Negombo Trip Overview
Pick up from Negombo hotel and transfer to Dambulla. Visit Dambulla cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site which Lord Buddha’s life is painted on the walls of the cave which is believed to be done during the 2nd century. Next travel to Lunch at a local restaurant in Dambulla. After lunch Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress built by King Kashyapa as his palace during the 5th Century, a UNESCO World Heritage site. End of this tour Transfer to Negombo.
Additional Info
Duration: 12 to 13 hours
Starts: Negombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Negombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Negombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Pick up from Negombo hotel and transfer to Dambulla. Visit Dambulla cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site which Lord Buddha’s life is painted on the walls of the cave which is believed to be done during the 2nd century. Next travel to Lunch at a local restaurant in Dambulla. After lunch Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress built by King Kashyapa as his palace during the 5th Century, a UNESCO World Heritage site. End of this tour Transfer to Negombo.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and sometimes known as the 8th wonder of the world, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a timeless example of just one of the many remnants of the great kingdoms that existed within Sri Lanka. Boasting a unique architecture, one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world, frescoes that depict a society long gone and also a mirror wall that chronicles the stories of many travellers that made the climb to the fabled rock. Sigiriya is, arguably, considered the most visited place in Sri Lanka due to its historical and cultural significance. The entrance to the rock fortress takes you through one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world that has not changed since its construction in the 5th century CE with many canals, locks, lakes and fountains that sustain the beauty of it. The rock fortress showcases architectural ingenuity since the fortress is, in fact, built by using the natural rock plateau as the foundations and is elaborately decorated with notable features such as the lion’s paws that was carved out of the granite rock.
The stone stairway that leads to the ruined royal palace that belonged to King Kassapa of the Anuradhapura kingdom (5th century CE) on top of the granite rock still serves as the main entrance since ancient times and takes you through a myriad of unique archaeological features. The frescoes depicting religious rituals and the mirror wall filled with literature further showcase the cultural significance of the country due to its elaborate depiction of the society that existed during the 5th century CE Anuradhapura kingdom and how the society was perceived by outsiders.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Dambulla Royal Cave Temple, Kandy – Jaffna Highway, Dambulla 21100 Sri Lanka
Supposedly built during the reign of King Valagamba in the 1st century BC, the Dambulla Cave Temples are a series of five caves carved out of the overhanging rock. Officially marked as one of the important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, the cave temples’ structure is ingeniously carved out and decorated with elaborate Buddha statues, murals and paintings along the wall making it just one of the more unique Buddhist pilgrim sites in Sri Lanka. The Dambulla cave temples are actually five temples; ‘Deva Raja Viharaya’, ‘Maha Raja Viharaya’, ‘Maha Alut Viharaya’, ‘Paschima Viharaya’ and ‘Devana Alut Viharaya’. The Deva Raja Viharaya literally translates to ‘Temple of the King of the Gods’ since it is believed that god Sakka (King of the gods in Buddhism) gave the finishing touches to the principle image of the cave. The image being that of Lord Buddha in his last moment (Parinibbana). The Maha Raja Viharaya is the largest and the most elaborately designed. Translated as ‘Temple of the Great King’ is believed to have been designed by King Valagamba when he reclaimed his kingdom from the Indian invaders. The Maha Alut Viharaya or the ‘Great new monastery’ was built by King Kirti Sri Rajasinha using Kandyan designs that attempted to revive Buddhism in the country. The Paschima Viharaya too has Kandyan influence and is seen immaculately preserved in the figure of Buddha seated in the posture of meditation (dhyana mudra) hewn from the natural rock of the cave itself and painted in brilliant colours of the Kandyan Kingdom. The Devana Alut Viharaya or the ‘Second new monastery’ was in fact a storeroom but was converted into a monastery that houses a reclining Buddha statue as well as Hindu deities such as Kataragama (Murugan) and Vishnu.
Duration: 2 hours
