Sri Lanka Travel Guide: Temples, Tea Country and the Coast

The Cultural Triangle

• Sigiriya: a fortress on top of a giant rock, reached by steep steps past ancient frescoes; start early before the heat
• Dambulla: cave temples filled with Buddha statues and painted ceilings
• Polonnaruwa: the ruins of a medieval royal city, with great stone Buddhas

Kandy and the hill country

Kandy, the last royal capital, is home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist shrine. Higher up, Nuwara Eliya is surrounded by tea estates, where you can see how tea is picked and processed.

The train through the hill country to Ella is one of the most beautiful rail journeys in Asia, past tea gardens, waterfalls and the Nine Arch Bridge.

Wildlife and the south coast

• Yala National Park: jeep safaris for elephants, buffalo, birds and, with luck, leopards
• Galle Fort: a walled colonial town by the sea, with old streets, cafés and lighthouse views
• The beaches of the south and west coast, from Bentota to Mirissa

When to go

Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so there is always a sunny side of the island. The west and south coasts and the hill country are usually driest from December to March, and the east coast from about April to September. The Cultural Triangle can be visited most of the year.

Travel tips

• Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before you fly, and check the latest entry rules when you book.
• At temples, cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes and hats; you may need to walk barefoot on hot stone, so socks help.
• Rice and curry is the everyday meal, and Muslim-run restaurants serving halal food are common, especially in Colombo.
• Roads are winding and slow, so even short distances can take a few hours.