Sri Lanka, the tropical island in the Indian Ocean is a paradise for tourists and Colombo is the pulsating centre. Further north, in the geographical centre of the island, is the so-called "Cultural Triangle", with the temple complex of Mihintale, the "birthplace" of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Nearby is Anuradhapura. A little to the south is Habarana.

Kassapa had the Simha Giri fortress built on a steeply towering monolith of gneiss. An iron spiral staircase leads to the pictures of the Cloud Girls painted on the rock face. At the very top, he had his palace complex built on 1.5 hectares on a sloping plateau. Polonnaruwa is Sri Lanka's second metropolis of the old kingdom Rajarata. Nearby is Kaudulla National Park and in Dambulla the rock caves of the sacred shrine can be found. Matale is located in the middle of a hilly landscape. Peradeniya with its botanical garden is already close to Kandy. Kanda or today Kandy, the cultural capital of the island is one of the most beautiful royal cities. The Tooth Temple is the most important pilgrimage site in the country.

The train ride to Rambukkana is like travelling back in time. Pinnawela, the world's first and so far only elephant orphanage was built in 1975. On the drive in the highlands, the road winds through typical forests and the hilly and mountainous landscape covered with green tea plants. It is significantly cooler and here thrives the world-famous Ceylon highland tea. Nuwara Eliya, the "Little England" is reached. A Victorian-style mountain village.

Yala National Park is located on the south-east coast of the island and is the oldest nature reserve in the country. Still further south is Tissamaharama, once one of the royal cities, from where the legendary Sinhalese kingdom of Ruhuna was ruled 2.200 years ago.

The "Ritipane", the unique stilt fishermen, look like they are from the picturesque Stone Age. They sit on a pole high above the breakwaters while fishing.

Soon we reach the coastal town of Galle with the historic fort. Our last stop is the fishing village of Balapitiya, where a small museum informs about this region.