Quick answer
Sri Lanka and South India fit into 2 weeks as eight nights on the island and five in Kerala or Tamil Nadu, linked by a flight of roughly an hour to an hour and a half from Colombo. A workable Sri Lanka leg is two nights at Sigiriya, one in Kandy, two in Ella, one near Yala and two on the south coast. Each country needs its own visa or travel authorisation. December to March suits both Sri Lanka's south-west and Kerala.
Key takeaways
- Flights from Colombo to Kochi, Chennai, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru take roughly an hour to an hour and a half.
- Sri Lanka and India require separate entry permissions: Sri Lanka's electronic travel authorisation and, for most nationalities, an Indian e-visa.
- December to March is the best season for both Sri Lanka's south-west and Kerala.
- Tamil Nadu receives most of its rain from roughly October to December, during the north-east monsoon.
- An open-jaw ticket, arriving in one country and leaving from the other, saves a day of backtracking.
Do Sri Lanka and South India work in 2 weeks
Sri Lanka and South India work in 2 weeks if each is given a clear, limited job. Thirteen nights divided between two countries cannot cover both properly. They can cover the central loop of Sri Lanka and one compact region of India, with one short flight between.
Choose the combination if contrast appeals: a small, calm island beside one of the most intense countries on earth. Choose Sri Lanka alone if this is a first visit to either and you would rather know one place well.
The Sri Lanka leg: eight nights
Eight nights in Sri Lanka allow the heart of the classic route, at close to its ten-day pace. The leg ends near Colombo's airport, ready for the flight north.
- →Sigiriya, two nights: the rock at opening, and Polonnaruwa or an elephant safari.
- →Kandy, one night: Dambulla on the way, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
- →Ella, two nights: by the scenic train.
- →Tissamaharama, one night: a Yala safari.
- →Mirissa or Galle, two nights: the coast, then the expressway to the airport.
- →Given up: the third Sigiriya night, Nuwara Eliya, a full day in Kandy and the slow beach days.
The India leg: Kerala or Tamil Nadu
Five nights in South India are best spent in one state. Kerala and Tamil Nadu sit side by side and could hardly be more different, and the choice decides what the Indian half adds to the island.
Kerala is green, coastal and easy-going: the old trading port of Fort Kochi, a night on the backwaters near Alappuzha and the hills of Munnar or the coast at Varkala. Tamil Nadu is temples: the towering gateways of Madurai's Meenakshi temple, the 11th-century Chola temple at Thanjavur and the French quarter of Puducherry.
- →Choose Kerala for backwaters, a gentle pace and a soft landing in India; fly to Kochi.
- →Choose Tamil Nadu for great Hindu temple architecture, a contrast with Buddhist Sri Lanka; fly to Madurai or Chennai.
- →Kerala repeats some of Sri Lanka's themes, such as tea hills and beaches; Tamil Nadu repeats almost none.
Flights, visas and which country first
The flight is the easy part. Colombo has frequent services to South Indian cities, with flying times of roughly an hour to an hour and a half. Schedules change, so check current routes before fixing the plan. A passenger ferry between northern Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu has run intermittently in recent years; it is not yet dependable enough to plan around.
The visas need more attention. Sri Lanka's electronic travel authorisation and India's e-visa are separate applications with separate fees and rules, and India's can take several days. Apply for both well before travelling, through the official government sites only.
- →Order: either works; ending in Sri Lanka gives a calmer finish, with beach days last.
- →Tickets: an open-jaw international ticket avoids returning to the starting airport.
- →Money: two currencies; cash machines are plentiful in both countries.
The season that suits both
December to March is the season that suits both countries. Sri Lanka's south and west coasts are dry, and Kerala is at its coolest and clearest. Tamil Nadu is pleasant from January to March, once its north-east monsoon rains, roughly October to December, have passed.
From June to September, the south-west monsoon covers Kerala and Sri Lanka's south-west together, while Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka's east coast stay drier. A summer combination therefore points to Tamil Nadu with Trincomalee, and is hot.
Planning the two-country fortnight
Planning the two-country fortnight means accepting that Sri Lanka's part is a short version of the classic route. If that feels like too great a loss, the island alone will reward all fourteen days. For travellers who want the Maldives instead of India as the second country, a separate guide covers that pairing.
Lankan Stays & Trails arranges the Sri Lanka leg, with the driver and hotels timed to your flight to India. For the many travellers interested in the shared Ramayana tradition, the island's own Ramayana sites can be added to the route.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Sri Lanka and India in the same trip?
Yes. Flights between Colombo and South Indian cities take roughly an hour to an hour and a half, so combining Sri Lanka with Kerala or Tamil Nadu is practical in two weeks. Each country needs its own entry permission, applied for separately in advance.
How should I split two weeks between Sri Lanka and South India?
Eight nights in Sri Lanka and five in South India works well. Sri Lanka needs the longer share because its sights are spread around a loop, while five nights cover one Indian state. Reversing the split leaves too little time for the island.
Is Kerala or Tamil Nadu better to combine with Sri Lanka?
Tamil Nadu offers the stronger contrast, with great Hindu temples at Madurai and Thanjavur. Kerala is gentler and easier, with backwaters and Fort Kochi, though its tea hills and beaches overlap with Sri Lanka's. First-time visitors to India often prefer Kerala.
Do I need a separate visa for India and Sri Lanka?
Yes. Sri Lanka requires an electronic travel authorisation for most visitors, and India requires an e-visa for most nationalities. They are separate applications with separate fees. Rules change, so check the official government sites and apply well ahead.
Is there a ferry between Sri Lanka and India?
A passenger ferry between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai near Jaffna has operated intermittently since 2023. Services have been suspended at times, so confirm the current position before planning around it. Flying remains the dependable option.
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka and South India together?
December to March is best. Sri Lanka's south and west coasts and hill country are dry, Kerala is at its most pleasant, and Tamil Nadu is dry from January. From June to September the south-west monsoon affects Kerala and south-western Sri Lanka together.