Where to go in Cultural Triangle

As spectacular, natural landmarks go, the towering rock formation of Sigiriya definitely scores highly. Making it even more mind-boggling is the fortress perched at the apex, the brain-child of King Kasyapa I who ordered construction in the 5th century. It is said that he went on to live in it with his harem of 500 for 20 years, but that’s a story for another day… The entire structure reaches over 200 metres into the sky, towering over the tangled jungle landscapes below, and will elicit a good few gasps from several kilometres away. Views from the top are utterly breath-taking and can be reached by ascending 1,202 delicate steps, past beautiful wall paintings. Start your climb at dawn for the dreamiest of views, or if you don’t fancy the head-rush, take to the skies in a hot-air balloon and appreciate its wonder from the clouds.

Anuradhapura was the ancient monastic capital of Ceylon from the 5th to the 10th century and a place of glory, promise and majesty. Today, it’s still the capital of the region and although not quite as grand as it may once have been, the crumbling temples, monasteries, and forts are still magnificent. Many of the buildings are, in fact, in use today as places of worship and the entire area has a vibrancy to it, magnified by the ever-present hum of Buddhist ceremonies. Sights to take note of include the enormous, brick-built dagobas, ancient symbols of meditation and the tallest in the world, and the old water tanks, a remnant of one of the most ambitious irrigation systems in the world. And probably the most beautiful is the sprawling Bodhi tree, believed to be an offshoot of the very tree under which Buddha became enlightened 2,300 years ago, and revered the world over.