Cultural Sri Lanka
Just across the Palk Strait from India lies the emerald isle of Sri Lanka. Whilst geographically close to India, Sri Lanka bears little resemblance to her neighbour. The main cultural influence is Buddhism, brought to the island in the 3rd century BC. The archaeological sites at Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa are a record of a golden age of Buddhism dating back to the 3rd Century BC, with their complexes of temples, stupas, royal palaces and relic houses surrounded by the jungle. In the meantime, the Tamils, who had migrated from Southern India, had formed their own kingdom on the north of the island on the Jaffna peninsula.
Today the most sacred site is the well known Temple of the Tooth at the former capital, Kandy, where the Buddha tooth relic currently resides. The colourful Esala Perehera festival takes place here each summer. Over 10 days the city comes alive with processions of colourful and elaborately decorated elephants, fire dancers, whip crackers and stilt walkers. Its soundtrack is a cacophony of percussionists pounding traditional drums, dancers clanging finger cymbals and the rhythmic thumping of mock sword battles. It is a fantastic spectacle and not to be missed if travelling to the island in the summer.
More recent influences have been from Europe, notably the Portuguese and the Dutch who left their mark in Galle Fort in particular, with its narrow cobbled streets, churches and wooden shuttered grand Dutch homes, and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The British brought tea to the cool green hills, and their abandoned planter bungalows dot the landscape, many of which have been converted into beautiful hotels, offering a respite from the heat in the plains below.
Have a look at our other ideas of Cultural Holidays to Jordan and St Petersburg. To find out more about holidays to Sri Lanka, email Oli or call 0207 359 3938
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