For centuries, Sri Lanka has been popular with foreign travelers. Around 300BC, at the time of Alexander the Great, the ancient Greeks called the island Palaesimoundu, meaning ‘beyond the sea,’ and wrote of its mythical treasures.
Chinese Buddhist monk Fa-Hien visited Sri Lanka around 410 AD and liked it so much that he stayed for two years. In the twelfth century, Italian explorer Marco Polo declared Sri Lanka the “best island of its size in the world.” In 1896, Mark Twain, of Huckleberry Finn fame, wrote, “Dear me, it is beautiful… Oriental charm and mystery, and tropic deliciousness.”
Fast-forward to 2024, and the country has seen tourism revenue increase by 122% in January 2024. The reasons why aren’t hard to deduce. Sri Lanka is a world-in-one island of palm-fringed beaches, rice paddies and lily ponds, ancient cities, lush rainforests, tea estates and generous, welcoming people. If you’re looking for itinerary ideas and highlights, keep reading.
Sigiriya
Sigiriya, or Sinhagiri, is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province. The site is defined by a pair of monumental paws that form what was once the base of a whole lion. Five thousand years ago, the structure was commissioned and built from nearly three million stones and bricks stretching to the top of a massive monolith of red rock.
However, the origins of Sigiriya’s habitation are shrouded in myth and mystery. What remains today is a more recent legacy, dating back a mere 2,500 years to the reign of King Kashyapa. Like all incredible ruins, this one comes with a dramatic story. Kashyapa is said to have entombed his father alive and stolen the throne from his half-brother, who then fled to India to plot a terrifying and brutal revenge. Fearing his brother’s return, Kashyapa sought refuge atop the mighty rock and built himself a fortress as ornate as it was fortified.
Anuradhapura
Nearby Anuradhapura, a major city located in Sri Lanka’s north-central plain and the first ancient capital of the country, is a city that thrived from the 4th century BC to the 11th century AD. Giant stupas tower above the tropical jungle, mystical moonstones mark the entranceways to temples, and ruins of vast monastic complexes lay scattered over many square miles.
Kandy
Another essential temple visit on any Sri Lankan itinerary is Kandy. Once the capital of an ancient kingdom, Kandy is tucked beside a lake in the middle of Sri Lanka’s central highlands and surrounded by tea plantations.
Head for the Ceylon Tea Hills
The most atmospheric journey from Kandy to tea country is by train. A serpent of blue metal, the train passes through vibrant tea plantations, with curtains of eucalyptus and pine trees on one side and mountains and towering ravines on the other.
