We should start where it all began well over 2000 years ago. The ‘Cultural Triangle’ as it is now known includes the first capitals of the country: Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. These are outstanding examples of the monumental vision of the ancient rulers of the country.

The ‘ruins’ leave one in no doubt of the grandeur and scale of the cities. The rulers envisioned and engineered immense irrigation systems that transformed even the dry zones into ‘ricebowls’.

There are also the magnificent Buddhist Dagobas or Stupas whose size, symmetry and height are a testament not only to religious devotion, but also to pioneering architectural and engineering skills: One of them, the Abhayagiri stupa was built circa the second century BC, and is considered the highest stupa in the world. It was the central shrine of a monastery, which housed 5000 monks.

The 200-metre high rock fortress of Sigiriya is a world heritage site and considered to be the eight wonder of the modern world. It too is located in the cultural triangle. You will be astounded by the engineering feat, even in the context of today’s standards.

The need for an impenetrable stronghold fuelled by the fear of an usurping king that influenced thousands to bring it to reality, over 1,500 years ago. The breath taking beauty of the palaces and pleasure gardens, and the magnificent semi-clothed maidens, depicted in glorious golden hues on the wall of a ‘natural gallery’, as one ascends the rock will induce a sense of awe.

We could go on and regale you with images of the past that have survived all around the country, including the architecture, art and other interesting legacies of the Portuguese, Dutch, and English.

There are also other attractions such as the living legacy of the spice and tea trades. You should also know that this magical island has seven world heritage sites, as declared by UNESCO. Our aim is to whet your appetite – come and feast.

The ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ as Sri Lanka was called by many an erudite visitor over the centuries is certainly a unique experience for the traveller. Mark Twain was moved to describe it as “beautiful and most sumptuously tropical…a dream of fairyland and paradise”. So lets find out why people enjoy Sri Lanka so much.

The forces of nature that shaped the island conspired to create an exotic blend of magnificent gold and white beaches, coastal plains, and mist-shrouded hills. All of this packaged neatly into a compact tear-shaped island 435 kms long and 225 kms wide, just 48 kilometers south of the Indian sub-continent.

The resulting geography means that you could be lying on golden sand between lush tropical palms beside the inviting waters of the Indian ocean one day, and on the next; sitting on the verandah of a century-old planter’s bungalow, sipping a cup of our world famous Ceylon tea, while enjoying the cool climes and taking in the serene beauty of rolling hills draped in a green ‘carpet’ of tea bushes.

The island’s 2,500 years of written history chronicles a past rich in artistic, engineering social, and cultural accomplishments. Many of which have endured, providing the interested with a unique insight into times of kings and queens, to times of intrigue, conquests, and colonization – all of which fuelled creativity in many forms on a grand scale.

What is especially interesting about Sri Lanka is its people. The Sri Lankan people are descendents of the Aryan Prince, Vijaya, who when exiled by his father King Sinhabahu of India sought refuge in Sri Lanka, and found it to his liking.

He married the beautiful Kuvani, and the result of their union formed the origins of the Singhalese people. Successive colonisations by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British from 1505 through to 1948 created a rich cultural tapestry. Traders from Arabia, China, Persia, Abyssinia, Indonesia, and Italy also wove in the threads of this tapestry from as early as the sixth century. One of the more famous visitors was the legendary Marco Polo.

Important Considerations

Currency
The Island’s currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee, and it is very likely that your currency will translate into outstanding value.

Tropical Climate
Hill country temperatures range from 11 – 25 degrees C
Low country temperatures range from 23 – 34 degrees C

Peace Initiative
We will inform you of the current status of the peace initiative, to ensure that your travel decisions are wise ones.