Xplorpal - Cultural Triangle

Number of Travellers	Price Per Person (USD)
2	313
3	303
4+	283
7+	263
11+	253

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Part of our revenue from this experience
will go to a charity in the region

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. Much of the region’s history is contained in the remains of Anuradhapura, capital of the island for well over a millennium and adorned by countless kings with a succession of extravagant buildings.Sigiriya, also called Lion Rock Situated in central Sri Lanka consisting of the ruins of an ancient stronghold that was built in the late 5th century on a remarkable monolithic rock pillar. Sigiriya was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. The rock, which is so steep that its top overhangs the sides, rises to an elevation of 1,144 feet above Sea level and is some 600 feet above the surrounding plain. The Sinhalese king Kashyapa built a palace in the shape of a monumental lion on the several acres of ground at the summit, intending it to be a safeguard against his enemies. However, the king was defeated in 495, and the palace fell into ruin. The site soon became a pilgrimage destination, however, and it is now a popular tourist spot. Visitors begin the final ascent to the top through the open paws of the lion, one of the few remaining portions of the palace that are still intact. In the middle of the area lies Sigiriya, where a usurper defied engineering laws to build a royal palace in the sky on top of a giant rock, Sri Lanka’s single most extraordinary sight. Kandy is Surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and biodiverse rainforest. The city's heart is scenic Kandy Lake which is popular for strolling. Kandy is famed for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) shrine, celebrated with the grand Esala Perahera annual procession. This was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), which is a famous pilgrimage site, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world, which was built to protect the sacred tooth relic thought to belong to Lord Buddha, which has been enshrined in Sri Lanka for hundreds of years As well as a host of other temples, visitors to the city can wander along Kandy Lake, stroll through the stunning Botanical Gardens – created by the British in the 19th century and still one of the most beautiful gardens in Asia.The garden is famous for its countless (4000+) species of plants and trees. It is situated a 15-minute drive west of Kandy, and is a great escape from the city. Climbing the numerous steps to the top seeing the white colossal statue of Buddha named as Bahirawakanda Vihara gives one a sense of peace, serenity and harmony; and a stunning and gorgeous panoramic view of charming Kandy. The dry-zone plains north of Kandy were the heartlands of ancient Sri Lankan civilisation, and the ruins of the great cities which once flourished here are nothing less than staggering. The entire area is loosely referred to as the Cultural Triangle, an imaginary construct with its points at the three great Sinhalese capitals of Kandy, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, which encapsulates one of the world’s most extraordinary collections of Buddhist art and architecture.

Duration

5 days

The tour starts at

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Day 5

Cultural Triangle - 4N/5D
Day 01 - Airport to Anuradhapura
- Meet and greet at the airport.
- Take you from the airport, leave for Anuradhapura
- Anuradhapura is one of the ancient...
Day 01 - Airport to Anuradhapura
- Meet and greet at the airport.
- Take you from the airport, leave for Anuradhapura
- Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles. Anuradhapura is also significant in Hindu legend as the fabled capital of the Asura King Ravana in the Ramayana.
- Arrive at Anuradhapura
- Take lunch
- Visit the religious part of the first capital.
- Check into the hotel and have dinner
- Stay overnight at Rajarata Hotel or Similar in Anuradhapura
Day 02 - Anuradhapura to Sigiriya
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Proceed to Dambulla
- Take a visit to Dambulla cave Temple
- Dambulla cave temple is also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site(1991) in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains.There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings.
- After having lunch
- Return back to sigiriya
- leisure at the hotel
- Take dinner and overnight stay at Nice Place Hotel or Similar in Sigiriya
Day 03 - Sigiriya
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Leave hotel for sigiriya lion rock trekking at around 8.00 am
- Sigiriya, also called Lion Rock Situated in central Sri Lanka consisting of the ruins of an ancient stronghold that was built in the late 5th century on a remarkable monolithic rock pillar. Sigiriya was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. The rock, which is so steep that its top overhangs the sides, rises to an elevation of 1,144 feet above Sea level and is some 600 feet above the surrounding plain. The Sinhalese king Kashyapa built a palace in the shape of a monumental lion on the several acres of ground at the summit, intending it to be a safeguard against his enemies. However, the king was defeated in 495, and the palace fell into ruin. The site soon became a pilgrimage destination, however, and it is now a popular tourist spot. Visitors begin the final ascent to the top through the open paws of the lion, one of the few remaining portions of the palace that are still intact.
- After the trekking to Sigiriya, you can have lunch
- Return back to the hotel and relax
- Evening we take you to minneriya for elephant watching
- Be part of the “Elephant gathering”, the annual congregation of Wild Elephants sometimes herds as large as 400 come together in the largest gathering of wild elephants in the world. There is also plenty of other wildlife to see and enjoy.
- After the evening safari, we take you back to the hotel
- Dinner and stay overnight at Nice Place Hotel or Similar in Sigiriya
Day 04 - Sigiriya to Kandy
- Breakfast at the hotel
- We pick you up around 8.00 am, leave the hotel for Kandy via Matale
- Kandy Surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and biodiverse rainforest. The city's heart is scenic Kandy Lake which is popular for strolling. Kandy is famed for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) shrine, celebrated with the grand Esala Perahera annual procession.
- on the way visit peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya are about 5.5 km to the west of the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It attracts 2 million visitors annually. It is near the Mahaweli River (the longest in Sri Lanka). Agriculture.
- Arrive at Kandy
- Check into the hotel
- Have lunch
- Visit The Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
- The Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), which is a famous pilgrimage site, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world, which was built to protect the sacred tooth relic thought to belong to Lord Buddha, which has been enshrined in Sri Lanka for hundreds of years As well as a host of other temples, visitors to the city can wander along Kandy Lake,
- After Temple visit, see the Kandyan cultural dance show
- Kandyan The cultural show depicts various forms of Kandyan dancing which was once native to the area but has now spread to different regions of the island and the show include of Magul Bera/Puja Netuma/Raban/Mayura Netuma/Pantheru Natuma/Gini Sisila/Ves Natuma(Fire walk).
- 5th day, leave Kandy via the waterfall trail to see the tea plantation and process via Nuwara Eliya to Haputale. 6th day leave Haputale to Badulla by scenic train journey, pick you up from Badulla railway station via Ella to Tissamaharama to visit the Yala National Park for a wildlife safari. Last day we dropped you off at any beach resort on the south coast.
- Back to hotel
- Have dinner and stay one night at Hotel Lagoone or Similar
Day 05 - Kandy to airport
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Visit Bahirawakanda temple
- Proceed to pinnawala
- Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, home to approx 60 - 100 elephants.Pinnawala is situated in Sabaragamuwa province, in Sri Lanka which has become famous because of the 1st Asian Elephant Orphanage in the world. Watch the baby elephants play and bathe in the river, watch them being fed, or feed them yourself. Pinnawala is situated in Sabaragamuwa province, in Sri Lanka which has become famous because of the 1st Asian Elephant Orphanage in the world. We take you to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to enjoy the day to day scenario happening in the elephant orphanage which is Bathing, Feeding.
- Take lunch
- Finally, drop you off at the airport
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