You will find in Sri Lanka a number of locations around the world and the most beautiful beaches including a diverse range of other tourist attractions. It would be wise on your part to make a list of all tourist sites before you arrive in the country. Not included in the list of the cities of Colombo and Kandy, showing great mix of cultural, historic and modern. The historic cities such as Mihintale, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Dambula, and Aluvihara will allow you to have a peep into the history of the country. Golfers can opt for Nuwara Eliya whilst for beautiful beaches, Bentota, Weligama, Mount Lavinia, Negombo, and Beruwela are the best visits. Lovers of wild life will find delight in the wildlife sanctuaries like Bundala National Park, Horton Plains National Park, Yala National Park, and Maduru Oya National Park. Do not miss the events and festivals; the rituals, color, and celebrations will only make you wonder about the great diversity found across nations. The 10-day long Kandy Esala Perahera fair, Duruthu Perahara, Kataragama festival are a must see for any tourist visiting Sri Lanka.

You can experience cheap flying to Sri Lanka by SriLankan Airlines. A travel portal or the official website of SriLankan Airlines will best serve your purpose for online booking. This is the best place to learn about the Buddhist religion. It’s the centre of the religion that used to and still does retain its ancient cultural practices.

Once you are done with your trip to Sri Lanka, you can next plan your visit to Thailand, Singapore, and more destinations which are equally mesmerizing locations. Flying by Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways to the respective destinations will help you plan a cost effective trip. To know about package deals and low airfares for these two destinations, visit the official websites of Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.

Sri Lankan Traditional Sari

There are four traditional silk saris worn during a Toronto Sri Lankan wedding. The first is worn at the ceremony of thalee, and features red and yellow colors, with a wide border. The second is worn following the marriage ceremony, and is known as Innaik Koorai, which features rose, yellow or muskat colors. The sari worn to the official Toronto ceremony of marriage registration is the third one, and his family pays these three saris on behalf of the groom.

The final Sri Lankan bridal dress sari is paid foe by the bride herself and is worn to the arrival ceremony of the wedding day’s wedding stage. The bride’s family also pays for a silk set of Salvai and Vesti to present at the wedding stage, for wearing at the marriage registration, which are a shirt and trouser for the groom. The groom presents the silk sari to the bride, as well with further traditional items following the pooja stage of the ceremony. This happens in between the changing of this Sri Lankan bridal dress sari for the ceremony of thalee wearing.

Along with the bride’s attire (sari), there also includes a headpiece or veil, accessories such as gloves, under slips and shoes. Further accompaniments include the bridal jewelry and the bridal dressing, which includes makeup and hair. This is repeated for the going away and homecoming ceremonies. The bridesmaids and flower girls also receive wedding Sri Lankan bridal dress saris, along with all the accessories, makeup and hair, and jewelry.

Bridegroom Marriage Dress

The bridegroom selects appropriate wedding attire for him and the male ceremony party, including the best men and Paige boys, for the various ceremonies. The wedding assistants at the Toronto wedding hall or temple also get offered with wedding attire, as are the traditional Toronto ceremony musicians.

The mountain is held in sacrosanct by followers of four religions: Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims. However, long before any of these religions appeared on the island, the mountain was worshipped by the aboriginal inhabitants of the island, the Veddas. They named the peak Samanala Kanda after one of the island’s four deities. Hindus also have a different name for the peak and call it Sivan Adi Padham

The large footprint is five foot seven inches by two foot six inches wide, but Buddhists believe that the original footprint is even larger and was left by the Buddha on his third and final visit to Sri Lanka. If you are a follower of the Christian religion, then on your Sri Lanka holidays, you’ll most probably hear the story of St. Thomas, who brought Christianity to the island. However, the mountain gets that name “Adam” from the Islamic belief that he stood for a thousand years on one foot as penance. The Islamic tradition tells how, when Adam was expelled from heaven, God put him on the peak to make the shock less terrible. This is because Ceylon was believed to the place on earth that most resembled heaven, with Adam’s Peak being the closest spot on earth to heaven.

On your Sri Lanka holidays you may want to take a boat trip around the peak as the mountain is most impressive when viewed from the sea. Marco Polo was among one of the explorers who visited. Early Arab seafarers who spotted the peak, described it as the largest mountain in the world. However, the peak is not even the largest in Sri Lanka.

