Sri Lanka's recorded history dates back to almost three thousand years, back to the advent of Buddhism. Today, what's left of this rich and glorious past are vast ruins of ancient kingdoms, palaces, temples, tanks and other engineering feats that are all but lost to the modern world. These ruins stand as a solid testimony to the wisdom and values held by civilisations dating back to the 3rd century AD. Most of these ruins are found within the cultural triangle formed by the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Kandy.
Anuradhapura is famous for its impressive stupas and the sacred Sri Maha Bodhiya, a sapling of the tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment over 2500 years ago, and arguably the oldest chronicled tree in the world. Polonnaruwa, another ancient city, is well known for ancient ruins blending South Indian cultures with Sinhala artistry, rock shrines like the Gal Viharaya, the Vatadage and the lake known as the 'Sea of Parakrama'.
Sigiriya, a world heritage site, known as the magnificent 'Fortress in the Sky' is a marvel of ancient architecture and engineering, with swimming pools, beautifully landscaped gardens, stunning frescoes, mirror walls, weaving pathways and a Lion's Paw entrance. Dambulla is another popular historic site famous for its rock temple, which includes an ancient monastery full of priceless artifacts, paintings and sculptures dating thousands of years back. A climb to the top of this rock, especially during dawn, will reveal the most spectacular sunrise ever, along with a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountain and valleys.