Published 7 Oct 2026
Sri Lanka is the easiest “foreign” trip from south India: an hour’s flight, a free ETA, food that feels familiar with a twist, and the same time zone. In a week you can climb a 5th-century rock fortress, ride one of the world’s most beautiful train lines through tea country, and end on the ramparts of a Dutch fort by the sea.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
Indian tourists need an ETA, and it is currently free. Apply online at eta.gov.lk before you fly; most approvals arrive within a day or two. The tourist ETA allows 30 days with a double entry.
- A passport valid for at least six months from arrival.
- An approved ETA. Your airline checks it at check-in in India, so don’t count on getting one on arrival.
- A return ticket and enough money for your stay, which immigration may ask to see.
Sri Lanka has changed its ETA fees and system several times. Apply only on eta.gov.lk: look-alike sites charge a “service fee” for the same free form.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, two people travelling together, mid-range, in the dry season:
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flight, Chennai or Bengaluru to Colombo | ₹9,000 – ₹18,000 |
| Car and driver, 5 days (half share) | ₹12,000 – ₹18,000 |
| Guesthouses and boutique stays, 6 nights (half a double room) | ₹9,000 – ₹18,000 |
| Kandy to Ella train, reserved seat | ₹500 – ₹1,500 |
| Sigiriya, temple and site entry fees | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 |
| Food, about ₹1,200 – ₹2,000 a day | ₹8,000 – ₹12,000 |
| SIM, tips, insurance | ₹1,500 – ₹2,500 |
| Total | ₹45,000 – ₹75,000 |
Indian rupees are not widely accepted in Sri Lanka despite what you may hear. Carry a forex card or US dollars to change, and use ATMs in town.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Colombo
Land at Bandaranaike airport, meet your driver and spend the afternoon in Colombo: the Galle Face Green promenade at sunset, the Pettah market, and dinner at a seafood place in Colombo 3. If your flight is late, skip Colombo and drive straight towards Sigiriya.
Days 2–3: Sigiriya and Dambulla
Drive four hours north into the Cultural Triangle. Climb Sigiriya at opening time (7 am) before the heat and the crowds: past the frescoes and the giant lion’s paws, about 1,200 steps to the palace ruins on the summit. Foreigners pay a dollar-priced ticket; SAARC passport holders get a lower rate, so carry your passport.
Next morning, visit the Dambulla cave temples (painted caves full of Buddha statues), or climb Pidurangala for the best view of Sigiriya at sunrise.
Day 4: Kandy
Drive to Kandy, the hill capital. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic for the evening puja, walk around Kandy Lake, and see the botanical gardens at Peradeniya if you’re keen on plants.
Day 5: the train to Ella
The Kandy to Ella train takes about seven hours through tea estates, waterfalls and cloud forest. It’s slow on purpose. Sit on the right-hand side for the best views, and buy a packet of isso vadai when the vendors walk through.
In Ella, walk to the Nine Arch Bridge in time for a train crossing (ask locally for the times) and hike Little Adam’s Peak for sunset.
Days 6–7: the south coast and Galle
Your driver takes you down to the coast (about five hours), past the Ravana falls and, if you like, a stop at Udawalawe for a safari to see elephants. Spend the last two days in and around Galle: walk the ramparts of Galle Fort at sunset, swim at Unawatuna or Mirissa, and watch the stilt fishermen at Koggala.
The new expressway gets you from Galle to the airport in about two and a half hours for an evening flight home.
Best time to visit
December to April is dry on the west and south coasts and in the hill country, which is exactly this route. May to September brings the south-west monsoon here, but it’s the best season on the east coast, so swap Galle for Trincomalee or Arugam Bay then. The hill country is cool all year: pack a light jacket for Ella.
Getting there from India
SriLankan Airlines, Air India and IndiGo fly to Colombo from Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Hyderabad. From the south, the flight is shorter than the drive to the airport. There’s also a passenger ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanthurai in the north, but sailings depend on the season.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Sri Lanka?
You need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), applied for online at eta.gov.lk before you fly. For Indian tourists the ETA fee is currently waived, so it costs nothing, and it allows 30 days with a double entry.
Is there visa on arrival in Sri Lanka for Indians?
Don't rely on it. Airlines check for an approved ETA at check-in in India and can refuse boarding without one. Apply online a few days before you travel.
How much does a week in Sri Lanka cost from India?
About ₹45,000 to ₹75,000 per person for a mid-range week, including return flights from Chennai or Bengaluru, a car and driver shared between two, guesthouses, the Kandy to Ella train, entry fees and food.
Should I book the Kandy to Ella train in advance?
Yes, the reserved observation and second-class seats sell out weeks ahead in season. Book through Sri Lanka Railways' official e-ticketing site as soon as your dates are fixed, or ride unreserved second class and arrive early.
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
December to April for the west and south coasts and the hill country. The east coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay) is best from May to September, so there's always a good side of the island.
