Sri Lanka in full of color for Travel Photo Mondays
Sri Lanka in full color for Travel Photo Mondays
It’s so strange that I started my first photo journey of Sri Lanka with a tribute done in black and white, considering that the country is so completely the opposite and bursting with color. psychedelic, bold patterns and full on bizarre combinations that attract or even attack all your senses at the same time. That’s not to say that this is not only a place of the bold and beautiful, but it is quite dramatic when you see gold buildings next to white temples, gorgeous flower offerings, women in sari of vivid and loud patterns, outdoor markets selling all different types of exotic tropical fruits, brightly colored spices, and local ingredients that only the native population would know what to do with.
So this post covers all the popular places to visit from a 24 hour visit to Colombo, a weekend getaway to the Portuguese settlement at Galle and then the central and historic sites in the center of the country. I hope you enjoy the journey to this exciting and exotic island country in the Indian ocean.
Fresh produce at the Negombo outdoor market
Colorful markets of Sri Lanka
One of my favorite ways to explore a country is to visit any of the produce or fish/meat markets. These usually are fantastic places to photograph and absorb the commerce and daily lifestyle of locals from the area who shop almost daily for the freshest ingredients to prepare the evening meal.
Bananas for sale at the market in Habanara
I love coming to these markets because I will always see something new or different activity that is constantly changing and always in flux. Also, the markets like this fish market in Negombo, are filled with animated people, colorful seafood being displayed with a real sense of time and place for the people and local lifestyle. So visiting markets for me always makes for a varied and exciting visit to a unique place like the Negombo fish market.
Fresh fish from the seafood market at Negombo
Snack time for a cow and crow of coconuts
A cow and crow eating coconuts at Negombo
 Colorful landscapes of Sri Lanka
Sunset along the coastline at Beruwala, Sri Lanka
Yes the landscape is breath-taking here, with so many stunning coastlines and beaches all around the country it is definitely hard to pick a spot that makes it easy to relax and take some time to unwind. But then you have all those magnificent views and magnificent sunsets, it is really special to stop and enjoy a complete sunset experience in Sri Lanka.
Monks climbing the ruins at Sigiriya in the Golden Triangle
While at Sigiriya – the Lion Rock in the Central highlands of Sri Lanka, I kept bumping into these Thai monks visiting the now monastery of Sigiriya. They were so striking in their orange robes and always seem to offer a pop of color throughout the landscape – I love accidental occurrences that just adds to the exotic flavor of the land. Both the landscapes and Unesco World Heritage Sites are so amazing to see and visit in Sri Lanka’s famed golden triangle of historic landmarks.
 Rituals and culture of Sri Lanka
Traditional dances and a colorful elephant in Habanara
Did I mention that the people, costumes and dances in Sri Lanka are just as exotic and vivid as the landscape and food? You’ll find a mixture of different ethnic influences and regional cuisine inspires the plethora of foods styles and ingredients that food savy Sri Lankan’s will travel all around the country to taste the best local dishes to fine dining experiences in their country.
Graceful Sri Lankan dancer in traditional costume
Flowers and offerings at the temples in Sri Lanka
Colorful flowers at Sigiriya in the Golden Triangle
It seems like flowers are very popular offerings to take to all the holy shrines and temples in Sri Lanka. It’s such a wonderful way to celebrate a visit to any of the holy Unesco World Heritage Sites and offer a perfect lotus flower or combination of flowers grown from the area.
Preparing lotus blossoms for offerings that the Temple of the tooth
 A large stand of flowered offerings at the Temple of the Tooth
Flower offerings at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy
The tunnel entrance to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy is a fascinating entry with bold golden patterns and design that make you want to stop and just admire all the craftsmanship, but you cannot stop because this is a busy corridor for entry and exit to the main area of the temple and grounds.
The main entrance of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy
 Pickled mangoes and papayas for sale, who wants some?
Sliced fruit for sale in Kandy, Sri Lanka
 The Golden temple of Dambulla
Golden Temple at Dambulla, Sri Lanka
I originally photographed this image in monochrome, but also did a digital color image and considering that it is the Golden Temple makes sense to portray it that way but surprisingly also worked well in black and white. All the interesting texture, patterns and architecture makes it work so well in either formats so I portrayed both ways, oh and yes the temple and grounds were quite stunning and fun to explore.
