national parks

Sri Lanka , a small tear drop shaped island located just off the southern most tip of India , offers a very complete tourist experience, which is why I’m calling it “ the world in one country “ ! The small size of the country ensures that traveling time between its various tourist attractions is minimal ( our longest single day drive was 5 hours) , and its diversity ensures new and unique experiences and sights each day .

The reason I used the tag line “world in one country “ , a phrase I borrowed or copied from a South African tourism logo , is that , very few destinations actually provide more complete and holistic travel experiences, the way Sri Lanka does. In Sri Lanka, one can visit half a dozen World Heritage Sites ( including the famous Sigriya Rock Fortress, the Dambulla caves , Galle Fort etc ) , do Safaris in National Parks ( Yala and Minneriya , famous for Leopards and Elephants respectively) , experience Tea Tasting in real working Tea Gardens and Factories, feel a touch of “little England “ in the hill town of Nuwara  Eliya, walk in the ramparts of the buzzing old Portuguese and Dutch influenced old fort town of Galle , and then relax on the sandy beaches of either Bentota or Negombo ! 

I traveled to Sri Lanka after a long gap earlier this year ( when all was well there ) and was actually very impressed with the people , the infrastructure, the hotels and the general tourist friendly feel of the destination. For the last month or two , Sri Lanka is in the midst of economic and political turmoil, which we hope will be over soon , and things will be back to normal for potential visitors to this wonderful island .