77 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Sri Lanka

Thinking of visiting Sri Lanka? Here are 77 photos to inspire you to book that trip!

Sri Lanka. It's recently become the go-to destination for every travel blogger and with good reason, because this little paradise island has everything. With spectacular beaches, ancient ruins, hill country tea estates, national parks with tons of wildlife from leopards to crocodiles...you name it, Sri Lanka has it all. (And it's got amazing food as well!)

For me, Sri Lanka also holds a special place in my heart because it's what I call the Motherland: i.e. where my parents were born and lived before they moved to the UK. I speak Sinhala (one of the main languages of Sri Lanka), grew up complaining that the delicious curries that my parents made were too hot and I just wanted burger and chips like my mates (oh, what a foolish child I was), watched tele-dramas about rural village life and listened to Baila music in the car on long road trips where I learned some stellar Sinhala swear words due to my Dad's road rage.

The end of the 26-year civil war in 2009 means that over the last few years, Sri Lanka has rapidly become a popular tourist destination (I actually saw an advert on the Tube the other day for Sri Lanka holidays which made me a bit overexcited). I've been to Sri Lanka several times as a child and once travelling with a friend from university, but on our most recent trip, I definitely saw more of this wonderful island than ever before. In the next couple of months I will be writing a detailed blog about our trip but if reading a mega blog post proves too much for you, here are 77 photos to inspire you to visit Sri Lanka.

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It all starts in busy Colombo…

…where the tuk-tuk is King.

There’s a lot to see but you will need to eat first…

…make sure you try hoppers, a delicious cross between a crumpet and a pancake…

...and always leave room for a delicious dessert! (In this case it's Watalappam, a type of egg custard).

Hop on a tuk-tuk armed with your guidebook and head down to Pettah…

…the most vibrant district in Colombo…

…with its brightly painted houses…

…and bustling food market…

…where you can buy all the chillies you will ever need.

There are ornate Hindu temples…

…mosques…

…and churches.

There are examples of colonial architecture all over the city…

…in the old shop signs…

…and in the quiet abandoned buildings…

…which sharply contrast with the busy shopping bazaars…

…where you can see people getting on with their everyday lives.

Join the throngs of people heading to Galle Face Green…

…to watch spectacular sunsets…

…as well as other more random sightings…

…whilst wolfing down isso wadey (a fried snack made out of gram flour, topped with prawns, chillies and spices)…

…or alternatively, share one with a friend you’ve just made at the beach.

When it’s time to leave, head to Fort Railway Station…

…there are trains that go to many places in Sri Lanka, so the choice is yours…

…take a trip to Galle, an old Dutch fort town.

With snake charmers…

…and a myriad of narrow streets…

…that are equally charming during the day…

…as well as at night.

If all of this wandering makes you hungry, there’s a gelateria that makes homemade ice cream.

It really is that exciting!

Walk along the ramparts…

…and admire the beautiful buildings…

…take care not to disturb the couples having a private moment under their umbrellas…

…and have a bit of a dance with the local teenagers.

Adhere to this Sri Lankan philosophy…

…sticking to it for breakfast…

…lunch…

…and dinner…

…with perhaps another meal in between.

After all this eating you might need a nap.

Or you can while away some time in the Royal Dutch Cafe…

…and over a cardamom iced coffee, plan the next stage of your journey.

As the sun sets on Galle…

…take the train further down the coast to Mirissa…

…which will pass through many charming stations.

Mirissa is a place where surfers ride the waves…

…and the sunsets are jaw dropping.

Go out into the ocean to see blue whales…

…and dolphins.

To continue nature spotting, travel to the historic town of Tissamaharama: the gateway to one of Sri Lanka’s most famous national parks…

…and where hundreds of bats roost during the day and take off en-masse at dusk.

Wake up early for a safari at Yala National Park.

You will see crocodiles…

…wise-looking monkeys…

…wily mongoose…

…spectacular herds of elephants…

…brightly coloured birds…

…which are no match for a displaying peacock…

…and maybe even the elusive leopard…

…which can make people get out the really big camera.

Next it’s the cool hill country of Ella, with its stunning scenery…

…walk down the wooden train tracks…

…you will meet a few people on your way…

…to see the feat of engineering that is the Nine Arch Bridge.

Contemplate the view whilst waiting…

…for the train to thunder past.

It’s time for another train journey, this time from Ella to Kandy.

It really deserves its title of ‘Most Beautiful Train Journey in the World’.

Once in Kandy, take a relaxing walk around the beautiful Kandy lake…

…where you might spot the odd festive tuk-tuk depending on the time of year.

Connect with your spiritual side by visiting the ornate Temple of the Tooth…

…and in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, enjoy a moment of quiet contemplation.

We even had time to catch up with family!

We had such fun in Sri Lanka! We can’t wait to go back!

Have you been to Sri Lanka? Let us know in your comments below! We are already planning our next trip, this time to explore the North and East of the country. It’s always good when a country leaves you wanting more!

Looking for more travel inspiration? Click here to discover more of our favourite places around the world.

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