Sri Lanka – The Pearl of the Indian Ocean
As the fanfare of the festive season has died down, it’s easy to feel the need to get away from the cold British winter and enjoy the sunshine. For a luxury holiday that offers the necessary rays of sunshine, as well as excellent cuisine, views and different festivals throughout the year, look no further than Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, officially known as the Sri Lankan Democratic Socialist Republic, is an island nation in South Asia, located about 19 miles off the southern coast of India. With a population of around 20 million, the country is multi-religious and multi-ethnic, with almost a third of the population following religions other than Buddhism, primarily Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. This multiculturalism can be partly attributed to the different rulers of Sri Lanka, including colonization by Portugal, the Netherlands, and eventually Great Britain. After peaceful negotiations with the British, the island nation became independent in 1948, and in 1972, the nation, then known as Ceylon, changed its name to Sri Lanka, meaning “Shining Land.”
As a result of the multi-religious background, Sri Lanka is famous for its many religious festivals. Sri Lanka offers at least one festival every month where Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, and Muslims celebrate religious and national occasions. This month, for example, the Dututhu Full Moon Festival commemorates Lord Buddha’s visit to Kelankya, the temple of Kelania. Meanwhile, the Hindu community celebrates the Thai Pongal harvest festival, where houses are cleaned and decorated, farm animals are bathed and sometimes decorated, and special dishes are prepared. The large Muslim community celebrates the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, approximately every 11 months, with prayers in mosques, alms-giving, family celebrations and the enjoyment of traditional dishes. In addition, there are several national holidays such as the Sri Lankan New Year, which is celebrated every year between April 12 and 14, to ensure good fortune in the coming year. Among the traditional rituals that take place, houses are cleaned, new clothes are put on, and freshly harvested rice is cooked in milk in new pots. Traditional games and music are enjoyed, and passing visitors are invariably invited to join in the celebrations. These are just a few of the many festivals that take place throughout the year; more information is available from the Sri Lanka Tourist Office.
In addition to the festivals themselves, Sri Lanka can offer travelers the sights that hide its rich heritage, such as the Temple of the Tooth, located in the central city of Kandy, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It houses a tooth that came from the mouth of Lord Buddha and as a result is considered one of the holiest shrines in Sri Lanka. Kandy is also home to the Pinawela Elephant Orphanage, a national sanctuary for about 70 semi-tame elephants, which are allowed to roam freely around the orphanage, with bathing and feeding moments being a highlight for tourists. Other cities popular with tourists include Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
In addition, the cuisine is considered one of the best in the region. In general, the food is excellent value for money, and the more expensive tourist-oriented places rarely charge more than the equivalent of US$20 per meal. The Sri Lankan staple diet consists of rice and curry. A must-try dish is Kottu Roti; a mixture of chopped roti (bread), vegetables and your choice of meat, a uniquely Sri Lankan dish and best served when made by street vendors. Note that while Sri Lankans eat with their right hands, cutlery is available in all restaurants.
So why not book a holiday in Sri Lanka? [http://www.kuoni.co.uk/holiday/Indian_Subcontinent/Sri_Lanka/index.html] and see for yourself why it is known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.