SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY

Sri Lanka cultural triangle itinerary revolves around the Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle, which is a region in the central part of the country that encompasses some of the most significant ancient cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and cultural landmarks. A well-planned Cultural Triangle itinerary typically covers Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandy over 4–7 days.

Steeped in history and culture, the Sri Lankan cultural triangle makes for a fabulous holiday destination. From the historical marvels in Anuradhapura, the water gardens of Sigiriya, the paintings of the Dambulla cave temple, and so much more, the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka offers year-long delights. A leading holiday specialist in Sri Lanka, Seerendipity Tours offers a specially curated Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour with local guides that takes you on a journey to the heart of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle.

Table of Contents

WHAT IS THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE?

Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy mark the three corners of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. The cultural triangle, tucked away in the dry zone of the north-central province of Sri Lanka, is one of its important treasures and attracts a large number of travellers every year. The Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour is a perfect opportunity to see remarkably preserved Buddhist temples, Dagobas, and many other ancient structures. These historical places were built between the 3rd century BC and the early 18th century and are scattered in the cultural triangle. The Cultural Triangle provides evidence of the flourishing ancient Sinhalese culture in the form of temples, palaces, tanks, and many other structures.

WHY IS THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE IMPORTANT?

Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy mark the three corners of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. The cultural triangle, tucked away in the dry zone of the north-central province of Sri Lanka, is one of its important treasures and attracts a large number of travellers every year. The Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour is a perfect opportunity to see remarkably preserved Buddhist temples, Dagobas, and many other ancient structures. The construction of these historical sites in the cultural triangle took place between the 3rd century BC and the early 18th century. The cultural triangle is home to these scattered sites. The Cultural Triangle provides evidence of the flourishing ancient Sinhalese culture in the form of temples, palaces, tanks, and many other structures.

WHAT DOES THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY INCLUDE?

The Sri Lanka cultural triangle itinerary is the Sri Lanka tour itinerary that includes important tourist attractions in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. Sri Lankan tour operators such as Seerendipity offer a wide range of tours and activities based on historical cities in the cultural triangle. The Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle tour is a very popular activity, and a large number of travellers ventured on this trip to explore the valuable artefacts that remain in the ancient cities.

A Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour is an essential activity if you are a cultural buff and like to explore the history of the destination that you visit. If you venture on the below-mentioned 3-day Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour, you can explore many dozens of important cities in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, along with many other historical monuments.

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY IS ABOUT TEMPLES

On this Sri Lankan cultural triangle tour, the travellers visit many Buddhist temples and shrines that have unique characters. Some of the temples have hundreds of Buddha statues and paintings with a history that dates back millennia. While some others are located in remote places that can be reached only by foot after conquering difficult terrain, all of these temples have one distinct character: they are all dedicated to Buddha, and devotees still flock to these ancient places.

Dambulla Cave Temple and Polonnaruwa Ancient City are two such places that showcase Buddhist temples with huge Buddha statues carved onto the granite stones. There are more than a hundred Buddha statues in the Dambulla golden temple of varying sizes; most of these statues represent Buddha, while a few other statues are built to commemorate his disciples, gods, and king. The statues in the Dambulla Golden Temple showcase different features and postures. Polonnaruwa is also an important site, with mainly four Buddha statues carved out of natural rock. All four Buddha statues are gigantic; they were carved by hand according to precise measurements. This ancient temple dates back to the 10th century AD.

WHY SHOULD WE BOOK A CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY?

This 3-day’ Sri Lanka cultural triangle itinerary is one of the best opportunities to see the rich historical past of Sri Lanka. The cultural triangle tour takes you to many important places of historical and religious importance, and the tour includes five of the seven UNESCO world heritage sites in Sri Lanka.

WHAT ARE THE 5 MAJOR CITIES IN THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE OF SRI LANKA?

  1. Anuradhapura
  2. Polonnaruwa
  3. Sigiriya
  4. Dambulla
  5. Kandy

The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka contains five major cities, namely Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandy. And the cultural triangle harbours many dozens of archaeological sites. Anuradhapura is the largest excavated ancient city in the cultural triangle as well as in Sri Lanka, while Polonnaruwa is the second biggest archaeological site in the cultural triangle.

Many ancient cities in Sri Lanka are located within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka’s central province. All cities in the cultural triangle, such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla, share the same weather conditions, such as high temperatures and low rainfall. Therefore, most cities in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka see an acute shortage of water at most times of the year. But to address the water shortage, the kings of Sri Lanka built man-made lakes to collect water during the short rainy period. The people in the central province continue to use most of these man-made lakes, which are thousands of years old.

The ancient engineers of Sri Lanka invented an advanced irrigation system in the past, which played an important role in the island’s agriculture. The labyrinthine canal system that ancient engineers developed connected thousands of artificial and natural lakes. Thereby, the Kings were able to provide plenty of water for agriculture. Today, visitors can wander around a maze of historical monuments and roads at each archaeological site that were used by the residents of those historical places many thousands of years ago.

IDEAL SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR: HOW LONG SHOULD IT BE?

The trip to the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka is available in many forms, such as a 1-day Sigiriya-Dambulla tour, a 2-day cultural triangle tour, a 3-day cultural triangle tour, etc. You can book a cultural triangle trip that includes wildlife reserves, Sri Lanka tea country, beaches, and much more. A 7-day Sri Lanka trip includes the most important tourist places on the island, along with cultural triangle tourist attractions. You can book a Sri Lanka cultural triangle trip as a stand-alone tour and visit only the places mentioned in the cultural triangle.

