Cultural Sites in Sri Lanka

CULTURAL SITES IN SRI LANKA

After the enjoyable visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, you will proceed to the Cultural

Triangle. As you drive through Kurunegala, passing tobacco and paddy fields, you will leave The Cultural Triangle is an area of valuable historical sites. This includes the areas of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya. You can visit these ancient capital cities being based at Giritale and Anuradhapura.From a hotel in Giritale, you will have a beautiful panoramic view across the Giritale tank, where many wild animals will come to water in the evening.

A City Tour of Polonnaruwa will include sites such as the “Gal Vihara” rock sculptures depicting the standing, seated and reclining Lord Buddha, Relic Houses of “Thuparamaya” and “Thivanka” built for the worship of Lord Buddha and ruins of other sites of great cultural and architectural value.

The City of Anuradhapura, known as the Sacred City of Sri Lanka, contains the oldest documented Tree in the World still growing, a sapling of the Bo-tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment in India. “Ruwanweliseya”, thegigantic white dome with a pinnacle as high as a pyramid and a nine-storeyed “Brazen-palace” which was built by a king in the 12thCentury for Buddhist monks, “Isurumuniya Lovers”, the famous sculpture of the 6th century and the “Moonstone” – the stone doormat which reflects the cosmic symbolism, add to the great architectural feats of a Golden Era.

An optional excursion to Mihintale would include the site where Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in 247 B.C. This is a monastc city of caves, temples and ruins where Buddhism has left behind an assortment of relics and monuments on the rocky hillside.

Sigiriya, the other site in the Triangle, is a Rock Fortress that was turned into a palace with a beautiful Garden by King Kashyapa.
This has been named the 8th wonder of the world and contains some beautiful frescoes of heavenly maidens in addition to beautifully laid out garden pools and fountains. Sigiriya is regarded as the best preserved and most elaborate architectural site in Souith Asia from the first Millenium.Once the Tour of the Cultural Triangle is over, we leave towards Kandy, the Hill Capital.On the way to Kandy, the two important places of Dambulla and Matale will be visited.

Dambulla, situated close to Sigiriya, is a historical site with a Rock Temple that has 200 frescoes depicting the previous births of Lord Buddha.

The atmosphere in Kandy is so different, it is almost romantic and lifegoes on at a different pace without losing any of its charm, beauty or warmth. During the months of July / August, a beautiful pageant known as the “Esala Perahera” is performed on the streets of Kandy. Kandy was the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka before falling into the hands of the British. Arriving in Kandy, the Holy City will fill you with an entrancing atmosphere where visits to the ‘Dalada Maligawa’ – the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, the Upper and Lower Lake Drive, the Arts and Crafts Centre and the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya will be of interest.Kandy is the shopping center for tourists and is famous for Batiks and handicrafts. A Cultural Dance Pageant held each evening provides much entertainment.