The island of Sri Lanka lies off the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean, a verdant paradise that is the cradle of the Buddhist faith. Apart from hundreds of miles of the world's most beautiful palm-fringed beaches, Sri Lanka boasts no fewer than seven World Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO, ranging from sacred cities, palaces and cliff-top citadels to colonial strongholds, spanning nearly 3,000 years of history. To complete the picture of perfection, Sri Lanka is situated just three degrees north of the Equator, meaning the weather is constantly hot, humid and tropical. Sunny skies are the order of the day; even in the brief monsoon season there is always a daily spell of sunshine.

There has, however, been trouble in paradise. Modern Sri Lanka has experienced indigenous terrorism, particularly in the north of the island and the metropolis of Colombo city, but the beautiful beaches and towns of the south and southeast coast have been largely unaffected. Anyone travelling to Sri Lanka is advised to acquaint themselves with the current political and security situation before embarking on their visit. To compound matters, the island's tourism infrastructure is still recovering from the effects of the catastrophic tsunami, which devastated coastal areas in December 2004.

Adventurous visitors who enjoy some mystery and wonderment will, however, marvel at the ancient sites of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Panduwasnuwara, where the remains of a great civilisation are to be seen. The cities of Colombo and Kandy show the influence of the foreign colonial powers that fought for control over the strategic, lush island in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Dutch-inspired buildings stand cheek to jowl with Victorian British mansions and Portuguese fortifications.

Sri Lanka offers leisure and pleasure opportunities at a gentle pace; this is no package holiday destination but rather one to be savoured by discerning travellers who enjoy discovering their own diversions.

Sri Lanka National Museum

Address: Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha Colombo

Admission: LKR 500 (adults), LKR 300 (children). Daily 9am-5pm. Closed Fridays.

Telephone: (0)12 694 366

Pettah

Address: Colombo

Admission: Dutch House Museum open daily 9am to 5pm; closed Fridays

Colombo Zoological Gardens

Address: In Dehiwala, south of the city Colombo

Admission: LKR 2,000 (adults), LKR 1,000 (children). Daily 8:30am-6pm.

Telephone: (0)11 271 2751

Colombo Hotels

Address: Grand Oriental, 2 York Street; Galle Face Hotel, 2 Galle Road; Mount Lavinia Hotel, 100 Hotel Road, Mount Lavinia Colombo

Telephone: 011 232 0320 (Grand Oriental); 011 254 1010 (Galle Face Hotel); 011 271 1711 (Mount Lavinia Hotel)

Anuradhapura

Address: Cultural Triangle

Admission: Daily 8am-5pm.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

Address: Rambukkana Road, Kegalla Colombo

Admission: Daily 8:30am to 5:45pm; feeding at 8am daily, and bathing times are 10am and 2pm

Telephone: 035 65804

Adam's Peak

Address: Colombo

Kandy

Address: Cultural Triangle

Telephone: Heritage Committee: 081 222 4935

Trincomalee

Address: Colombo

Star Fort

Address: Matara

Admission: Daily 9am-5pm.

Wewurukannala Temple

Address: Dikwella Matara

Admission: Daily from dawn to dusk.

Yala National Park

Address: Matara

Galle

Address: Matara

Beaches

Address: Matara

Sigiriya

Address: Cultural Triangle

Admission: Daily 8.30am to 6pm

Dambulla Cave Temples

Address: Cultural Triangle

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

Address: Cultural Triangle

Admission: LKR 100

Horton Plains National Park and World's End

Address: Colombo

White Water Rafting