In this article, we discuss a 3-day Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour. As far as my experience goes, the ideal trip to Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle should be a 3-day trip or longer. With the three-day trip, the travellers make two overnight stays in the cultural triangle. During these three days, travellers can visit important temples, palaces, museums, dagobas, and stupas in major ancient cities, such as Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandy.

However, the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour is available in many other short forms if you are unable to dedicate 3 days to the Sri Lanka trip, such as a 1-day cultural triangle tour or a 2-day cultural triangle tour. However, a 3-day Sri Lanka cultural triangle trip includes all important historical sites in the cultural triangle, and it also allows you to have some leisure time while on your trip.

HOW TO TRAVEL ON A SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE TRIP?

The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka has a well-built road network. The traffic congestion in the cultural triangle is very low, and the number of vehicles on the road is far fewer than in crowded areas such as the western and southern provinces. Therefore, travelling between monuments in the cultural triangle is relatively easy and does not take much time compared to most other places in Sri Lanka, such as Colombo.

There are few popular transport modes on the island, such as buses, trains, domestic planes, and private taxis. For most trips to Sri Lanka, we highly recommend using a private taxi for the Sri Lanka cultural triangle trip. It is convenient, saves time, and is safe and comfortable. Buses are also a viable option of transport on the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour; however, you might need a lot of time for travelling between cities, and it takes twice as much time as you required for a tour in a private vehicle. Train travel is not a viable option for the cultural triangle tour due to the absence of a well-developed rail network in the area. Air travel is also not a suitable option, as it might be difficult to find landing points near tourist attractions in the cultural triangle.

HOW TO FIND ACCOMMODATION IN THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE?

The cultural triangle is one of the most popular places among travellers in Sri Lanka, and the ancient monuments in the cultural triangle are the biggest draw in the central province. Ancient monuments, such as Sigiriya Rock, attract thousands of tourists every day. The cultural triangle is popular among travellers, and the demand for accommodation is also very high. Because the important historical monuments in the cultural triangle span a large area, it is necessary to spend a few days visiting them.

Finding accommodation in the cultural triangle is effortless, and there are plenty of accommodation facilities within the cultural triangle. Kandy, Sigiriya, Habarana, and Sigiriya are home to the majority of hotels. Travellers can find accommodations in various categories and prices, from cheap dormitory types to expensive and luxurious boutique villas. However, it could be difficult to get accommodation during the peak season (November–April) due to the high demand. Therefore, we recommend booking accommodation well in advance. You can book a cultural triangle trip that includes wildlife reserves, Sri Lanka tea country, beaches, and much more.

START THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR?

A cultural triangle tour can be done in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. When you engage in a clockwise trip of a cultural triangle, you will start the trip with the first stop at Anuradhapura and later proceed to Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandy. If you are on a multi-day Sri Lanka trip, such as a 7-day Sri Lanka tour or a 10-day tour, you might resort to this option. Thereby, you can visit other tourist attractions such as Yala National Park, the hill country after the cultural triangle, and anchor on the south or west coast for a leisurely beach stay.

Most cultural triangle trips start with a visit to Anuradhapura and visit Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandy subsequently, while the tours go in a clockwise direction. If you plan to visit Sri Lanka’s southern coast, Sri Lanka’s hill country, and the west coast beaches towards the end of the trip, it is necessary to plan the cultural triangle tour in a clockwise direction. If you intend to do only the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour, you can start in Kandy and go in an anti-clockwise direction while visiting Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, and Anuradhapura at the end.

If you opt to take a one-day cultural triangle trip, you definitely have to omit many sites in the cultural triangle due to the limited time available. Here are a few popular one-day trips to the cultural triangle:

  • Kandy one-day trip
  • Sigiriya Dambulla one-day tour
  • One-day trip to Anuradhapura

We plan the tour to include one overnight stay in either Sigiriya or Kandy. Although the trip lasts 2 days, you will have to skip some important sites in the cultural triangle because there isn’t enough time to visit them all. A few popular Sri Lanka 2-day cultural triangle tours are:

  • Kandy Sigiriya 2-days tour
  • Anuradhapura and Sigiriya: 2-day trip
  • Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy in 2 days
  • The all-inclusive cultural triangle tour
  • Sri Lanka Cultural triangle budget tour

ALL-INCLUSIVE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY-3 DAYS

  • Day 1: Colombo/Anuradhapura/Sigiriya Meet and greet the Seerendipity tour representative and leave for the hotel in Sigiriya. En route, visit the historical city of Anuradhapura.
  • Day 2: Sigiriya/Polonnaruwa/Minneriya National Park: Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Safari at Minneriya National Park, and Polonnaruwa Historical City from your hotel in Sigiriya.
  • Day 3: Sigiriya/Dambulla/Kandy/Colombo—Leave for Colombo via Kandy; en route, visit the Dambulla cave temple and tooth relic temple. Click here for the detailed tour itinerary for the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour. Dial 0094774440977 for more information over the telephone and WhatsApp.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR THE ALL-INCLUSIVE CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR?

This 3-day cultural triangle tour costs US$ 390.00 per person on twin sharing.

WHAT DOES THE ALL-INCLUSIVE CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR INCLUDE?

