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XVI maltatoday, Sunday, 11 January 2015 Travel The Pearl of the Indian Ocean Sri Lanka A small island off the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka is the centre of the Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times. The natural beauty of Sri Lanka has led the country to be referred to as The Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Lush tropical forests, white beaches, diverse landscapes with rich biodiversity and a friendly, multicultural community make Sri Lanka the perfect spot for a holiday. What to do? Sri Lanka is home to many national parks, full of trumpeting elephants, monkeys and peacocks, but World's End is the only one where visitors are permitted to walk on their own – on designated trails only. The entire walk is 9.5km and will usually take around three hours at a lei- surely pace and passes through the 2km stretch of Baker's Falls. Visit one of Sri Lanka's principal viharas (Buddhist complexes) in Kandy, Asgiriya Maha Vihara. From a historical perspective, many of the rulers of the Kandyan Kingdom contributed to the development of the complex and it was the monks that safeguarded the Tooth Relic during troublesome times. According to legend the sacred tooth was snatched from the flames of the Buddha's funer- al pyre in 543BC and smuggled into Sri Lanka where it was hidden in the hair of a princess. The tooth gradually became a symbol of sovereignty and it was believed that whoever had custody of the tooth had the right to rule the island. Take a stroll around the Fort Walls at dusk among the locals. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in 1588 by the Portuguese and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century. The oldest breadfruit tree is said to be found within the fort. The Dutch introduced the tree to Sri Lanka hoping it would make the locals sick, however they found a neutraliser to breadfruit – coconut – and cre- ated a delicacy. It is now grown throughout the country. Check out the sacred bodhi tree, the Sri Maha Bodhi. It serves as a reminder of the force that insipired the creation of all the great buildings at Anuradhapura. The tree has been tended to by a succession of guardians for 2,000 years. Though there are many trees, the oldest and holiest of trees is on the topmost platform, with ancient steps leading up to it and a modern golden rail- ing, festooned with prayer flags. Where to stay? Stay in a trendy villa, The Cove, in the quieter areas of Negombo, five minutes away from Negombo town and just a 20 minute drive from the airport. Every bedroom in the three suite villa has access to a balcony with views of the bay while the patio doors downstairs open directly onto the beach. This is the perfect spot to recover from the long flight and wind down into holiday mode. If you're after more than just a hotel, book a few nights at The Galadari Hotel, www.galadari. lk, in the heart of Colombo. Aside from offering superior accommodation, this five-star hotel houses some of the best restaurants in Sri Lanka. Indulge in flavours from India, Arabia and Cali- fornia, or simply stop at the pastry shop, Café 64 for some delicious cakes, pastries, cookies and all things yummy. Business and leisure travellers will find the ideal getaway at the Renuka Hotel, www.renu- kahotel.com. Just a stone's throw from the major attractions of Colombo, the hotel is situated in a quiet residential area, the Renuka has the best of both worlds – bustling city life and a quiet getaway. How to get there? Emirates offer regular flights to Sri Lanka, with a stopover in Dubai. Flights departing Malta on 22 January and returning on 5 January were priced at €928.73 including taxes, at the time of going to print. Total flying time is approximately 12 hours. Sri Lanka is the centre of the Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times The Dutch Fort Walls of Galle were built by the Portuguese in 1588 and then heavily fortified by the Dutch The Temple of the Tooth relic houses a sacred tooth snatched from a burning Buddha's funeral pyre and has come to represent sovereignty of the nation The natural beauty of Sri Lanka has led the island to be dubbed The Pearl of the Indian Ocean