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Cultural Triangle
Cultural Triangle
Cultural Triangle
Millions of visitors have been fascinated by Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. It includes the north-central towns of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla, where large historical sites, recognised as World Heritage, provide insight into the island’s history. Sri Lanka’s kings built some of the world’s most advanced civilisations here. The glistening central plains see little rain.
Anuradhapura
Mihintale
Ritigala
Polonnaruwa
The Monkey Kingdon of Polonnaruwa
Yapahuwa Rock Fortress
Anuradhapura
Explore the majesty of Sri Lanka’s first capital, constructed in the 4th century B.C. and served as the throne for over 100 Sri Lankan kings. Thousands of monks from dozens of monasteries lived in Anuradhapura, and it is still Sri Lanka’s most important cultural landmark, both historically and religiously.
Mihintale
Mihintale- In the third century B.C., Mihintale was recorded as the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The summit is home to exquisite historical Sri Lankan buildings and a stunning 40 ft dagoba.
Ritigala
Ritigala- Ritigala is located deep within a jungle-covered natural reserve, the remnants of a sprawling Buddhist monastery abandoned during the 10th and 11th-century invasions.
Polonnaruwa
From 1073 through the late 1200s, this was Sri Lanka’s mediaeval royal capital. Polonnaruwa’s well-preserved ruins are one of the country’s most important cultural sites. You can spend many hours strolling through the several ancient temples, majestic Buddha sculptures, and royal bathing pools at your leisure.
The Monkey Kingdon of Polonnaruwa
Besides the impressive ruins of this mediaeval city, Polonnaruwa is home to a large monkey population, which was famously featured in Disney’s captivating documentary film ‘Monkey Kingdom.
Yapahuwa Rock Fortress
Yapahuwa, a short-lived mediaeval metropolis in Sri Lanka, is a massive but little-visited rock fortress built in the 13th century around a gigantic granite rock that rises 100 metres above the surrounding lowlands.
Minneriya National Park
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Pidurangala Rock
Dambulla Cave Temple
Aluvihara Cave Temple Matale
Wasgamuwa National park
Minneriya National Park
When ‘ Minneriya wewa’, the ancient tank that dominates the area, shrinks, grasses and shoots breakthrough, the park expands to 8,890 hectares. Herds of up to 150 elephants can be seen feasting and washing. It is known as ‘The Elephant Gathering,’ and it is the world’s largest gathering of Asian elephants. Minneriya is home to leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild buffalo, wild pig, grey langers, monkeys, mongoose, porcupine, and pangolins, in addition to its massive elephant population.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage monument worthy of the designation “eighth wonder of the world,” is Sri Lanka’s equivalent to the Taj Mahal in India. It will astound everyone with incredible engineering, old frescoes, and breathtaking views of spectacular countryside. It was constructed in the fifth century A.D. by the’ mad’ King Kasyapa.
Pidurangala Rock
During the Sigiriya Rock Fortress construction in the 5th century AD, King Kasyapa relocated the monks who lived nearby Sigiriya to Pidurangala Rock. An old cave temple still stands here.
Dambulla Cave Temple
The historic Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka’s most famous cave temple complex, houses the most significant number of Buddha statues in one location. Its rock ceiling is a wide swath of colourful frescoes, some of which are almost 2,000 years old.
Aluvihara Cave Temple Matale
In Sri Lanka, the ancient Aluvihara cave shrine holds immense religious significance. In the third century A.D., the teachings of Buddha – the Tripitaka – were committed to text for the first time here. The temple is made up of enormous caves that are embellished with pictures of Lord Buddha and frescoes.
Wasgamuwa National park
Wasgamuwa National Park is a distant national park, home to various Sri Lankan wildlife, including elephants, leopards, and numerous bird species. It is situated southeast of the Cultural Triangle, between the Central and North Central provinces. Many animals live in its river banks and dry evergreen forests, meadows, and wetlands, including sloth bears, samburs, spotted and barking deer, wild boars, purple-faced leaf monkeys, and 143 bird species.
The Aukana Buddha
Sri Lanka Hot Air Ballooning
Traditional Sri Lankan Village Life
The Aukana Buddha
King Dhatusena built the temple and the tank (reservoir) in the fifth century. The Aukana Buddha, one of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful statues, has stood 12 metres tall since the 5th century. It is free-standing and was carved from a single rock.
Sri Lanka Hot Air Ballooning
Rise early and soar over the broad plains and clumps of jungle that make up Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, a region dotted with magnificent ancient ruins dating back over 2,000 years.
Traditional Sri Lankan Village Life
Explore the island’s local life by riding on a bullock cart. Walk through green paddy fields, enjoy a boat trip along Hiriwaduna Wewa and finish your holiday in the village with a traditional Sri Lankan meal.
