SRI
LANKA
Religious festivals
July to August is the Sinhalese month of Esala which
sees one of the most 
spectacular
Asian religious festivals. The Esala Perahers is in
honour of the Sacred Tooth - a sacred relic of the
Tooth of the Lord Buddha. The Temple of the Tooth
is in Kandy, the old royal capital. Despite many conflicting
stories about its origins and legitimacy, it has become
a nationally significant symbol of sovereignty. Kept
in a gold plated casket in an inner shrine, with sword-carrying
guards to protect it, the Tooth draws streams of pilgrims
who come to venerate the Tooth and to bring gifts
of flowers to show their respect. For ten days during
the festival, thousands of dancers and drummers lead
processions of decorated elephants through the streets.
The festival culminates during the last six nights
ending on the night of the full moon. On your visit
to Sri Lanka be sure to see this magnificent event
and enjoy the exuberant celebrations.
Traditional arranged marriages are still strong in
Sri Lanka but changes in the way of life are having
effects as social networks shrink. Western marketing
methods are being used to advertise for prospective
brides and bridegrooms, with the main criteria for
a suitable match being religion, caste, educational
qualifications, salary and complexion. Women are still
regarded as being in traditional roles - homemaking
featuring strongly as an attribute. 
Tangalla on the south coast is a real get-away-from-it-all
resort of thatched cabanas set in a coconut grove
on a small bay. To enjoy the best of serious relaxing
this is a must - in dramatic contrast to the lush
green interior of the island. Enjoy luxuriating in
the warm soft sea breezes with the sound of the surf
allowing nothing to disturb your siesta.
Sigiriya is a defensive stronghold dating back to
the fifth century when it was the
home of a colourful playboy king who acceded to the
throne by walling up his father in a royal palace.
Standing 600 feet above the surrounding plains on
a rocky outcrop, the luxury apartments are adorned
with frescoes of the king's wives and concubines.
The remaining 18 frescoes of voluptuous women - out
of a harem of 500 - are still attracting visitors
who can distinguish the features of the various Asian
nations from which they originated.
The decorations inside are surpassed by the views
outside from the water gardens that rival Versailles
in their size, symmetry 
and
grandeur. Beyond the gardens lies the jungle with
all its magnificent colours and artificial irrigation
lakes stretching to the distant mountains, blue on
the horizon.
Anuradhapura is one of the two ancient capitals of
Sri Lanka. For around 1400 years it was the centre
of an influential Sinhalese civilisation spreading
its influence form the River Tiber to the Yellow Sea.
Only the stone ruins of the ancient temples remain
today - with the jungle fast encroaching to swallow
them up in the ever changing face of these remote
parts. The abundant and colourful insect and bird
life adds a special charm to the overgrown ruins and
with a little imagination visitors can soon feel as
if they are transported bac
k
through the centuries to the peaceful siestas of the
monks during sleepy afternoons.
Polonnaruwa, 60 miles south, is home to the Gal Vihara
- one of the most magnificent collections of Buddha
statuary in the world. Four images of Buddha are carved
in a long granite hill, the largest being the Standing
Buddha over seven metres high. The most famous is
the reclining Buddha with his eyes closed symbolising
the abandonment of this world for Nirvana.
Nuwara Eliya is by contrast an English resort created
when colonial power was seized from the Dutch in the
18th Century. This is the capital of tea country.
It is situated at over 6000 feet, with sprawling colonial
bungalows in hedge-lined winding lanes and an 18-hole
golf course in the middle of the town. Many visitors
are surprised by the small Presbyterian chapels imported
from 
Scotland
for tea plantation managers that are in the dense
shrubbery of the neat trimmed bushes on the slopes
- along with gaudy Hindu shrines for Tamil workers
from southern India. Other sights in Nuwara Eliya
include a botanical garden, old fashioned hotels and
guesthouses and a racetrack. The former colonial past
of this most English of retreats is exemplified by
the Hill Club, founded in 1876 as a gentlemen's club
and from which women were excluded until the 1920s
when they were allowed into certain mixed areas of
the Club - but only via a separate entrance reserved
for their use. The Club boasts what is reputed to
be the finest golf course in Asia.
