Curated by EZYaan · 6 days · 14 places
Sri Lanka in 6 Days: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella & Galle Itinerary for Indian Travellers
Sri Lanka is India's closest island escape — just over an hour from Chennai — yet it feels like another world: rock fortresses, wild elephants, misty tea hills and a colonial fort by the sea. This 6-day route covers Sigiriya, a Minneriya safari, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, the famous Kandy–Ella train and Galle, with a private driver, pure-veg and Jain restaurants, and the Ramayana sites Indian travellers love.
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- Trip length
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Best time to go
- Dec – Apr
- Budget per person
- ₹45k – 70k
- Visa for Indians
- Online ETA for Indians (check current fee or free-visa scheme)
Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella & Galle itinerary: day by day
Day 1: Dambulla
Moderate paceCave temple steps at Dambulla after a long drive from Colombo.
Dambulla Cave Temple
UNESCO-listed cave monastery filled with ancient murals and Buddha statues.
Heads up: Shoulders and knees covered; shoes and hats off at the caves
Sigiriya village sunset
Watch the Lion Rock turn orange across the paddy fields.
Day 2: Sigiriya
Active paceAbout 1,200 steps up Sigiriya; skip the summit and see the frescoes and gardens if needed.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
A 5th-century royal fortress on top of a 200-metre rock.
Heads up: About 1,200 steps; carry water and avoid midday
Minneriya National Park jeep safari
Jeep safari famous for large gatherings of wild Asian elephants.
Heads up: Rangers may switch to nearby Kaudulla park depending on where the herds are
Day 3: Matale
Easy paceSpice garden, temple and lake walk, all short.
Matale spice garden
Short guided walk through a garden of Sri Lankan spices on the way to Kandy.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Sri Lanka’s holiest Buddhist shrine, housing a tooth relic of the Buddha.
Heads up: White or light clothes recommended; shoulders and knees covered
Kandy Lake
Gentle evening walk around the lake beside the temple.
Day 4: Kandy Railway Station
Easy paceA seated 6–7 hour train ride; your driver carries the luggage.
Kandy to Ella scenic train
One of the world’s most beautiful train rides, through misty tea country.
Heads up: Reserved seats sell out weeks ahead — book as soon as tickets open
Ella town
Relaxed hill town of cafés and guesthouses surrounded by tea-covered peaks.
Day 5: Ella
Active paceLittle Adam's Peak and Nine Arch Bridge involve uphill trails; long drive south after.
Little Adam’s Peak
Easy hike through tea plantations to a panoramic summit.
Nine Arch Bridge
Graceful colonial-era railway bridge spanning a jungle valley.
Ravana Falls
Roadside waterfall linked to the Ramayana legend.
Day 6: Galle
Easy paceFlat walks on Galle Fort's ramparts and beach time.
Galle Fort
A living 17th-century Dutch fort of cobbled lanes, ramparts and ocean views.
Unawatuna Beach
Sheltered golden bay perfect for a final swim and sunset.
Where to stay in Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella & Galle
Days 1 – 3
Sigiriya
Our pick: Aliya Resort & Spa
Day 3 – 4
Kandy
Our pick: Earl’s Regency
Day 4 – 5
Ella
Our pick: 98 Acres Resort & Spa
Day 5 – 6
Galle
Our pick: Jetwing Lighthouse
Vegetarian & Jain food in Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella & Galle
Rice and curry is often vegetarian by default, and Kandy has excellent pure-veg Indian restaurants. In smaller towns, ask your driver to recommend vegetarian stops.
Nagalingam's BhavanJain food
Colombo St, Kandy
Pure-veg Tamil thalis cooked without onion, garlic or leeks — a favourite with Jain travellers.
Balaji Dosai
D.S. Senanayake St, Kandy
Pure-veg South Indian restaurant minutes from the Temple of the Tooth.
