Welcome to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island of many names – all magically evocative of a tropical land of exotic spices, cool misty highlands, sun-soaked beaches, age-old temples and lost cities. To the ancient Greeks it was Taprobane; to the Arabs, Serendib; to later European conquerors, Ceilao, Ceylan or Ceylon; and in Sinhala tongue of most of its own people, Sri Lanka – ‘Lanka the Blessed’.  
A teardrop-shaped island cast adrift in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is filled with cultural and natural treasures. Indians, Portuguese, Dutch and British have all left their marks here, making for a delightful mix of ancient cities, monuments and atmospheric colonial architecture.
At the same time, palm-fringed beaches are never far away and lush mountainous greenery beckons inland. It's clear to see why Marco Polo proclaimed Sri Lanka to be one of the best islands in the world.

Wildlife and Elephants

Spy on Sri Lanka's abundant wildlife (much of which is found nowhere else on earth) in the country's various sanctuaries and national parks. Birdwatching is superb, and as well as the famous elephants there are also leopards, deer, bears, wild boar, porcupines and monkeys to see. Ride an elephant; it'll make you feel like Asian royalty rolling from side to side and looking down on the passing scenery.  Wild elephants can be seen in sizeable numbers in several national parks, and there is a well-known elephant orphanage at Pinnawela.
Explore Sri Lanka's most popular wildlife-viewing destination, Yala National Park, on the southeast coast. It is home to the world's highest density of leopards, as well as a wealth of other species - from elephants to birds.

Watersports

Enjoy sunbathing and swimming along Sri Lanka's 1,600km (1,000 miles) of beautiful palm-shaded beaches. Good resorts include Beruwela, Bentota, Mount Lavinia Negombo and Hikkaduwa. Meanwhile Unawatuna in Galle claims to be among the top 15 beaches in the world.
Go diving or snorkelling to glimpse the country's thriving coral reefs and their myriad multi-hued inhabitants. Colourful diving spots include Bentota and Hikkaduwa, which also have underwater caves and shipwrecks to explore.
Catch some waves surfing: recommended locations include Hikkaduwa, Midigama and particularly Arugam Bay (near Potuvil), which also offers waterskiing and yachting. Alternatively, try your hand at windsurfing; facilities are located in Bentota, Beruwela, Kalutara and Negomb.
Head to the village of Kitulgala, tucked away amid ravines in the hill country, to enjoy both beginners-standard and high-adrenaline white-water rafting.

Hiking and Biking

Go hiking or biking through diverse landscapes, especially the rainforest and cloudforest of the hilly interior. Popular trekking destinations include Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka's highest point at 2,243m (7,358ft), World's End in the highlands, near Nuwara Eliya, and the Knuckles wilderness area near Kandy.
Visit Kandy, a picturesque town that was the last stronghold of the Kandyan Kings. It is now a cultural sanctuary where age-old customs, arts, crafts, rituals and ways of life are well preserved. Its fabulous UNESCO-listed Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa) shelters the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha.

Festivals and villages

Immerse yourself in one of Sri Lanka's many colourful festivals. Most involve huge processions of glittering elephants, dancers and drummers. The best-known is Esala Perahera in Kandy; Vel Festival in Colombo is also spectacular.
See Sri Lanka's oldest and best-known fishing village, Negombo, also a popular resort near Katunayake International Airport. It stands on a strand separating the sea from a lagoon. The seafood here, particularly the shellfish, is superb.