Sri Lanka travel info
Guide to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Events
More info on...
Sri Lanka travel facts
| Area (sq km): | 64,740 | |
| Population: | 20,064,776 | |
| Nationality: | Sri Lankan | |
| Local Name: | Sri Lanka | |
| Language: | Sinhala, Tamil, English |
|
| Time Zone: | +5.5 GMT | |
| Currency: | 1 rupee = 100 cents | |
| Rate: | www.xe.com | |
| Capital: | Colombo | |
| Dialling Code: | +94 | |
| Electricity: | 230V/50Hz | |
| Internet Code: | .lk | |
| Religion: | Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu |
|
| Climate: | Tropical Monsoon, Equatorial |
|
| Government: | Republic | |
| Inoculations: | None | |
| Driving: | Left | |
| Int'l License: | Required | |
| Banking: | M-F 9.00-15.00 | |
| Major Airports: | Colombo(CMB) |
Navam Full Moon Poya Day and Sri Lanka villas
Rent Sri Lanka villas in February for the annual Navam Perahera Festival also called Navam Full Moon Poya Day. See over 100 decorated elephants marching along side men cracking whips, juggling, eating fire, beating drums and dancing through the streets! Navam Perahera is by far the most amazing of Sri Lanka festivals!
Navam Perahera
1979 was the inaugural year of the resplendent Navam Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka. The capital city of Colombo, with numerous Sri Lanka villas, is home to this massive and colourful celebration of Sri Lanka, its culture, its people and Buddhism. The grand Navam Perahera Festival is also called the Navam Full Moon Poya Day. The event spans two days in February with the final day coinciding with the February full moon.
The organiser of the Navam Perahera Festival is the Gangaramaya Temple on the lovely shores of the Beira Lake. The beautiful gala festival is attended by over one million people from across Sri Lanka and from around the world. If you would like to include a magical and cultural extravaganza to your Sri Lanka holiday itinerary during your stay at Sri Lanka villas, Navam Perahera is the festival see.
Navam Full Moon Poya Day
Not only do one million people flock to Colombo to see and participate in the gala procession, but over 100 elephants from across the country come to join too! The Navam Full Moon Poya Day is not just a celebration of the Buddhist religion, but it is also a festival of culture. The people wear the traditional dress of centuries ago and they wear costumes customary of Sri Lanka.
The elephants too are adorned in elaborate dress during the festival. The smell of food wafting through the streets of Colombo is intoxicating, but no more so than the rhythmic beats of the parading drummers. Children march with flags, men walk on stilts and throw fire, people crack whips and dancers keep the crowds enthralled. Stay in Sri Lanka villas for the Navam Full Moon Poya Day, one of the most exciting festivals in Sri Lanka.