Tea plantation and factories in Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya, found at 1,868 m (6,128 ft), is known by many as the heart of the Sri Lanka hills, it dates back as far as the 1800s and still has the appear and feel of a traditional English town. It is the origin of Ceylon Tea and there are magnificent green tea plantations covering the whole area. You are welcomed into the working tea plantations, where you can learn about the history, observe tea being produced at a tea factory, and you can even sample some genuine Ceylon tea if you so desire.
Temple of the Tooth
Kandy city houses the Temple of the Tooth which is a holy historical site where you will find the most sacred remains known to Buddhism – Lord Buddha’s tooth. Buddhists from around the world come here just to see the temple of the tooth and while they are here they visit the Kandy Lake where renowned Sri Lankan architecture can be found, for example the Kings Palace and the Queens Palace. There are also other significant sights to see. So spoilt for choice.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya is a fantastic rock fortress built by the ruling monarch of the 5th century. You may have heard mention of the Lion Rock, this is just another name for Sigiriya. This feature is a great example of the construction methods and engineering of the time. The rock rises up to a height of 200m, so you will need to climb a little the route takes you through the wonderful forest and I must say that the view is unbelievable – You can see many remains of the ancient city.
Anuradhapura City
The city of Anuradhapura is the very oldest city in Sri Lanka’s Golden Triangle, it was established back in 5 BC! Today it is now viewed as a very important cultural destination. Anuradhapura used to be Sri Lanka’s capital city, you can probably imagine the elaborate royal palaces, temples covered in jewels and monasteries everywhere. But you don’t need to leave it fully to your imagination, you can still see the remains today.
Polonnaruwa City
Unfortunately Anuradhapura was invaded in the 10th century, so at this point Polonnaruwa stepped in as the capital city. The city was developed into a wonderful place with a city wall, this was facilitated by King Parakramabu during his reign in the 11th century. He also built a massive reservoir called the Parakrama Samudra, which can be seen there today, along with the ruins of large monasteries, beautiful temples, remarkable palaces and incredible Buddhist statues.