Sri Lanka is an island nation off the southeastern tip of India.

The two largest ethnic groups in Sri Lanka are the Sinhalese and the Tamil peoples. The Sinhalese comprise about 74% of the population, and the Tamils comprise between 10% and 20% (sources vary). While the Tamils are a smaller percentage, they are by far the largest group in regions of the north and east provinces of the island, as this map shows.

Let’s look at the geography of some of the places that have been mentioned so far in Anil’s Ghost. Colombo is the capital and largest city. Anil arrives here at the beginning of the novel.

Anil and Sarah travel from Colombo to Bandarawela, a distance of about 200 kilometers (about 120 miles) Google Maps

Yala is much further south Yala is much further south. (Anil must be hallucinating when she thinks she’s there!) Google Maps

Bandarawela’s elevation is about 1300 meters (over 4000 feet) The higher elevation makes Bandarawela cooler, so people often have vacation villas here to escape the heat. Audleytravel.com Bandarawela’s elevation is about 1300 meters (over 4000 feet)

Caves date to about the 1st century BC Caves date to about the 1st century BC. These are NOT the caves Sarath and Anil are working in—just a reminder that this area contains many caves with Buddhist history. meandmybrotherstravels.blogspot.com The Dhowa Rock Temple is near Barandawela includes caves containing ancient Buddhist artwork.

bandarawelaholidaybungalow.com A 38-foot Buddha is carved into a stone cliff face at Dhowa. These are the kinds of sites Sarath researches.