Sri Lanka,place by place

Sri Lanka is small enough to cross in a day, yet its regions can feel like different countries. The dry plains of the north-central province hold the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the rock fortress of Sigiriya and the cave temple at Dambulla. Climb into the central highlands and the air cools around Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella, where tea estates wrap the slopes and the train winds between hill stations.

To the south and east lie the national parks — Yala, Udawalawe and, in the north-west, Wilpattu — and a coastline that runs from the ramparts of Galle Fort to the surf of Arugam Bay. The far north around Jaffna has a culture, cuisine and pace all of its own.

Our destination guides cover six regions and six stand-out places. Each explains why to go, what to do and how it fits into a wider route, with links to the tours and 3-night regional experiences that include it.