Sri Lanka Quiz, How Well Do You Know The Ultimate Holiday Destination?
Do you know any other island on earth that is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots where Art, Literature and Cricket sit cheek by jowl of an ancient fort with a living heritage? Been on holiday to Sri Lanka already have you? Well, how much do you really know about this island? Here’s an intriguing Travel Quiz on its cultural gems to wildlife to award winning architectural masterpieces.
Answers are given at the end, but don’t cheat….and good luck!
Q1
There is a must visit Sri Lanka UNESCO World Heritage Site where time has stood still, where you will find narrow bustling cobble-stoned pathways with an ever-present scent of exotic spices and the incredible tropical setting steeped with history. You can wander over the ramparts to watch the locals take their evening stroll and crazy divers dive into the rock-strewn seas. Never miss a chance to watch the Cricket from the top of the Fort! Which Test Cricket Venue is within walking distance of this UNESCO protected Dutch Fort?
A) Sinhalese Sports Club
B) Pallekelle Cricket Stadium
C) Galle International Cricket Stadium
D) Dambulla Cricket Stadium
Q2
Where does The Elephant Gathering (billed as one of the worlds' greatest animal spectacles) take place every year?
A) Yala National Park
B) Minneriya National Park
C) Udawalawe National Park
D) Wilpattu National Park
Q3
Sri Lanka has an unparalleled rate of species endemism per land area, higher than even Madagascar or Borneo. How many birds do you think are endemic to Sri Lanka?
A) 41
B) 47
C) 20
D) 33
Q4
During the 1st Century BC, massive man-made lakes were built through superior irrigation skills in a time of manual labor and zero automation under the rule of a visionary Sinhalese King. Throughout the years, the jungle took over, making it a haven during the drought to wildlife and is, today a National Park famous for wild elephants, a must visit on a Sri Lanka Wildlife Tour. What is it called?
A) Yala National Park
B) Udawalawe National Park
C) Wilpattu National Park
D) Minneriya National Park
Q5
A word used in Sri Lanka to greet someone. It means Long Life. One is generally greeted by joining two hands in a prayer-like manner. What is this traditional Sri Lankan greeting?
A) Jumbo
B) Ayubowan
C) Bohoma Isthuthi
D) Takahiri
q6
On the occasion of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, this hotel was chosen in advance to host the Royal couple, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Which boutique hotel in Colombo did they stay in?
A) Residence by Uga
B) Taru Villas
C) Tintagel Colombo
D) Aman Resorts
Q7
Nihal De Silva’s The road from Elephant Pass (Winner of the Gratiaen Prize 2003) is a tale of love and war through the jungles of the north and ultimately, is where he himself lost his life. Which National Park in Sri Lanka took centre stage in his award winning novel and his life?
A) Gal Oya National Park
B) Yala National Park
C) Kumana National Park
D) Wilpattu National Park
Q8
A protected area between Kandy and Ella covered by grassland and surrounded by cloud forests has enthralling small-wildlife and endemic flora. Which of the following is central highland’s UNESCO world heritage site in Sri Lanka?
A) Lion Rock Sigiriya
B) Dambulla Cave Temple
C) Horton Plains Nuwara Eliya
D) Yala National Park
Q9
A stunning bungalow is located on a 145-year-old tea estate and was home to Sir Thomas Lipton while he purveyed his acres of tea estates. Its immediate neighbor, the iconic Dambatenne estate, is a slice of Ceylon tea heritage, being one of the very few estates that Lipton himself planted. Which of the historic buildings reborn as hotels with colonial luxury architecture in Sri Lanka is this?
A) Heritance Tea Factory Hotel
B) Thotalagala Bungalow
C) Ceylon Tea Trails
D) The Kandy House
Q10
An old shepherds cave that is filled with monkeys now amidst the ruins of an ancient Royal Kingdom was used to film Disney's Monkey Kingdom - a 2015 American nature documentary film about monkeys living in ancient ruins found in a jungle in Sri Lanka directed by Mark Linfield and narrated by Tina Fey. Which one of these historical Sri Lanka UNESCO World Heritage Sites was it filmed in?