  • 2 nights (3 days) of accommodation in standard hotels
  • Daily Breakfast at the Hotel: 2 breakfasts (starting from day 2)
  • Daily dinner at the hotel: 2 dinners (starting from day 1)
  • Kandy city tour and shopping tour
  • Ceylon tea trail
  • An Ayurveda spa treatment
  • Entrance fees for
    • Anuradhapura
    • Sigiriya rock fortress, Sigiriya paintings, Sigiriya museum
    • Dambulla golden cave temple
    • Polonnaruwa historical city and historical museum
    • Tooth relic temple and Kandy museum
    • Kandyan cultural show
    • Spice garden with a serving of herbal drink
    • Tea factory and tea tasting
  • Pickup and drop-off at the airport or local hotels
  • All passengers are fully insured during the sightseeing tours
  • Meeting arrangement at the airport
  • Entire ground transportation by air-conditioned, modern, fuel-efficient private vehicle
  • Service of an English-speaking driver/guide for the entire tour (please inquire about other languages)
  • Driver/guide meals and lodging
  • Highway toll
  • All current taxes

WHERE CAN I BOOK A CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR?

Email admin@seerendioitytours.com to book a Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour. Click here to book the cultural triangle tour online.

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE BUDGET TOUR-3 DAYS

  • Day 1: Colombo/Pinnawala/Sigiriya: Meet and greet the Seerendipity tour representative and leave for the hotel in Sigiriya; en route, visit the Pinnawala elephant orphanage.
  • Day 2: Sigiriya/Polonnaruwa/Minneriya National Park: Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Safari at Minneriya National Park, and Polonnaruwa Historical City from your hotel in Sigiriya.
  • Day 3: Sigiriya/Dambulla/Kandy/Colombo—Leave for Colombo via Kandy; en route, visit the Dambulla cave temple and tooth relic temple. Click here for the detailed tour itinerary for the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour. Dial 0094774440977 for more information over the telephone and WhatsApp.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE BUDGET TOUR?

This 3-day cultural triangle tour costs US$ 190.00 per person, based on twin sharing.

WHAT DOES THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE BUDGET TOUR INCLUDE?

  • 2 nights (3 days) of accommodation in standard hotels
  • Daily Breakfast at the Hotel: 2 breakfasts (starting from day 2)
  • Kandy city tour and shopping tour
  • Ceylon tea trail
  • An Ayurveda spa treatment
  • Entrance fees for
    • Spice garden with a serving of herbal drink
    • Tea factory and tea tasting
  • Pickup and drop-off at the airport or local hotels
  • All passengers are fully insured during the sightseeing tours
  • Meeting arrangements at the airport
  • Entire ground transportation by air-conditioned, modern, fuel-efficient private vehicle
  • Service of an English-speaking driver or guide for the entire tour (please inquire about other languages)
  • Driver/guide meals and lodging
  • Highway toll
  • All current taxes

WHERE CAN I BOOK A SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE BUDGET TOUR?

Email admin@seerendioitytours.com to book a Sri Lankan cultural triangle tour. Click here to book the cultural triangle tour online.

WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT CITIES INCLUDED IN THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY?

The below-listed five places are the most important historical places in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. Five of these locations are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. However, the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka is home to dozens of cultural and historical sites. Many of these sites have a strong connection to Buddhism. Time constraints prevent Sri Lanka tour packages from including the majority of historical and cultural sites in the cultural triangle. Usually, most Sri Lankan trips are planned in such a way that they allow tourists to visit the most important historical monuments in the cultural triangle. The cultural triangle trips include five historical places in Sri Lanka.

  • Anuradhapura
  • Polonnaruwa
  • Sigiriya
  • Dambulla
  • Kandy

SOME OTHER HISTORICAL PLACES IN SRI LANKA’S CULTURAL TRIANGLE

Apart from the above-mentioned historical and cultural places, here are a few other important historical sites that are worth visiting on your cultural triangle tour of Sri Lanka. However, these are lesser-known historical monuments. The historical, cultural, and religious value of these places is very high; however, only a few travellers include them in their cultural triangle trip to Sri Lanka. However, due to their remote locations, most tour operators are hesitant to include them in their tour packages.

  • Aukana Buddha statue
  • Mihintale Buddhist temple
  • Pidurangala Buddhist temple
  • Embekke devalaya
  • Gadaladeniya temple
  • Embekke Devala
  • Gadaladeniya temple

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY?

The vast dry zone, spanning across Sri Lanka’s north-central province and part of the central province north of Kandy, is considered one of Sri Lanka’s greatest ancient treasures. The remarkably preserved Asian Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, fortresses, man-made tanks, and many other vast building complexes, believed to have originated between the 3rd century BC and the 18th century, testify to the advanced culture that existed in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka encompasses a vast dry zone that sees the wrath of nature in the form of scorching-hot weather and receives only a fraction of rainfall compared to the other regions of the country. Yet it was home to a thriving, yet mysterious, civilisation—the ancestors of the Sinhalese.

The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka displays some stunning historical marvels in the form of dagobas, palaces, lakes, tanks, paintings, and statues. Sri Lanka, today the wonder of Asia, had been a wonder of the world many centuries before. The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, as the name denotes, is comprised of a large number of cultural and historically important places such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya.

WHAT ARE THE 11 MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES TO DO IN SRI LANKA’S CULTURAL TRIANGLE?

