A luxurious island of many names and tales, Sri Lanka is a diverse and colourful place. With all the cultures, flavours and creatures of south Asia contributing to one vibrant whole there is little that will fail to surprise and entertain those exploring the surrounds on their Sri Lanka holidays. Here is a guide to five of the grand and curious historical sites that the island has to offer.
5 Wondrous Sri Lankan Sites
Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Sacred Temple of the Tooth)
Standing in the city of Kandy, this palisaded temple houses a relic of Buddha and is held in great regard by his followers. This relic, a tooth, is said to confer governance of the country upon the holder and has thus been defended at great lengths by previous rulers of the island. A particularly scenic city, the temple is set amongst rolling hills and lush tea plantations. Those wishing to visit should know that when it comes to luxury resorts, Sri Lanka offers few destinations more serene.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Sri Lanka holidays which begin in Colombo are ideally placed to visit this cavern of riches, located just 150km east of the capital. Filled with statues and paintings relating to Buddha, Hindu Gods, and previous kings of Sri Lanka, this network of over 80 cave temples commands a trove of ancient treasures of international reputation. Inhabited by Sri Lankans since at least 700 BCE, meaning that they pre date the arrival of Buddhism, visitors can observe the unfolding of modern human history through the artefacts displayed before them.
Polonnaruwa
A vast and ancient city which was once lost to the world, Polonnaruwa gives the visitor a striking impression of the richness of Sri Lankan heritage. Excavations are ongoing, but the most stunning items revealed so far are the exquisitely carved statues which are as delicate as they are imposing, some being up to 14m in length. At roughly 140km from Kandy it is worth including on any itinerary at one of the many luxury resorts in Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya
A must to see on any Sri Lanka holiday, this fortress ruin stands upon a ridge of hardened magma that raises its sheer sides above the surrounding landscape. Complemented by a network of gardens and reservoirs, the site also displays a wide array of ancient frescoes. As one of the most justifiably visited sites in Sri Lanka, you are likely to find a range of literature on the fortress across the country.
Anuradhapura
Revered in Hindu legend as the home of King Ravana of the Ramayana is the city of Anuradhapura. Abandoned for over 1,000 years the site boasts remains of palaces, temples, monasteries, ceremonial baths as well as the temple of the holy Bo tree. It is claimed that this famous bo tree was grown from a sapling of the very one under which the Buddha found enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. The site covers more than 16km2 of land and is filled with monastic remains from a city that was once one of the most durable centres of urban civilisation in Asia.
Whenever you take your Sri Lanka holidays I hope that you make time to visit one or all of these beautiful sites of the famed ‘Cultural Triangle’ surrounding Colombo. The island’s beauty comes not just her forests and beaches but very much from the history of her people too.
Author Resource:-
Ricky Coates is a Sri Lanka specialist for key2holidays (http://www.key2holidays.co.uk/srilanka/), an online tour operator specialising in Sri Lanka holidays, as well as holidays to Australia, South Africa, the Caribbean, Italy, the Far East, the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles.
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