Ceylon is a beautiful country made more beautiful by the kind and genteel people who call it home. Being a small country, one can traverse the hills and the beaches on a short scenic drive.

Here is my guide to Ceylon –

Colombo 11 – was the home of famous Ceylon-born architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Tours through the home are now conducted 4 times a day and is a treat for those who love art and architecture.

Noritake – is a world renowned Japanese company that creates fine porcelain tea and dinner sets. A visit to their store in Colombo is a must to stock up on wonderful cutlery, that also make for great souvenirs.

Independence Arcade – The mall adjacent to the Independence Square and the lovely gardens is a beautifully restored dutch heritage building. It has the wonderful T-lounge by Dilmah, a great place to curl up with a book whilst relishing on delicious matcha ice-cream. It also has two beautiful spas and even a multiplex, should you fancy watching the latest blockbuster whilst on a holiday.

Barefoot Cafe – is a bookstore, art gallery and cafe serving lip-smacking food; Of particular note is the ‘Srilankan thali’ consisting of rice, poppadum, salad, lentils and oh-so delicious fish curry.

Borella Kanate Cemetery – Arthur C Clarke made Ceylon his home from 1956 till his death in 2008. He was deeply attached to the country, drawn at first with the promises of wondrous underwater adventures along its clear coastline. His final resting place is the Borella Kanate cemetery where his tombstone reads – “He never grew up, but he never stopped growing”.

Paradise Road Gallery Cafe – is one of the chicest places to dine in Colombo. The building was designed by renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa; The walls are filled with beautiful art, the food is wonderful and the entire experience is a delight to the senses.

Lunuganga, Bentota – Lunuganga was architect Geoffrey Bawa’s country estate and is now a beautiful hotel. The expansive, rolling hills skirting a lake, the roman statues and delightful nooks are reminiscent of an Italian villa. If you are merely visiting the gardens, partaking in a traditional Srilankan lunch spread is a wonderful idea. The table is laid out in the impeccably decorated main house facing the placid waters of the Dedduwa lake and is an experience one simply cannot miss.

Fort Galle – The historic Fort Galle is a world heritage site, owing to the beautiful Dutch & Portuguese architecture within it’s walls. One can spend an entire day walking the ramparts and discovering beautiful villas at every turn.

Church Street Social – is beautifully decorated in soothing shades of grey and serves the most delicious food in all of Galle. The delectable desserts deserve a special mention, my favourite being the exquisite orange chocolate fondant served with delicious vanilla ice-cream.

Ahangama Beach – holds a special place in my heart, for it spun many memories that I will always hold dear. It is a pristine beach ideal for surfing and snorkelling. It is also a short tuk-tuk ride away from whale and dolphin watching at Mirissa.