SRI
LANKA
Ravishing tropical beaches, gleaming Buddhist
temples, old colonial hill stations and tea plantations
wreathed in dawn mist – all form just a
tiny piece of the tapestry that is Sri Lanka,
the ‘golden isle’ which epitomises
its ancient name of Serendip, meaning ‘happy
and unexpected discovery’. Sri Lanka offers
an intriguing cultural blend on which Buddhist,
Roman, Arab, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences
have been etched over three millennia. Discover
Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle and explore
the world heritage sites of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura
the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, the rock fortress
of Sigiriya and the cave monastery at Dambulla,
with its five sanctuaries, this is the largest
and best preserved cave-temple complex in Sri
Lanka. In the centre of the country is the beautiful
lake side town of Kandy, the last capital of the
Sinhala kings and site of the famous Temple of
the Tooth Relic. With its diverse terrain and
climate, Sri Lanka is also an ornithologist’s
paradise. With more than 460 recorded species
of birds, over 330 are resident to the island,
of which 26 are endemic. The winter migrants from
Western Europe and Siberia use the island due
to its strategic location, with the reservoirs,
tanks and lagoons attracting vast numbers of birds.
Complete your journey with a relaxing stay at
one of the many excellent beach hotels or beach
houses that stretch along the south west coast
from Colombo. Onwards there you will also find
the old port of Galle, founded in the 16th century
by the Portuguese. India, the Maldives and Dubai
are all just a short flight away from Sri Lanka
and create a fascinating and diverse contrast.
> suggested
itineraries
THE MALDIVES
This independent ocean republic consists of 1190
tiny coral atolls like a string of pearls scattered
over the deep blue Indian Ocean, south west of
Sri Lanka and due west off the southern tip of
India. The Maldives really is a unique paradise,
here the emphasis is on pure relaxation in the
unspoilt setting of ivory white beaches, beautiful
lagoons with infinite shades of blue and turquoise
and dazzling coral reefs that offer some of the
finest snorkelling and diving in the world.
> suggested
hotels
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