  1. Visiting Anuradhapura ancient city
  2. Visiting Polonnaruwa ruins and museum
  3. Sigiriya rock fortress trek
  4. Watching paintings and Buddha statues of the Dambulla cave temple
  5. Safari at Minneriya national park
  6. Village tour with cooking class Habarana
  7. Visiting tooth relic temple
  8. Watching Kandyan cultural show
  9. Elephant ride through the village
  10. Bird watching in Sigiriya
  11. Hot air ballooning over the historical monuments

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE IS A TESTIMONY TO THE RICH HISTORICAL PAST OF SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka’s civilisation is one of the oldest in the world. First, it emerged in the 4th century BC and evolved for many thousands of years. During this period, Sri Lankan civilisations benefitted from the enrichment of other contemporary world civilisations, like Rome and Greece. This ancient civilisation was a strong believer in Buddhism; it was the foundation of their culture.

The kings and queens of ancient Sri Lanka had managed to build large constructions such as Jetawanarama, which was the largest Buddhist construction by the 5th century AD and it was as big as the second pyramid in Giza. Apart from Dagobas: historical places These monasteries and temples were adorned with paintings, sculptures, murals, stone, and wood carvings, among many other elements. ter houses and many other religious places, such as Jayasri Maha Bodhi.

Centuries ago, the Sri Lankan civilisation was unfortunately targeted by South Indian Tamil invaders, and that was the major reason for the downfall of this great culture. Even though the Sri Lankan kings were able to regain their kingship from the invaders, the damage done to the cities was irreparable. In the past, numerous invasions had destroyed the great achievements of the Sinhalese people. The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka still showcases some of their great achievements today.

Ancient Sinhalese engineers’ constructions demonstrate their advanced knowledge of trigonometry and their thorough grasp of hydraulic principles. People boast that their arts and crafts are among the masterpieces of the ancient world. In this article, I share some of my favourite monuments from the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. Life is too short; don’t wait for the perfect moment to explore the achievements of this outstanding culture.   Therefore pack your case and set off for the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka.  You have a great opportunity to explore one of the advanced civilisations that existed in the past.

MAP OF THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE OF SRI LANKA

Cultural triangle sri lanka, map of cultural triangle tour sri lanka
The triangle marked on the map is called Sri Lanka cultural triangle, which houses the most important Sri Lankan historical places.

Sri Lanka, a popular tourist destination in southern Asia, boasts a multitude of historical attractions. Most of these historical places are top-notch holiday attractions in the country and included in most road trips to Sri Lanka. The so-called ‘cultural triangle’ is home to most of these historical sites.

Kandy, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa form the three corners of the cultural triangle. Most tourists, who make round tours in Sri Lanka, visit the attractions in the cultural triangle. Tour itineraries almost always include these places as attractions to visit.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME FOR THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY?

From January to December, all months except April have fairly dry weather with occasional rainfall.

The cultural triangle is in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, which means the rainfall in the sites is much lower compared to the rainfall in the cities on the west and south coasts. However, the cultural triangle also receives a considerable amount of rainfall, and much of it comes from the northeast monsoon.

The rainfall in the month of April can be increased in the cultural triangle cities, while usually September, October, November and December also record increased rainfall throughout the cultural triangle. Heavy rainfall can submerge certain places in the cultural triangle, thereby hindering movement across the regions.

ANCIENT SRI LANKAN CULTURE THRIVED ON WATER

You might be wondering why the majority of the cultural triangle’s attractions are located in Sri Lanka’s dry zone.   The archaeologists said the dry zone was where ancient culture thrived. The dry zone had the most suitable conditions for the agricultural lifestyle.

They were dependent on cultivation, such as rice and lived in places where water was readily available. The people of ancient Sri Lanka had built large-scale irrigation networks to supply water for agricultural lands. These irrigation networks are still in use, and tourists have the opportunity to see some of the gigantic reservoirs and canals created by ancient engineers.

Along with material development, this ancient civilisation also concentrated on spiritual development. They had enormous dedication to their religion and built gigantic temples and monasteries for monks. They embellished these monasteries and temples with paintings, sculptures, murals, stone and wood carvings, among other elements.

Today Sri Lanka has its identity with regard to the arts and crafts, largely due to the ancient artisans of Sinhalese culture.  The cultural triangle is regarded as a treasure trove on the island, with some of the valuable items discovered during the excavations being extremely rare and of high value.

According to the archaeologist, only a portion of the treasure of this great culture has been unearthed so far and there is much more to uncover. Sri Lanka is a holiday destination that offers a wide range of products for tourists, from pristine beaches to relaxation to the unbelievable achievements of one of the most ancient cultures in the world.

BEST MODE OF TRANSPORT FOR THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY?

Typically, the majority of travellers who want to explore the cultural triangle begin their journey from Anuradhapura, but some also begin their journey from Kandy. If your goal is to see only the important places in the cultural triangle, starting your tour in either Anuradhapura or Kandy won’t significantly impact your experience. But if you wish to explore other important places, such as mountains and southern Sri Lanka, along with the cultural triangle, it is highly recommended to commence your cultural triangle tour in Anuradhapura.

If you start the cultural triangle tour from Anuradhapura, you can proceed in the southward direction from Anuradhapura, exploring other important sites in the cultural triangle, such as Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Kandy. After visiting the cultural triangle, you can continue the journey in the direction of southern Sri Lanka and explore the mountains, tea gardens, and Yala National Park.  You will have the opportunity to visit beaches on the southern and west coasts, as well as Colombo.

Usually, most Sri Lanka tour packages start in Anuradhapura and continue through mountains, southern Sri Lanka, and the west coast, offered by Sri Lanka tour operators like Seerendipity tours. It is the most convenient, time-saving route, and it saves travellers a lot of money.

HOW TO FIND ACCOMMODATION FOR SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE TRIP?

