The Cultural TriangleOnce known as the 'Land of Kings', the CulturalTriangle is an extraordinary region with no lessthan four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. North of Kandy, the area includes the ancientcapitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, thecave temples at Dambulla and the mighty rockfortress of Sigiriya. For any visitor with an interestin history or Buddhism it is well worth basingyourself in one of these locations for at leastthree nights to explore the area. There are plenty of good hotels and all have swimmingpools, at their cooling best after a day's exploring.Often overlooked amidst the cultural treasures is the area's natural wealth, with wild elephant in abundance.PolonnaruwaThe second Buddhist capital after Anuradhapura,Polonnaruwa is more accessible and betterpreserved than its predecessor. The numeroussites are grouped in clusters enabling the visitor toeasily imagine life in the ancient city. The palaces,royal buildings and Buddhist shrines boast somecaptivating examples of master craftsmanship, themost notable being the Gal Vihara ThervadaBuddhist Temple's beautiful images of thereclining and meditating Buddha carved into therock face. The level of detail in the carvings andtheir well preserved condition makes it hard tobelieve they are almost 1,000 years old.Anuradhapura and MihintaleAnuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first Buddhist capital, is not merely an ancient relic but remains adevout holy city centred round the sacred Bodhi tree, believed to be grown from a cuttingtaken from the original Bodhi tree under whichthe Buddha gained enlightenment. Pilgrimsdressed in white mingle with brightly-robedBuddhist monks, while irreverent langur monkeysplay among the ruins. The site is scattered overseveral square kilometres, punctuated by immensebell-shaped dagobas housing Buddhist relics.Nearby Mihintale is where Buddhism originated in Sri Lanka and the site is still of great spiritualimportance. With most of its remains perched on top of a rock, it is something of a walk, butworth the effort. www.audleytravel.com/srilanka ?01993 838 335 ?Sri Lanka87THEMUDHOUSE, ANAMADUWAThe Mudhouse is a unique property, located in awonderful natural setting. The small selection ofeco-friendly huts are, as the name suggests, madeprimarily of mud and other natural materialsblending comfortably with the surroundings. Each independent hut has its own private showerand toilet. Although there is no hot water orelectricity, at night everything is illuminated withcandles and oil lamps, making the place incrediblyatmospheric. The friendly staff are happy to takeyou out to explore the surroundings for an insightinto rural Sri Lanka. The food is true Sri Lankanfare and most of the ingredients are grown in theorganic garden.Aukana Buddha statue, near AnuradhapuraThe Mudhouse, AnamaduwaReclining Buddha, Polonnaruwa

CINNAMONLODGE, HABARANACinnamon Lodge is set in four hectares oflandscaped gardens. Its nearby wooded parklandand lake hold a vast array of indigenous flora andfauna. The 137 rooms, in two-storey chalets,adhere to traditional architectural styles withcolumns and verandas, cooling terracotta floorsand clay tiles on the roof. There are plenty ofrecreation and entertainment options, withboating, tennis, badminton, birdwatching as well as occasional live music in the evenings, and this is a good base from which to explore the Cultural Triangle.JETWINGVILUYANA, SIGIRIYAOffering luxury and comfort within easy access of all the sites of the Cultural Triangle, this is SriLanka's first stilted resort. 25 detached 'dwellings'are set within nine hectares of abandoned paddyfields through which water flows. The propertyoverlooks Sigiriya Rock and each chalet is situatedwithin a lush tropical environment, whether paddyfield, marsh, lake or forest. The resort has amodern Thai/Balinese feel, with the emphasis onopen spaces and nature. The paddy and marshchalets are on stilts and are split-level and someeven have plunge pools. All rooms are wellappointed and have lovely modern bathrooms.Private balconies allow for dining and sunbathing.SigiriyaKnown by some as Lion's Rock and one of SriLanka's most recognisable landmarks, Sigiriya Rocklooms 200 metres above the plains, an idealposition for a fortress. However, when theusurper King Kasyapa built his base here in the5th century, he didn't merely create a fortress buta fabulous palace on top of the rock, completewith pleasure gardens below. If you climb to thetop, you will be rewarded by one thing that hasremained unchanged over the centuries; themagnificent views over miles of jungle and rollinghills. Today, only ruins of the palace remain, butfeatures such as the massive Lion's Paws andfrescoes of beautiful damsels still give visitors aglimpse of its former splendour.88Sigiriya Rock FortressPool at the Cinnamon Lodge, HabaranaFresco at Sigiriya Rock FortressForest dwelling, Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya