Sri Lanka

  About the Country
  
State - the Republic of Sri Lanka
Official languages - Sinhala and Tamil
Currency - Rupee, Rs 100 ~ $ 0.88
Population - 21.3 million
Capital - Colombo - 740 thousand inhabitants
Major cities - Moratuwa, Galle, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya,
mountain resort of Nuwara Eliya
Geographical information
Sri Lanka - an island in the Indian Ocean, located to the south of the Indian subcontinent. The total area of 65,610 square kilometers, stretches from north to south and 445 km from west to east 225 kilometers. The main part of the island is occupied by plain, the height of which is rarely more than 100 m above sea level. In the center of the island is the Central Massif. The average height of the mountains - 1000-2000 meters above sea level, but some of the peaks rise much higher. From the mountains flow down the many rivers of the country.
Climate - tropical: warm and humid
Temperature. In the lowlands average temperature of +27 º C. The difference of temperatures of the hot and relatively cool months does not exceed 5 º C. In the cities is the heat and humidity. But on the coast, because of the constant sea breeze always comfortable +28 º - +30 º C. The water temperature in the Indian Ocean about +27 º C. In the mountains, the average annual temperature ranges from +23 º C to +25 º C Water temperature - 21-25 degrees above zero.
Phone: In Sri Lanka, international phone call you can out of your hotel, although a call will cost much cheaper, if you use the phone in the mail or international telephone machine. Phone cards can be purchased at post offices, some shops and stores, and gas stations. The minimum cost of the card - Rs 100. In addition, upon arrival at the Colombo International Airport, you can buy a SIM card from a local mobile operator - Mobitel (National Mobile Provider of Sri Lanka). Card issued in your passport. Card price - Rs 1,000, half of which is transferred to your account. Price per minute to Russia - 11 Rs 8 crore in the country
Visa

Russian tourists coming to Sri Lanka for a period of less than 30 days, a visa is required. At passport control must submit the following documents: passport, valid for one month after the end of the trip, entry registration form, return air ticket, starting from the date of departure.
Customs control
On arrival in Sri Lanka must be declared valuable equipment and jewelry.
Allowed import of currency, the equivalent of the amount of which is not more than U.S. $ 10,000, 1.5 liters of spirits, two bottles of wine, a small amount of souvenirs and 250 ml perfume in an amount not to exceed U.S. $ 250. On 03.04.2006, all tobacco products imported to Sri Lanka, subject to customs duties. Strictly prohibits the importation of drugs, firearms and stabbing weapons, ammunition, explosives, pornographic material, gold. When checking out with Sri Lanka Customs inspection of luggage is compulsory for all. The export of 6 kg of tea per person. The export from the country antiques (items created over 50 years ago), rare books, manuscripts on palm leaves, rough gemstones, animals and plants

Favors

Tea
This area is also known as "Little England" - could not be more appropriate name for the lands, where 10 months of the year was drizzling rain, morning and evening, all wrapped in either milk-thick
fog, or clouds came down too low
Gemstones
In Sri Lanka, they were caught from time immemorial. It is known that at the dawn of our era palaces were decorated with huge rulers unlimited gems.
Batik
In Sri Lanka, you can see the well-known all over the world folk craft - batik. These products are not cheap, especially if signs silk.

Excursions
 
Due to the great number of monuments of history and unique nature of the island, Sri Lanka pleasantly surprised travelers a wide variety of excursions. Tours in Sri Lanka have different prodolzhitelnost.Iz hotel on the coast for a day, you can visit the attractions that are located not too far from your resort.

If you want to visit historic sites, mountains, national parks, located in the interior of the island, in this case, better to choose and order the appropriate multi-day excursion, after which you will get to your chosen hotel on the coast. Below you will find descriptions of the most popular excursions.

Rafting - rafting

Departure from the hotel in the morning. During the descent the river Kelani you
enjoy the picturesque landscape of Sri Lanka. Short stop at the Plantation for lunch, then continue alloy (about 5 km.). May also swim in the river. After the end of the alloy travelers transfer to hotel.

During the rafting tourists will be accompanied by an instructor.
The maximum number of the raft - 8 people. Tourists will be given life jackets, helmets, and will be given instruction. Every traveler is insured at the time of rafting. Suitable clothing for the alloy will be - T-shirt and shorts. With you better have a change of clothes.

Safaris Uda Walawe

Moving to Udawalawe in Kalutara, Horana and Ratnapura, where you can see the tea plantations. In Ratnapura - visit the center gemstone. Lunch at a restaurant in Kinjou Udawalawe. Visit the National Park in Udawalawe. Return to the hotel late at night.

Tour in Halle / Hikadduva
  
Departure from the hotel in the morning. Visiting resorts Galle, Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa. Visiting the factory in Ambalangoda mask and examination of known coral formations in Hikkaduwa.
Lunch at Closenberg in Halle. After lunch, visit the city of Halle, who for a time was the main port of the island of Ceylon. Also, visit the castle with battlements 12th century Dutch buildings.
Visit the factory of handicrafts. Return
to the hotel.