Entrance to Dambulla museum and temple
 Colonial city of Galle
Colorful fishing boats in Galle, Sri Lanka
The colonial city of Galle along the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka is bursting with colors starting with the ramparts of the fort in a mustard colored stucco that wraps around most of the city. Colorful tuk tuks ply the narrow streets looking for passengers while seafood vendors just outside the fort walls are barking the freshest catch of the day along their brightly painted vessels parked right on the beach. It is a fascinating city filled with a mixture of old and new with an interesting clash of churches, temples, the Portuguese fort and ramparts, the main Dutch architecture and other colonial era buildings in the historic district make for an eclectic whole and quite captivating.
Tuk Tuks and banyan tree by Galle fort
 Cows in Sri Lanka rule the landscape
Cows feeding on the outskirts of Galle, Sri Lanka
This is just a small glimpse to the ancient and exotic world of Sri Lanka in full color for Travel Photo Mondays. . I hope that you enjoyed the tour of Sri Lanka, and if you did, please do share this post with any of the social media buttons around the post. Also please do visit the other bloggers participating in todays link up below.
I visited Sri Lanka for TBCAsia, hosted by Cinnamon Hotels. Thanks also to Sri Lankan Airlines for flying me there from London and CVisit Sri Lanka for taking me through all the stunning Unesco World Heritage sites in the Golden Triangle and around the country. All opinions and thoughts, as always, are my own.
What beautiful vivd colors. Visiting Sri Lanka seems like an amazing cultural immersion experience.
I wanted to go on this trip so badly Noel, thanks so much for bringing it to life with all you beautiful photos. I looks very much like southern India and the Kerala region where I have had the good fortune to visit. I’m sure I would love Sri Lanka also.
Such a vibrant place – your pictures really do justice to it!
Spectacular photography, as per usual! I especially like the colorful market shots. Your post definitely makes me want to visit this exotic country.
Colorful, beautiful and interesting. That elephant is really amazing, as it the shot of the beautiful women just below it.
Fantastic photos!!! I’d love to go there and see all the beautiful people and sites you captured!
I’ve heard so many fantastic things about Sri Lanka. Your photos are beautiful and filled with vivid color. I can see why people are drawn there. Were you nervous going up Lion Rock?
I’m taking my first trip to SE Asia this March, and am looking forward to getting a taste for all the colour you are showing here!
Wow, you really captured the people and settings of the place. We remain in awe of your photography.
Noel, your photos always blow me away! They are so vivid and captivating! Thx so much for sharing your journey thru Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is in full color indeed! Your photos are beautiful and make me want to go there. I especially like the banana lady at the market.
So glad that you were able to visit Sri Lanka and to see it again, if only in pictures. I long to return since my first trip as a young girl just before the war.
Your photos are magnificent, I particularly like the one of the monks on the mountain. Am going to link up my latest travel post if it’s not too late.
I love this!!! heading over to Sri Lanka in March so this has gotten me all excited 🙂
Sri Lanka looks like a fascinating place. Great photos. I love the colours in the market.
What a beautiful and colorful country! I love the range of images you have captured. Very nice.
Noel, loved the pictures. Those tuk tuks are a whole lot fancier than some of the ones their other southeast Asian neighbours careen around in!
You wrote that Sri Lanka is a country filled with color and your photos prove it. Absolutely dazzling from the clothing to the architecture to the landscapes!
I am so taken with the vibrant colors! Such a huge contrast from the muted tones in the destinations you’ve feature of late. Just beautiful and very compelling.
Compared to your other post of black-n-white photos, this one speaks to one’s heart. Although the other one was artistically interesting, when you look at Sri Lanka photos, color is a major element. Those three Tuk Tuks are so inviting!
Great photos 🙂
Such a hoard of fabulous photos – you’ve really captured a sense of the place in so much colour!
Noel, Sri Lanka is a colorful place! I loved the landscape, the people, all great photo subjects. Your colors are stunning.
It is an amazing country and so full of fantastic photo ops, thanks for connecting Corinne