The essence of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a vast island filled with riches from gemstones to fine teas. The teardrop-shaped country is just a few kilometers south of India and is known for its welcoming locals, who are happy to share a glimpse into their culture. In this week's post, we're off to experience the four things that are the essence of a trip Sri Lanka.

Ceylon Tea

It all begins with a cup of tea and Sri Lanka's Ceylon tea is truly one to be savored. The history of the name dates back several decades to a time when the island was known as Ceylon. Merchant ships and traders who would frequent the island often carried boxes of the tea around the world and would simply refer to it by its origin. In fact, you’ve probably already tried it without even knowing it.

Although Ceylon tea may be easy to come by, nothing quite compares to having a steaming hot cup in a picturesque plantation. Tea plantations can be found all over the country, and many of them provide exclusive tours to give you a peek into how tea is cultivated. The Hantana Tea Museum and Haputale tea estates in particular, are worth visiting for an insight into how tea production has changed over the last century.

Bazaars

Along with tea, Sri Lanka is also famous for its bazaars - the cabbage patch of shops and markets that sell practically everything under the sun. If you're looking for traditional spices and local fruits, there's nothing quite like Pettah Market in Colombo. This famous outdoor bazaar offers a glimpse into the country's exotic past with a colorful display of spices and herbs. If spices aren't your thing, the bazaars of Kandy in central Sri Lanka have a wide variety of handcrafted silks and other clothing to offer.

City of gems

Ratnapura, which means "The city of gems" in the local language, is an essential stop to experience on any trip to Sri Lanka. Legend has it that the region's fertile river beds and wet climate helped create some of the world's finest gemstones over the centuries. The town is a historically important trade post for locally mined sapphires and rubies, but today also specializes in handmade jewelry. Be sure to take time out to trek through the surrounding mining villages.

Languages

Sri Lanka is a linguist's paradise - a mosaic where each language and ethnicity has its own distinct role in the country's culture. Although Sinhala and Tamil are the two official languages, there are over 50,000 speakers of various creole languages, such as the distinct Sri Lankan Creole Malay. English too, is a native language for almost one in every ten Sri Lankans; however, most fluent speakers tend to live in larger cities such as Colombo and Kandy. Surprise a local on your trip by picking up a bit of Sinhala with a simple "ayubowan" when you meet someone and a "bohoma sthuthi" to thank someone.

Find out more about how you can experience Sri Lanka