Lakpura's Urdu-speaking guide is a Sri Lankan who knows the island well and speaks fluent Urdu, and who travels with you for the days you book. You hear about the places you are standing in — the stupas of Anuradhapura, the painted rock shelters of Dambulla, the tea slopes above Nuwara Eliya — in Urdu, and when someone around you is speaking Sinhala or Tamil, your guide translates for you. The explaining works as a conversation rather than a recital, so you can ask whatever you want to know, in as much detail as you like.
Cricket and a shared table
Cricket is common ground, and a guide who can discuss it in Urdu makes the talk easier. Sri Lanka's ground at Galle lies beside the fort and the sea, and Pallekele, near Kandy, also hosts international matches; your guide can walk you round the setting and talk through what you are watching. Away from the grounds, the island has a long-established Muslim community, so halal food is widely available, and Sri Lanka's biryani and watalappan belong to that same tradition. Your guide can explain how the local versions differ from the ones you know at home, and ask on your behalf about how a dish is made.
What your guide does with you
- Explains a site as you walk it, from the ruins of Polonnaruwa to the streets of a colonial fort town
- Translates for you with shopkeepers, stallholders and market traders when you are buying spices, tea or cloth
- Tells you what is expected at a temple or mosque — where to remove your shoes, how to dress, where photographs are not welcome
- Turns short exchanges with local people into real conversations, so you leave with more than a greeting
- Answers the practical questions that come up on the road, about food, customs, place names and what you are seeing from the window
Book the guide for as many days as your trip needs, from a single day to four weeks, choosing the number of days when you book. Tell us your itinerary as well, so the guide can be matched to the places and interests on it — cricket, history, hill country, the coast, or a mixture of them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Urdu-speaking tour guide do?
Your guide is a Sri Lankan who is fluent in Urdu and travels with you to the places on your itinerary. At each stop they explain what you are looking at, from the history of a site to the meaning of a carving or a custom, tell you the temple etiquette before you go in, and answer the practical questions that come up along the way, such as what a sign says or how spicy a dish is likely to be.
Is a vehicle included?
No. This is a guide-only service: the price covers the guide, and no vehicle or driver is included. Your guide travels with you in the transport you arrange. If you need a car with a driver as well, Lakpura can arrange one as a separate booking.
How much does the guide cost?
The guide costs USD 100 per day, and the rate is the same whichever language you choose. You pay for the number of days you book, so a seven-day booking is USD 700.
How many hours a day does the guide work?
Each guiding day covers up to 8 hours with you.
Are the guide's meals and accommodation included?
No. The daily rate covers the guide's services only, and does not include meals or accommodation for the guide.
Are entrance fees included?
No. Entrance fees to sites, temples, parks and other attractions are not included in the price.
Can I cancel my booking?
Yes. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before the start of your booking.
For how many days can I book a guide?
From a single day up to 28 days (four weeks). You choose the number of days when you book.
Can the guide follow my own itinerary?
Yes. Tell Lakpura your itinerary when you book, and we match you with a Urdu-speaking guide who knows the places you plan to visit.
Will the guide translate when I talk with local people?
Yes. When the people you meet are speaking Sinhala or Tamil, your guide translates between them and you in Urdu, in both directions, so a real conversation can take place rather than a few gestures.
Also available in other languages
Your service advisor
Mewan Manager
Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Mewan directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.
