Sri Lanka, heritage sites, one awesome trip

One of the better ideas you can have this year is to take a long overdue family vacation. An even better idea? Checking out Sri Lanka this year.

Why Sri Lanka? Because it has verdant landscapes, the best food and the warmest people. It is fairly easy to go from spot to spot and discover new surprises at every turn – the country has every prospect that pleases the senses. You can go on a spiritual retreat or shop for local textiles and spices. Or you can simply be a beach bum and enjoy your honeymoon there. It is little wonder that many couples include Sri Lanka when booking an international honeymoon package, because the country affords privacy and warmth all around.

However, there is one aspect of Sri Lanka that not many visitors are aware of at first. The country is home to several UNESCO certified world heritage sites, and each is worth looking at a million times over. From temples to forests and from entire towns to sacred cities, there are as many as eight world heritage sights to explore. These are guaranteed to take you back in history and refresh your knowledge about the country’s ancient heritage. Some of these sites are protected highlands that will take your breath away with their stunning beauty! So be sure to include these sites in your tour itinerary when you book your Sri Lanka visa.

In no particular order, then, here are Sri Lanka’s eight UNESCO world heritage sites:

1. Galle. This town was the country’s oldest port and it developed into a prosperous town by the 18^th Century. Post this period, the British arrived in the country and developed another harbour at Colombo. Today, it is still remembered as the country’s first centre of trade and commerce.
   
   
2. Anuradhapura. This city bears the marks of Sri Lanka’s ancient heritage even today – history buffs will revel in the many ancient monasteries and archaeological sites present here. It was the country’s first official political capital and still bears the hallmarks of religion, culture and historical social life.
   
3. Cave temple of Dambulla. Temples are always a mirror to the yesteryear culture, and this one is revered as the country’s first seat of Buddhism. It boasts of the largest cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, several of which still exhibit statues and paintings depicting Buddha. There are a staggering 153 Buddha statues in stone, apart from carvings and idols of a few Hindu gods, famous kings and queens.
   
4. Central highlands. If you’re attracted to flora and fauna, this is the site for you. It boasts of varied species of plants and animals, bolstered by the presence of the Horton Plains National Park, the Knuckles Conservation Forest and the Peak Wilderness Protected Area Zone. You might need a couple of days to see everything!
   
5. Sinharaja Forest. Don’t be fooled by the name: this site is not known for lions. However, it boasts of the largest biosphere reserve in the continent and comprises of a virgin rainforest housing rare amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. There are also several exotic types of flowers and herbs.
   
6. Polonnaruwa. This city was one of ancient Sri Lanka’s political capitals till wars over succession undermined its status. However, it was touted to be one of the most beautifully designed cities of the ancient world, with excellent town planning principles employed while setting it up. Even today, it bears many marks of its glorious history – you can find many archaeological remains here that bear testimony to its historical status and wealth.
   
7. Sigiriya. The most astonishing feature of this ancient fortress city is its breath-taking castle built by the powerful King Kashyapa in the 5^th Century. The castle is a feat of engineering and architectural planning, and it overlooks a stunning Lion Gate and wall of frescoes. In the same complex is situated a smaller palace that was built to repel invaders. Do visit this especially if you work in the construction/architecture/interior design industry to get pointers on how ancient builders constructed structures on a large scale.
   
8. Dalada Maligawa/Temple of the Sacred Tooth. The most special part of this temple is the ‘tooth relic’ of the Buddha. This tooth was jealously guarded by the ruling kings, since it was believed that those owning the tooth would automatically own the land. This site is difficult to access owing to its location in the mountains. When you visit, do drop by on a Wednesday to witness the ceremonial bathing of the tooth.