"A Day in Kandy" (all day)

Departure from the hotel in the morning. Passing by the resort Kalutara and Horana, visit the elephant orphanage Pinnawala, spice garden and tea factories. Dinner at the hotel in Kandy Senani. After lunch, visit the Temple of the Tooth, the botanical garden and the factory lapidary gem. Return to hotel.

Pinnawala elephant nursery

Visit the elephant orphanage Pinnawala. Be able to see elephants and
their cubs, which were found in the jungle. Tourists will be able to ride on elephants. Also, visit the spice garden. Lunch at a restaurant in Pinnalanda Pinnawala. Return to hotel.
Rain forest (Singharaja)

Visit the forest Singharaja. Offering great layered plants in the Amazon or the Congo. See how the flowers one of the rarest orchids. You will hear a different sound of the rain. Lunch at a local restaurant near the forest.

"Sigiriya and Dumballua" (half a day).

Departure in Sigiriya, where you climb the Sigiriya rock by a spiral staircase, which is a world heritage site, founded by King Kashyapa (477-495 years). Scala also called Lion Rock, as her legs are carved in stone lion. The rock can see colorful murals that are the heritage of Sri Lanka. Lunch in the village Pellwehera. After lunch, visit to a Buddhist temple, which was donated by King Walagambahu in the first century BC. Dambulla - world heritage site of temples and caves of Sri Lanka, a complex of five caves more than 2000 square meters. meters. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha. See one of the world's largest reclining Buddha.

Park Yala (the whole day).
Visit the national park Yala, where you can go
Jeep. Be able to see wild elephants, wild boar,
leopard, bear, deer, crocodiles and native birds. Dinner.
Return to hotel.

Resorts
  
Bentota - a popular resort on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, which is located at the confluence of the river and the sea, 65 km south of Colombo, includes several hotels, railway station, shopping center. In it each year a colorful costumed folkloric shows. It offers a variety of sports, including water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving, hunting, sailing, golf, tennis. Gold leaf sand beaches, coconut palms, leaning to the water, crystal clear sapphire, underwater coral gardens, shipwrecks and shallow water, dotted with fish unseen painting - just a little of what will give you the Indian Ocean. On the coast, diving centers operate with experienced instructors, open from October to March. It also offers other sports: water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing, golf, tennis. Each year in Bentota are colorful costumed folkloric shows.

Wadduwa - is one of the most famous resorts, located south of the capital of Sri Lanka. On the coast, diving centers operate with experienced instructors, open from October to March. The air temperature in Wadduwa usually from 25 to 30 degrees, with the exception of mountain areas, where the temperature is slightly lower. Average water temperature is 26 degrees. In general, the best time to enjoy the beach resorts of Sri Lanka runs from October to April. Residents of the town known worldwide as the "smiling people", they are known for their hospitality and kindness. While traveling, you're bound to hear Lankan "Aubovan" (Ayubowan) - you can stay for a long time.

Halle - city and port on the south-west of Sri Lanka, the capital of the Southern Province. History has it that in ancient times was called Tarshish Halle, and here King Solomon took out Lankan gems and ivory. The city was an important trade center - there were more things Persian, Greek, Roman, Arab, Malay, Indian merchants. By the time the Portuguese (in 1505) the city was called Gimhatiffa. In 1640, to replace the Portuguese came the Dutch. They built (to 1663) granite fort Galle (included in UNESCO World Heritage Site) - the largest to date preserved fortress in Asia, established by the European colonizers. In 1796, the British captured the city, under the British rule as part of Halle
port city has dropped substantially since the new owners of the island prefer to develop the port of Colombo. Currently in Halle developed food (including fish), glass, textile industry. One of the main tourist centers of the country. Of the attractions of the city, in addition to Galle Fort, one can note the Cathedral of St. Mary (built by the Jesuits) and the many Hindu and Buddhist temples. The city was heavily damaged during the tsunami on 26 December 2004 - several thousand people died. However, to date, the city is almost completely restored, the decline in the tourism industry replaced by a new rise.

Beruwela - Located 56 km south of Colombo and is the first (north) in the chain of beaches, stretching for 130 km long along the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. In the past few years in Beruwela Hotels were built new and improved tourist area. Swim in the bay all year round. In Beruwela can try the main drink - arrack (coconut Moonshine) - even the locals do not really drink, but you can try a little bit for a change. Gin and whiskey local production speak bad headache. To stay here all conditions: the azure waters of the ocean, endless sandy beaches, coconut palms on the beach. For lovers of tourism organized many excursions to the unique architectural monuments, Hindu temples, national parks and nature reserves.

Hikkaduwa - located on the south coast resort town is called "reserve of coral." "Coral" - a magical word that we find in Hikkaduwa almost all the names of hotels. Coral reefs attract divers many species of fish and turtles. In the crystal clear water enough snorkeling to see the amazing bright colors of the world. Here you can also admire the fabulous underwater world, riding on a boat with a glass bottom. Be sure to bring your friends hikkaduvanskie gifts, among which an important place is Ceylon tea. The symbol of Sri Lanka is known all over the world Ceylon tea, which is grown in the valleys, mountain range protected from the northern winds. Until 1972, the country was known as Ceylon.