The cultural triangle offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxurious boutique hotels to more affordable options like dormitories. There is a very high demand for accommodation facilities in the cultural triangle because it includes most Sri Lanka land packages.

Typically, travellers base themselves in cities like Habarana, Sigiriya, and Dambulla during their tours, taking short excursions to important places within the cultural triangle. Habarana and Sigiriya are centrally located in the cultural triangle; hence, they provide quick access to all places in a short timeframe. Because of this, most travellers choose to stay in these cities, which also host the majority of hotels.

WHAT ARE THE BEST CITIES FOR AN OVERNIGHT STAY ON A SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE TRIP?

What are the best places for an overnight stay during the cultural triangle tour? This is a well-posed question with numerous responses. As a popular inbound tour operator, Seerendipity uses hotels in the below-mentioned cities during their cultural triangle tours. Most tour operators for Sri Lanka also opt to accommodate their customers in one of the below-mentioned cities during the cultural triangle tour.

  • Sigiriya
  • Dambulla
  • Habarana
  • Polonnaruwa
  • Sigiriya
  • Kandy

Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy and Habarana are the most popular cities in the cultural triangle for overnight stays. They are centrally located in the cultural triangle. Therefore, all four cities provide easy access to the most important historical places and museums in the cultural triangle. Especially Sigiriya, Dambulla and Habarana are centrally located in the cultural triangle and therefore travellers can reach all historical places of the cultural triangle from these cities within about a 1-hour drive. On the other hand, these 3 places have the most number of hotels, guest houses, rest houses and eateries within the cultural triangle.

WHAT IS THE COST OF THE ENTRANCE TICKETS TO SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE SITES?

The cultural triangle is under the purview of the archaeological department and central cultural fund, which are government institutions. The visitors should pay the entrance fees to all sites of the cultural triangle. At each site’s main gate, the entrance ticket is available for purchase. Each location requires the purchase of a separate entrance ticket. Earlier, there was a ticket that allowed travellers to enter all places in the cultural triangle, but this ticket is not available anymore.

  • Entrance fees for Anuradhapura USD 30
  • Entrance fees for Polonnaruwa USD 230
  • Entrance fees for Sigiriya are USD 35
  • Entrance fees for Dambulla Golden cave temple are USD 7
  • Entrance fees for The tooth relic temple are USD 7

WEATHER PATTERN IN THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE

It is best to avoid midday sunlight as much as possible, especially when you visit Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla. These cultural cities are located in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s north-central province. The North-central Province of Sri Lanka tends to be scorching throughout the year and the average temperature hovers around 35°C. If you are not familiar with hot weather, it makes you tired and can cause sunburn.

You will visit many historical monuments in those places and most of them are in open areas, which means you are exposed to direct sunlight. The temple’s gardens, paved with stones or occasionally covered with sand, experience intense heat during the day. Please note that the temple prohibits the wearing of shoes, sandals, and head coverings such as hats.

sri Lanka anuradhapura temperature
This is the temperature fluctuation in Anuradhapura, by and large, the same temperature can be expected in most other parts of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka except Kandy
sri Lanka anuradhapura rain fall
This is the Rain pattern for Anuradhapura, by and large, the same rainfall can be expected in most other parts of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka except Kandy

IMPORTANT CITIES TO VISIT ON SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR

From this point forward, we primarily explore the major historical, cultural, and natural attractions within Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. At the same time, you can learn about the activities that are available for travellers. One should not think that a cultural triangle tour of Sri Lanka is only about historical, cultural and religious attractions. Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle tour provides far more than just historical, cultural, and religious attractions. The Sri Lankan cultural triangle offers many interesting activities, such as village tours, elephant safaris, wildlife safaris, bird-watching tours, boating, fishing, hiking, trekking, and many more.

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY>>ANURADHAPURA

King Pandukabhaya founded Anuradhapura in the 4th century AD, the first capital of ancient Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura was the capital of Sri Lanka until the 11th century A.D. and the city was the capital of Sri Lanka for more than a thousand years. Anuradhapura had been the centre for Buddhism, and it was 40 km².

It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. At one point, it was regarded as one of the most stable and durable centres of political power and urban life in South Asia. Many foreign and local tourists visit Anuradhapura today because of the well-preserved remains of an ancient Sri Lankan civilisation. Some of the religious edifices of Anuradhapura are more than 2000 years old, and their extent is second only to the structures of Egypt.

The historical city is home to a large number of palaces, temples, dagobas, parks, moats, ponds, reservoirs, and many other historical buildings. Historians have yet to identify some of the buildings, and a significant portion of the city remains unexplored. Anuradhapura is one of the world’s heritage sites in Sri Lanka, and it has attracted a large number of local and foreign tourists since its discovery in the 18th century.

Anuradhapura is a must-visit destination for tourists who wish to see the rich historical past of the island. Anuradhapura is a worthwhile destination for a short tour. It has a large number of ruins dating back to the 2nd century BC. If you visit Sri Lanka just for a beach holiday or water sports, you might miss one important part of Sri Lankan life. Sri Lanka stands out as one of the few countries where people have lived continuously since the pre-Christian era.

Historical cities such as Anuradhapura showcase the knowledge of ancient inhabitants in the fields of architecture, engineering, water management, Ayurvedic medicine, and arts and crafts. The gigantic temples and other religious buildings testify to their dedication to the religion. The vastness of the ancient city requires several days to study all the monuments.

Despite its size, the city maintains a calm and serene atmosphere. The city has a high profile among the historical attractions in the country. Following are some important places that can be covered within several hours, as well as attractions with religious significance.

