There's a reason Sri Lanka is called "The Pearl of the Indian Ocean" -- it's an absolute gem. And it's a traveller's paradise as there's tons to do and see, all on one relatively small space. If you're cool with local buses and trains, Sri Lanka is cheap to get around, too. What's not so cheap, sadly, are the entrances to the major sites (all average around $30, whether it's hiking in a National Park or visiting an ancient city and visiting temples averages around $10), and accomodation is not as cheap as you'll find in other parts of Southeast Asia. On one hand, that's good -- Sri Lanka is not going to become Thailand any time soon and be overloaded with drunk young kids looking to party to excess. On the other hand, some of the price points (especially the entries) feel a bit off, like they should all be $10 - $15 cheaper than they are. The other big drag in Sri Lanka is a lack of air conditioning everywhere; in Vietnam or Laos a $20 room gets you something pretty nice with a/c, but in Sri Lanka that's a guesthouse room with a fan.
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A kingdom on a hill: Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, where an ancient kingdom once ruled.
A Day Trip to Sigiriya and Dambulla
In my original itinerary for Sri Lanka, I'd thought I'd have to head north from Kandy and spend a night or two in Dambulla or Sigiriya to see the cultural sites up there. But as soon as I arrived at my hostel in Kandy, the Canadian girl running the place assured me that seeing both could be done in a single day. Since this day trip is not detailed in either the Lonely Planet or online anywhere, I thought I'd spell out how you can make this trip.
1. Wake up early. Crazy early!
OK, so to my parents, this would not be early. But to me and all the other normal people on the planet, you'll have to rouse yourself at the ungodly hour of 6:30 or so as you'll want to be at the bus station between 7 and 7:30 and on a bus by no later than 8 am.