Colombo Trip Overview
Visit Sigiriya and Dambulla Cave Temple on this private all inclusive day tour from Colombo. Sigiriya and Dambulla are UNESCO recognized heritage sites and major tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is arguably the most important site you should not miss when you visit Sri Lanka. The origin of Sigiriya runs back to thousands of years as it served as a Royal Palace to one of the ancient Kings in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya Rock Fortress in Sri Lanka is a real wonder, one of the world’s less known curiosities which is a gigantic column of rock rising 200m (660 ft) from the forest pains below. The iconic site in Dambulla is its cave temple which is the largest, best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka consisting of the ancient paintings and Buddha statues that implicate Lord Buddha’s life. You will travel in the comfort of an air conditioned vehicle with an English speaking driver cum guide.
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 Sigiriya and Dambulla Cave Temple on this private all inclusive day tour from Colombo. Sigiriya and Dambulla are UNESCO recognized heritage sites and major tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is arguably the most important site you should not miss when you visit Sri Lanka. The origin of Sigiriya runs back to thousands of years as it served as a Royal Palace to one of the ancient Kings in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya Rock Fortress in Sri Lanka is a real wonder, one of the world’s less known curiosities which is a gigantic column of rock rising 200m (660 ft) from the forest pains below. The iconic site in Dambulla is its cave temple which is the largest, best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka consisting of the ancient paintings and Buddha statues that implicate Lord Buddha’s life. You will travel in the comfort of an air conditioned vehicle with an English speaking driver cum guide.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Sigiriya is a fortress-palace which was built atop a towering rock in the 5th century, and a mythical past of feuding dynasties enhances Sigiriya’s striking setting. Legend has it that King Kasyapa murdered his father, Dhatusena, and claimed the throne for himself, despite the fact that he was not the direct heir – his mother was one of Dhatusena’s concubines. After killing the king, Kasyapa was fearful that his half-brother, Prince Moggallana, would return from exile in India and rightfully claim his crown. This fear drove him to build the majestic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, protected not only by the rock’s height and sheer sides, but also by stone barracks filled with soldiers and a crocodile-infested moat. He also developed an extensive, incredibly advanced system which allowed water to move between the top and the bottom of the rock, not only to ensure that he and his family had water to drink, but also to fill the beautiful water gardens which he created at the foot of the rock.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Dambulla Cave Temple, Jaffna Hwy, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka
By far, of all the cave temples that are found in Sri Lanka, the most impressive is the Dambulla Cave Temple. Situated in the town of Dambulla, 150km east of Colombo and located in the arid Northern Plains, these caves form the best preserved and biggest cave temple complex in Asia. Locally, it is also renowned as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, with rock structures towering up to a height of 150 metres, overlooking the surrounding plains. It was dedicated as a World Heritage Site in 1991, by UNESCO.
Duration: 1 hour
