Things To Do in Sri Lanka

4pm is safari time at Minneriya National Park, in the heart of the country. You’ll pile into a 4X4, and then start the bumpy, dusty ride into the wilderness. When you reach the watering hole, you’ll pull up on the grassy banks and wait for the elephants to sneak up on you. Watching them drink, bathe and coolly stroll across the plain is mesmerising.

Catch a glimpse of the gold casket containing Buddha’s gnasher at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth in Kandy. Every day, the heavily-guarded room housing the casket is open to visitors, who bring gifts of fruit and flowers. When you’ve finished touring the temple, the rest of Kandy is worth a wander. Set around a huge manmade lake, it’s a really scenic part of the country.

Watch in awe as the Kandy Lake Dance Troop dazzle you with their moves at the Sri Lankan Cultural Show. This hour-long extravaganza sees 12 folk and traditional dances performed on stage, complete with brightly-coloured costumes and live music. For the grand finale, the action moves outside to the fire pit.

Step out of the sunlight and into the shadows as you head into Sri Lanka’s biggest and best-preserved cave temple complex. But you won’t be greeted by gloomy rocks. Instead, you’ll walk into a dreamlike world of sumptuous statues and beautiful paintings. And even the cavern walls are plastered with gorgeous frescoes. No wonder it’s got a place on the World Heritage Site list. With over 80 caves in total, it’s an underground treasure trove.

Sri Lanka’s ancient capital, this UNESCO site dates back to the 4th century BC. It’s crammed full of monasteries, palaces and statues of Buddhas. And it’s no small scale operation. In fact, it covers an area of over 16 square miles – that’s about the size of central London. Don’t miss the legendary Bo tree near here, which has been guarded 24/7 for the last 2,000 years.

Sri Lanka is often referred to as the Spice Island, due to the abundance of cinnamon, pepper, cloves, nutmeg, mace and vanilla found on its shores. Factor a visit to a spice garden into your holiday itinerary, and you’ll learn all about the fascinating growing and exportation process. You might even be able to sample some of the goods for yourself.

If you want to treat your taste buds to possibly the finest cuppa on the globe, you’ll have to take yourself 6,200 foot above sea level. The island’s famous tea plantations are nestled high in the hills of central Sri Lanka, and lots of them open their doors for tours and tastings. Nuwara Eliya is one of the best-known plantations in these parts. Not only do you get to try the heavenly brews, but the head-spinning views over the pleated hillsides are worth the trip alone.

On the edge of Sri Lanka’s second city, Kandy, this 60-hectare oasis is a real respite from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the country. You can easily while away a few hours here, strolling the grounds and checking out the manicured lawns and overflowing greenhouses. Be sure to pay a visit to the orchid house and the spice garden.