Colombo Trip Overview
This full day tour to the central part of Sri Lanka will suffice you to explore two must visit and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka which includes the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple. The city of Dambulla is 148 km north-east of Colombo, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is home to an ancient cave Temple also known as the Golden Rock Temple, which is a popular tourist attraction. Approximately 25kms from Dambulla is Sigiriya, which is where you will find the “Lion’s Rock”. This is a 220 meter high rock, at the top of which an ancient King built his Palace. In addition to being a well maintained model of ancient urban life, Sigiriya is also an adventure of rock climbing for many.
Additional Info
Duration: 12 to 14 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
This full day tour to the central part of Sri Lanka will suffice you to explore two must visit and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka which includes the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple. The city of Dambulla is 148 km north-east of Colombo, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is home to an ancient cave Temple also known as the Golden Rock Temple, which is a popular tourist attraction. Approximately 25kms from Dambulla is Sigiriya, which is where you will find the “Lion’s Rock”. This is a 220 meter high rock, at the top of which an ancient King built his Palace. In addition to being a well maintained model of ancient urban life, Sigiriya is also an adventure of rock climbing for many.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Sigiriya Rock is perhaps the most photographed attraction in Sri Lanka. The 600 foot high rock sits in the Matale District but the ruins of the royal palace are what make it unique. Arthur C Clarke described King Kashyapa’s royal palace (500 CE) as the 8th wonder of the world and, in its day, it must have been stunning. It is still a sight to behold with the water gardens, rock gardens, cobra hood frescoes, mirrored wall, lion’s gate, and the remains of the palace at the summit. Sigiriya Rock was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and is part of the Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle along with Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, and Kandy.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Dambulla Cave Temple, Jaffna Hwy, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka
Elevated above the countryside, the Cave Temples at Dambulla are a series of caves dating back to the 2nd century BC. Consisting of five caves overhung by a vast rock towering 160metres over the surrounding plains, the temple was embellished with arched colonnades and gabled entrances in 1938 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Each of the five caves at Dambulla house ancient statues of the Buddha and historic artwork depicting the Buddhas life. The grounds surrounding the cave temple also feature a functioning Buddhist Monastery which dates back to the second and third centuries BC.
Duration: 2 hours
