This week marks twelve months since the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, in which Islamic extremists targeted three churches and three luxury hotels in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, killing 257 people.

In May, just a month after the bombings, visitor numbers had dropped by around 70%. And for a country whose third-largest foreign earner in 2019 was tourism, that was, naturally, devastating.

In spite of everything, though, the country is beginning to reestablish itself as a bonafide bucket list destination. It’s certainly topping our list of post-pandemic must-sees. Here are ten reasons why it’s the foodie hotspot of 2021.

It was awarded Lonely Planet’s coveted best destination of 2019 title, just months before the bombings decimated the tourism industry. And there were, naturally, a host reasons for it being selected for the honour, including its unique mix of religions and cultures, a rapidly growing surf scene, a host of new visitor accommodations, unique and flavourful food, a vibrant restaurant scene and mind-blowing wilderness experiences.

Sri Lankan cuisine is making a name for itself right here in Australia. Sydney alone saw a host of new Sri Lankan restaurants open this year. The Sydney Metro area alone is home to more than twenty, four of which (Colombo Social in Newtown, Hopper Kadé in Haymarket, Dish in Glebe and Lankan Filling Station in Darlinghurst) have made big waves in the past 12 months.

Sri Lanka – formerly known as Ceylon – is the world’s largest tea exporter, making it an ideal destination for tea lovers. The island nation grows black, green and white tea, and those fond of a cuppa can sip their way around some 900-odd plantations. Tea is such an integral part of Sri Lanka that even have their own tea museum.

The country is home to more than one hundred waterfalls, plenty of which are safe and available for tourists to swim in. More than fifty of these waterfalls are taller than 10 metres – making for some spectacular photograph opportunities, all around the island.

The spice, cinnamon, originated in Sri Lanka, where it was allegedly originally discovered by the Egyptians, who used it for embalming. Cinnamon, while also native to Bangladesh and India, is still a major export for Sri Lanka.

Anecdotally, Sri Lanka is home to some of the best pineapples in the world. No matter whether you find them in roadside stalls or markets, locals, expats and travellers swear that they’re the sweetest pineapples on the planet.

Sri Lanka’s coastline is 1,585 km long, it has 103 rivers, 24 main beaches and hundreds of inlets and bays, making it the perfect destination for water-lovers. Sports like surfing, scuba diving and kite-surfing – as well as good, old-fashioned swimming – are a big draw card for many travellers.

It might not be Disneyland, but according to a 2016 survey, Sri Lanka is the fifth happiest place on earth. Locals there registered higher levels of contentment than most other places on the planet, and they were more likely to help others out too.

It’s closer than you think. Although you may think of Sri Lanka as being “a lot further away” than, say, Bali or Fiji, it’s actually a quicker flight than many realise. Granted, the distance is around three times as far as Bali, but the average flight time is only about 3 hours longer.

It’s home to some of the most luxurious boutique resorts, hotels and lodges in the world, including the Resplendent Ceylon’s three properties: Ceylon Tea Trails, Wild Coast Tented Lodge and Cape Weligama. The Resplendent Ceylon group was founded by the Dilmah Tea Family. It’s also home to two exquisite examples of the luxurious Aman group properties: Amangalla and Amanwella. So… what are you waiting for? We’ll see you there.