Destinations
10 corners of the island, and what each one is good for.
King Kashyapa built his palace on top of this column of granite in the 470s, complete with frescoes, a mirror-polished wall, and gardens engineered with fountains that still run in the rains. The climb passes through the paws of a colossal stone lion - all that remains of the gateway that gave the rock its name.
A small hill town wrapped in tea, best known for the train that reaches it and the bridge just outside it. Days here are for walking - up Little Adam's Peak for the valley, out to Nine Arch Bridge for the crossing, or nowhere at all with a pot of tea and the view.
The island's best-known national park, and the surest place in the world to see a leopard. Block 1 holds the highest density of the cats anywhere, along with elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and birds by the hundred.
A Dutch fort on a headland, four centuries old and still lived in. Inside the ramparts are cafés, galleries, and lanes of colonial houses; outside are the beaches of the south coast, a short drive in either direction.
The last royal capital, set around a lake in the hills. Its temple holds the tooth relic of the Buddha, and the evening puja draws pilgrims and drummers to the shrine each day.
The highest town on the island, cool enough for open fires and old enough to keep its colonial airs - hedged gardens, a racecourse, and a lake ringed by tea. The British built it as a hill station, and the look has largely stuck.
One of the world's finest natural harbours, watched over by Koneswaram Temple on the cliffs of Fort Frederick. Below the temple, the northeast coast unrolls into long pale beaches - Uppuveli close to town, Nilaveli further north, both far quieter than the south.
A shallow, sheltered bay on the east coast where you can wade out a remarkable distance through warm, waist-deep water. The reef breaks the swell far offshore, so the bay stays calm even when the ocean beyond is moving - ideal for families and slow beach days.
Sri Lanka's surf capital - a crescent of sand and point breaks that draws riders from around the world between May and September. Main Point suits experienced surfers; gentler breaks like Whiskey Point and Peanut Farm are perfect for first lessons.
The cultural heart of Sri Lanka's Tamil north - a peninsula of palmyra palms, causeways and islands that feels distinct from the rest of the island. Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil's golden gopuram anchors the city, and its August festival is one of Asia's great temple celebrations.
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