Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Tour

What are the most important places of  Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour?

• Anuradhapura

• Polonnaruwa

• Sigiriya

• Kandy

• Dambulla

• Minneriya wildlife reserve

Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Tour

This 3 days Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour is one of the best opportunities to see the rich historical past of Sri Lanka. The cultural triangle tour takes you to many important places with historical and natural importance, and the tour includes 5 of the seven UNESCO world heritage sites of the island namely; Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura while wildlife reserves, lakes, and remote hamlets are places to explore with activities such as wildlife safari, visiting the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala, elephant ride.

Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour starts in Colombo or at any other places convenient place of your choice, but the pick-up location should be within Colombo, if the pick-up location is far away from Colombo there will be supplement charge for the transfer. The pick-up location and time will not affect the tour at all, because this is a private tour and vehicle is reserved only for your group. You will not be a part of a big coach, having a private vehicle for the tour means that you can enjoy the tour while having maximum privacy, the tour will run at your pace. An air-conditioned modern vehicle will be allocated for the tour and the same vehicle with the same chauffeur guide will be allocated until you finish the entire circuit.

Visiting Anuradhapura

You will visit Anuradhapura on the first day of this Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour. Anuradhapura is the first capital of Sri Lanka and darting back to 3rd century B.C. According to the historical information, Anuradhapura played the role, the capital of Sri Lanka, for many centuries, since it’s inception in 3rd century BCE. However, as the fame of this flourishing city grew exponentially, it became a target of south Indian invaders, whom it is easy to access Anuradhapura from south India, and which led a never-ceasing Indian invasion.

The city was equipped with palaces, temple complexes, gardens, hospitals and living quarters for people. Today the city is a UNESCO world heritage site due to its cultural and historical importance. You will be accompanied to dozens of important historical sites in Anuradhapura and our historian will you a full report to you about these important historical sites.

Now it is time to move to one of the tourist hotspots on the island, Sigiriya rock fortress, However, the visit to the Sigiriya rock fortress is scheduled to next day due to the time constraints. The journey from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya takes around 30  minutes. The first day of the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour come to the end with check-in to your hotel in Sigiriya.

Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa with Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour

On the second day of the tour, you will visit Sigiriya rock fortress. Sigiriya rock fortress is another important historical site in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka and visited by many thousands of travellers every week. The history of Sigiriya rock fortress dates back to 5th century AD, it had been a well-planned city with palaces, gardens, swimming pools, moats, ditches, walls and the fortress was built at the middle of the city.

At Sigiriya, the visitors can see the world-renowned Sigiriya frescoes and mirror wall. They can catch breathtaking sceneries on the surrounding area from the top of the rock. The upward climb to the pinnacle of the rock takes around 1 hour and the downward journey takes around 30 minutes.

Sigiriya rock, for whom is it suitable?

It is advisable to start the climb early morning to avoid the scorching heat in Sri Lanka’s dry zone. The humidity is also very high here making a sweaty condition.  There is a great deal of walk-in Sigiriya and you have to climb a rock on well-laid stairs. Even though there is a well-laid stair the climb of the rock cab very tiring for some people, therefore the site is not recommended for pregnant ladies, old people as well as heart patients. It is a site recommended for travellers with good physical and mental fitness.

What to wear during the Sigiriya climb?

A pair of good shoes recommended for hiking makes it easy to climb 200 steps, however not essential.  A cotton t-short and pair of shorts is the best possible attires as it is warm and sweaty throughout the climb. Sigiriya is not a sacred site, therefore, you can wear a pair of shorts.

Visiting Polonnaruwa

After visiting the Sigiriya rock fortress you might be hungry and tired, so it is time to have the lunch or just a refreshment. In fact, there is a great deal of distance to cover on foot in Polonnaruwa historical city.

You will proceed to Polonnaruwa after a break, the second capital of Sri Lanka. After the downfall of Anuradhapura, the kings of Sri Lanka had chosen Polonnaruwa as the capital of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa was the ruling capital of Sri Lanka for many decades, VijayabahuI, Parakramabahu and Nissannkamalla had been the noteworthy kings, who immensely contributed to the development of the city. Most historical monument such as Galvihara, Thuparama, Hetadage, Atadage at Polonnaruwa is attributed to these three kings.

Due to the invasions that took places in the latter period most of them were damaged.  Today Polonnaruwa is another important tourist attractions and a UNESCO world heritage site. Polonnaruwa city tour takes around 2 hours and doesn’t forget to cist the Polonnaruwa museum.

There are many places to visit in Polonnaruwa and you come across image houses, palaces, dagobas, conference halls and many other places important places. Some of them are religious sites and you are required to have dressed at least covering your knees and shoulders. Please check our 2 articles Clothing & gear guide for Sri Lanka and Visiting a Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka here are 9 rules to consider.

Wildlife safari at Minneriya national park

There is a great opportunity for wildlife enthusiasts to explore Sri Lankan wild animals today. After Polonnaruwa, as you are coming across the Minneriya national park, here you can witness a large number of wild elephnats. Wild buffaloes, monkeys, crocodile, wild boar, deer are some of the very common animals here. Minneriya is an optional activity and it can only be done if time permits you to do it.

By the time, you return to your hotel in Sigiriya it will be around 6.00 pm today. The hotel you are staying in a middle-class hotel with outdoor swimming pool. Maybe you can have a dip in the outdoor swimming pool in the hotel before heading to the restaurant. Ou you can sip a glass of wine or arrack (Sri Lankan alcoholic drink) at the bar.

Visiting Dambulla cave temple on Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour

On the 3rd of your Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour, you leave for Kandy after the breakfast from your hotel in Sigiriya. The first stop on the day is at Dambulla golden cave temple, which is only 20 minutes away from your hotel in Sigiriya. The temple is located about 300 meters above the ground. The visitors need to climb the rock on the staircase to reach the temple on the rock.  Dambulla golden cave temple is another UNESCO world heritage site in Sri Lanka. Here you can see hundreds of statues and wall painting, the temple is dating back to the 1st century BC.

After Dambulla golden cave temple the travellers proceed to the tooth relic temple of Kandy, which is another important historical site and a UNESCO world heritage site included in the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour. The tooth relic temple is the most important Buddhist temple in Sri Lankan and left eye tooth of Buddha suppose to be residing here. The temple is visited by thousands of local and foreign visitors every day. Tooth relic temple is the last important cultural site in the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour and it is time to proceed to Colombo.

After the Tooth relic temple, it is time to drive to Colombo, the journey will take around 3 hours and you have the opportunity to visit Pinnawala elephant orphanage on halfway down the track as you drive to Colombo. You are most welcome to visit it and see the biggest herd of tames elephants in the world.

Important Information:

The time is taken for the tour is unpredictable sue to the traffic and other circumstances, the time mentioned above is only based on rough calculation. If you any time constraints, due to the departure flights, appointment etc, please inform us in advance, so that we can plan your Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Tour accordingly.

Please contact us at least a day before your Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Tour so we can easily arrange our vehicles and guides. Thank you for your cooperation. We do pick up from 40+ hotels most of them on the west coast beaches.

The Sri Lanka Cultural triangle tour can be booked with all categories of hotels such as five-star hotels, four-star hotels, three-star hotels… however this tour package planned with four-star compatible hotel accommodations. you will be notified the hotel name before finalizing the Sri Lanka Cultural triangle tour. The rate can make a notable difference across difference hotels categories.