The Foreign Office ( www.fco.gov.uk) strongly advises against venturing to the north or east of the country. You should also avoid Colombo, the capital, where there have been several recent acts of terrorism. All responsible tour operators follow this advice, and tend to stick to the largely trouble-free main tourist areas.Start with the “cultural triangle” of the archaeological sites of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya. These great, ruined metropolises leave most visitors lost in admiration. Little imagination is needed to jump the 800 years to the glittering city of Polonnaruwa, for example, and to appreciate the infinite patience and artistry in the four gigantic statues of the Buddha carved into a massive slab of granite.But it is not just the ruins that make the cultural triangle so exciting.

Out for a short walk in the forest near Sigiriya, we met some children fishing in a pool. After we had been watching a while, they had a quick whispered conference, then presented our two children with plastic nets and invited them to join in the fun.Kandy, the lakeside religious and cultural centre of the country, is also worth a stop. Visit the Temple of the Tooth, where what is believed to be one of the Buddha’s eye-teeth lies encased in gold. It is worth getting up at dawn for the daily ceremony where worshippers gather here to a background of hypnotic drumming, trumpet-blowing and mantra-chanting.A 10-day trip to Sri Lanka should cost about £1,100 per adult and £700 per child with Western & Oriental (020 7313 6611), including flights, B&B accommodation and a car with driver/guide. Other similar deals are offered by Cox and Kings (01233 211401, www.coxandkings.co.uk), Hayes and Jarvis (0870 8989890, www.hayes-jarvis ) and Somak Holidays (020 8423 3000, www.somak.co.uk).For more information contact the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (020 7930 2627, www.lanka /ctb).Send your family travel questions to S F Robinson, The Independent Parent, Travel Desk, The Independent, 191 Marsh Wall,London E14 9RSOr crusoe independent.co.uk. “This building, I believe, may be pronounced unique, and I am confident it will be found curious, elaborate and singularly interesting.” So stated Rosslyn Chapel’s entry in the 1812 edition of Architectural Antiquities of Britain, but the description still held true on my visit today.

Located a few miles outside Edinburgh, down a small, bumpy lane, the building of this small chapel has altogether involved three continents, 1,000 years and one very significant artichoke. But exactly how it came to be built is an X-Files-style conundrum that has been entertaining the over-educated for centuries. “This building, I believe, may be pronounced unique, and I am confident it will be found curious, elaborate and singularly interesting.” So stated Rosslyn Chapel’s entry in the 1812 edition of Architectural Antiquities of Britain, but the description still held true on my visit today. Located a few miles outside Edinburgh, down a small, bumpy lane, the building of this small chapel has altogether involved three continents, 1,000 years and one very significant artichoke.