On top of a prehistoric volcanic plug that dominates the surrounding landscape, the ancient fort of Sigiriya is thought to have been built by King Kasyapa in the 5th Century AD. 

On the south western tip of the island, Galle is a classic example of a European fortified city in southern Asia. Its impressive fort was built by the Dutch in the 18th century and the wealth of colonial architecture has caused the fort to be declared a World Heritage Site. 

In the lush tropical heart of the island, Kandy was a stronghold of the Sinhalese kings until it fell to the British in 1815 and became a centre of the tea trade. But its cultural heritage far pre-dates the British tea drinkers: in the Dalda Maligawa, or Temple of the Tooth, one of Buddha's teeth is kept as a sacred relic, putting it among the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.

High among the hilly tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya, the tiny hill resort of Hatton makes an excellent base for exploring the surrounding country.