Traveling to Sri Lanka from India? Here’s all you need to know!

The Pearl of the Orient – Sri Lanka is an extraordinary country. This tropical paradise boasts sleepy villages, lip-smacking food, swoon-worthy beaches, endless tea plantations, abundant wildlife, well-organized cities, and friendly, hospitable people. This jewel-shaped country in the Indian Ocean has so much to offer but has been getting a bad rep due to its poor economic standing.

If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka from India, don’t hesitate to book those tickets and experience the beauty the country is bursting with. Here’s everything you need to know to help you plan your Sri Lankan getaway.

Is it safe to travel to Sri Lanka?

Don’t believe everything the Indian media feeds you. Sri Lanka is safe to travel to in 2023. It is a fact that the country has faced a lot of civil strife and shortages of food, fuel, medicines, and essentials on and off over the last few years. All this has been brought on by the deteriorating economic situation in the country. Before that, the country was affected by natural disasters, COVID-19, and inflation. All this has led to a lot of political unrest and mass protests.

While the country has had a couple of tough years, as of May-June 2023 when I visited, it was safe, peaceful, and beautiful. The people are peace-loving and hospitable and there is no shortage of food, fuel, FOREX, electricity, or anything else. However, it is always a good idea to keep abreast of the happenings in Sri Lanka (or any country) before you plan your trip.

How do I get a visa to Sri Lanka?

Indians require a visa to enter Sri Lanka, and you can either get one online beforehand or get a visa on arrival. For visa on arrival, make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months before you fly. Alternatively, getting your visa/ ETA (Electronic Travel Allowance) before you travel is easy to do and allows for a stress-free trip. A Sri Lanka tourist visa will cost $20 and grant a 30-day stay in the country with double entry.

To get your Sri Lanka Visa/ ETA, apply to the official website and receive an acknowledgment. You will receive the ETA approval within 3 days. You will need to carry a printout of this to submit to the immigration officers at the airport. The ETA approval certificate is valid for 180 days after being issued.

What’s the best way to travel in Sri Lanka?

If you’ve been a reader of ThatGoanGirl for a while, you’ll know my love for road trips. The roads in Sri Lanka make for absolutely stunning road trips, and if I have to pick the best mode of travel in the country, a self-drive car would be it. The endless stretches of greenery, great road conditions, and the fact that everyone follows traffic rules make driving a fun experience.

That apart, the places to visit in Sri Lanka are 3-4 hours away from each other, so you won’t be spending all day driving and yet, can have your fill of beautiful drives without wasting days on the road. Granted, it is more expensive than other options, but if you’re traveling with family (or even if you’re not), there’s nothing better. I work extensively while on the road, and I love working in the car, stopping for roadside tea/coffee, pausing to admire the scenery whenever I fancy, and driving through little villages and fields. More on renting a car below.

If self-driving is not an option, don’t worry. The transport system in Sri Lanka is efficient and affordable. Uber works just fine and you will always find an Uber tuk-tuk or Uber cab options available. no matter where you are. You can also flag down a taxi or tuk-tuk from anywhere, which is good if you know how much your fare to your destination should be and can converse in the local language. Otherwise, be prepared to pay whatever the driver asks for.

Lastly, you can travel from city to city by train, and much like the Indian Railways, you can either book your ticket online or visit the counter at the train station on or before the day of travel. There are a/c coaches and non-a/c coaches and you can choose to pay for a meal or not.

How do I get an international driving license in Sri Lanka?

Getting a temporary driving permit or an international driving license in Sri Lanka is fairly easy. In my case, the car rental company I chose in Colombo (ShineAway Cars) got all the formalities done, even before I landed in the country. For a fee of USD 35, they took care of it all and all I had to do was send them a copy of my passport, driver’s license, and a photograph.

To get a Sri Lanka driving license as a foreigner, you have two options:

• Get an International Driving License/ Permit (or IDL / IDP, for short)

Get an IDL or IDP that you have obtained in your home country. For Indians, that means heading to your local RTO (Road Transport Office) with your Indian driving license and documents such as a Form 4A Application, a valid Passport, a valid Visa (where applicable), a valid air ticket (for verification) and proof of Indian Nationality. This license will be valid for a year or up to the expiry of your Indian license, whichever comes first.

• Use your home-country driving license to get a temporary driving license

If you hold a Foreign Driving License (and Indian Driving License, in my case), you must obtain a temporary Sri Lankan Driving Permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to be able to drive legally in Sri Lanka. Head to the DMV, which is 30 mins from central Colombo, in a place called Werahera. It is open from Mon-Fri, 9 AM-3 PM, except on Sri Lankan holidays. The process may take 30 minutes and go up to a few hours. If your license is not in English, a translation by the respective Embassy or any authority in each country is required. Carry these documents:

• Driving License from your country (English copy/ translation if not in English) + photocopy
• Your Passport + photocopy of profile/photo page and Sri Lankan Visa page

What places should I visit in Sri Lanka?

