Sri Lanka is famous for welcoming people, endless golden beaches, elephants, stealthy leopards, famous tea, extremely tasty food and a majestic past.
Marco Polo visited Sri Lanka in 1271 and described it as “the finest island of its size in all the world”.
Marco Polo was also fascinated by Sri Lanka’s spices — a gorgeous abundance of peppers, ginger, cinnamon and coconuts. He also loved buckram (stiff cloth, made of cotton), and described it as the loveliest and most delicate texture in the world.
Nowadays thousands of years of Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian heritage can be found in Sri Lanka. Small and big temples give a fascinating insight into Sri Lanka’s religious culture.
Lonely Planet’s author Ryan Ver Berkmoes describes why he loves Sri Lanka and we couldn’t agree more:
“My fascination with Sri Lanka began when I read Paul Theroux’s The Great Railway Bazaar as a child. His wonderment at the island’s endless contradictions stayed with me. In 2004 I was in the west and south in the weeks after the tsunami. I was struck by the stories of the survivors and deeply moved by their efforts to rebuild. In the years since I have been endlessly amazed by the Sri Lankans’ ability to overcome disaster, war and myriad other challenges as they work tirelessly to make their country match its potential, while remaining some of the most charming people on the planet.”
Have you ever visited Sri Lanka? Share your experience with us.
Adam’s Peak
Botanical Garden of Peradeniya
Galle
Gangaramaya Temple
Gouden Tempel
Sacred Buddha Temple, Anuradhapura
Sigiriya
Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
