Anuradhapura was a greatest monastic city of the ancient world. At its height it was home to thousand of monks at dozens of monasteries, served by a large lay population. It was the royal capital of a succession of 113 kings who oversaw a flowering of the arts that produces magnificent palaces, intricate and exquisite sculptress, ornate pleasure gardens and of course the huge "dagobas", the domed building that protected the most sacred relics of Buddhism.
Polonnaruwa was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka. In its prime, the city was protected by 6km of strong encircling walls. Strategically, it commanded all the crossings over the Mahaweli river, guarding the increasingly powerful Southern province, Ruhunu in AD 993 the cholas looted and burnt Anuradhapura and used Polonnaruwa as their military base for 77 years, resulting in an interesting blend of south Indian Hindu culture and Sinhalese Buddhist art and architecture.
The summit of this almost inaccessible rock was the unlikely setting for a courtly paradise of elegant pavilions, amid gardens and pools, all perched 180 meters above the surrounding jungles. The rock was transformed into an immense recumbent lion by the addition of a brick-built head and foreparts of which only the artfully sculptured paws remain. The impact of the lion rock, as it is called, must have been awesome, since even its remnants beggar belief.
The gate way to the northwest, and the first of its great sights, where one of Sri Lanka's finest cave temple stands - 150m outside the modern village, and 72km north of kandy on the outskirts of the dry zone. Within five large caverns-the largest some 50m deep and 6m in height, are sitting, standing and reclining Buddha images by the dozen, as well as Hindu gods' and each cave is decorated with mural painting of scenes from the Buddha's life.
he number of visitors to the city reaches a spectacular peak in July and August. A courtyard on the south side o the Temple of the Tooth becomes the hub of ornate and frenzied activity during the two-week Perahera. Many dozens of caparisoned elephant, dancers, drummers and other performance come together to parade the sacred tooth relic through the streets. The rituals and ceremony associated with Perahera have persisted for many centuries and have changed remarkably little over this time.
The largest and most famous of the Sri Lankan national park is Ruhuna, better known as "Yala" in the southeastern corner of the island. This region, known as the "dry zone", is dramatically different frim the lush rice paddies and palm trees of the south coast. In the hours drive fom Tangalla to Hambantota, gateway to the "dry zone", you would be forgiven for thinking you had stumble onto an African plain. Here, the forests are dry thorn scrub, interspersed with small dusty glades-the ideal habitat to view elephants, Sri Lanka's largest mammal.
No visit to the mountains would be complete without seeing the breathtaking Horton Plains, an hour away from Nuwara Eliya. These plains, formed by millions of years of erosion, lie right on top of Sri Lanka's mountains. here large herds of elk, silhouetted against the clouds of the lowlands, move among scarlet rhododen drones.
Minneriya, situated at the centre of the Cultural Triangle, is a good alternative to the busier parks in the south and it is easy to weave a jeep drive here between visiting the ancient sites in this area. Minneriya National Park is a small but popular wildlife park home to a wide range of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. It is also the site of the world-renowned wildlife event ‘The Elephant Gathering’.
Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka (City of Lights) is a resort city in the Central Mountain Range of Sri Lanka. Blessed a with salubrious climate, breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains and greenery; Nuwara Eliya, also known as ‘Little’ England’, was the favorite hill station of the British who tried to create the resort into a typical English Village. The old brick Post office, country house like hill club, with its hunting pictures, mounted hunting trophies and fish, and it’s strict formal dinner attire; the 18 hole golf course, race course etc.
A tropical island of legendary beauty, Sri Lanka is encircled by sun-drenched beaches and the sparkling sun-lit surf of the Indian ocean. Multi-colored corals, sheltered bays, serene lagoons and off-shore island enhance the beaches, offering resort of enchanting beauty and interest, for perfect vacations.
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