The island of Sri Lanka sits a mere 18 miles off the Southeastern tip of India. This fascinating country is steeped in history, and home to two traditional cultures: The Sinhalese and the Tamil. For travelers seeking a relaxing beach, ancient history, traditional cultures, or delicious food, this island has something for everybody, and does so at prices much lower than some of its Asian counterparts.
Travelers vacationing to this island nation may want to consider seeing:
Sigiriya: Sigiriya is often considered the 8th wonder of the world, and certainly is one of the least viewed by travelers determined to find some of the world’s greatest ancient monuments. The palace is one of seven UNESCO protected sites in Sri Lanka and sits a top an extinct volcano. Sigiriya is home to the ancient palace (and fortress) built by the King Kasyapa dynasty from 477-495AD. The remains include an upper and lower palace, moats, gardens, beautiful frescoes and various other remains clinging precariously to the rock.
Sacred Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi: This tree is located in the district of Anuradhapura (central Sri Lanka) and is thought to be the oldest historical tree in the world dating back to 249 BC. This fig tree was planted here by King Devanampiyatiss and is thought to have been grown from the branch of the Bodhi (meaning wisdom) tree at Buddha Gaya in India under which Buddha obtained enlightenment. In addition, the ancient city of Anuradhapura is another of UNESCO’s preserved heritage sites in Sri Lanka.
