How does Sri Lanka compare to India?

mercedes10

I visited Sri Lanka last year and absolutely loved it. This year I'm travelling to India, and I'm just wondering how the two compare? I've heard that Sri Lanka is a 'tame' version of India. Is this a fair description? I suppose I'm wondering whether my culture shock in India will be lessened by the fact that I've previously been in Sri Lanka, or whether it's just so vastly different that I will still be totally unprepared!! I have to say that I didn't find Sri Lanka a culture shock at all. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!

Manicek

Hello,
One month ago I returned from India. Although I have never been in Sri Lanka this country should be generally cleaner, not so overcrowded with a lot of Japanese cars in streets, generally richer. Maybe somebody correct my opinions

volga_volga

As Bijapuri said somewhere, Sri Lanka is India without attitude. I agree with him. And with "tame version" of India also.

Bear in mind that S Lanka does not have such vast spaces as India (all bus/train travel does not require elephant's patience). Its dominant religion is Buddhism, its Southern version that does not put so much emphasis on idol worshipping as, say, Hinduism. People in S Lanka do not appear as religious as Indians do.

India is much diverse. So they say (I have only spent time in the North)

The main difference, in my mind, is that ppl go to Sri Lanka to chill out, mainly on a beach, and they go to India for that and thousands of other reasons. There is Goa in India, there are hillstations (I imagine similar to Nuwara Elya) but they constitute may be 5% of the places to go.

If you were OK with culture shock in S Lanka you should be alright in India but travel in India is hard work compared to S Lanka. But you may enjoy the trip more when you need to put the effort

abracax

Superficially, Sri Lanka is like a toned-town and cleaned-up version of Kerala or Tamil Nad, but once you get out of the tourist ghettos (which I can't stand, personally) you will find that there's a lot going on beneath the surface. It's also considerably more expensive than India, with fewer options for the budget traveller, although the share vans are quite cheap when you can squeeze into one.

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mercedes10

Thanks for sharing your opinions with me. I'll let you know what I think when I come back from India!

Incidentally, I travelled all round Sri Lanka - not just in the tourist areas, and certainly not spending all my time at the beach. I found the country to be clean, not overcrowded and the people friendly and welcoming. Yes, there was poverty, but the people still seemed happy. Nothing I saw seemed particularly depressing. I suspect India will be different ... !

Bryan

Spent a month in SL while doing a trip in India
I have to say I wasnt enamoured by the place
I found it a kind of diet India if that makes sense
Also found it a colder place than India not in weather but in the people they did seem to be more stand offish

beautioful country but just didn't measure up to India
Bear in mind im biased and would say this about ay country i compared to India ...
However I would bnever say to anyone not to go anywhere
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Bryan

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Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a' that),
That Sense and Worth o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree an a' that.
For a' that, an a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That man to man, the world, o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that.
- Burns

mercedes10

Hey Bryan! I'm really surprised that that was your experience of Sri Lanka. I loved it more than anywhere else I've been so far, and found it a very warm & welcoming place. I guess it just depends where you happen to be and who you happen to meet. That said, when I come back from India my views may have changed as at the moment I obviously can't make the comparison!!

Oh! by the way, I notice you're a fellow Scot! :-)

Bryan

As I said beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I still took away some great memories like staying with the buddhist monks in kandy and travelling in an empty goods wagon on the train down from the hills Adam's Peak was amazing watching the sunrise and the triangle shadow over the land below ...
Yeah these where good but the memories that stick overall were what i wriote above ...But everyone must find these out for themselves. I debated with myself whetehr to post the message above because it may influence someone not to go ...I would hope it doesn't
Which part of Scotland you from?...Im in Glasgow

mercedes10

I'm an East Coaster! Edinburgh.