Sri Lanka’s Cultural Splendour

Sri Lanka is an island that has long been fabled for its rich history, culture, nature and wildlife, of which culture plays a major part in giving a unique identity to the island. Although small, the country is home to several ethnic groups that coexist peacefully and share several common cultural practices. From the coastal belts to the central highlands, there are many monuments and societies scattered across the land that narrate several cultural stories for the curious traveller.

A tour in the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka is the ideal way to start your culture trip, as the central region is home to some of the more ancient ruins of kingdoms long forgotten. The ruins that can be seen from the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa can be traced back as early as the 3rd century BC. Stupas, ruins of palaces, and home to the sacred ‘Bo’ tree (the oldest planted tree), these cities showcase just how the peaceful teachings of Buddhism was introduced to the island and was embraced by the populace of these kingdoms. A tour around this region, however, is just one part of understanding the cultural diversity of the island.

Travelling to the southern borders of the Cultural Triangle will lead you to the city of Kandy. Aptly nicknamed the ‘hill country capital’, this city was where the last kingdom in the island thrived until British colonialism took over in the early 1800s. There are still many remnants of the old kingdom, of which the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic is the highlight of it all, as it is the home of the left canine tooth belonging to Lord Buddha. During the month of Esala (which generally occurs in the middle of the year), a large perahera (procession) is arranged by this temple, along with the collaboration of the Hindu Kataragama Devalaya parading the relic around the streets of the city. A culture trip in Kandy will also take you through places like the St. Paul’s Church and the Meera Mosque, which is a testament to the diverse societies that live in the island.

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Climb further up the mountains, and you will come across towns of Badulla, Haputale, Ella, and Nuwara Eliya to name four that is home to many interesting places of worship. The Adhisham Hall, and the Dowa Raja Maha are just some of the other lesser known places that showcase the cultural diversity of the island. The centre of the island and the hill country then, certainly have very strong cultural displays, but what about the coast?

There are many places in the coast that showcase the cultural diversity, but one place that is often famed for combining culture and an illustrious history, is the southern coastal city of Galle. The historical complex of the Galle Fort itself is home to several places of worship, which include old churches, cathedrals, a temple, and a mosque, making the society in the area one of the most culturally diverse ones that go all the way back to the Dutch colonial days of the 17th century.

With all this, engaging in special cultural tours in Sri Lanka is one of the best ways you can truly understand the people of the island and the acceptance of diversity in everyday life. However, do not forget to also bask in the exotic nature and the heritage of the country when you are exploring the paradise island, as these elements contribute to its uniqueness.

Picture by – Agnieszka Kowalczyk