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Written by Alex on July 27, 2023 Share on

How to Reach Sri Lanka – Your Travel Guide from India

Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful island nations in the world and it is one of the major tourist spots in South East Asia. Many Travellers from India travel to Sri Lanka annually and cherish the colonial architecture, astonishing temples, beautiful beaches around wonderful cities like Colombo, Galle, Kandy, etc. Adding to that, the country is filled with diverse culture and ethnicities, attracting people from different walks of life. It is also one of the easiest countries for the Indians to visit as they provide tourist VISA on arrival for Indian travellers. Also, Sri Lankan and Indian Governments share friendly relationships ranging over decades. Read this article to know the ways on how you can reach the country of Sri Lanka!

Aerial view of Sri Lankan coast
Photo by Oliver Sjöström on Unsplash

How to Reach Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the neighbouring countries of India and it is present just south of India separated by a Strait. Though the country is close to India, it takes a flight or a ship to reach the country. Read on to know more about the travel options you have to reach Sri Lanka.

Also Read: Top 7 places every traveller should see in Sri Lanka

 

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Reach Sri Lanka By Air

Reaching Sri Lanka by Air is one of the easiest and convenient ways of reaching the country from India. The International airport in Sri Lanka is the Bandaranaike Internal Airport and it is one of the busiest airports in Asia. We have many flights flying from important cities of India to Colombo. We have regular daily flights flying in and out of India to Colombo from cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. All the major airline operate their flights through this route. Some of the more prominent airlines are Air India, Sri Lankan Airlines, Spice Jet and Vistara.

Port of Disembarkation in IndiaTime Taken to Reach by Air
New Delhi3 hours 30 minutes
Mumbai2 hour 20 minutes
Bengaluru1 hour 50 minutes
Chennai1 hour 20 minutes
Average Time Taken By Flights To Reach Colombo from major cities in India

Reach Sri Lanka By Sea

Being an island nation, the second most sought after way of reaching Sri Lanka is by Sea. There were many seaway services from Chennai to Colombo that were fast and economical. However, due to political reasons, the services were suspended indefinitely in 2011. Although, there are luxurious cruises that operate from Mumbai port to Colombo. The week-long cruise reaches Colombo having stopped at beautiful cities like Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. The prices are on the higher end as it is a luxurious cruise and you can even choose for cruises which include adventure and water sports added as part of the cruise. If you want a cheaper option, there are ferries being operated from Rameshwaram. We suggest not taking cruises or ferries during the monsoon season as the sea will be violent and might cause a delay in your holiday.

Cruises over sea
Photo by Alonso Reyes on Unsplash

Also Read: Cruises to Nowhere!

Reach Sri Lanka By Road

Sri Lanka can’t be reached by road or train as the land is not connected to India. If you are travelling from places other than the major cities and on budget, you can reach the major cities in India by road or train and then catch a direct flight to Colombo. This might be a cheaper way than taking connecting flights. However, the time taken to reach the country will be more.

Reaching Places inside Sri Lanka

Once you reach Sri Lanka, you can use road or train services to explore the corners of the land. The more comfortable medium of transport would be the train. You can travel on luxury classes in train costing you not more than 15 USD approximately. There are also bus services available connecting major cities like Colombo, Kandy and Galle. The buses travel faster in lower lands and on the hilly region, they go as slow as 20 mph. However, the most convenient way would be to hire a rental transport with a travel guide. This way, you will be able to cover the different places conveniently and get the best out of this country.

A train to reach the hilly regions of Sri Lanka
Photo by gemmmm 🖤 on Unsplash

Now that you know how to reach Sri Lanka, pack up your bags to start your vacation to the country. Check out the various Sri Lanka holiday packages available to Sri Lanka. You can also customise your very own itinerary to this incredible island country. Unwrap Sri Lanka with Pickyourtrail.

Also check: International tour packages

FAQ

What are the famous locations in Sri Lanka?

Sygiria, Nuwara Eliya, Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage, Polonnaruwa Sacred City, Mirrisa, Yala National Park, Jaffana, Ulpotha, Trincomalee, Udawalawe National Park, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Horton Plains National Park, St. Clairs Falls, Tawalantenne, and Arugam Bay are some of the famous places to explore in Sri Lanka.

What is the best time to travel to SriLanka?

Like all tropical countries, Sri Lanka’s weather can be unpredictable, so it’s always wise to expect the unexpected and prepare for all eventualities. However, generally speaking, the best weather in Sri Lanka is experienced in the period between December and mid-April.

What are the things to do in Sri Lanka?

There’s something for everybody in SriLanka . Rent a tuk tuk, sample a kothu roll, enjoy the sunsets at the beaches, strap on goggles and go snorkeling, go surfing, ride on the trains from Kandy to Ella, visit a tea factory.

How many days is enough for Sri Lanka?

For a relaxed stay in SriLanka, it is recommended to have an Itinerary planned for about 10–15 days to have a stress-free holiday with no disappointment.

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