Private Sri Lanka Trip in the Months of November to April

Ancient Sanskrit literature refers to Sri Lanka as “Singhalesian” – the island of The Sinhalese. The people with this name have inhabited this island since the earliest history. Traditions recorded in Sri Lanka’s historical chronicles go back to the exiled North Indian prince Vijay and his entourage, who settled on the island in the 6th century. The Sinhalese kingdom was founded.

However, the oldest known civilization dates back to 380 BC, when Anuradhapura (205 km from Colombo) was founded as its first capital. After the advent of Buddhism in the 3rd century BC, a civilization rich in Indo-Aric culture developed. It produced the big cities with their “dagabas”, which compare the pyramids of the Egyptian palaces and amusement gardens, the rich art and architecture and the gigantic irrigation works, many of which are still in use today.

With the invasion from neighboring southern India, the power base shifted to Polonnaruwa (101 km southeast of Anuradhapura) and to other cities such as Dambadeniya, Kurunegala, Kotte and Kandy. In the 16th century, with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505, the island had its first known encounter with the merchants and colonial masters of the West. This was followed by a period of almost 500 years during which the island came under the control and influence of the colonial rulers Portuguese, Dutch and British. While the Portuguese and Dutch ruled the coastal regions for about 150 years, the British established complete control of the island with the fall of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815. They, too, ruled for 150 years before the country became independent again in 1948. The effects of many cultures over the centuries have led to the rich diversity of the country’s culture, of which many testimonies are present today. The island’s economy is traditionally based on agriculture with rice as its main food. Spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, clove, nutmeg and pepper have been exported since time immemorial, as have precious stones and even peacocks and elephants. With Western commercial influence, Rice gave way to money harvesting until the British made tea the foundation of the economy. The new boost in the economy lies in exports to the export-oriented industry. Agriculture is now being revived. Non-traditional exports of clothing, seafood, foliage, cut flowers and tropical fish, as well as the value-adding agribusiness, have contributed to Sri Lanka’s economic progress in recent years.

The people of Sri Lanka have different races and religions. The majority are Sinhalese, who are Buddhists, while among the minorities the Tamils, mainly Hindus, are the largest, followed by the Moors who follow Islam and a sharply decreasing number of citizens descended from the Portuguese and Dutch, Christians are a considerable number of Christians among the Sinhalese and Tamils.

Although the country and its people are well on the way to modernization, they value most of their tradition and are proud of their rich culture. One aspect that continues to attract visitors from abroad is the beauty and diversity of the landscape as well as the warmth and hospitality of the people.

Geography

An island of approx. 65,610 km² Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean at the southern tip of the Indian coast. It is located between 5 ° 55′ – 9 ° 55′ north of the equator and between the eastern longitudes 79 ° 42′ – 81 ° 52′.

Climate

Warm and beautiful all year round it is in Sri Lanka. Average temperatures are around 27 ° C in Colombo and decreases by about 10° towards the mountain region. The island has two rainy seasons: between May and July in the southwest and December / January in the northeast. Climatically, Sri Lanka does not have a low season. Brightly sunny warm days are the norm and are also common in the western season. Sea temperatures are usually 27 ° C.

Population

Nearly 20.97 million (2015), 7.5 Sinhalese, 11.9 SL Tamils, 4.6 Ind. Tamils 8.3 Moors, 0.3 Malaysians, 0.2 citizens and 0.2 others. Literacy rate averages 90.01 – one of the highest in Asia. (2001).

Religion

Predominantly Buddhism, but also Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.

Language

Understanding is rarely a problem, as English is understood in all parts of the country. Place names and signs are in the local language and often in English. Official languages – Sinhala, Tamil and English. National language – Sinhala and Tamil.

Time

Sri Lanka’s standard time is 5 1/2 hours before Greenwich.

Water

Filtered water and mineral water, as well as bottled drinking water, are available. The yellow king coconut is a popular thirst quencher and the most welcome drink is of course a hot cup of tea.

Packing:

Clothes

• light and airy clothing covering the body, especially in women should be covered shoulders and legs
• Clothes to change due to the warm and humid climate
• Headgear as sun protection
• For the mountain regions a light jacket and a sweater
• Raincape/Jacket
• Comfortable Yoga Clothes
• Swimwear
• light hiking boots, short hiking pants, breathable t-shirts
• Sandals and/or flip-flops

Other

• Sunglasses
• Camera
• Pocket knife
• Travel pharmacy (water purification tablets, patches/dressing material, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, anti-inflammatory cream, malaria profile axe, acute diarrhoea, medications for pain, fever and travel sickness)
• Insect repellent
• Mosquito net for Southern India
• Toilet paper/wet wipes (partly also available in India)
• Sunscreen
• Notebook
• Passport and visa copy
• Cash in Euro/ Traveller Checks