Ella Flower Garden Restaurant
Ella
Relaxed spot popular with Indian families; adapts vegetarian dishes on request.
Indiaan Summer
Matara Rd, Galle
Indian restaurant with a good vegetarian section for your last evening.
How to ask: Say "vegetarian, no fish, no Maldive fish flakes" — Maldive fish is often added to sambols and curries.
Visa, flights & money: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella & Galle from India
- Visa for Indians
- Apply for the ETA on the official Sri Lankan ETA website (eta.gov.lk) a few days before travel; carry the approval with your passport (valid 6 months).
- Flights from India
- Direct flights to Colombo from Chennai (about 1 hr 15 min), Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai and Delhi on SriLankan Airlines, Air India and IndiGo.
- Money & payments
- Currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR; ₹1 is about LKR 3.5). Cards work in hotels; carry cash for drivers, temples and small shops. Indian rupees are not reliably accepted.
- SIM & apps
- Dialog or Mobitel tourist SIMs at the airport are cheap and cover the hill country well. PickMe and Uber work in Colombo and Kandy.
- Plugs & power
- Types D and G, 230V. Many Indian three-pin plugs (Type D) fit directly; carry a UK-style adapter too.
- Time difference
- Sri Lanka uses the same time as India.
Visa and entry rules change. Always confirm with the official embassy or government website before booking.
Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella & Galle insider tips: money savers, local secrets & what to avoid
Save money
Hire a car and driver for the whole trip
A driver for 6 days costs far less than hotel-booked transfers, handles luggage during the train ride and knows vegetarian stops.
Save money
Pay park fees in rupees
Some ticket counters quote dollars at poor rates; pay in Sri Lankan rupees where accepted.
Local secret
Sit on the right for the Ella train
From Kandy to Ella, the right-hand side gets more of the valley and waterfall views between Nanu Oya and Ella.
Local secret
Wear white for the Temple of the Tooth
White or light clothes are customary for the evening puja, and you will need to leave shoes outside.
Best timing
Sigiriya at 7 AM
Gates open early; climbing before 9 AM avoids the heat, the queues on the narrow stairways and the wasps that can be active at midday.
Best timing
Check the Nine Arch train times
Trains cross the bridge only a few times a day. Ask your driver or a café for the schedule and arrive 20 minutes early.
Avoid this
Walking on the railway tracks
Photos on the Nine Arch Bridge tracks are popular but dangerous; trains come round blind corners. Stay on the viewpoint paths.
Avoid this
Gem-shop detours
Tuk-tuk drivers and "guides" earn commission at gem shops. Politely decline unplanned stops.
Avoid this
Turning your back to Buddha statues for selfies
Posing with your back to a Buddha image is considered disrespectful and is enforced in Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella & Galle trip FAQs for Indian travellers
Do Indians need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Indians apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) online before travel. Sri Lanka has offered free ETAs to Indian tourists under recent schemes — check the current fee on the official ETA site before you fly.
How much does a 6-day Sri Lanka trip cost from India?
Around ₹45,000–70,000 per person excluding flights, including a private car with driver, hotels, the Sigiriya ticket (USD 35) and a safari. Flights from Chennai, Bengaluru or Mumbai are often ₹10,000–25,000 return.
Is vegetarian and Jain food available in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Kandy has Nagalingam's Bhavan (no onion, garlic or leeks) and Balaji Dosai near the Temple of the Tooth; vegetable rice and curry is available everywhere. Tell your driver on Day 1 — they know vegetarian stops along the way.
How do I book the Kandy to Ella train?
Reserved seats open about 30 days ahead on the Sri Lanka Railways website and sell out fast, especially in high season. If you miss out, unreserved second-class tickets are sold on the day.
Are there Ramayana sites on this route?
Yes. Ravana Falls near Ella is linked to the Ramayana, and many Indian visitors add the Seetha Amman Temple near Nuwara Eliya, a short detour on the drive south.
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