Serendip , the Arab name for Sri Lanka , means full of surprises , which this island certainly is ; every corner you turn reveals something new . A glimpse through Sri Lanka ’ s heritage reveals ancient civilisations that were ahead of their time and a heady mix of cultural influences that now shape a modern Sri Lankan culture with Buddhism at its core . It is little wonder that Sri Lanka has no less than eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites waiting to be explored .

HERITAGE The heritage of Sri Lanka falls into two distinct aspects ; the ancient civilisation dating back to hundreds of years BC and the colonial heritage which has a more recent history , from the 10th to the 20th centuries .

ANCIENT CIVILISATION This central area of Sri Lanka , approximately 120km from Colombo , is home to three ancient capitals ( Sigiriya , Anuradhapura , Polonnaruwa ) and Dambulla Temple , spanning 2,500 years of history . By 377BC , the capital city of Anuradhapura had been established complete with the first man-made reservoir . In 246BC , the son of an Indian Buddhist Emperor arrived in Sri Lanka to spread Buddha ’ s teachings , successfully converting Anuradhapura ’ s king on a nearby hill at Mihintale . A collection of Buddha ’ s relics were presented to the king , including a sapling from the sacred bo tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment . The tree grown from that same sapling still stands in Anuradhapura today . Buddhism spread quickly and Anuradhapura became an important centre for Buddhist learning in Asia . In 313AD , one of the Buddha ’ s teeth was brought to Anuradhapura , to be housed centuries later in Kandy ’ s Temple of the Tooth . Apart from a brief interlude when the capital moved to Sigiriya Rock Fortress , Anuradhapura remained the seat of Sinhalese power until 993 . The new capital at Polonnaruwa became one of the greatest cities in Asia until the 1400s when it moved to Kotte , near Colombo . Whether you stay for a week or just a day in the Cultural Triangle , the rewards are immense .

COLONIAL HERITAGE From the 10th century , trading posts sprung up for Arab and Chinese traders attracted by gems and spices such as pepper , cinnamon , and cloves . By the time the Portuguese arrived in the 1500s to colonise the island , Colombo and Galle were important ports . The Portuguese legacy lives on in their descendants and in traditions such as ‘ baila ’ dancing , lace-making and the catholic faith . Fort Frederick built by the Portuguese in Trincomalee contains many interesting colonial buildings . The Dutch East India Company took over many of the settlements in the 1650s and had built some impressive coastal fortified towns by the time they ceded to the British in 1796 . Kandy was the last of the central kingdoms to surrender to the British in 1815 and the Empire took full control of the renamed ‘ Ceylon ’, until Sri Lanka obtained independence in 1948 . The ‘ British Era ’ saw the arrival of British-style planters ’ bungalows , landscaped gardens , cricket , strawberries and the recreational hill resort of Nuwara Eliya . A legacy of large scale plantations , railways , roads , government offices and palatial hotels were left behind . For Sri Lanka , the most important legacy of British rule is undoubtedly Ceylon tea ( although some will say it is cricket !) For a taste of Colonial times , stay at Amangalla in Galle , St Andrews in Nuwara Eliya , Mahaweli Reach in Kandy or Regency at the Galle Face in Colombo .

CULTURE Experiencing the fascinating cultural aspects of Sri Lanka provides one of the most rewarding reasons to visit this country . From arts , crafts , architecture through music , dance , food and drink to sport , Sri Lanka ’ s culture is distinctive and inviting .

ARCHITECTURE Geoffrey Bawa is Sri Lanka ' s most prolific and influential architect . His work has had a tremendous impact throughout Asia . Bawa was a genius at blending buildings with their natural environment , interconnecting outside spaces with the inside . You can see his work at the Parliament of Sri Lanka and hotels such as Lunuganga ( his own estate in Bentota that he designed over a 40-year period ), Club Villa , the Villa Bentota , the Heritance Ahungalla , Jetwing Lighthouse , and Heritance Kandalama . You can also enjoy a guided tour of Bawa ’ s Colombo residence , still as he left it .

ARTS AND CRAFTS Among the most historic forms of Sri Lankan art are the rock paintings found on the Sigiriya rock fortress and the religious paintings found in Dambulla ’ s cave temples and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy . Villages and towns boast their own skilled artisans : lace-makers , woodcarvers , brass-etchers , reed weavers , batik painters , mask-makers and jewellers . The National Crafts Council runs centres in Battaramulla ( Colombo ), Sigiriya and Galle , where you can learn more about ( and buy ) traditional Sri Lankan crafts .

MUSIC AND DANCE Sri Lankan music has been influenced over time by Buddhism , colonisation and Indian culture . The Portuguese brought ukuleles , guitars and cantiga ballads with them as well as a style of music called baila . Kandyan dance is one of the most popularly seen dances . This sacred form incorporates elements of Hinduism and

Buddhism , elaborate costumes , rhythm and mime . The dancers are a highlight of the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival ( July / August ), but can also be seen in cultural performances in the city all year round .

RELIGION All around Sri Lanka you will see Buddhist temples , brightly painted Hindu Kovils , mosques and churches that give a glimpse into the spiritual vibrancy of Sri Lankan life . The island is particularly fascinating during religious festivals where everyone seems to join in . Buddhism is the major religion in Sri Lanka and some believe that Lord Buddha visited Sri Lanka three times during his lifetime . The most important Buddhist sanctuaries to be explored are at the top of Sri Pada Mountain ( Adam ’ s Peak ) in Hill Country , the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and Anuradhapura , Mihintale and the Dambulla cave temples in the Cultural Triangle .

CULINARY DELIGHTS Sri Lankans prepare innumerable curries , delicately flavoured with spices such as saffron , chillies and the indigenous cinnamon and cloves . The customary ‘ Sri Lankan rice and curry ’ features on every menu , although the contents of each of the 5-9 dishes may vary considerably depending on the season and region . As Sri Lanka has a vast coastline , fish also plays a major part on the coast , while multi-cultural influences bring an array of mouth-watering dishes .

CEYLON TEA Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya , when a few plants were brought from China . More were introduced from Assam in 1839 . In 1867 a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on 8 hectares of forest land , in the Loolcondura Estate . The tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London in 1873 . Tea is a vital money-earner for Sri Lanka today which produces over 260 million kilos of tea annually , mostly exported . To immerse yourself in the tea experience , stay at the Ceylon Tea Trails Bungalows or Jetwing Warwick Gardens .

CRICKET Cricket is the national sport and played on any spare patch of level-ish ground . The national team is one of ten test playing nations . It is often possible to watch local and international matches being played ( at grounds such as Galle , Colombo and Kandy ), or have a go at bowling yourself in a beach game with the locals . It is common for businesses to close when big matches played by the national team are televised .

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