My first reaction about going to sri Lanka was negative. I was wondering as to who wants to go to a small and primitive country like Sri Lanka ? but then I was totally wrong. it was trip that I would treasure for life.
i agreed to go because I was going to work on a project which was very exciting. I was in sri lanka for 35 days and it was an eye opening as well as enriching experience for me. the security at the airport in madras and colombo city was very tight. I never expected colombo to be a very modern and clean city. in fact it is much better planned and modern compared to mumbai and delhi. I just could not believe it. I was there in 1996 and they were using mobile and card telephones in colombo at that time.
rest of the country is not so modern but it has untouched natural beauty. there are places which are serene and so blissful that they touch your heart. it has long stretches virgin beaches and coconut groves. Places like candy and nuwara eliya are my favourites.
colombo has beautiful hindu temples (similar to Minakshee temple) and buddhist temples.
Colombo has varied options for staying. You have some of the best 5 stars hotels in the world and at the same time you also have a good choice of budget hotels.
indian rupee is accepted and most of the people will start talking to you in sinhalese thinking that you are a native person.
most economical way of reaching there is by reaching chennai by train and then by air to colombo, apart from taking a boat.
always carry your passport with you as may be stopped anywhere in the city and asked for your identification. however police is very friendly with foreigners. there was one big explosion while I was there but then the life continues as people have got used to it.
people are very friendly and I have made friends for life.
i am sure that someday I will return to this wonderful land of cocnuts, arack and pineapples.