G, M plugs.
- What is the emergency number in Sri Lanka?
- Emergency: 119. Police: 119. Ambulance: 1990. Tourist helpline: 1912.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in Sri Lanka?
- SIM and eSIM available in Sri Lanka.
- What is the capital of Sri Lanka?
- The capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo. Time there: Same time as India.