If you want to hike around the island, then the best time to visit is from December to May. This time is popular with pilgrims and gets busiest in the winter months of January and February. The trek takes about four hours and although it is possible to climb Adam’s Peak from June to November, mist and rain make the climb much less appealing. When climbing the mountain on your Sri Lanka holidays you will spot hundreds of beautifully coloured butterflies on your climb, which have earnt Adam’s Peak its nickname, Samanalakande or butterfly mountain. Once you’ve reached the top, you will notice a small Buddhist temple and the shrine of the strange footprint. It is customary to make offerings here and small coils of silver are offered by those wanting to recover from sickness. Rainwater that falls in the footprint is also said to have special healing properties.

Your Sri Lanka holidays just won’t be complete without taking a visit to Adam’s Peak and after spending time on the spectacular mountain, you’ll understand just why the Islamic tale describes it as the closest place on earth to heaven.

These turtles are truly an amazing breed of creatures. With a lifespan of almost 80 years, these gentle beasts inhabit all the oceans of the world except the Arctic. Anyone who has stumbled upon an animal show while going through TV channels has seen the graceful beauty of a sea turtle gliding underwater effortlessly in search of a meal or to reach the shore. Even this harmless animal has suffered under the cruelty and utter selfishness of man. For many years fishermen along the western coastal belt of Sri Lanka had been used to feeding their families with sea turtle eggs which are easy find for those who live by the sea because the female sea turtle can only cover her batch of eggs under a few feet of sand because the eggs need to be incubated at a specific temperature.

Female sea turtles come to the shore during the safety of the night to lay their eggs because they are vulnerable to predators during labor. These shallow nesting locations are easy to detect when fishermen rise early morning and find adult sea turtle tracks to and from the beach. The lucky hatchlings that avoid the hands of humans are challenged with a daunting task within minutes of birth. Once they make their way through the sand they are defenseless and have a long stretch of land to cover before they reach the safety of the sea. This long wobbling struggle to reach the water is the very moment their life depends on. Seagulls and other birds of prey make the most of this all you can eat buffet as hundreds of baby sea turtles make a run for their lives.

In recent years steps have been taken within Sri Lanka and even on a global level to ensure the survival of this amazing animal. The Sea Turtle Project plays an essential part in ensuring the continuity of this species as an irreplaceable component of the natural world. Human involvement as a predator in the life cycle of sea turtles has practically vanished as hunting for sea turtles and collecting sea turtle eggs for financial purposes has been banned by the Sri Lankan government. When you’re in Sri Lanka you can also be a part of this initiative and help save the sea turtle for generations to come.

Here are the top ten shopping destinations in Sri Lanka you definitely wouldn’t want to miss:

1. Ratnapura – is the best place in Sri Lanka to buy jewels and gem for this place is the gem-mining capital of Sri Lanka. This town has the most well known gem shops in the country. One can also watch how the traditional gem mining and cutting is made. This is definitely a haven for all gem enthusiasts.

2. House of Fashion – located in Colombo, where the most affordable ready-to-wear clothes are found. There are huge choices for teen clothes and adult clothes that are both casual wears and formal wears. This is a very ideal place for shoppaholics for clothes and any clothing items.

3. Mondy – also found in Colombo selling clothes with unbelievably low prices. The clothes choices here include office wears such as colored leggings, well-costumed attires, trousers, and everything that can be worn in the office. So for everyone looking for their office outfits, Mondy is the right place for you to go.

4. Sri Lankan Streets – probably the easiest way to search for shopping items. City streets are filled with sidewalk vendors selling the items similar to those that are sold in department stores and malls, only the prices outside are extremely more affordable. This is the most practical place to shop for everyone who is on a tight budget but still wants to enjoy shopping in Sri Lanka.

5. Duplication Road, Colombo – where a vast collection of men’s and women’s clothes are found together with shoes, bags, purses, and even toys are found. There are discounts stores here that sell designer items with its very low prices ever!

