For 91 Days in Sri Lanka

Adventures, anecdotes and advice from three months exploring Sri Lanka

For 91 Days we lived in Sri Lanka, the island nation off the southern coast of India. With incredible nature, a fascinating culture, and innumerable historic sites, Sri Lanka provided an unforgettable base for three months of adventure.

Whether you're planning your own journey to Sri Lanka, or just interested in seeing what makes it such a special country, our articles and photographs should help you out.

Nuwara Eliya

Known around Sri Lanka as "Little England", Nuwara Eliya is the highest city on the island, at around 6128 feet above sea level. Throughout history, this mountainous patch of the country had been almost entirely unpopulated, but the British recognized the potential value of its soil and climate. In 1846, explorer Samuel Barker (who would later "discover" Africa's Lake Albert) founded Nuwara Eliya, which quickly established itself as a favorite retreat for the ruling class, and eventually gained prominence as a center for tea cultivation.

After One Month in Sri Lanka

Our first month in Sri Lanka is already done?! It seems just yesterday that we were taking our first tuk tuk ride through Colombo's busy streets. But when I think about all the things we've seen and done, it's amazing that we've only been here a month. Sri Lanka is the kind of place where amazing experiences come fast and furious. Here are our impressions of life in Sri Lanka, after one month.

Ayurveda in Sri Lanka

Ayurveda is a traditional style of medicine which uses completely natural treatments and emphasizes a balanced lifestyle. Although predominantly associated with India, it's massively popular in Sri Lanka, where you can't walk a block without finding another ayurvedic dispensary or clinic. Ayurveda has also gained a foothold in Europe and, predictably, an unending line of hotels and spas in Sri Lanka (always quick to capitalize on tourists) have started to offer ayurvedic vacations from a week to a month long.

The Stony Temples of Ridi Vihara and Aluvihara

Because of shoddy roads and slow buses, distances in Sri Lanka can be deceiving. When we looked at the map and saw that Matale was just twelve miles north of Kandy, and Ridigama another eleven miles from there, we thought: easy day trip. We'd probably be back home in time for lunch. Oh, poor fools! Poor, optimistic fools!

The Kandy Garrison Cemetery

Tucked just behind the Temple of the Tooth is an odd relic from the kingdom's colonial days. The Kandy Garrison Cemetery holds the remains of about 150 British souls, who were buried far from home in the early 19th century. The weathered tombstones and neatly-kept grounds make for an atmospheric escape from the throngs of people at the temple.

Sri Lankan Wood Working at Rajanima Craft

During our weeks in Kandy, we passed by the Rajanima Craft shop a number of times and finally decided to visit on our second-to-last day in the city. One of the guys working there was happy to take some time out, show us around the shop and explain a little about the craft.

The Udawattakele Sanctuary

The small, densely-forested Udawattakele Sanctuary is home to a huge variety of plants and animals, and offers a number of long, secluded paths for exploration. During the morning we spent there, we felt completely alone, almost frighteningly so. Amazing, considering the fact that Uduwattakele is basically in the middle of Kandy.

The Archaeological, National, and Elephant Museums of Kandy

Just behind the Temple of the Tooth are a couple museums which might be worth a visit, depending on the degree to which looking at piles of old stuff turns your crank. The Archaeological Museum, hosted in the former King's Palace, and the adjacent National Museum are stuffed to the gills with artifacts and treasures from days long gone by.

A Great View at Kandy’s Hotel Casamara & Panorama Resort

The Casamara doesn't look like much from the outside but is the tallest building in its immediate vicinity and makes good use of its height with a top-floor bar. The view of Kandy is different from here, less romantic and more lively, because you're in the middle of the city. Though the tuk-tuk-clogged chaos of the streets can be stressful when you're down in it, it provides endless entertainment from above.

Kandyan Dance at the YMBA

Kandyan Dance, an exuberant combination of drumming, costumes and athletic dancing, is the most famous cultural product of Sri Lanka. A few places in Kandy put on a daily show, and we decided to check out the performance at the YMBA. Yep, that stands for "Young Men's Buddhist Association" -- and good luck trying to spell it out with your arms.