If your destination is towards the cooler Kandy or Nuwara Eliya cities, make a pitstop at Jinadasa’s Thalaguli and Hotel – it’s a restaurant which serves food and beverages, and they are known for their “thalaguli”, a sweetmeat made mainly of sesame seeds and treacle. The Bake House is another great stop along the journey which is a little more upscale in comparison.

Since Ceylon tea is known globally for its quality, a stop at the Mlesna Tea Center would be an interesting one as you will learn about the process of tea making. Another famous stopover is the Damro (Mackwoods) Labukale Tea Estate which is visited by many, including Prince Charles in 2013. The Lipton Seat is one more place where you can sip on hot tea while enjoying panoramic views of the mountains and lakes around.

If it is the beautiful beaches you hope to visit, heading down south is likely to be on your itinerary. The rest area on the highway has different restaurants for you to choose from. However, on the Galle Road route, Monis and Amba Sevana are stopovers made by locals.

Along the Eastern coast are places like, Gadaby Restaurant in Kaththankudi which is well known for their beef samosas. Also, Sahani Restaurant in Pottuvil is a small eatery which delivers authentic flavours.

In Jaffna, located in the windy, warm, north, having a cooling Rio Ice Cream is a one-of-a-kind experience. In the north central side of the island is a restaurant which has an interior like no other named Saruketha located in the city of Kurunegala. In addition, Big Mama in Anuradhapura is a good place to enjoy Sri Lankan cuisine.

Because of the cultural diversity within the island, the flavors change from city to city and province to province; therefore, you can enjoy your journey as much as your final destination.

Now that you are familiar with all the popular stopovers in Sri Lanka, are you aware of some of the best drives in Sri Lanka?

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One Galle Face, Colombo City Center, Crescat Boulevard, Majestic City, and Liberty Plaza are the most popular Colombo based malls in 2021. These malls offer casual wear, business attire, kids’ clothes and toys, electrical goods, beauty products and cosmetics, jewellery, furniture, handicrafts, and much more at reasonable prices. You will also find cinema complexes, Spas, and food outlets from semi-fine dining to food courts, allowing you to refuel and easily spend the whole day at the mall.

Stand-alone departmental stores such as Odel offer branded and high street fashion, in an ambiance that is chic and casual. At the end of a long day of shopping, step into Foot Rub for a foot massage or enjoy some sushi at a restaurant in the courtyard of Odel.

Barefoot is a store frequented by many tourists as it features handloom goods that are unique, distinctive, classy, and chic. The brand needs no tag! Paradise Road is the place where you can find some of the most exquisite pieces of household furniture and crockery and cutlery, vases and lamps etc. each with a unique touch of Sri Lanka.

Cool Planet and No Limit are also popular fashion chains with outlets spread through many districts island-wide. They have a wide range of items including clothes, shoes, accessories, and sarees. House of Fashion too offers a wide range of items at rock-bottom prices. These stores also offer a mix of Sri Lankan & international brands including Mango, Levi’s, Giordano, Arienti and Kelly Felder among others.

The state-owned Laksala is the perfect place if you want some exquisite silver or brassware, buffalo horn, wooden goods and other souvenirs. There are many items made with coconut shells, cane and bamboo too. Dilmah and Mlesna are where you can get the best of Ceylon Tea.

The experience of shopping in Sri Lanka is varied and exceptional in every city. We strongly recommend you visit Pettah, where are plenty of little stores wherever you go, with a selection of goods for everyone. Feel free to haggle for bargain prices and don’t forget to enjoy a streetside samosa and a cup of tea while you are at it!

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