Everything a traveler could probably desire to see is available in Sri Lanka. It is a fascinating and prosperous country to entertain visitors. However, there are plenty of interesting facts about Sri Lanka that the majority of people don’t know. It is one of the best safari destinations other than Africa as it has an abundance of wildlife squeezed into its 26 national parks.

I will not be wrong if I say, the hidden gem of Indian Ocean is Sri Lanka. Other than the ancient ruins, amazing wildlife, and beautiful beaches, the island has lots of different stories to uncover. Here are some facts ranging from the Pearl of Indian Ocean to the world’s oldest human-planted tree. Let’s have a look over the most interesting facts about Sri Lanka.

Diverse History

The diverse history of Sri Lanka is reflected in the various religions that discovered on the island. Well, the dominant religion is Buddhism; however a large percentage of Christians, Muslims, and Hindus. Plenty of sacred sites are available in Sri Lanka, for instance, Kataragama, which is a holy site for Buddhist, Hindus, and Muslims.

Large Variety of Animals

Sri Lanka covers an area of 25,332 mi, and it is slightly larger than the US state of West Virginia. The wildlife is incredibly diverse of the island. Undoubtedly, you can say it is one of the interesting facts about Sri Lanka. It is home to 123 species of mammals, including elephants, crocodiles, and leopards. Other than that 227 species of birds, 122 species of amphibians, 178 species of reptiles and lots of different animal species exist.

Oldest Living Tree

A man of Sri Lanka planted the oldest living tree. For over 2,000 years, Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura has been inclined consistently. It was grown up from a cutting taken from Bodh Gaya in India. It was a tree under which Buddha said to have found enlightenment. Yes, it might be one of the most interesting facts about Sri Lanka.

First Female Prime Minister

Did you know that the first female Prime Minister of the world was from Sri Lanka? Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1960, was the sixth Prime Minister of Ceylon and the first female Prime Minister of the world. It would be indeed one of the amazing facts about Sri Lanka.

Google Searches

One of the more racy and interesting facts about Sri Lanka is that the region searches Google for the word “sex” more often as compared to any other country in the world.

Tea as a Business

Do you know that your cup of tea might come from Sri Lanka? If you are a tea lover, then you must know about this one of the interesting facts about Sri Lanka. Ceylon is a name similar to tea.

The British brought the first tea plant from China in 1824. The tea plant was displayed outside Kandy in the Royal Botanical Gardens. However, it has spread over a huge business. Sri Lanka is also known as Teardrop Island and is the leading producer and exporter of tea. Around 1 million people from the 22 million populations are working for the tea industry.

Be aware of Mosquitoes

Though the island is declared malaria-free in 2006, however, you must be aware of the mosquitoes while visiting Sri Lanka. Some mosquitoes can cause dengue fever. So travelers don’t you think it is the most interesting facts about Sri Lanka.

Literacy Rate

It is hard to believe that a country like Sri Lanka has impressively high literacy rate which is 92 percent. How impressive is this.

Adam’s Peak – The Most Sacred Mountain

On the edge of the charming area of the Southern Hill Country, for people of divisive beliefs in Sri Lanka, this holy peak has been a mecca for over a thousand years. In Buddhism, the mountain is known as Sri Pada, which means sacred footprint. It is also believed that the Buddha has been left while going to paradise. And in case of Hindus belief, it is the footprint of Lord Shiva. On the other side, Christians and Muslims believe it to be a footprint of Adam as he was expelled from the Garden of Eden. No doubt this is one of the most interesting facts about Sri Lanka.