Colombo Trip Overview
Enjoy this full day tour filled with history, culture, wildlife and an amazing safari. You will be transported in an air conditioned vehicle with all required facilities and all entrance fees. Start your day by visiting the Dambulla cave temple and Sigiriya rock fortress and finally proceed to Minneriya. One of the most spectacular natural scenes you will ever see! The Elephant Gathering at Minneriya is a sight to behold. During the dry season (July to September) water supplies reduce drastically in this region. To cope with this, the elephants congregate around the Minneriya reservoir where grasses are rich and fertile. The elephants come from areas beyond the reservoir and at times herds with numbers as large as 300 – 400 can be seen.
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
Enjoy this full day tour filled with history, culture, wildlife and an amazing safari. You will be transported in an air conditioned vehicle with all required facilities and all entrance fees. Start your day by visiting the Dambulla cave temple and Sigiriya rock fortress and finally proceed to Minneriya. One of the most spectacular natural scenes you will ever see! The Elephant Gathering at Minneriya is a sight to behold. During the dry season (July to September) water supplies reduce drastically in this region. To cope with this, the elephants congregate around the Minneriya reservoir where grasses are rich and fertile. The elephants come from areas beyond the reservoir and at times herds with numbers as large as 300 – 400 can be seen.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Dambulla Cave Temple, Jaffna Hwy, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka
The Buddhist temple complex of Dambulla consists of five cave temples carved under a very large overhanging rock. The temples were carved out over several centuries, but the oldest dates back to the 1st century B.C.E. The temples include numerous carved statues of Buddha, and his faithful disciple Ananda, as well as Hindu deities. The cave walls and ceiling are entirely painted with paintings depicting early Buddhist historical events and murals with traditional Buddhist designs. Like all the other cave temples, this one is dimly lit, preserving the vibrant colors of the paintings and murals.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Sigiriya Rock Fortress is unquestionably one of the must visits in Dambulla where hundreds of tourists are visiting daily to be amazed by its unique architecture. This fortress-palace was built atop a towering rock in the 5th century, and a legendary past of feuding dynasties enhances its striking setting. A UNESCO World Heritage site, worthy of being called the “8th wonder of the world”, Sigiriya is Sri Lanka’s answer to the Taj Mahal and will astonish anyone with its staggering engineering, ancient frescoes and beautiful views across a shimmering landscape. What remains today are extraordinary ruins. Visitors walk through the remnants of the moat and the water gardens to the foot of the rock. A huge, weather-beaten pair of paws remain of what was once the head and paws of a lion, whose open mouth served as the main entrance to the royal palace.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Minneriya National Park, Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Highway, 50150 Sri Lanka
The Minneriya National Park is in the Northern province of Sri Lanka, four hours away from Negombo. The national park is famous for its herds of elephants migrating for food, water and shelter, and forming a ‘gathering’ that can be witnessed by the visitors. The dry season is the best time to visit this place, as the majestic elephants migrate to the Minneriya Tank for water. Apart from elephants, the national park is also home to several mammals, birds, reptiles, and different kinds of plant species. Minneriya National Park comes under the dry zone, meaning, it receives less rainfall compared to the other areas in the country.
Duration: 4 hours