A) Polonnaruwa
B) Dambulla
C) Anuradhapura
D) Kandy
Q11
One of the best examples of Colonial-era railway construction in Sri Lanka is known as the Bridge in the Sky. Rumor has it that the construction process began during the great war between the empires of Europe and the steel assigned for this project was reallocated to Britain’s War related projects. As a result, all construction was put on hold but recommenced later with the help of a local man who was a famed drummer and devil dancer in the area. Where is this iconic viaduct bridge located and what is it called?
A) Ella, The Nine Arches Bridge
B) Hatton, The Twelve Arches Bridge
C) Nuwera Eliya, The Six Arches Bridge
D) Kandy, The Eleven Arches Bridge
Q12
It was in 1954 that her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth first visited this regal mansion, on an Easter Sunday, to enjoy a cup of fresh Ceylon tea during her visit to Sri Lanka and she wasn’t the only royalty to visit the luxury heritage Hotel in the hills. Which of these hotels continues to be a favorite among VIPs?
A) The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya
B) Ferncliff Bungalow Nuwara Eliya
C) The Hill Club Nuwara Eliya
D) Jetwing St. Andrews Nuwara Eliya
Q13
In a coastal area of Sri Lanka, was an oil tank farm named Tank 91 built by the British during World War II to fuel their Navy and Air Force during the East Indian defense against the Japanese aggression. Eventually this oil tank farm became the main refueling base in the region and was destroyed by the Japanese during an attack in 1942. Where in Sri Lanka is this situated?
A) Batticaloa
B) Jaffna
C) Trincomalee
D) Mannar
Q14
The ancient fortress known as Sigiriya Rock was built by King Kashyapa I to shield himself from potential attacks from his brother Moggallana, the rightful heir to the throne. This masterpiece has made many wonder about the technology at the time. Guess the number of steps to get to the top of the fortress?
A) 884 steps
B) 1,021 steps
C) 981 steps
D) 1,236 steps
Q15
A former Sri Lankan Cricketer and one of the greatest batsmen of all time, co-owns The Ministry of Crab, an opulent restaurant famous for its ‘Sri Lankan Crab’ dishes. He is currently a cricket commentator and happened to be the first non-British president of the Marylebone Cricket Club. Guess who?
A) Mahela Jayawardena
B) Kumar Sangakkara
C) Aravinda De Silva
D) Arjuna Ranatunga
Q16
A much-awaited time of the year in Sri Lanka is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, where the beginning of the New Year as well as the ending of the old year happens at an auspicious times determined by astrologers. During which month of the year is this vibrant celebration of two cultures celebrated?
A) April
B) May
C) August
D) December
Q17
On March 2, 1815 the Kingdom of Kandy was ceded to the British where the last king of Sri Lanka was deposed and taken as a royal prisoner by the British to Vellore Fort in Southern India. Who was the last King to reign over Sri Lanka?
A) King Dutugemunu
B) King Kashyapa
C) King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha
D) King Parakramabahu the Great
Q18
Yuri Gagarin, Hero of the Soviet Union, the first man in space received many invitations from countries around the world to visit them. Which Heritage Hotel did he stay in, when he visited Sri Lanka on December 7 1961?
A) Mount Lavinia Hotel
B) Galle Face Hotel
C) Grand Oriental Hotel
D) The Kingsbury
Q19
This magnificent statue of the legendary King Parakramabahu is at a UNESCO World Heritage Site where he reigned supreme making it Sri Lanka’s second Royal Kingdom? Where is this statue located?
a) Definitely in Anuradhapura where else?
b) Polonnaruwa, duh.
c) Could be Dambulla.
d) Pretty sure it's in Kandy
Q20
Our most sought after Whale watching trips in Sri Lanka are on luxury yachts with specialist guides. While Mirissa and Trincomalee are known to be the best for whale watching in Sri Lanka, which time of the year is your best chance to spot Blue Whales in the South?
A) December to April
B) October to January
C) March to July
D) June to September
Q21
Sri Lanka being just over thrice the size of Kruger National Park in South Africa, it also has one of the highest rates of biological endemism in the world. In fact, it is home to 33 endemic species of birds and 21 endemic species of mammals. How many of the protected areas are declared as National Parks in Sri Lanka?
