Pick up from Colombo and transfer to Sigiriya
Visit Sigiriya
Visit Dambulla Cave Temple
Transfer to Colombo
Sigiriya is probably the most visited tourist destination of Sri Lanka. The palace is located in the heart of the island between the towns of Dambulla and Habarane on a massive rocky plateau 370 meters above the sea level. It is also called "The Lion Rock" for its initial name of "Sinhagiri", was a royal citadel for 18 years (477-495) when it was fortified by King Kasyapa. The architectural and irrigational technologies of Sigiriya, such as the Water Gardens, still baffle engineers. The palace and fortress complex is recognized as one of the finest examples of ancient urban planning. Considering the uniqueness of Sigiriya UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site in 1982. Sigiriya is an unmatched combination of urban planning, water engineering, horticulture and arts. The frescoes are probably Sigiriya most popular attraction. The whole face of the wall has been used as a picture gallery which to this day have been preserved. The paintings are said to have been of the Anuradhapura period. However the style of painting is unique to that of any found in Anuradhapura during its golden years.
Dambulla Cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla. There are five caves (Deva Raja Viharaya, Maha Raja Viharaya, Maha Alut Viharaya, Paschima Viharaya) in the Dambulla Temple and 157 statues of the Lord Buddha. Most of the paintings on the ceiling and walls emphasize the artistic talents of ancient days. Dambulla Rock Cave Temple can be reached by coming from Kandy (68km) along A9 road which runs up through Dambulla and Anuradhapura, or direct from Colombo. Located at an elevation of 1118 feet from the sea level, the Dambulugala raises as a massive rock from the surrounding plains of Dambulla. It is home to the World’s most acclaimed Cave complex of magnificent Buddha Images and Rock Paintings of vivid colours and shapes constructed and painted from around the 2nd Century BC (Anuradhapura era) and continued up to the Kandyan era of the 18th Century, thus forming an unbroken line of history and painting styles of Sri Lanka through 2500 years. The statues and art found within the cave truly highlight the artistic abilities of those living in the past. It is well persevered and a walk through the caves will prove to be both insightful and a very memorable experience.
On completion of this tour, you will be driven back to your hotel or Katunayake International Airport for Departure.
