Travel guide 2024: Exploring local life in Habarana, Sri Lanka

Views on a boat ride in Habarana village, located in Anuradhapura district, in the north central region of Sri Lanka. (Photo: Bindu Gopal Rao)

Located in Anuradhapura district, Habarana in the north central region of the country is a great way to explore some of the unusual aspects of the country. Indians now can fly visa free to Sri Lanka and this is a destination to delve into all things local.

The village life

A home in the Habarana village in Sri Lanka. (Photo: Bindu Gopal Rao)

One of the best ways to discover slow living is to take a village tour. There are several kinds of tours you can take and these involve a combination of local transport — you can take a truck ride, bullock cart ride, colourful tuk tuk ride and boat rides to experience the scenic vistas. Many of the villagers offer these tours to the tourists but it will keep you in good stead if you book a tour through the hotel where you are staying, based on what you would like to do. Some of the village tours also have a cooking experience of some local dishes showcasing aspects of sustainability — a banana leaf is plucked straight from the tree to serve authentic dishes. You can learn to make a simple relish pol sambol made with freshly grated coconut, shallots, and chillies on a grinding stone. Also learn to make a coconut roti and see how the locals cook using terracotta vessels and open fire. You can also try your hand at using the gadgets and be rewarded with tasting the food too. A must do is to take a ride on the pristine waters here — it's almost idyllic for want of a non cliched word and you can spot many species of birds, if you are a keen birder like me. The tour is also a great lesson in slow travel and being mindful of local cultures and traditions.

Food files

Cooking demo at Habarana Village by Cinnamon. (Photo: Bindu Gopal Rao)

The food of Sri Lanka is a brilliant burst of flavours and taste profiles. Surrounded by stunning coasts, there is an abundance of sea food and meat here that will delight non vegetarians. There are several vegetarian options as well so there is no dearth of things to try here. Most retreats also offer cooking classes that you can sign up for as part of the local food experience. I learnt how to make the traditional Wambatu Moju which is a pickle of Eggplant/Brinjal at Habarana Village by Cinnamon where I was staying. The dish is made with deep fried chopped black brinjals that are added to sauted garlic, onions, green chillies to which a paste of ginger, red chilli, celery, tomato, mango, pepper, salt, and tamarind/vinegar is added. This works as a great accompaniment with hot rice. Incidentally, Sri Lanka has several heirloom variants of rice which are not available outside the country. A meal here is all about sampling local fare that is best washed down with the famed king coconut water and mouth-watering traditional desserts.

On an elephant trail

An elephant at Hurulu Eco park. (Photo: Bindu Gopal Rao)

The Minneriya Tank sees the largest congregation of Asiatic elephants between June and October every year as the water in the tank is dry and the landscape has long grass and vegetation that are suitable for elephants who feed on them. The sight of hundreds of elephants feeding and bathing here is known as ‘The Gathering’ and makes for a compelling sight. This is now part of the Minneriya National Park and the Kaudulla National Park is an absolute must visit in the season. Local resorts have been instrumental in promoting this as part of their local experiences as well. Elephants are a quintessential reference in Sri Lanka, you see them on most souvenirs as well.

Another must see place is the One of the Hurulu Eco Park, which is a dry monsoon jungle. UNESCO has in fact named it as the first man made biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka. The dense forests, savanna meadows and caves with hills and water springs are a key aspect of the local topography.

A pair of Cotton pygmy goose. (Photo: Bindu Gopal Rao)

Take a safari and you will see herds of elephants that you can see really close to your vehicle. As you traverse the paths surrounded by tall grassland, take a minute to notice the diverse birds as well from the green footed yellow pigeon to the crested hawk eagle, they are all here. If you love nature and wildlife a trip to Habarana is what you will enjoy. Nature after all is the best way to unwind and soak in the simple joys of slow travel.

Fact File

The Giant Squirrel or grizzled giant squirrel is the national animal of Sri Lanka. (Photo: Bindu Gopal Rao)

Reach: SriLankan Airlines connects major cities in India to Colombo. Habarana is located four hours from Colombo and is connected by highways and expressways.

Stay: Cinnamon Lodge Habarana and Habarana Village by Cinnamon are great options to explore the city. The properties are nestled in lush greenery and are home to over 140 species of birds.

Good to know: The weather in Sri Lanka is humid and hot for most parts of the year. Carry a water bottle, hat, and sunscreen always. A mosquito repellent will also come in handy.