PLACES TO VISIT IN ANURADHAPURA ON SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY

Anuradhapura is an archaeological zoo that has a large number of historical monuments. I have listed some of the most important places in the city. However, you will not be visiting all the places mentioned here due to time constraints.

  • Abhayagiri Monastery complex
  • Jetawana monastery complex
  • Palace of King Vijayabahu
  • Sri Maha Bodhi
  • Brazen palace
  • Ruvanveliseya Dagoba
  • Thuparama Dagoba
  • Dakkina stupa
  • Mirisaveti Dagoba
  • Isurumuniya
  • Mihintale

HOW TO PLAN A WILDLIFE TOUR IN THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE OF SRI LANKA?

Wasgamuwa National Park is among the most untouched of all Sri Lanka’s reserves due to its isolated location and the two significant rivers, the Amban Ganga and the Mahaweli Ganga, which encircle it to the east and west and provide some protection. These rivers are called the Gangas. The elevation of the Mahaweli Ganga park varies from over 500 metres to just 76 metres. The park is located at the northeastern edge of the hill area. Wide plains may be found in the southeast and east of the country, while the majority of the dry-zone evergreen forest can be found on the hills and along the major rivers. There are up to 150 elephants who call this park home, and the months of November through May (especially February through April) are the greatest times to see them. The elephants have a tendency to travel to Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks during the dry season and the wet season, respectively. Spotted deer, sambar, buffalo, sloth bears, and occasionally leopards are also visible. Additional fauna includes sloth bears and buffalo. There are also over 150 unique species of birds, most of which are native to the area.

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY>>AUKANA BUDDHA STATUE

The Aukana Buddha statue is situated within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. Its importance as a historical and religious monument is very high. However, it may not include, in your cultural triangle tour, the main reason for its remoteness from the other historical places in the cultural triangle. The Aukana Buddha statue is tucked away in a remote village, about 55 kilometres from Anuradhapura. However, it is worth visiting this buddha statue if you can find time for it. The rock-cut buddha statue rises up to 40 ft from the ground, and it is one of the largest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. It was hewn out of a monolithic granite rock by hand in the 5th century AD. The Buddha statue is considered a specimen of excellent ancient sculpture technology of the nation.

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY>> “ATAMASTHANA”

“Atamasthana” or eight sacred places, is a collection of Buddhist religious sites of high importance. These key elements demonstrate Sri Lanka’s deep connection to Buddhism. Each of them relates a unique story or historical incident. Ancient Sri Lankan rulers, hailing from the ancient city of Anuradhapura, built the Atamasthanas. An Anuradhapura city tour is a part of every Sri Lanka cultural triangle itinerary, and it is usually the first activity on this tour. Anuradhapura is an ancient city with many dozens of monuments. Time constraints may prevent you from visiting all the monuments in the city, but on your Anuradhapura city tour, don’t miss these eight Buddhist icons:

  • Ruwanwelisaya – It is a “stupa” that was built by King Dutugamunu and is one of the biggest completed ones to date.
  • Thuparamaya – It is the oldest ‘dagoba’ in Sri Lanka and possibly the oldest visible one in the world.
  • Lovamahapaya-The significance of this building is that the roof was once covered in bronze tiles.
  • Abhayagiri-It is one of the biggest viharas in Anuradhapura. It was a monastery of 5000 monks.
  • Jethavanaramaya-It is a sacred world heritage site and accommodated some 3000 monks at the time. Jethavanaramaya is architecturally similar to Abhayagiri.
  • Mirisavetiya-This stupa was built by King Dutugamunu after defeating King Elara.
  • Lankaramaya-This was also built by a king called King Valagamba in the Anuradhapura Kingdom times and is one of the eight sacred places in the city.
  • Sri Maha Bodhi–sacred Bo-tree

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY>> POLONNARUWA

Legend apart, inscriptions suggest that the history of Polonnaruwa dates back at least to the 2nd century AD; in the 6th century, it became a military garrison of some importance to the Sinhalese kings of Anuradhapura. This was due to its strategic role in guarding the crucial Mahaweli River crossing point from the southern province of Ruhuna, a region continuously threatened by rebellion. A century later, the kings of Anuradhapura began to use Polonnaruwa as their country residence.

Polonnaruwa served as the second capital of ancient Sri Lanka from the 11th to the 13th century. Polonnaruwa is the home of many ancient religious buildings dating back to the pre-Christian era. Along with the religious buildings, one can see palaces, audience halls, trading stalls, and many Hindu temples. The ruins of Polonnaruwa are younger than the ruins of Anuradhapura and in excellent shape.

WHAT PLACES SHOULD YOU VISIT IN POLONNARUWA ON SRI LANKA’S CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY?

  • Pothgul vehera
  • council chamber
  • Nissankamalla bath
  • The palace of King Parakramabahu
  • The Quadrangle
  • Thuparama
  • Menik vehera
  • Pabalu vehera
  • Rankot Vehera
  • Ayurveda hospital
  • Galvihara
  • Kirivehera
  • Tivanka Image house

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY >> ITINERARY>>WOLONNARUWA CITY TOUR?

Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle tour is incomplete without a city tour of Polonnaruwa. Therefore, every cultural triangle trip of Sri Lanka includes a hop-on hop-off Polonnaruwa city tour. I have seen some travellers take a walking tour of the historic city of Polonnaruwa; however, it can be a bit tiring and consumes a lot of time. Taking a bicycle ride to Polonnaruwa is also possible, and many tourists opt to ride their bikes in the ancient city. The Polonnaruwa city tour encompasses numerous temples, the Polonnaruwa museum, palaces, audience halls, and numerous other ancient structures. Usually, the Polonatuwa city tour lasts between 3 and 4 hours. Some of the most important places covered on this city tour are

  • Royal Palace (Palace of King Parakramabahu, the most prolific and gifted builder of the era)
  • Nissankamulla Palace (Royal audience hall with impressive stonework)
  • Gal Viharaya (Contains some of the best rock sculptures in the country)
  • Thuparama, Lankathilaka Image Houses (Good examples of vaulted shrine rooms)
  • Vatadage (Gives an idea of what a complete vatadage may have looked like)
  • Rankoth Vehera (Largest stupa in Polonnaruwa)
  • Parakramabahu Statue (Statue of one of the greatest kings of ancient Sri Lanka)

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR>>SIGIRIYA ROCK

Sigiriya is considered one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. Sigiriya (Lion’s rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. Sigiriya, a popular tourist destination, is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescos), which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. It is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR>>DAMBULLA GOLDEN TEMPLE

Dambulla Gold Cave is one of the oldest cave temples in southern India. Dambulla Cave Temple is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Dambulla Temple Complex comprises five caves, and the temple dates back to the 1st century B.C. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues—3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses. The latter 4 include two statues of Hindu gods, Vishnu and Ganesh.

The tooth relic temple is an important place in Kandy; it is a world heritage site in the mountains. Every day, hundreds of thousands of devotees visit the temple, and almost every Sri Lankan tour package includes it.

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE >> HOT AIR BALLOONING

Sigiriya and Dambulla are located in the centre of the cultural triangle. Dambulla and Sigiriya are the two most picturesque cities, with a large tract of pristine green cover. Hundreds of gigantic manmade lakes, along with their neighbours’ rice paddies, create a picture-perfect scene.

Dambulla and Sigiriya are also home to numerous historical monuments, Buddhist temples, and other ruins that date back many centuries.

Hot air ballooning is a very popular yet a bit expensive activity in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. There are only a handful of places where tourists can engage in this thrilling adventure. Dambulla is the only place in the cultural triangle where travellers can float up in the sky using balloons.

The passengers have comfort and they are safe during the 1-hour balloon trip over Sigiriya and Dambulla. A large number of isolated ancient temples emerge through the mist amidst the thickly forested area and across the plains as the sun wakes up, creating one of Sri Lanka’s most impressive sites to behold. 

SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY>> KANDY

Kandy lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the three cities that mark the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an administrative and religious city. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most venerable places for the Buddhist community of Sri Lanka and all around the world.

WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY ON SRI LANKA’S CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY?

  • Temple of the tooth relic
  • Pattini devala
  • Degaldoruwa
  • Hindagala temple
  • Gadaladeniya temple
  • Lankathilaka Temple
  • Embekke Devala

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARIES?

  • Sigiriya Dambulla: A One-day tour
  • Kandy one-day tour
  • Sri Lanka cultural triangle 2-days tour
  • Sri Lanka cultural triangle 3-days tour
  • Cultural triangle 4-days tour
  • Sri Lanka cultural tour 5 days

3 DAYS SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY

This 3-day Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour is one of the best opportunities to see the rich historical past of Sri Lanka. The cultural triangle tour takes you to many important places of historical and natural importance, and the tour includes 5 of the seven UNESCO world heritage sites of the island namely Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, Polonnaruwa, and Anuradhapura while wildlife reserves, lakes, and remote hamlets are places to explore with activities such as wildlife safaris and visiting the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala.

Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle tour starts in Colombo or at any other convenient place of your choice, but the pick-up location should be within Colombo; if the pick-up spot is far away from Colombo, there will be a supplementary charge for the transfer. The tour is private, so the pick-up time and location don’t matter.

You will not be a part of a big coach; having a private vehicle for the tour means that you can enjoy it while having maximum privacy, and the tour will run at your pace. An air-conditioned modern vehicle will be allocated for the tour and the same vehicle with the same chauffeur guide will be assigned until you finish the entire circuit.

DAY 1 OF SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY: VISITING ANURADHAPURA

You will visit Anuradhapura on the first day of this Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour. Anuradhapura is the first capital of Sri Lanka and dates back to the 3rd century B.C. According to historical information, Anuradhapura played the role of the capital of Sri Lanka for many centuries, since its inception in the 3rd century BCE. However, as the fame of this flourishing city grew exponentially, it became a target of south Indian invaders, who found it easy to access Anuradhapura from south India, which led to a never-ceasing Indian invasion.

Palaces, temple complexes, gardens, hospitals, and a relatively affluent population adorned the city. Today the city is a UNESCO world heritage site due to its cultural and historical importance. You will be accompanied to dozens of important historical sites in Anuradhapura and our historian will give you a full report to you about these important historical sites.

Now it is time to move to one of the tourist hotspots on the island, Sigiriya Rock Fortress. However, due to time constraints, we have scheduled the visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress for the next day. The journey from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya takes around 30  minutes. The first day of the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour comes to an end with check-in to your hotel in Sigiriya.

DAY 2 OF SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY: VISITING SIGIRIYA AND POLONNARUWA

On the second day of the tour, you visit the Sigiriya rock fortress. Every week, thousands of travellers visit the Sigiriya rock fortress, another important historical site in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. The history of the Sigiriya rock fortress dates back to the 5th century AD; it had been a well-planned city with palaces, gardens, swimming pools, moats, ditches, and walls, and the fortress was built in the middle of the city.

