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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 some sunshine. For a luxury vacation 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 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 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, most notably Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. This multiculturalism can be attributed in part to the different rulers of Sri Lanka, including colonization by Portugal, the Netherlands, and eventually 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 full moon festival of Dututhu 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 adorned, and special dishes are prepared. The sizeable 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 some of the many festivals that take place throughout the year; more information is available from the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.
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 out of Lord Buddha’s mouth 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 some 70 semi-tame elephants, which are allowed to roam freely around the orphanage, and bathing and feeding times are a highlight for tourists. Other towns 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, with the more expensive tourist-oriented places rarely charging more than the equivalent of US$20 per meal. The staple Sri Lankan diet consists of rice and curry. A must try dish is Kottu Roti; a mix of chopped roti (bread), vegetables and your choice of meat, a unique Sri Lankan dish and is best served when prepared 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 to 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.