Chasing Sunsets & Spices: Sri Lanka Adventure for 8 days!

In January 2025, we set off on an unforgettable journey to Sri Lanka, a gem of the Indian Ocean that offers breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and mouthwatering cuisine. With visa-free entry for Indians, budget-friendly stays, and seamless travel arrangements, this trip turned out to be both affordable and adventure-packed. From the bustling streets of Colombo to the serene beaches, lush tea plantations, and ancient temples, every moment was a new discovery. Here’s a detailed breakdown of our experience, including day wise itinerary, essential facts, route and stay details, travel trivia, and must-visit spots!

Basic Travel Information:

• Flights: IndiGo, Mumbai to Colombo (Return)
• Stay: 7 nights via Booking.com
• Transport: Private car rental from Nafees (+94 76 171 0723) (Driver: Nawshad)
• Visa: Visa-free entry for Indians until further notice
• Travel Insurance: Recommended for medical emergencies and trip cancellations

Essential Facts About Sri Lanka:

• Capital City: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Legislative), Colombo (Commercial)
• Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
• Country Code: +94
• Population: ~22 million
• Languages Spoken: Sinhala, Tamil, and English
• Weather: Tropical climate with two monsoon seasons (Northeast & Southwest)
• Cuisine: Rice & curry, hoppers, kottu roti, seafood, and tea-based delicacies
• Neighbouring Countries: India (via Palk Strait), Maldives (south of Sri Lanka)

Route followed with Stay details:

Sigiriya – Sun Flower Homestay Sigiriya – Address: No: 181, Kalapuraya, 21120 Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Kandy – Kandy Fortress – Address: 103 Dharmaraja Mawatha, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Nuwara Eliya – B&B Nuwara Eliya – Address: 20 Waterfield Bank, 22200 Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
Ella – Ella Happy View Homestay (Near the iconic train route) – Address: Thewatta Gedara, 90900 Ella, Sri Lanka
Mirissa – Bird House Mirissa (Treehouse) – Address: Kuruludeniya Harbor Road, 81740 Mirissa, Sri Lanka
Unawatuna – Hansa Villa – Address: Flower Road Yaddehimmulla, Unawatuna, 80600, Sri Lanka
Bentota – Ranagiri Relaxing Bungalow (125 year old heritage bungalow) – Address: Athurwala, Induruwa, 80500, Bentota, Sri Lanka
Colombo – Reach the airport at night for flight back to India

Day Wise Itinerary:

Day 1 – 11th Jan 2025: Arrival in Colombo and Travel to Sigiriya
We began our journey with breakfast at Ananda Bhavan in Chennai Airport, enjoying dosa and filter coffee before catching our flight to Colombo (Bandaranaike International Airport). After exchanging currency at the airport because we got a good rate for our USD, and getting our Dialog SIM cards (20 GB each – 30 days validity), we headed to the Millennium Elephant Foundation in Kegalle. The foundation, situated on a 15-acre estate, rescues elephants, and we had the opportunity to walk and bathe them. The elephants we met were Raja, Pooja, and Lakshmi. Our day ended with a traditional Sri Lankan thali dinner of rice, curries and veggies at Gami Gedara in Dambulla.

Day 2 – 12th Jan 2025: Exploring Sigiriya and Kandy
We began the day with avocado toast, hot cappuccino, and a mango smoothie bowl at Espresso Italiano. Our first stop was Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its ancient rock fortress and frescoes. Next, we visited the Dambulla Cave Temple and Golden Temple, a significant Buddhist site with cave paintings and statues. We then explored the Ranweli Spice Garden, a garden showcasing various spices and herbs, offering insight into Sri Lanka’s spice industry. We purchased remedies for hair growth, skin care, and detox. In the evening, we visited a Hindu temple, and enjoyed a South Indian feast at Balaji Dosai of Kara Dosa, 9 pcs idli, ghee roast dosa, followed by a hot cappuccino at Island Cream and Dominos pizza + Lion Strong Beer for a relaxed dinner in our hotel room.

Day 3 – 13th Jan 2025: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
We started with an americano black coffee, green smoothie bowl, and a falafel burger at Roots ‘N’ Beans, a plant-based cafe. We then visited the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a tooth of the Buddha. It is considered one of the most sacred sites in Sri Lanka. It was a full moon (wolf moon) today and celebrations were going on in full swing at the temple. After that, we walked around Kandy Lake, a serene man-made lake. We also visited the Ambuluwawa Tower, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, and I tried out the famous Ambuluwawa Tower Single Swing. Our day continued with a visit to Ramboda Waterfalls, where we enjoyed a free entry after dining at the Ramboda Falls Hotel (RFH). We had a lovely lunch here of Veg Biryani and Cream of Tomato Soup before heading to Blue Field Tea Plantation (Estd since 1840). At the tea plantation, we learned about the tea-making process, plucked tea leaves and enjoyed complimentary Ceylon black tea with ginger, milk tea, and a sweet made of dates. We finished the day with dinner at Indian Summer, enjoying kadhai paneer, roti and strawberry dipped in chocolate for dessert.

