I didn't know anything about Sri Lanka until I met my third-grade homeroom teacher, Ms. Rasiah, who was from Sri Lanka. I remember looking up where Sri Lanka is on the map with Mom when I told her that my new homeroom teacher was from Sri Lanka on the first day of my school year.
It was my very first time traveling to South Asia, so I was excited to explore the new part of the world. The two popular routes that most travelers take when in Sri Lanka are either (1) clockwise: Colombo-Negombo-Anuradhapura-Sigiriya-Kandy-Nuwara Eliya-Ella-Yala National Park-south coastal areas (Weligama, Mirissa)- Galle- fly out from Colombo or (2) counter-clockwise. The route that I decided to take to explore the island was to go clockwise.
** I traveled through Colombo-Sigiriya-Kandy-Nuwara Eliya-Ella and Mirissa/Weligama while in Mirissa and have taught yoga at Mirissa.
Sri Lanka Itinerary
Arrival in Colombo Airport from Bangkok > Colombo > Sigiriya
I booked a train from Colombo downtown (the train station is called, Colombo Fort) to Habarana station, which is a 20-minute tuk-tuk ride from Sigiriya. Instead of booking train tickets through a third-party website (i.e. 12GO or Bookaway), book directly at the official trailway website to avoid extra service charges.
Travel Tips in Sri Lanka
Solo Traveling: I would say it is pretty safe to travel solo as a female. Compared to Southeast Asia, there aren't that many backpackers, but still, you will see travelers here. Most people here seemed to be older backpackers (late 20s through early 40s based on people I met) or retired people traveling in groups, but Sri Lanka is very backpacker-friendly! Just like any other country, use your common sense to travel. Don't walk around by yourself late at night, and don't sit at the very back of the bus at night. People do approach you, offering tuk-tuk rides or just to practice English but they don't make you feel too overwhelmed. Be assertive and say no, when you need to.
Money exchange: Did you know that you can get your money exchanged in jewelers? They have more competitive foreign exchange rates than the airport or a local bank. Make sure they are authorized for money exchanges though. Another way is to withdraw cash from ATMs - they have a small commission of 200-800 lkr, which is not super expensive but can add up quickly. If you are traveling for a while, it's better to withdraw larger amounts. Just be careful not to lose your money while traveling!
Transportation:
Bus: Local buses do run frequently. I don't think there is a schedule but it felt like it comes every 7-10 minutes. You pay on the bus and it is super cheap. Buses within the city cost less than 100 lkr and it's almost always less than 300 lkr even traveling between cities. There is no AC on the bus but it is reliable, and it's okay to carry backpacks with you on the bus. Backpacks are stored at the very front of the bus where the bus driver sits as buses can get crowded with the locals.
Intercity Trains: Book tickets here. Most intercity trains have first-class, second-class, and third-class seats. First-class seats are assigned and have ACs. Second-classes don't have ACs but have open windows and/or ceiling fans. are not
Tuk-Tuks: Don't trust your tutuk driver. Some are scammers, and they overcharge. Make sure to ask for how much you are expected to pay before hopping on. PickMe is an app you can use (similar to Uber/Lyft) to get a ride.
Others:
1) When ordering tea, make sure to ask for "plain tea" if you are looking for hot tea without milk and sugar. Tea in Sri Lanka is served with milk and sugar added.
2) Looking to hire a tuk-tuk driver or an Uber? PickMe is an app that is widely used in Sri Lanka (in major cities only though). You might have to wait for some time, but it works! You can also hire a tuk-tuk driver on demand with no issues but can be expensive! I've seen a lot of people hire private drivers and if your budget allows, it can be the easiest way to travel around.
3) Join Facebook travel groups and ask your questions away or use the Hostelworld app to connect with other travelers. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to me via email or DM.
Sigiriya Rock (Lion Rock)
Sigiriya Rock was awesome! If you ask if it was worth climbing up, YES! You have to climb up more than 1200 stairs to get to the very top of the rock but don't worry, there are places to sit and rest if you need to. Once you climb to the top, you will see Pidurangala Rock and a panoramic city view. It's a UNESCO Heritage Site, where you will see cave paintings (No photos & videos allowed for the paintings). The ticket also includes a museum visit, so you will learn the history and Sri Lankan culture when you visit!
Entrance Fee: $35 USD/pp, card accepted, can pay in Srilankan Rupees.
Hours: 7 am- 5:30 pm
Spending time exploring the Sigiriya Rock on a no-rain day!
Pidurangala Rock
If you want to get a panoramic view of Sigiriya Rock (Lion Rock), you should climb up the Pidurangala Rock! It's 15 minutes away from Sigiriya Rock, and you will get a breathtaking view of the Sigiriya Rock! I ended up hitchhiking by myself to get there from Sigiriya Rock, but there are local buses that can take you to Pidurangala Rock from Sigiriya Rock. (I wish I had known about this!)
Entrance fee: 1,000 lkr
Time to climb up: 30 minutes one way.
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Best time to visit: Catch sunrise or sunset. I climbed up during the day since it was cloudy!
Hours: 5 am-6 pm (ticket office closes at 5:30 pm)
Climbing up to Pidurangala to see the Sigiriya Rock :) I saw a laying Buddha on my way heading to the top.
Sigiriya was a true gem! My hostel was in Kimbissa, a small town near Sigiriya, and it was in the mid-point between the bus station to Kandy and Sigiriya Rock. If you are heading south to Kandy, I recommend staying in Kimbissa. It's less crowded and has more local vibes!
Create Your Own Website With Webador