About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka packs ancient cities, tea hills, wildlife and beaches into one small island, a short flight from Tamil Nadu. Distances look small on the map, though mountain roads take longer than you expect.
A week is enough for a loop through Kandy, the hill country and the south coast.
The cultural triangle
Sigiriya is a fifth-century rock fortress with a steep climb and fine frescoes. Dambulla's cave temples are filled with Buddhist paintings, and Kandy's Temple of the Tooth holds Sri Lanka's most sacred relic.
Tea country
Nuwara Eliya is cool and misty, with plantations spread over its hills. The train from Kandy towards Ella is one of the great rail rides in Asia, so book seats well ahead.
Coast and wildlife
Galle Fort is a walled Dutch-era town of cafés and old churches. Yala is famous for leopards, and Mirissa for whale watching in season. Mind the monsoons, as each coast has different good months.
