Dambulla
Five cave shrines in use since the 1st century BC. Cave 2 has the finest painted ceiling in Sri Lanka.
Kandy
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and the Kandyan dance tradition. Kandy earns its place in any itinerary, however short.
Polonnaruwa
The Gal Vihara, where four Buddhas were carved from a single granite rock face, is the centrepiece. The Royal Palace ruins, the Sacred Quadrangle and the Vatadage sit within comfortable cycling distance.
Anuradhapura
Founded in the 4th century BC, Anuradhapura holds the Sri Maha Bodhi, planted in 288 BC and the oldest documented living tree on earth. A specialist guide turns 2,500 years into a coherent story.
Sigiriya
The hydraulic water gardens at the base are engineering from the 5th century AD. The frescoes have survived 1,500 years and the summit view at first light is everything the photographs suggest and more.