Setting foot in Polonnaruwa it will soon be apparent that this ancient city is as mystical as it sounds. The air is filled with a sense of mystery and wonder as one marvels at the royal palace of King Parakramabahu The Great, ancient temples and colossal Buddha statues that display architecture and intricate workmanship unique to this city.  

The mind is stirred and the spirit transcends as one climbs the world famous Sigiriya Rock, a world heritage site also known as the Rock Fortress in the sky’ the pleasure palace of the controversial king kasyapa. The Sigiriya frescos are a hidden treasure amongst an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures, even a mere glance is a priceless experience for the sheer artistic genius and the passion of the artist for life still echoes through its rock canvas. The beauty of the Apsaras are only rivaled by nature itself as the view from the top of mountains, thick green jungle, the sky and the sea merge to create a resplendent artwork.  

The Daladamaligawa with its real golden roof is the temple of the sacred tooth relic, it occupies a place of pride and devotion in Kandy, the center of Sinhalese culture and Buddhism. The Kandy Lake and the Royal botanical gardens at Peradeniya create an air of romance for its visitors as they stroll by its avenue of spices, royal palm trees and exotic orchids. Kandyan dancers and the Kandy Perehera, a colourful and exuberant cultural festival lit up by flame torches carried by trained fire acrobats featuring elephants in clothes rivaling the latest in designer wear worn down the runways in Paris is nothing less than a heady visual treat. 

 Pinnawela lets one see elephants in a natural habitat as they are rescued as calves and taken care of in a vast sanctuary. Get acquainted with the majestic yet playful nature of this creature, the baths and feeds are a treat to watch. 

Heading up hill to Nuwara Eliya one witnesses reflections of British Sri Lanka. Visiting Tea factories, sampling a variety of freshly brewed Ceylon Tea and scoring a hole in one at the most picturesque golf course in the whole of Asia are all part of the experience. Hikkaduwa and Galle by the Sea are scenic villages with hidden treasures of ancient temples and sculptures that create an ambience of old world charm. Heading back to Colombo the traveler will witness more colonial influence amidst emerging Sri Lanka as she reaches out to capture the eyes, the mind and perhaps even the heart.