Introducing Sri Lanka
Long before Marco Polo declared Sri Lanka the finest island of its size, this beautiful country found its way into Greek, Egyptian and Indian literature, where it was known as Taprobane, Serendib or Lanka. The Sri Lanka mystique perseveres, unfurling before the senses as soon you arrive: the heavy warm air, the rich green foliage, the luxuriant swirls of the Sinhalese alphabet, the multicoloured Buddhist flags, and the kaleidoscope of saris, fruits, jewellery and spices on display in the markets.
For a small island, Sri Lanka offers a truly amazing variety of attractions. The coasts are studded with palm-lined beaches, some with world-class surf breaks. The Kandyan dances, elephant-led festival processions or any temple on poya (full moon) days will delight culture hounds, as will viewing the stone-cut Buddhist art and towering dagobas (stupas) of the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Head into the Hill Country and the heat of the plains will fade away to reveal rolling green hills carpeted with tea plantations. Or take a 4WD trek through well-preserved national parks inhabited by elephants, leopards, monkeys, crocodiles and rare birdlife. Sinharaja Forest Reserve is so important to the island's ecosystem it's been named a Unesco World Heritage Site. Also on Unesco's heritage list is the incredible fort town of Galle, a perfectly preserved time capsule of Dutch colonial history.
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Medaketiya Beach. After the tsunami, tourism in Sri Lanka is down overall by an estimated 40%. Worst hit are the beach areas, but the beaches themselves, such as this one, were little affected. The bungalows behind this beach are another matter; most were wiped out, but many will rebuild and others on higher ground were not significantly affected. With accommodation available and food markets revived, tourists can again visit these now uncrowded beaches, knowing the money they spend will inject much nee
- Greg Elms
- Lonely Planet photographer
