Colombo Trip Overview
Visit three most popular destinations in Sri Lanka within a day on this private day tour from Colombo or Negombo. Two of the sites are UNESCO listed which includes the Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Cave Temple. Dambulla cave also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site and the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Next proceed to Sigiriya which is an ancient rock fortress nearly 200 meters high. and a World Heritage Site being one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning. Finally, hike up Pidurangala Rock, a geological feature offering extensive views of the verdant hilly landscape and an atmosphere of seclusion and contemplation. Standing opposite a larger, more frequented hill, the rock possesses a different charm to its touristy brother, with a quiet and peaceful Buddhist temple at its foot, and a giant reclining Buddha statue in a secluded cave part way up.
Additional Info
Duration: 11 to 12 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Visit three most popular destinations in Sri Lanka within a day on this private day tour from Colombo or Negombo. Two of the sites are UNESCO listed which includes the Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Cave Temple. Dambulla cave also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site and the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Next proceed to Sigiriya which is an ancient rock fortress nearly 200 meters high. and a World Heritage Site being one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning. Finally, hike up Pidurangala Rock, a geological feature offering extensive views of the verdant hilly landscape and an atmosphere of seclusion and contemplation. Standing opposite a larger, more frequented hill, the rock possesses a different charm to its touristy brother, with a quiet and peaceful Buddhist temple at its foot, and a giant reclining Buddha statue in a secluded cave part way up.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Dambulla Cave Temple, Jaffna Hwy, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka
You will be picked up from your hotel and your first itinerary for the day will be the Dambulla Cave Temple. The Dambulla temple has five caves and 157 statues of the Lord Buddha, many paintings on the ceilings and walls that emphasis the artistic talent of ancient days. The history of the caves, rock and temple dates from the 1st century BC. The fascination of these caves is not only the statues but also the many intricate and delicate paintings that cover the ceiling and walls, created with indigenous traditional paints.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Sigiriya also known as “Sinhagiri” or “Lion’s Rock” is an ancient rock fortress situated in Sigiriya town near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya rock is about 200 meters in height and is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. The rocky plateau of Sigiriya has served as a Buddhist monastery since 3rd century BC. It is in the second half of the 5th century that King Kashyapa decided to construct a royal palace at this location. Following the king’s death, Sigiriya was again used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century after which it was abandoned. To this day, Sigiriya remains to be an architectural wonder.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Pidurangala Rock, Pidurangala,Sigiriya, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Pidurangala is a towering rock adjacent to Sigiriya. The two rocks have an interlinked history: whilst King Kasyapa was building Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the 5th century, he moved monks living around Sigiriya to a new monastery on Pidurangala Rock. An ancient cave temple still houses objects from various vintages that reflect Buddhist, Hindu and western beliefs, and the stupa to the left of the temple entrance is believed to mark the spot where King Kasyapa was cremated. Pidurangala is a more challenging climb than Sigiriya. There is no clear path to the top: steep, uneven steps give way to an expanse of boulders and crevices that climbers must navigate in order to reach the summit.
Duration: 2 hours
