Tika Traveller

Discover Sri Lanka & Maldives From Those Who Know It Best

Blogs from Tikalanka are designed to enhance your knowledge of Sri Lanka and Maldives and keep you up to date with recent developments. We intend to post regular features on travel, news, lifestyle and accommodation as well as guest articles from current and past customers, which will give you first-hand experience of Tikalanka, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Category: Culture

Caparisoned elephants at the Navam Maha Perahera 2019, Colombo, Sri Lanka (courtesy of dailymirror.lk)

TikaWeeks #34-2/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd August 2019

Since 1979, the Navam Maha Perahera in Colombo, held around the Navam full moon poya day in February, has enchanted large crowds of locals and visitors alike. The procession, steeped in age-old traditions, involves much pageantry and includes masked dancers and acrobats, regional drummers, up to 50 caparisoned elephants, fire-eaters and jugglers, and marching bands. In 2020, it takes place on 07 and 08 February. Please contact us for more details.

A plethora of Sri Lanka's wonderful fruit and vegetables in Kandy market

TikaWeeks #26/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 30th June 2019

Until there are zero emissions aircraft we will need to find other strategies to compensate for travelling long-haul… and there are many approaches on offer. Lifestyle adjustments are the obvious and definitive way of reducing your carbon footprint, and to encourage family and friends to follow suit, as well as lobbying parliament and challenging the tourist industry for change. Let’s all make this our mission in life for the sake of our planet!

President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka celebrating Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya in Anuradhapura (courtesy of President’s Media Division)

TikaWeeks #15/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 8th April 2019

Less than a week to go until Aluth Avurudda (New Year) in the Sinhalese and Tamil communities of Sri Lanka. New Year traditionally begins at the sighting of the new moon, although, for convenience, it is now celebrated on 14 April each year. It also marks the end of the harvest season and of spring. This week’s update heralds the New Year, continues our geography series and features a news roundup.

TikaWeeks #13/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 30th March 2019

“Where is Tikalanka?” queried a passer-by to their companion looking at the map on our stand at the Destinations holiday and travel show… “They can’t go!” said a friend to me under their breath. The point is that, despite the internet and our globally connected lifestyle, still not everyone knows where Sri Lanka is or what delights it has to offer. This week’s update introduces a short series on Sri Lanka’s geography, continues with our new accommodation listings and reviews topical news items.

The pink tuk-tuks of Sri Lanka empowering and protecting women (courtesy of Al Jazeera)

TikaWeeks #12/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd March 2019

It has been a very busy and eventful period for us since the Destinations holiday and travel show last month, with this being our peak holiday and booking season, so apologies for the radio silence. Firstly, we would like to thank everyone who visited us at Destinations, both potential customers and old friends! Things are moving fast in Sri Lanka, with many new hotels being developed and infrastructure improved, so this Sri Lanka update will try to cover what has been happening on the island over the past few months and with us as a company.

TikaWeeks #35/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 2nd September 2018

Last week’s launch of the new version of our Trip Planner is hotly followed by our new online Wedding Gift List this week, which uses the same platform. Our online Wedding Gift List enables you to create your ideal honeymoon to Sri Lanka and Maldives, and the itinerary acts as a list of voucher ideas for family and friends to purchase as wedding gifts. This week’s update launches the new online Wedding Gift List, advises of the annual closure of Yala National Park, concludes the Peoples of Sri Lanka series, and suggests first- or last-stop stays in Sri Lanka.

Sample page of the new Tikalanka Trip Planner

TikaWeeks #34/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 26th August 2018

The launch of the long anticipated new version of our Trip Planner has refreshed and updated the original for the mobile age. Based on Google Maps, the new Trip Planner may be accessed via mobile phones, tablets or laptops and enables you to create your own dream holiday to Sri Lanka and Maldives, wherever you are! This week’s update launches the beta release of our new Trip Planner, continues the Peoples of Sri Lanka series and offers accommodation options around Mirissa.

Sacred Ibises and Painted Storks around a water hole, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #29/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd July 2018

As if you need encouragement, this week’s update highlights 10 good reasons to visit Sri Lanka. Surrounded by the clear, warm waters of the Indian Ocean and skirted by palm-fringed tropical beaches, Sri Lanka has much to offer the discerning traveller, known to Arab traders as Serendib, hence "serendipity" meaning discovery by happy accident. I also continue our Peoples of Sri Lanka series and suggest accommodation alternatives around Yala National Park.

TikaWeeks #28/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 15th July 2018

Happy Birthday Tikalanka! We are 14 years old today and proud to be successfully arranging holidays to Sri Lanka and Maldives. Through our passion and knowhow we have grown in stature since our launch in 2004 and look forward to an even brighter future. This week’s update celebrates our birthday, continues our special interest series and recommends places to stay near Adam’s Peak.

TikaWeeks #27/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 8th July 2018

With fairly traded goods and services you have the power to change the world every day since simple shopping or holiday choices can get local producers and providers a better deal. This means that they can make their own decisions, control their future and lead the dignified life everyone deserves. Our new Fair Trade Sri Lanka holiday combines an introductory tour of the island with visits to fair trade producers while staying in local accommodation. This week’s update also continues our “Peoples of Sri Lanka” series and suggests places to stay off the beaten track.

Independent Tailor-made Holidays to Sri Lanka & Maldives