The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty seized power in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Currently Sri Lanka is engaged in a negotiated process aimed at addressing some of the country's internal issues.

Sigiriya - 8th wonder of the world

Sigiriya , also known as Lion Mountain is a rock fortress built by king Kashyapa in 5th Century AD. The remains of the royal palace along with the royal swimming pool could be seen on the summit, which is about 300metres above sea level covering about 3 hectares.

Royal pleasure gardens : These are supposed to be one of the earliest extended landscaped gardens in Asia . It is evident that these gardens have been geometrically planned. The ancient hydraulic system, which supplied water to fountains in the garden, was discovered recently and restored by local engineers. Now the fountains are functioning as smoothly as they did 1500 years ago.

Paintings also known as frescoes : These paintings dates back to the 5th Century are located in a depression on the rock face about 100 meters above ground level .It is believed these paintings depict the ''apsaras'' or goddess and some says it represent the lightning and clouds, so fulfilling king Kashyapa's wish to look his palace on the summit as the celestial abode where Kashyapa would rule the country like a god himself.

Mirror Wall: Another distinctive feature of the Sigiriya and it located just below the paintings, surface of this wall is well polished and cover with the writing known as ''Sigiri graffiti'' which are in form of poems. The poems were written by the people who visited place since 7th Century expressing their amazement about the paintings , and about the whole place.

The Lion staircase: This will lead to the summit, and special feature of this is the massive Lion Paw, which is carved out of rock. The brick wall is still preserved in original form. Sigiriya is being currently excavated and restored by UNESCO under the Cultural Triangle Project and according to the sources is most likely to be declared as a wonder of the world.

Polonnaruwa - The medieval capital

Polonnaruwa Gal Viharaya Sleeping Buddha

King "The great Parakramabahu" Ancient Buddha statues in Polonnaruwa

The Island's medieval capital (11th to 13th century AD) situated 216 km North-east of Colombo , rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura . The city in it's day was fortified with concentric walls, beautified with parks, gardens and sanctified by many shrines. The largest of the man-made reservoirs - the "Parakrama Samudra" is larger in size than the Colombo Harbour . Other most important place of the city is ''Gal Viharaya'' where one can see three masterpieces sculptures of The Buddha depicting standing, sitting and reclining postures carved out of rock.

Dambulla - The Rock Temple

Dambulla Rock Temple Buddha statues in Dambulla Cave Temple

Inside the Dambulla Cave Temple

Inside the Dambulla Cave Temple

This place is famous for five rock cave Buddhist temples dating back to 1st Century BC. There are more than 100 statues including the famous reclining Buddha and the frescoes depicting various events in the life of the Buddha.

Kandy - The last kingdom of Sri Lanka

Temple of Tooth Relic A dancer shows his fire eating skills during the Kandy Procession

Gadaladeniya Temple A Cultural show in Kandy

The hill capital of Sri Lanka founded in the 14th Century AD, and the last kingdom of Sri Lankan kings before it fell to the British in 1815. The Temple of the Tooth Relic which houses the sacred Tooth Relic of "Lord Buddha" is the most significant building in the city and is a place of veneration for the Buddhists world over. Kandy is the most visited and photographed city. The journey to Kandy presents the traveller with a cross section of what Sri Lanka has to offer in landscape and scenery. The rice fields and pretty villages depict facets of Sri Lanka . Besides the temple of the tooth relic is the audience hall, which is a fine example of the architecture of the Kandyan era.

Kandy Perahera - The period July-August is the Esala Perahera (Perahera means Procession) season in Sri Lanka . The Sinhalese term 'perahera' means a train of musicians, dancers, acrobats and other performers usually accompanied by a number of elephants parading the streets in celebration of a religious event. (This is a "must see" event.)

Other attractions in Kandy

Peradeniya Royal Botanical garden - No visit to Kandy is complete without seeing the Royal Botanical Gardens. The garden consist of nearly 150 acres dedicated to the flora of Sri Lanka . There are over 110 endemic plants. A striking feature is the avenue of royal palms begun in 1905.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - A home to orphaned Elephants.

Galle - The Dutch Fortress, a world heritage named by United Nations.

Dutch styled structures

Entrance to Dutch Fort in Galle

Rampart of Galle Dutch Fort facing the Indian Ocean

Tilt fishing in Galle

116 Kilometres south of Colombo , this is south Sri Lanka 's most important town. In 1587, the Portugues annexed Galle from it's Singhala kings and built it's first fortress naming it "Santacrusz". It's old world charm appeals as a tourist destination. To this, it looks back to 500 years of nurture under Singhala, Portuguese, Dutch and British stewardship. The town is the first international commerce and trade centre of the island.

Trincomalee

The region's largest city stands on an isthmus with two deep bays to seaward and a fine natural Inner Harbour to the west. It naturally attracted the attention of European colonial powers as early as the first quarter of the 17th century, changing hands repeatedly among the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the British in a series of side-shows to the European wars of the 17th and 18th centuries, before finally falling to a British fleet in 1795. It remained one of the British Empire's most important ports in Asia , and from 1941-45 was the headquarters of the Allied Southeast Asia commander, Lord Louis Mountbatten. Other distinguished British military men to have sojourned here include Sir Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington), who recuperated here in 1799 from fever caught while campaigning against the French and their allies in southern India . In the middle of the Inner Harbour , connected to the isthmus by a narrow causeway, is Powder Island , once a gunpowder magazine for the Royal Navy, but now occupied by the Sri Lankan defence force.

Fort Frederick

The northeast-pointing promontory which separates Dutch Bay from Back Bay was fortified first by the Portuguese, then by their successors and finally by the British, who named it Fort Frederick . At the tip of the promontory is Swami Rock, where a Hindu temple stood until being demolished by the Portuguese.

Trincomalee beaches

Uppuveli is the most conveniently located beach for those staying in Trincomalee, only 6km (4 miles) north of the city centre and accessible by taxi or three-wheeler. Nilaveli is a 4km (2.5-mile) stretch of beach which starts about 16km (10 miles) north of Trincomalee.

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