A) 19 National Parks
B) 26 National parks
C) 32 National parks
D) 15 National parks
Q22
Sri Lanka is truly a paradise for avid birders for an adventure across scenic bird-rich landscapes! What is the best National Park for bird watching in Sri Lanka bordering the eastern coast of the island?
A) Udawalawa National Park
B) Yala National Park
C) Kumana National Park
D) Wilpattu National Park
Q23
A tower was built in Kadugannawa as a posthumous memorial for a British Engineer for his impeccable service to Ceylon. He initiated the construction of the island’s first modern highway in 1820 under Governor Edward Barnes and passed away in 1829 after being bitten by a venomous snake before the construction was completed. In whose memory was this tower built?
A) Captain William Francis Dawson
B) Captain William de Wiveleslie Abney
C) Captain Francis Fowke
D) Captain T. H. Chapman
Q24
There’s a hipster-chic east coast village, famous for its surfing points that attract surfers from all over the world. Many of them make this beach their home during the surfing period - which one is it?
A) Nilaveli Beach
B) Arugam Bay
C) Marble Beach
D) Kalkudah Beach
Q25
Neighboring Yala National Park, famous for its population of Sri Lankan Leopard, this beautiful luxury hotel uniquely designed to blend seamlessly with the shape and color of the rocks and boulders of the surrounding landscape, was shortlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2019; which is it?
A) Chena Huts by Uga Escapes
B) Dune Camp, Yala
C) Cinnamon Wild Yala
D) Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Q26
With a history that dates back to the 3rd Century AD, this annual 10-day torchlight parade is one of the oldest and grandest of all festivals with fire breathers, jugglers and caparisoned elephants swaying to the rhythm of the drummers and encircled by hundreds of dancers paving the way for the elegant lead Tusker carrying the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. What is this parade called?
A) Vesak
B) Sinhala and Tamil New Year
C) Kandy Esala Perahara
D) Thaipongal
Q27
It is no exaggeration to say that Geoffrey Bawa transformed architecture in Sri Lanka. With wild monkeys swinging through the trees, the panoramic views from this hotel do live up to their name! Built-in a minimalist and contemporary style overlooking the eighth wonder of the world, which is the iconic architectural masterpiece by Geoffrey Bawa?
A) Vil Uyana
B) Ulagalla Wallawwa
C) Heritance Kandalama
D) Kalundewa Retreat
Q28
The essential Sri Lanka tour curated by Ayu in the Wild to Colombo, the ancient city of Anuradhapura, the deeper side of Kandy, mountains, and valleys of Wellawaya, wildlife of Yala and beaches by Galle gives a real feel of this island all year. What is the best time of the year for the Essential Sri Lanka tour, if you want to visit the southern beaches?
A) August to October
B) February to May
C) December to March
D) June to August
- SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS -
1. C) Galle International Cricket Stadium
2. B) Minneriya National Park
3. D) 33
4. A) Yala National Park
5. B) Ayubowan
6. C) Tintagel Colombo
7. D) Wilpattu National Park
8. C) Horton Plains Nuwara Eliya
9. B) Thotalagala Bungalow
10.A) Polonnaruwa
MORE ANSWERS BELOW…
11. A) Ella
12. A) The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya
13. C) Trincomalee
14. D) 1,236 Steps
15. B) Kumar Sangakkara
16. A) April
17. C) King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe
18. B) Galle Face Hotel
19. B) Polonaruwwa, duh!
20. A) December to April
21. B) 26 National parks
22. C) Kumana National Park
23. A) Captain William Francis Dawson
24. B) Arugam Bay
25. D) Wild Coast Tented Lodge
26. C) Kandy Esala Perahara
27. C) Heritance Kandalama
28. C) December to March
Thank you for taking our Sri Lanka Holiday Travel Quiz!
Ayu in the Wild Holidays are specialists in curating curious slow travel holidays to Sri Lanka using the knowledge of the widely traveled Sri Lanka owners, and are experts in luxury private tours for couples and small groups, family holidays to Sri Lanka, low carbon footprint travel, wildlife, ayurveda, and ecotourism holidays that respect people and places.
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