5 Things to Know Before Travelling to Sri Lanka – Know before you Go!

We all know that Sri Lanka is a small island located off the coast of India, I mean, until recent times, the island was almost unheard of! The island is approximately 220 km wide and 430 km in length, but between the miles, the beauty of the island is magnificent and varied. On the south and the east, you'll find golden sandy beaches with enticing blue waters. At the centre of the island, you'll find dry lands rich in history, while a couple of kilometres below that, you'll find lush mountainous regions offering cold climates. The north of the island is usually dry and hot, but has its fair share of pristine beaches that look like it's from a postcard! Though the island is small, there are many things you can see and do here, most of which will leave you awe struck by the variety of its sheer beauty and magnificence.

As previously mentioned, though the island is small, one would assume that travelling around the country is a piece of cake, right?! Well not really! Travelling is Sri Lanka is largely time consuming and expensive! From car rentals, air taxis, tuk- tuks and public transport like buses and trains, there are many ways you can travel while in Sri Lanka. Car rentals, though the most convenient as you'll be able to travel at your own pace, is quite expensive. Tourists usually prefer to travel by train, as it's fast, inexpensive and you get to enjoy some amazing views of the island! A train ride is a definite must do when you're in the island, make sure to add it to your bucket list.

Sri Lanka has, unsurprisingly become a popular holiday destination amongst many wanderlusters and vacation seekers. With many accommodation options around the island to choose from in Sri Lanka, hotel booking is easy and convenient – make sure you do it before getting to the hotel though, as some properties such as AVANI Hotels and Resorts tend to sell out quite fast, especially during the peak season.

To be completely honest, this island is great to visit throughout the year. Being a tropical island, you can obviously expect sunny blue skies throughout the year, but you can also expect thunderstorms. Sometimes, both within a span of 30 minutes! Officially though, Sri Lanka has two monsoon season, the first starts from December to March, and the second from June to October. The other months are usually drier and hot.

Sri Lankans love food. This tropical country is blessed with copious amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables that taste amazing when the latter is cooked in local styles. The famous Sri Lankan rice and curry is a definite must try when you're here, as there's no better way to experience true local tastes. However, there are also a number of international cuisines and fast food available, if you find that you need a break from flavoursome local cuisines.