From caves containing remnants of primitive man to the splendors of ancient capitals, Sri Lanka offers history lovers a profusion of heritage and cultural attractions, including seven World Heritage sites (the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the ancient city of Polonnaruva, the rock fortress Sigiriya, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, the sacred city of Kandy, the old Town of Galle and its fortifications, and the Golden Temple of Dambulla).

Excavations at the Beli Lena caves have revealed that men lived on the island more than 2,000 years ago. The indigenous Veddha population in Mahiyanganaya is also a living testament to this earlier people.

The ancient dagobas in the sacred city of Anuradhapura are a must-see for lovers of history and architecture. The breathtaking dagoba Ruwanweli Seya and the sacred bo-tree Sri Maha Bodhi—possibly the oldest tree in the world—are two of the most revered sites for Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

The ancient city of Polonnaruwa, with its famed Gal Viharaya, or stone temple, is almost Anuradhapura’s equal in history and architecture.

Just south of Anuradhapura lies the citadel in the sky, Sigiriya, probably the most fantastic display of ancient Sri Lankan architecture. The 182-meter-high rock fortress is also famous for its exceptional frescoes, similar to the Ajantha frescoes of India, and the Mirror Wall, which consists of poems and sentences carved by visitors centuries ago.

The hill capital of Kandy, the last stronghold of the ancient Sinhala kings against the British Empire, features the most sacred of all Buddhist shrines—the Temple of the Tooth, or the Dalada Maligawa, which holds the sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. Thousands of Buddhist devotees flock daily to the Dalada Maligawa, which also hosts the world-famous Esala Perahera, one of the most colorful cultural pageants in Sri Lanka.