It’s the wedding season in Delhi NCR. Every other bride is sporting the pile of red-white bangles while the grooming is wearing a bashful smile. The social media is bombarded with honeymoon photos from exotic locations. Indian newlyweds are saving up and travelling abroad like never before. We get to see a lot of Paris, Switzerland or Mauritius or Seychelles closer home.  As an alternative, we propose Sri Lanka to all followers who are planning a vacation overseas.

For one, we came to know that Sri Lanka has this easy Sri Lanka online visa application process for tourists. You got to submit your visa application online with a copy of your passport valid for at least 6 months on date of arrival, copy of your tickets and sufficient funds to see you through the trip. The Sri Lankan visa office takes 4 to 72 hours to deliver the visa via email. That’s it. No visit to the embassy, no standing in queues, no following up or paying travel agents. The e-visa to Sri Lankan takes minimum effort and that itself makes planning the trip so much easier. Mind you, there is no on arrival visa procedure in Sri Lanka. So you got to have the visa in hand when you land in that country.

The easy e-visa process definitely is a huge incentive to travel to a country which is traditionally connected to India in so many ways. In the Indian epic Ramayana, Sri Lanka is home to the demon king Ravana. It is depicted as a beautiful country created by God Viswakarma, the divine sculptor in Hindu mythology. Viswakarma created this captivating landscape, rich with flora and fauna and overflowing with gold, gemstones and other riches for Kuber, the God of Wealth. Kuber was subsequently overthrown by Ravana. Ravana, as character of Hindu mythology, has withstood eras and is still widely remembered in India especially during the festival of Dushhera.

But in Sri Lanka, the mythological Ravana almost turns real. Fort Sigiriya near Dambulla in Central Province in Sri Lanka is known to be the abode of Ravana’s family. Most prominent among the remains of this very old city is a massive rock, approximately 200 metres high. There are rock caves which served as shelters for Buddhist monks in about 14 th century AD. The Sigiriya rock is however famous for the rock paintings and frescoes that cover it. Although much of the paintings have been lost given the onslaught of time, little that remains does not fail to amaze. The fresh green coconut water at the foothill is also very tasty and a must try. Sigiriya is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

On the topic of mythology, one gets to visit the Sita Temple at Nuwara Eliya, a hill station in Central Province of Sri Lanka. We have grown up hearing stories how Ravana kidnapped Sita by ploy and kept her captive in Ashok Vatika. The quaint shrine, locally called the Seetha Amman Kovil, as per legends, is where Sita was held by Ravana till Lord Ram freed her. In fact, there are depressions on the rock here that are regarded as footprints of Lord Hanuman.

That said, Sri Lanka is a predominately Buddhist country with approximately 70% of the population following this religion. Some of the most honored Buddhist shrines are in this country. The Temple of the Tooth Relic in the city of Kandy is revered throughout the world and pilgrims from across the globe come to visit this. Legend has it that after the Lord Budhha’s demise, his tooth relic was preserved in Kalinga, present day Orissa in India. The holy tooth relic was smuggled from here to Sri Lanka and has held a very important position in the socio-religious structure of the country. The tooth relic was originally placed in a temple at Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. During the course of history it is now housed in the Sri Dalada Maligawa or Tooth Relic Temple at Kandy. This place of worship has faced various attacks but has been rebuilt each time. The shrine is also listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Moving to nature, Sri Lanka is well known for its flora and fauna. It is one among the 25 biodiversity hotspot of the world. An animal lover must must visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. The Sri Lankan government established this nursery to provide home to orphaned baby elephants in the country. It is a day tour from Kandy. The natural habitat for elephants is maintained here and it is extremely therapeutic and joyful to watch the elephants feed or frolic in water.

As you all know, both of us at Delhi-Fun-Dos are ardent foodies and any post on that country cannot be complete without some food talk. Truth be told, we share a curious relationship with Sri Lankan cuisine. The fare in that country is familiar and yet not quite how we cook in India. There is copious use of coconut milk and spices in their cuisine.

Our food trail takes us to this beautiful coastal town in Sri Lanka, Negambo. Negambo is very close to the capital Colombo and tourists come here for the pristine beaches. But this place is a dreamland for seafood lovers. The fresh catch by fishermen here every morning makes its way to the many seafood restaurants here. The succulent prawns, crabs or lobsters are optimally cooked to retain their freshness and juices. Dining here is a delightful gastronomical experience, that too, at most affordable prices. If you are entering Sri Lanka through Colombo, do keep a day aside in your itinerary for Negambo.

The pristine beaches, verdant nature, overabundance of history, friendly folks, artistic handicrafts sumptuous food, great prices and smooth E-visa system – that is what you can expect during a trip to Sri Lanka. As we said earlier, for Indians it is off and on a sense of déjà vu, and yet not quite home. If you are looking for the hassle free exotic holiday, travel to Sri Lanka. Yes – you are most welcome 🙂

P.S. Special thanks to Mrs. & Mr. Pathak, Gurgaon, for their invaluable input.