Day 4 – 14th Jan 2025: Nuwara Eliya to Ella (Pongal Celebrations)
We began with a traditional breakfast of plain dosa and medu vada at Ambaal’s restaurant. We also had a hot cappuccino at Remarko Bakers and Caterers. We then visited the Seetha Amman Kovil (Sita Temple), a Hindu temple with legends connected to the Ramayana. Our next stop was the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, famous for its stunning views and architectural grandeur. We enjoyed coconut water and strawberry ice cream near the bridge. We had a beautiful view of the Ravana Falls named after the legendary King Ravana from our homestay while having complimentary black coffee. For dinner, we went to Hiking Bar and Restaurant, where we had Greek pizza, Quattro Formaggi pizza (4 cheese), and a delicious chocolate-banana wrap, accompanied by Heineken beer and wood-fired tomato soup. For dessert, we tried frozen curd with kithul jaggery, fresh mango, and pineapple pieces at Mee Kiri.

Day 5 – 15th Jan 2025: Ella to Mirissa
We visited Ravana Falls up close before having a traditional Sri Lankan lunch of rice and curries along with a sweet made of rice powder. Afterward, we went on a 3-hour private jeep safari at Udawalawe National Park, where we spotted lot of wild elephants in their natural habitat, peacocks, deer, foxes, eagles, and many other species. In the evening, we had dinner at Dewa Restaurant, enjoying veg fried rice and a refreshing Lion Lager beer. Afterward, we indulged in creamy veggie pasta at Sudu Weli beach bar and restaurant while overlooking the beach at Mirissa.

Day 6 – 16th Jan 2025: Mirissa to Galle
We had breakfast at Bird House Mirissa, where we had pancakes with rice powder and kithul honey, bananas, coconut rotti with dal, and ceylon black coffee and tea. We visited Coconut Tree Hill, known for its picturesque coconut trees and breathtaking views of the ocean, and Parrot Rock, another scenic spot perfect for photos. We then relaxed at Secret Beach, where we enjoyed the beautiful three-colored waters – grey, blue, and green. I also had a 1.5 hours surfing session including training and surf board at Chill & Surf school at Weligama Beach, where I learned the basics of surfing while my husband took videos of me. In the afternoon, we treated ourselves to a Sri Lankan Ayurvedic couple’s massage for 60 minutes at Lanka Spa Venture, which was both relaxing and rejuvenating. For dinner, we went to Sky Breeze Restaurant, where we enjoyed margarita pizza, spaghetti pasta in tomato sauce, Lion stout beer and a virgin piña colada.

Day 7 – 17th Jan 2025: Galle to Bentota
We began the day by visiting Ashok Vatika, the legendary place where Ravana kept Sita in captivity, followed by a peaceful visit to the Peace Pagoda, offering serene views of the surrounding area. We also tried fresh soursop juice and visited Jungle Beach for some fun bikini photos and coconut water. Our next stop was the Galle Fort and Lighthouse, offering stunning views and rich colonial history. For lunch, we went to Indian Summer, where we had paneer butter masala, tandoori roti, veg club sandwich and pineapple juice. We then treated ourselves to a foot, back, and shoulder massage at Aruliya Care Spa and Wellness near Galle Fort. Afterward, we cooled off with some lemon, ananas, and passion fruit gelato at Pedlar’s Inn Gelato. We also visited the Tsunami Museum to learn about the 2004 disaster and its impact. The day ended with a boat safari on the Madu River, where we saw mangroves, the cinnamon-making process, had a fish foot spa, visited a Buddha temple, and even got to pet a 5 month old baby crocodile named Bunty. Our final stop was the Ahungalla Sea Turtles Conservation & Research Centre, where we learned about turtle conservation. We then had dinner at The Cuisine Delight, an authentic Indian fine dining restaurant & bar in Bentota, enjoying paneer do pyaza, hara bhara kebab, tandoori roti, masala roasted papad and Lion beer.

Day 8 – 18th Jan 2025: Bentota to Colombo
We visited the Lotus Tower, although we did not go to the top, and then enjoyed a delicious brunch at Seed Cafe, with an acai berry dragonfruit smoothie bowl, red pepper hummus and tofu on sourdough bread, and an Americano black coffee. We also had an iced latte and double espresso at Peppermint Cafe. We visited the Gangarama Sima Malaka Temple, a beautiful and tranquil temple located on an island in Beira Lake. We also took a peaceful walk in Viharamahadevi Park, a large public park in the heart of Colombo. Our final stop was the Gangaramaya Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, home to Buddha statues made of jade. In the evening, we enjoyed our last sunset at One Galle Face Mall, the perfect place to relax and take in the views. For dinner, we dined at Chola, an authentic Indian restaurant in the mall, savoring veg biryani, dal makhani, and cream of tomato soup. We wrapped up our trip with a cozy meal at Soo Ceylon Cafe and Tea Lounge at Colombo airport, where we had a meal, drink, and dessert, plus access to free wifi and comfy seating for 3 hours before boarding our flight back to India.

This trip took us through a rich tapestry of Sri Lanka’s history, culture, nature, and cuisine. From ancient temples and UNESCO sites to beautiful beaches, surfing lessons and exciting wildlife safaris, each day offered something new and unforgettable. Thank you Sri Lanka!