How many times have you postponed a holiday trip just because your wallet didn’t agree with your travel expenditure? Well, that’s the harsh reality many travel enthusiasts face regularly. Since budget plays a very crucial role in shortlisting a destination, we thought we could help you choose a great destination for your next trip that won’t burn a hole in your pocket – Sri Lanka. Let’s dig right into it without any further delay.
Where is Sri Lanka, and why should you consider visiting this country?
Situated to the south of India, Sri Lanka is an island nation on the Indian Ocean. With fine beaches, ancient monuments, terraced tea plantations, and elephant filled national parks, Sri Lanka can give a tough competition to most high profile countries.
Starting your budget-friendly journey:
Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo is where you will ideally start your journey. The city houses an endless array of budget accommodations and eateries – where you can try traditional Sri Lankan food, including the famed Kottu Roti. With so many options, there is little room for overspending on food and accommodation. As for local conveyance, bus services in the city are quite decent and offer the cheapest way of transportation. There are taxi and three-wheelers as well, but they are likely to cost a little more. Sticking to buses to explore Colombo’s attractions is the best way to save money and get around.
Heading out to various destinations:
To explore the whole country on a tight budget, travelling on a train is your best bet. However, keep in mind that trains in Sri Lanka are often slow and get delayed. On the flip side, you will get to enjoy some stunning scenery – especially if you take the routes from Colombo to Kandy or Galle and from Kandy to Ella or Nuwara Eliya. However, you can hire a private car but only if you’re ready to shell out more. The lodging and eating cost quite similar – or even lesser than Colombo, almost everywhere else in the country.
What are the must-visit locations?
Starting with Sri Lanka’s ancient cities – places like Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa are some of its must-see destinations. Brimming with Buddhist sites and crumbling temples, they are home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Entry tickets to these sites are not very expensive an all these places can be reached easily by train or bus from Colombo or other cities in Sri Lanka. Once there, you can hire a bike to get around and explore. Visiting its beach regions is also no different as most of them – Galle, Hikkaduwa, Tangalle and Mirissa for example – are quite budget-friendly. However, be careful with your spending in Negombo – it has a great beach but is one of Sri Lanka’s highly commercial areas. The highland region offers some of Sri Lanka’s best scenery with rolling hills, terraced tea plantations and amazing waterfalls. Ella, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya are the highlights and – as we mentioned earlier – offer some of the world’s most scenic train rides. You will easily find cheap homestays in these regions. Coming to Sri Lankan national parks – you have to pay an entrance fee upon entering. However, in comparison to its African counterparts, the fees are quite minimal and easy on the pocket.
Keep in mind that even though Sri Lanka is a budget-friendly country, you need to be cautious about how you spend your money. If you track your daily expenses using a notebook or an expense tracker app, define a daily budget, and stay away from luxury accommodations and high-end activities; you will get to experience one of Asia’s most amazing destination even on a tight budget. Happy travelling!
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