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People planning solo holidays to Sri Lanka may like to ensure their trip coincides with this summer's Vel Festival.
The Hindu festivities are held in Colombo, which is the largest city of the island nation, is held in July and August.
Vel Festival is held in honour of Lord Sri Murukan, the god of war in the Hindu faith. The festivities include huge processions through the streets of Colombo led by a flamboyant statue of the god.
Carolyn O'Donnell, writing in the Daily Mail, suggested that many areas of the country have a unique and rather surreal appeal.
"The village of Sigiriya has a sleepy charm too. While wandering down the dusty main street I was invited to scrub a contented elephant lying in a stream," she said.
Being an open and multi-cultural country, Sri Lanka is host to many festivals throughout the year. The Tamil people celebrate Puthandu, or Tamil New Year, on April 14th every year.
