Negombo Trip Overview
Pick up from Negombo hotel at about 6.00 am and transfer to Dambulla.
Sigiriya and Dambulla have been nominated as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES and once Sigiriya was nominated as the 8th Wonder of the World. This is a MUST DO full day trip when holidaying in Sri Lanka.
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. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress built by King Kashayapa as his palace during the 5th Century, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Visit the Sigiriya Museum. End of this tour Transfer to Negombo Hotel.
Additional Info
Duration: 13 to 14 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 at about 6.00 am and transfer to Dambulla.
Sigiriya and Dambulla have been nominated as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES and once Sigiriya was nominated as the 8th Wonder of the World. This is a MUST DO full day trip when holidaying in Sri Lanka.
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. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress built by King Kashayapa as his palace during the 5th Century, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Visit the Sigiriya Museum. End of this tour Transfer to Negombo Hotel.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Dambulla Royal Cave Temple, Kandy – Jaffna Highway, Dambulla 21100 Sri Lanka
Dambulla is sited on a gigantic rock which towers more than 160m above the surrounding land. The Rock is more the 1.5km around its base and summit is at 550km. The caves were the refuge of King Walagamba (Vattagamini Abhaya) When he was exile for 14 years. When he returns to the throne at Anuradapura in the 1st century BC, he had magnificent rock temple built at Dabulla. The site has being repaired and repainted several times in the 11th, 12th and 18th centuries.
Dambulla was designated a World Heritage site in 1991. The caves has a mixture of religious and secular painting and sculpture. There are several reclining Buddha’s, including the 15m long sculpture of the dying Buddha in Cave 1. the frescoes on the walls and ceiling from the 15th-18th centuries; the ceiling frescoes show scenes from the Buddha’s life and Sinhalese history. Cave 2 is the largest and most impressive, containing over 150 statues, illustrating the Mahayana influences on Buddhism at the time through introducing Hindu deities such a s Vishnu and Ganesh.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
The Citadel of Sigiriya or the lion rock is a rock fortress rising above 200 meters above the surrounding plain. Though it is located within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka in Matale district of the central province of Sri Lanka has been declared as a UNESCO world heritage site. You will have to travel about 25 km in distance to from Dambulla, the closest city to the Sigiriya. It is said that the flat topped rock formation of the rock fortress was built by King Kashyapa (477-495AD).
According to the ancient epic, ‘Culavamsha’ King Kashayapa who took possession of the reign from the rightful brother ‘Muggalan’ wanted to make his capital at the top of this massive rock surrounded by the jungle from all sides. But King Kashyapa was defeated by Mugalam with the help of South Indian tribes in 295 CE. Thereby Mugalan was attained to the throne and the transferred the kingdom to Anuradhapura. Eventually, the Sigiriya was turned back to a monastery complex. Sigiriya calls backs to a great civilization of Sri Lanka. The fortress is surrounded by the remains of a city complex with gardens, defensive structures, reservoirs and number of brick buildings. The main path to the rock is alongside with picturesque brick walls and timber frames of the buildings. Perhaps it will be hard to imagine about the surviving Royal garden now. The entire city complex is protected by a deep moat. In ancient times the moats were filled with dangerous crocodiles. Even today the fountain sprinklers in the water gardens are overwhelming in rainy seasons. You will find four pools set in a square. Archaeologists believe that an ancient underground cannel was made to supply water from the garden to the top of the rock. The lion mount or the Singha Pada is an impressive feature which you may find steadily.
The original caves were plastered and painted.
The famous frescoes painted on the walls of the rock are reminiscent of the Ajantha caves in India. The Cobra hood cave beside the rock is an extraordinary cave shading a Brahmin inscription dating around the 2nd century. At the top, the rock you will find the Audience hall remains of the five-meter elongated throne and caves where variegated paintings are preserved. Don’t forget to visit the new museum close to the fortress. Yet the palace was visited by many explorers around 6th century they recorded the beauty through passionate Sigiriya graffiti written on the Ketapath Pawura (Mirror wall). An abundant collection of photos, reproductions of the frescoes, translated poems on the mirror wall and artifacts are exhibited.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Sigiriya Museum, Sigiriya Thalkotta Sigiriya Thalkotta, Sigiriya, Central Province, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Close to the Sigiriya rock fortress is another informative tourist attraction of Matale, the Sigiriya museum. A museum is a significant place as a research center, information center and a management office of Sigiriya. While you are passing by the outer moat of the Sigiriya and the lotus pond carved out from the outer moat you will find the museum adjacent to the main way.
The Citadel of Sigiriya or the lion rock is a rock fortress rising above 200 meters above the surrounding plain. Though it is located within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka in Matale district of the central province of Sri Lanka has been declared as a UNESCO world heritage site. It is said that the flat topped rock formation of the rock fortress was built by King Kashyapa (477-495AD). According to the ancient epic, Chulavamsha’ King kashayapa who took possession of the reign from the rightful brother ‘Muggalan’ wanted to make his capital at the top of this massive rock surrounded by the jungle from all sides. But King Kashyapa was defeated by Mugalam with the help of South Indian tribes in 295 CE. Thereby Mugalan was attained to the throne and the transferred the kingdom to Anuradhapura. Eventually, the Sigiriya was turned back to a monastery complex. Sigiriya calls backs to a great civilization of Sri Lanka. The new museum, surrounded by the forest and water provides an atmospheric environment to explore entire Sigiriya area. Even the architectural design of the museum differs from other museums of Sri Lanka cause of the technology and materials used. By the way, this is one of the most beautiful, informative and beneficial museums in Sri Lanka. Further copied Sigiriya frescoes, re created model of lion’s paw, spiral staircase, bubble fountain and many more significant elements are exhibited and preserved in the place. The prehistoric megalithic burials at Ibbankatuwa will be conserved in the same place gradually. This masterpiece took 4 years to be completed. It was funded by Japan through JICA to promote and conserve cultural heritages. At the same time, the well-laid museum will provide the chance to see you an introduction video which shows what the fortress looked like when it was in use. The air conditioned museum is comprised with all modern facilities. Definitely, it is recommended for the travelers to visit the Sigiriya museum first get well known and then move on to the Sigiriya rock fortress.
Duration: 1 hour
