The best time to visit Sri Lanka

Southwest: Between January and March is a beautiful time to visit the beaches in Sri Lanka’s southwest. You can expect dry, sunny days and a sea that is usually calm. The region’s monsoon then begins in April.

Northeast: The first few months of the year see the continuation of monsoon season in the northeast, with heavy rains lasting until February before the region becomes relatively dry.

Central: Sri Lanka’s centre is reasonably dry during these months and it is a great time to visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Cultural Triangle including the Sigiriya rock fortress (pictured here).

Hill Country: Likewise, these months are a beautiful time to visit Sri Lanka’s Hill Country. Although, be aware that temperatures are a touch cooler here than in the rest of the country.

Southwest: This period sees the monsoon rains in full swing in Sri Lanka’s southwest. Although there is a large amount of rainfall, luckily it is not constant. Instead, there are bursts of intermittent showers at intervals throughout the day, which quickly clear away to blue skies.

Northeast: The best time to visit the northeast, including the beaches of Trincomalee (pictured here), these months see plenty of sunshine with consistently high temperatures along the east coast.

Central: This is also a good time to visit central Sri Lanka as the area remains reasonably dry. June and July are the hottest months of the year here, however visitors may also have to face the strong winds that keep the southwestern monsoon at bay.

Hill Country: Whilst there is an increase in rainfall during these months, it is not unusual to still have some completely dry days. This is still a great time to visit the Hill Country, however temperatures remain cooler than elsewhere on the island.

Southwest: September finally sees the southwestern monsoon draw to a close. However, the inter-monsoonal season means that there can still be rains and thunderstorms. The region’s dry season then officially begins in December.

Northeast: The north-eastern monsoon blows into this region from October. The heavier of Sri Lanka’s two monsoons, it brings a huge amount of rain that sometimes leads to flooding and difficult road conditions.

Central: Compared to the relative dryness of the rest of the year, this period sees high rainfall during the months of November and December to Sri Lanka’s centre.

Hill Country: Similarly, this period sees the heaviest amount of rainfall in Sri Lanka’s Hill Country, which encompasses the small town of Ella and its surrounding tea plantations (pictured here). Despite the rain, it's a beautiful time to visit as the rains help keep the landscape looking lush and green.

For the Sinhalese and Tamils the new year starts with the beginning of the astrological cycle as well as the the start of the southwest monsoon and the end of the harvest season. Celebrated by both Buddhists and Hindus, it's a colourful event with large family dinners held at home and parties and fireworks out on the streets.

This is the most important of Sri Lanka's Buddhist poyas to celebrate Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. The country comes alive with lamps outside homes, streamers attached to cars and buses and decorated platforms erected in towns and cities. While devout Buddhist mediate and fast, free food is handed out from roadside stalls. For six days the sale of alcohol, meat and fish is prohibited. Vesak Poya also marks the end of Adam's Peak pilgrimage season.

Taking place on the day of a full moon, Duruthu Poya celebrates Buddha's very first visit to Sri Lanka some 25 centuries ago. It was at this time that Buddhism began to take a hold in Sri Lanka and today Buddhists celebrate with a parade at the Kelaniya Temple in Colombo. It's also a public holiday and marks the beginning of Adam's Peak pilgrimage season.

Another Buddhist event held on the day of a full moon, Navam Poya marks the day Buddha appointed two chief disciples, proclaimed a code of fundamental ethical precepts for the monks and announced his impending death. It's celebrated with a major perahera at the Gangaramaya temple in Colombo featuring over elephants, dancers and musicians.