17. Good-looking rocks
Considered a must-visit attraction, Sigiriya is an abandoned palace (its ruins are almost entirely eradicated) at the top of a soaring, gargantuan bolder. Those with vertigo should avoid as the ascent is up an extremely steep, extremely narrow staircase. Traces of ancient frescoes are still visible on some walls, and two lion's paws, hewn from the rock and dating from the 5th century, are a unique design feature placed at the base of the final stairwell.
The ascent up Sigiriya is vertigo-inducing
18. Seaplane to heaven
A growing network of seaplane routes provide flights from teeming Colombo to the country's lush interior and the ocean-fringed jungles on the south of the island.
19. South-east Asia at its most chilled
While not quite as sleepy as Laos, the pace of life in Sri Lanka is sedate in comparison to other popular tourist destinations in Asia, making it a good introduction to the region for travellers.
20. Virgin rainforest walks
Sinharaja rainforest is a beautiful natural heritage site – the country’s last viable area of primary rainforest - and still not well known. You can go for treks and swim in the waterfalls but keep an eye out for snakes and spiders among the varied plant life.
21. Genteel full-moon festivals
Poya festivals celebrate the full moon with Buddhist calm, the Poson Poya in June being a particularly elegant affair, where people dress all in white, make pilgrimages to Mihintale – a sacred mountain peak - and light pretty lanterns.
22. Kite festivals
Galle Face beach is a great place to fly a kite – or watch others take to the skies - on a blustery day.
23. See Buddha - or Adam's - footprint
The top of Adam's Peak is thought holy by Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and the Veddas, Sri Lanka's early inhabitants, who all believe the imprint of a footprint in the rock here belonged to a very important person.
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