Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

The Sigiriya rock fortress was probably the single most impressive site I saw in Sri Lanka and one of the most unique landscapes I have witnessed during my travels. The rock juts out two hundred metres higher than the surrounding forest, and the remains of a palace and or monastery are present outside and on top of the fortress. It is easy to sympathise with former rulers who would have perhaps viewed this rock as "godly" and miraculous, and I too found myself in awe of the magical placement of this rock emerging from the jungle.

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

After spending a couple of nights acclimatising to Sri Lanka's tropical climate in Negombo, we decided to hop aboard a north bound train heading for the ancient city of Anuradhapura. This city is historically very significant as it was the capital of Sri Lanka for well over a thousand years, until it was overthrown by Southern Indians in 993. The ancient Buddhist city was supposedly "rediscovered" by British rulers in the nineteenth century, and since then the ancient ruins of temples, Dagobas and bathing pools have slowly resurfaced.

Jaipur, India

After a heavily delayed train journey from Jodhpur, we finally arrived in Rajasthan's colourful capital city. No visit to Rajasthan would be complete without a trip to Jaipur, a thriving city known for its incredible history, architecture, shopping and overall exuberance.