6. 25 Utuwankanda, Mawanella – a perfect place to buy organic remedies and spices that are used for massages. This is a garden shop that sells fresh herbs and oils that are very relaxing ingredients to use for soothing massages. They accept credit cards here making everyone’s shopping very accessible.

7. Odel Department Store- it is a mansion made into a shopping store in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The department store is complete with cafés and bars where shoppers can rest for a while after a whole day of busy shopping. The place offers extremely low prices of goods, where everyone would be glad to shop at.

8. Kapruka – is he best place to shop for items that are related to music, such as CD’s, DVD’s, memorabilia, tapes and many more. Everything that is related to music all lies here so if you are a music lover try visiting this amazing place and enjoy exploring for great finds.

9. Ruby’s food store – found in Southall, and is the place to find delicious Sri Lankan cuisines that you may want to try out. They offer delicious and affordable foods that will truly satisfy everyone’s tastes buds.

10. Liberty Plaza – located at Kollupitiya, Colombo where the modern amd latest equipments are found. There are also ideal souvenir items found here that will be a perfect gift for you friends and family back home.

The ancient kingdoms in this island nation speak of a rich culture and a heritage with its own arts, crafts and amazing architectural and engineering skills. One of the focal points of the country’s history was the introduction of Buddhism during the 3rd century BC, from which the kingdom developed into a much sophisticated and advanced monarchy with a strong inheritance from Buddhist teachings. Remnants of many architectural wonders that were built by past Sinhala kings still remain to date in their past glory and prestige.

The country due to its location at a main naval route and its close proximity to the Indian sub continent was affected by threats outside which lead the kingdoms being relocated during the course of time. The Kingdom of Anuradhapura and the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa and lastly the Kingdom of Kandy which succumbed to British rule in 1815 were at their epitome in contributing to the country’s history and heritage.

Some of the interesting remnants left from these former monarchies rang e from pyramid like Buddhist Stupas soaring in to the skies, magnificent Buddhist sculptures carved out of stone and a fortress built atop a magnificent lion like rock. The country also got its heritage from the colonial periods where parts of the country and eventually the whole country were under several colonial powers. Portuguese, Dutch and British influences from the 1500s have also played a significant impact on the Sri Lankan community as well. Some of the interesting historic attractions from these eras are the 17th century Dutch Fort in Galle, and many Dutch churches and forts in Negombo and Kalpitiya.

From the rich cultural heritage of the island has emerged a diverse and eclectic ethnic community, yet the result is distinctly Sri Lanka. Holidays to the island are not just about relaxing on the beach – although the beaches are outstanding. And they aren’t just about the culture – although the history is fascinating. Holidays in Sri Lanka are truly experiential – with the sum of everything you see and do; eat and drink; hear and feel; combining to form the perfect portrait of a memory of Sri Lanka.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
You will see elephants everywhere on your Sri Lanka holidays. They are depicted in carvings, artwork and coats of arms. They are almost a national emblem and one of the most rewarding things you can do in Sri Lanka is to visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Halfway between the towns of Colombo and Kandy in the central hills, the orphanage was established as a sanctuary in 1975 with four motherless elephant calves. Many offspring from those original four now live happily in the orphanage but it has also more recently become an important breeding centre. Now housing over 70 elephants – the largest group of captive elephants in the world – the centre is a beacon for conservation as well as being a popular tourist site.

Polonnaruwa
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa is wonderfully well-preserved and a must see on your holidays in Sri Lanka. It was the island’s capital between the 11th and 13th Century and is filled with ancient architecture such as the intricate Dagobas, strikingly beautiful statues, and monuments. It is an easy area to explore as it is so compact, and it is lovely to wander around the ancient statues and feel the history emanating from this ancient site. Today, excavations and conservation are underway in order to further preserve these fascinating ruins.

Bentota Beaches
Reputedly the best beaches to visit on your Sri Lanka holidays are around the Bentota and Aluthgama areas. The wide sandy beaches are lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and are a popular location for diving, fishing and of course swimming. Although there are a lot of resorts in the area and it can get quite busy, it is still possible to find some quieter beaches on which to take a long, relaxing solitary stroll. You can also take a river cruise up the Bentota River to enjoy the wildlife and experience the unique geography of the river which, in some places is separated from the sea by only 100 metres of shoreline.