Author: Lavanya Arora
Winds ripple across fields of ready-to-harvest paddy. The rhythmic beat of a traditional drum, the raban, gets layered with koel’s melody and women’s songs that announce the start of the traditional new year. In the backdrop, the bright red blooms of the Katu Erabadu tree (Erythrina variegata). Relatives swarm from one house to another, bearing gifts and eating sweets. Some eat more sweets than they give gifts but that’s okay. Soon, they’ll anyway ask for forgiveness for the entire year from their gods.
If a Studio Ghibli movie was made in Sri Lanka, this would definitely be a scene from it. But hey, you don’t have to wait for that to happen to experience it. You could immerse yourself in this very scene – and many more such scenes! – if you visit Sri Lanka’s towns and villages in April. Here, let us tell you all about what to expect during the festive month in this article.
Weather in Sri Lanka in April
April might have been the cruellest month in T.S. Elliot’s famous poem The Waste Land, but maybe that’s because he never visited Sri Lanka during this time. During April, all the beaches across the southern, western, and eastern coasts retain plenty of sunshine, with temperatures hovering between 30 and 35°C. This includes all the places between Colombo, Galle, and Arugam Bay. The cultural triangle in the north-central region of the country also remains dry and vastly enjoyable if you like hot crisp weather. While the tea highlands with places like Nuwara Eliya and the Knuckles mountain range are almost 10°C cooler than the rest of the country.
Festivals in Sri Lanka in April
- Sinhala & Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudu & Puththandu): Beyond the standard calendar followed by the world that marks 31 December as the end of a year, several South Asian countries follow their own regional calendars too. The Sinhala lunar calendar follows the waxing and waning of the moon to mark each of its months. It’s also believed in astrology that with each month, the sun moves into a new zodiac house. So, the new year over here occurs after the sun has completed all twelve zodiacs, and has returned to its first house: Aries. The first month of the Sinhala calendar is called Bak. And the new year is called aluth avurudu. It’s one of the most important celebrations in the country. Expect a lot of specially prepared food items and sweet delights, firecrackers, traditional music and dance, and a chance for a deep cultural immersion.
- Easter: While the Buddhist and Hindu population of the country enjoys their new year, Christians get ready to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. With church gatherings, midnight masses, reenactments of crucifixion, and Easter egg hunts – the community really comes alive in several parts of the country such as Negombo, Colombo, and Batticaloa.
- Nuwara Eliya Festivities: A whole lot of locals and international travellers swarm to Nuwara Eliya during April. Some come here because of the relatively cooler temperatures, while others, to enjoy the region’s annual festivities. After all, there’s an endless variety to choose from: horse racing, motor racing, tennis, cricket, football, golf, flower and agriculture exhibitions, and musical events. Because of all this, the hotels and homestays alike are at full capacity. So, if you’re planning to stay in the area, make sure to book well in advance for a hassle-free time.
Food to eat in Sri Lanka in April
- Kokis: Deep fried cookie-like snacks made from rice flour and coconut milk, these delicious crunchy delights come shaped as flowers or butterflies. They can be served hot, right off the frying pan, or later, at room temperature. They can be eaten as a standalone dessert, or served along with other desserts during the Sinhala new year.
- Konda Kavum: or oilcakes, are traditionally made by deep frying a mixture of rice flour with sugar syrup (or molasses) in coconut oil. Konda, in Sinhalese, means hair – denoting this delicacy’s intriguing hair-bun shape.
- Kiribath: wherein kiri means (coconut) milk and bath means rice, making this rice pudding the simplest yet the most wholesome Sri Lankan dessert. Eaten on all special occasions and at the start of auspicious events, it holds a special place in the country’s traditions.
Read more about Sri Lankan Food Here: Eat Sri Lanka: discover the enthralling flavours of this island nation
- Aasmi: this crispy deep fried noodly goodness is traditionally made from rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, and cinnamon leaf extract. In some places, the cinnamon leaf extract can be replaced with okra or lady finger extract.
- Bonus dishes: In Kandy, try Pani Walalu, made from fermented split black gram paste, and Naran Kavum, a slightly calorie-conscious alternative to Konda Kavum. Focus on ‘slightly’ here. In Hambantota, try Kalu Dodol, a sweet dish made from palm jaggery, rice flour, and coconut milk. If you are put up at a homestay, make sure to request your hosts to feed you kiri roti, a calorie-rich delicacy made from rice, palm jaggery, white pepper, and coconut milk.
Places to visit in Sri Lanka in April
If you’re visiting the country with your family, you can explore any of these destinations.
- Sigiriya Rock
- Yala West National Park
- Mirissa and other surrounding beaches
- Cultural Triangle (Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura)
- Nuwara Eliya and other tea estates
You can find more details about these destinations in this guide about the best places to visit in Sri Lanka (https://tuktukrental.com/what-are-the-best-places-to-visit-in-sri-lanka/). Just imagine going from place to place in your own tuktuk, at your own pace, without the rush of a tour operator or pressure of adjusting because of other tourists. All the while, having the time of your life connecting with locals and making memories for a lifetime. You can read more about planning a trip with your family across Sri Lanka in this guide (https://tuktukrental.com/planning-a-family-trip-to-sri-lanka/).
Offbeat experiences in Sri Lanka in April
- Hike across the Pekoe trails: named one of the Greatest Places in the World by TIME magazine, this is the true adventurer’s and walker’s paradise.
- Gal Oya National Park: picture water reservoirs, hordes of elephants, not many tourists, and a chance to meet some of the Veddah people, one of the earliest tribes that inhabited the island. Off the east coast of the country, this national park is a great choice for people wanting to be close to nature and indigenous values.
- Sinharaja Forest Reserve: meaning ‘Lion King’ reserve, it’s the only remaining primary or ancient forest in Sri Lanka. It’s also one of the few UNESCO world heritage sites in Sri Lanka. You can read more about primary forests and their importance here.
- Hike Pidurangala Rock: Instead of the more crowded Sigiriya Rock, try climbing the Pidurangala Rock. Being only a few kilometers further from Sigiriya, the climb offers similarly stunning views, including a great view of Sigiriya itself, and is far less touristy in comparison.
- Rent a tuktuk: There’s still time before riding and renting your own tuktuk in Sri Lanka becomes a mainstream thing. And even if it does, the charm of exploring a country like the locals will never fade away. Not only is it the perfect balance of safe and adventurous, it’s also affordable and one of the best experiences to have in Sri Lanka. This guide will tell you all you need to know about renting a tuktuk in Sri Lanka.
Now, some would call April the end of the best time to visit Sri Lanka, as the southwestern monsoon starts to pick up by the end of the month. But that’s just the case for the south and western Sri Lanka. There’s much more to be explored in other parts of the country during May. Read this guide to know all about the weather and what to do in Sri Lanka in May. Or drive through the hill country and east coast on your own tuktuk.
You might also consider downloading the Tuktukrental Travel App. It features offline maps, offbeat recommendations and even helps fellow tuktuk-ers on the road connect for information or just a few post drive beers – or the local Sri Lankan arrack if you are feeling adventurous!