From the tea plantations of Ella to the beaches of Galle, Sri Lanka is a diverse country, offering much to see and do. Depending on the number of days you have in hand, your budget, and your style of travel (slow travel, checklist travel, backpacking, long holiday, long /short weekend getaway) – you can curate your itinerary accordingly.

On my trip to Sri Lanka, I visited Colombo, Kandy, Ella, Galle, and Negombo over 2 weeks. I’ll be writing detailed itineraries and posts about these places, so be sure to check them out. Other places I’d like to visit on future trips include the beaches of Mirissa, Bentota, and Arugam Bay, as well as Sigiriya for ancient city ruins and rock fortresses, and Nuwara Eliya for endless tea plantation views. Some other less popular destinations include Unawatuna (yet another beautiful beach town), Udawalave National Park, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, and Minneriya National Park.

What’s the best time to visit Sri Lanka?

Like South India, the weather in Sri Lanka is hot and humid throughout the year, especially since Sri Lanka lies on the equator. It is best to travel between December and May when the temperature is cooler. If you like avoiding crowds and the thought of rain spells for days refreshes you, you could consider visiting during the monsoons. My trip lasted from 24th May – 6th June, so while I did get the fag end of the hot, humid days, I also enjoyed Sri Lanka’s first rain showers, which brought the mercury down for a bit.

Flights – costs, layovers, durations.

There are direct flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai to Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport – the only airport you can fly into, located in Negombo, an hour’s drive from the capital city of Colombo. From Bangalore and Chennai, the flights are an hour long.

Pro Tip – For all my local Goan readers, I’d suggest flying to and from Sri Lanka via Bangalore. While the flight time is the same, whether you fly in/out from Bangalore or Chennai, Chennai airport is one of the saddest airports you’ll ever come across. Bangalore airport offers much more to do and see. It is also more comfortable and has better choices of restaurants, cafes, and seating. Pick a flight that has a layover of around 4 hours. From Goa to Colombo, a one-way ticket would cost around INR 12,000 with a stop at Bangalore or Chennai, while a one-way ticket from Bangalore or Chennai to Colombo would cost around INR 6000 – INR 7000.

Where do I exchange currency in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR) are not widely available in India, and I was surprised that not even Bangalore Airport had the currency available at the FOREX counter, given that it is one of the top 2 airports to fly to Sri Lanka from. Your best bet would be to exchange money as you exit Colombo Airport. While the rate will not be as high as you would get elsewhere (since tourists have no choice but to exchange at whatever rate they get, the counters have the upper hand and offer low rates), it is a good idea to exchange more than enough money here to last you the initial 1-2 days.

Once you get your bearings, you will find several money exchange stores in Colombo and elsewhere offering you a much better exchange rate. I’d recommend exchanging your money in Colombo rather than anywhere else. Since it is a city, you have more money exchanges and ATMs available than you would find elsewhere.

What local SIM card works best in Sri Lanka?

Buying a SIM card in Sri Lanka is as easy as it is in India. They are available at local markets and shops. From experience as digital nomads, we picked up two SIM cards from two different providers to ensure that at least one works in low-network areas. Wi-FI is available at most hotels, cafes, and Airbnbs, but getting a SIM card is important, especially for phone data for Google Maps and Whatsapp. I recommend buying a local SIM card at the airport in Colombo. Major network providers like Dialog, Mobitel, and Airtel have the counters here. You’ll need a photo ID and you’re good to go.

Is it expensive to visit Sri Lanka? What should my Sri Lanka budget look like?

I get this question a lot, and I never have an answer. Your budget will be based on several factors – how long your trip is, how many places you’d like to see, do you plan to travel via public transport/cab/self-drive car, do you plan to stay in Airbnbs, budget hotels, luxury hotels or hostels? Do you value dining experiences, art, history, and nature and would splurge on a visit to a museum, a fine dining meal, a visit to a hatchery or national park… or would you like to spend your days eating street food, backpacking and lazing on the beach? There is no one-size-fits-all budget for Sri Lanka.

However, it is *not* cheap to visit. The country is not a budget destination, at least according to Indian standards. Be prepared to pay anywhere from 20-40% more for everything – fuel, food, shopping, stays, and more, and this is purely due to inflation.

I hope you found this blog post helpful. If you’ve got any more FAQs you’d like me to answer, drop me a comment and I’ll get to it as soon as I can. Catch me on Facebook and Instagram!