Country Information

• Be amazed by Sri Lanka’s best-known attraction, UNESCO-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress. This stunning fifth-century palace-fortress perches atop a towering rock outcrop above the plains in the country’s centre. Steps lead up from water gardens below and past murals of heavenly nymphs.

• Ramble around coastal ramparts, colonial villas and atmospheric streets in the striking Dutch fort of Galle, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Galle is also a centre for crafts that include lace-making, ebony-carving and gem-polishing.

• Visit Kandy, a picturesque town that was the last stronghold of the Kandyan Kings. It is now a cultural sanctuary where age-old customs, arts, crafts, rituals and ways of life are well preserved. Its fabulous UNESCO-listed Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa) (website: www.sridaladamaligawa.lk) shelters the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha.

• Go underground. The Dambulla Cave Temples in the island’s centre are an intriguing collection of temples tucked away beneath a massive rock outcrop. They shelter an extensive collection of religious murals and exquisite statues.

• Wonder at the extraordinary civilization that ruled from the ancient capital of Anuradhapura thousands of years ago. Its majestic remains testify to an advanced city carefully planned and filled with beautiful palaces, temples and giant stupas.

• In Colombo, root out bargains in the Pettah market, marvel at the blossoms in the Vihara Maha Devi Park between March and early May, and sample the offerings of some of the country’s best restaurants.

• See the huge reclining Buddha at Polonnaruwa, an ancient capital and another UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its remains of royal palaces, temples and stupas. It also has a superb museum, one of the country’s best.

• Explore Sri Lanka’s most popular wildlife-viewing destination, Yala National Park, on the southeast coast. It is home to the world’s highest density of leopards, as well as a wealth of other species - from elephants to birds.

• See Sri Lanka’s oldest and best-known fishing village, Negombo, also a popular resort near Katunayake International Airport. It stands on a strand separating the sea from a lagoon. The seafood here, particularly the shellfish, is superb.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.