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Genre: Travel Guide / Tourism / Geography
Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Book Review:
This classic Lonely Planet ''Travel Survival Kit'' for Sri Lanka (including a Maldives supplement) is a nostalgic and historically significant guidebook that introduced a generation of independent travellers to the wonders of the island. Written in the straightforward, budget-conscious, and adventurous spirit that defined early Lonely Planet guides, it covers the essentials: from the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura and the beaches of Hikkaduwa to the cool climes of Nuwara Eliya.

While the practical details (prices, specific hotel names, etc.) are now decades out of date, the core content remains a charming snapshot of Sri Lankan tourism in the late 20th century. Its descriptions of places, cultural context, and travel philosophy are enduring. For historians of travel, collectors of guidebooks, or anyone curious about how Sri Lanka was presented to the world before the internet era, this book is a fascinating artefact.

It captures a Sri Lanka on the cusp of becoming a major tourist destination, making it a valuable piece of travel writing history. Not for practical trip planning today, but highly recommended for its historical and sentimental value.