Visitors to Sigiriya are able to witness the world-renowned Sigiriya frescoes and mirror walls. They can catch a breathtaking view of the surrounding area from the top of the rock. The upward climb to the pinnacle of the rock takes around 1 hour and the downward journey takes around 30 minutes.

SIGIRIYA ROCK CLIMB

It is recommended to begin the climb early in the morning to avoid the scorching heat in Sri Lanka’s dry zone. The humidity is also very high here, making it a sweaty condition.  There is a lot of walking in Sigiriya and you have to climb a rock on well-laid stairs. Even though there is a well-laid stair, the climb up the rock is exhausting for some people; therefore, the site is not recommended for pregnant women, old people, or heart patients. We recommend Sigiriya for travellers who have good physical and mental fitness.

SIGIRIYA ROCK CLIMB – WHAT TO WEAR?

A pair of good shoes recommended for hiking makes it easy to climb 200 steps; however, they are not essential.  A cotton t-shirt and pair of shorts are the best possible attire, as it is warm and sweaty throughout the climb. Sigiriya is not a sacred site; therefore, you can wear a pair of shorts.

VISIT POLONNARUWA

After visiting the Sigiriya rock fortress, you might be hungry and tired, so consider having lunch or a refreshment. In fact, there is a tremendous amount of distance to cover on foot in Polonnaruwa, a historical city.

You will proceed to Polonnaruwa after a break, the second capital of Sri Lanka. After the downfall of Anuradhapura, the kings of Sri Lanka chose Polonnaruwa as the capital. For many decades, Polonnaruwa served as the capital of Sri Lanka, with notable kings such as Vijayabahu I, Parakramabahu, and Nissannkamalla making significant contributions to the city’s development. These three kings are responsible for most historical monuments at Polonnaruwa, including Galvihara, Thuparama, Hetadage, and Atadage.

The latter period’s invasions caused significant damage to most of these monuments.  Today Polonnaruwa is another important tourist attraction and a UNESCO world heritage site. The Polonnaruwa city tour takes around 2 hours and doesn’t forget to visit the Polonnaruwa museum.

There are many places to visit in Polonnaruwa, and you come across images of houses, palaces, dagobas, conference halls, and many other important places. Certain religious sites require you to wear clothing that covers your knees and shoulders. Please check our two articles, Clothing & Gear Guide for Sri Lanka and Visiting a Buddhist Temple in Sri Lanka; here are nine rules to consider.

MINNERIYA SAFARI ON CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR

There is a wonderful opportunity for Sri Lanka jungle tours to explore Sri Lankan wild animals today. After leaving Polonnaruwa, you will enter the Minneriya national park, where you can witness a large number of wild elephants. Wild buffaloes, monkeys, crocodiles, wild boar, and deer are some of the very common animals here. You can only participate in Minneriya if you have the time.

By the time you return to your hotel in Sigiriya, it will be around 6.00 pm today. The hotel you are staying in is a middle-class hotel with an outdoor swimming pool. You might enjoy a swim in the hotel’s outdoor pool before heading to the restaurant. At the bar, you can enjoy a glass of wine or arrack, a type of alcoholic beverage from Sri Lanka.

DAY 3 OF SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE ITINERARY: VISITING DAMBULLA TEMPLE

On the third day of your Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour, you leave for Kandy after breakfast at your hotel in Sigiriya. The first stop of the day is at Dambulla golden cave temple, which is only 20 minutes away from your hotel. After visiting Dambulla golden temple, you could make a stop at a spice garden in Matale, which is an optional activity to learn about traditional Sri Lankan spices such as Cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, etc. During your visit to the spice garden, you also will be able to learn about the traditional healing sphere of Ayurveda.

VISITING DAMBULLA GOLDEN TEMPLE

The temple is located about 300 metres above the ground. The visitors need to climb the rock on the staircase to reach the temple on the rock.  Dambulla golden cave temple is another UNESCO world heritage site in Sri Lanka. Here you can see hundreds of statues and wall paintings; the temple dates back to the 1st century BC.

VISITING TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE: SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR

After the Dambulla Golden Cave Temple, the travellers proceed to the tooth relic temple of Kandy, which is another important historical site and a UNESCO world heritage site included in the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour. The Temple of the Tooth stands as the most significant Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, believed to house the left eye tooth of the Buddha. Thousands of local and foreign visitors flock to the temple every day. The tooth relic temple is the last important cultural site on the Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour and it is time to proceed to Colombo.

ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE ON SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR

Following your visit to the Tooth Relic Temple, you will embark on a 3-hour drive to Colombo, during which you will have the opportunity to visit the Pinnawala elephant orphanage located halfway along the route. You are most welcome to visit it and witness the largest herd of tame elephants in the world.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR:

The time taken for the tour is unpredictable due to the traffic and other circumstances; the time mentioned above is only based on rough calculations. If you have any time constraints due to departure flights, appointments, or the need to arrive in Colombo for a cruise ship, etc., please inform us in advance so that we can plan your Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Tour accordingly.

Please reach out to us at least one day prior to your Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Tour so we can efficiently organise our vehicles and guides. Thank you for your cooperation. We do pick up from 40+ hotels, most of them on the west coast beaches.

The Sri Lanka Cultural triangle tour can be booked with all categories of hotels, such as five-star hotels, four-star hotels, and three-star hotels… However, we have planned this tour package with four-star-compatible hotel accommodations. We will notify you of the hotel’s name before finalising the Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle tour. The rate can significantly vary across different hotel categories.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *