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Sri Lanka: Pearl of the Indian Ocean

As Sri Lanka celebrates its 70th year of independence, it’s the perfect time for an exotic escape

April 15, 2018 16:33
Credit Sebastian Posingis 7
4 min read

Our first Shabbat as husband and wife was always going to be memorable. But lighting the candles among tea plantations in Sri Lanka is something I’ll never forget.

After making a quiet Kiddush, we sat down to dinner on the terrace of our room at Ceylon Tea Trails in Hatton, looking down from our 1,250 metre high viewpoint across the rolling hills and rows of tea bushes. It seemed right that this special moment should take place during our favourite stop of our honeymoon on this fascinating island.

It’s an exciting time to visit Sri Lanka, currently celebrating its 70th year of independence, with our trip taking us from the beach and colonial style of Galle to the hills and Unesco World Heritage site of Sigiriya.

Despite comparisons to its neighbour India — it’s often described as a more sanitised version — the island, predominantly Buddhist, with smaller Hindu, Muslim and Christian populations, has its own unique charms.