Seven Days in Sri Lanka from India

What is the best 7-day Sri Lanka itinerary from India?

Quick answer: Fly into Colombo, spend two nights in Anuradhapura, three near Sigiriya and one in Kandy, then fly home. The route follows the Buddhist heritage that ties Sri Lanka to India, from the Sri Maha Bodhi tree to the Temple of the Tooth. Indians get the tourist ETA free but still need a passport, and SAARC citizens pay half at the main ancient sites.

This page is for a full week. If you have only five days, use our 5-day itinerary from India, which focuses on Kandy and the Ramayana trail temples near Nuwara Eliya. This 7-day route goes north to the ancient cities instead, so the two do not overlap except for Kandy.

What does the day-by-day plan look like?

Day 1, arrive. SriLankan Airlines' India flights land at Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo. Our Colombo airport arrival guide covers immigration, customs, SIM cards and the taxi counter. If you land after mid-afternoon, sleep in Negombo and drive north the next morning, then cut one night from the Sigiriya base.

Day 2, Anuradhapura. Start at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, then visit Ruwanwelisaya and the wider sacred city. In the late afternoon, drive to Mihintale, a short drive from the city. Our Mihintale page covers the climb.

Day 3, Dambulla. Stop at the Dambulla cave temple on the way to your Sigiriya or Dambulla base. Our Sigiriya or Dambulla guide helps you choose where to sleep.

Day 4, Sigiriya. The CCF says its heritage site counters open from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Climb Sigiriya at opening time, when it is coolest, and keep the afternoon free.

Day 5, Polonnaruwa. A day trip to the medieval capital at Polonnaruwa, the third CCF ticket on this route.

Day 6, Kandy. Drive to Kandy and visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Check the day's ritual times at the temple.

Day 7, fly home. Leave early. Hill and town roads are slow, and missing an international flight costs more than a lost morning.

Why does this route suit Indian travellers?

Because it follows a story that starts in India. UNESCO says Anuradhapura's sacred city "was established around a cutting from the 'tree of enlightenment', the Buddha's fig tree, brought there in the 3rd century B.C. by Sanghamitta" (UNESCO, Sacred City of Anuradhapura). The tree of enlightenment stood at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, where UNESCO says "the first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C." (UNESCO, Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya). If you have visited Bodh Gaya, the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura is the other half of that history.

The rest of the route covers Sri Lanka's other great Buddhist sites. Our Buddhist pilgrimage circuit has more detail, and the Hindu temple circuit covers kovils if you want to add them.

How much are flights from India to Sri Lanka?

SriLankan Airlines' India page showed these lowest round-trip economy "from" fares to Colombo when we checked on 18 October 2026 (SriLankan Airlines, flights to Colombo, India site). The airline says fares "have been collected within the last 48hrs and may no longer be available at time of booking".

These are one airline's advertised lowest fares, not an average, and the dates may already be gone. We did not check other airlines. Use the table to see which Indian city is usually cheapest to fly from, then search your own dates. Our direct flights guide lists SriLankan's India routes.

How much do Indians pay at the ancient sites?

Half price at CCF sites, because India is a SAARC country. The CCF tickets page says prices are quoted in USD, paid in LKR at the current rate, and that "SAARC citizens get 50% discount" (CCF tickets). Its price list, last updated on 14 October 2026 at LKR 336 per US dollar, shows these full foreign tickets (CCF price list). The SAARC column is our calculation at 50 per cent.

Saving for two people: about USD 95, or LKR 31,920. The CCF list also has a "half ticket" column, which shows USD 20 for Sigiriya rather than USD 17.50, so it is not the same as the SAARC rate. Show your Indian passport at the counter and confirm the price before you pay. The Dambulla cave temple and the Temple of the Tooth are not on this CCF price list, so check their tickets on the day.

The CCF also sells a Cultural Triangle round ticket covering Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and its archaeological museums, valid for two months from first use and to be used within three months of purchase. Its price was not shown on the pages we read, so compare it with the single tickets at the counter.

What entry documents do Indians need?

A valid passport and an ETA, and the ETA is free. The official notice on eta.gov.lk lists India among the 40 countries whose nationals have had a free tourist ETA since 25 May 2026, valid for 30 days with double entry (eta.gov.lk). All foreign nationals must still get the ETA before arrival.

The ETA application page lists what you need (eta.gov.lk, how to apply):

• "A passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival."
• "A confirmed return ticket."
• "Sufficient funds to meet the expenses during the stay."

It also says an ETA holder must enter Sri Lanka within three months of the ETA being issued. Our 5-day route from India has the full passport checklist, and the Sri Lanka visa guide lists fake ETA sites to avoid.

Can you pay in Indian rupees?

No. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka lists the Indian rupee as one of 16 designated foreign currencies for banking and trade, but says this "does not make INR a legal tender in Sri Lanka for domestic payments", and that payments between residents "shall be in LKR" (CBSL clarification). Plan to pay in Sri Lankan rupees by card or cash.

When is the best time for this route?

The ancient cities are in the dry zone. On the WMO 1991 to 2020 normals for Anuradhapura, the driest months are June to September (15 to 67 mm a month) and January to March (60 to 86 mm), while October to December is wettest (225 to 281 mm). April averages 180.1 mm.

Busy dates to plan around in 2027: the government gazette lists Vesak Full Moon Poya on 19 May and the day after on 20 May, and Poson Full Moon Poya on 18 June. Poson is a major day at Mihintale and Anuradhapura, so expect large crowds and book rooms early, or choose it on purpose for the atmosphere. Our Sri Lanka in May guide covers Vesak week.

How far apart are the stops?

We found no official road times, so ask your driver. As a guide to the scale of the trip, Sri Lanka Railways' fare table gives these rail distances from Colombo Fort (fare PDF, dated July 2022):

The bases are not all on one rail line, so a car with a driver is the simpler way to link them. Our getting around guide explains how to compare quotes.

Can you come by ferry instead?

The passenger ferry from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu lands at Kankesanthurai near Jaffna, in the far north, and it pauses for the north-east monsoon. That makes it a poor start for this route. A ferry week works better as a Jaffna-based trip; see the India to Sri Lanka ferry guide for the current sailing status before you plan around it.