Sri Lanka’s famous historical sites have become
the staple of many a travel programme. The ruined old
capitals of Polonnuruwa and Anuradhapura, the lion rock
of Mount Sigiriya, and the Dambulla rock temple, possess
a real sense of history.
To add to the delight, one of the joys of exploring the
cultural triangle is the chance to indulge yourself with
some of the most luxurious hotels on the island. Visit
our cultural triangle hotel section for more details.
But, with Red Dot, you can experience Sri Lanka's magnificent
heritage in much more imaginative style. We are also enthusiastic
about taking you to impressive ruins off the major tourist
beat.
Consider the ruins of Yapahuwa, another former capital,
which are described by the Insight Guide to Sri Lanka
as "one of the great architectural wonders of the
world.
Or the impressive rock monastery of Aluvihare, on the
Kandy-Dambulla road, which has a tranquility that far
surpasses the more famous rock temple at Dambulla. Or
climb the 1,840 granite steps up to the dagoba at Mihintale,
where Buddhism is said to have been born in Sri Lanka.
We can design a holiday with the cultural triangle at
its core – but with so much more besides. You might
like to take a hot-air balloon ride, or to cycle along
peaceful, rural roads and tracks.
And here’s an enticing Lifestyle possibility. Ayurveda,
meaning knowledge of life, is a natural healing method
believed to have originated in India and Sri Lanka about
5,000 years ago. Use your cultural exploration as an excuse
for a thorough detox.
If you just hanker after beaches, the cultural triangle
is convenient for Nilaveli on the stunning east coast.
Negombo, close to the airport on the west coast, is also
a convenient starting or finishing point if you want a
few days on the beach. For easy planning, you can devise
your own Cultural and Colonial Tour, using our Holiday
Wizard. This offers other delights of the island, such
as:
For an island tour, with a strong cultural flavour, just
Click Here
And, simplest of all, we even offer an off-the-peg cultural
itinerary. Feed your soul with a spot of culture -- travel
Red Dot Sri Lanka.
| Cycling
in Polonnaruwa, Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: Polonnaruwa became Sri Lanka’s
royal medieval capital in 1073. For nearly a century
it had been a military base for invading Chola tribes,
from southern India, until they were overthrown
by the Sinhalese king, Vijayabahu I in 1070. The
next king, Parakramabahu I, was the main driving
force behind the development of Polonnaruwa. It
remained Sri Lanka’s capital until the late
13th century, but became increasingly susceptible
to Chola invasions and it became lost to the jungle
once more as the capital drifted south-west. Today,
the ancient city’s ruins remain in remarkably
good nick, and are a fascinating site to visit.
Split into five separate “groups” of
ruins. Polonnaruwa’s size makes it ideal for
getting around easily by bike. The bikes on offer
are all-terrain mountain bikes that have been serviced
regularly, however should you be unfortunate enough
to get a puncture or other problem there is a mechanic
who cycles behind you around the site to give quick
repairs.
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| Hot
Air Ballooning, Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: Soar high above the ruined cities
of ancient kingdoms, sail over national parks to
watch the wild undisturbed, glide through the morning
mist rising from tropical forests and watch the
sun sink slowly into the Indian Ocean – hot
air ballooning is now available in Sri Lanka with
Red Dot Tours. Red Dot has joined forces with Adventure
Centre Asia, the leading balloon operator in the
island. They have a wealth of professional experience
in the field having operated throughout the Asia
region. Naturally, safety is a priority. Based in
the Cultural Triangle, if the winds are in favour
you will float serenely above Sigiriya, Dambulla,
Minneriya National Park and many other beautiful
landscapes. Ballooning trips are available daily
throughout season from October to May when the winds
are light and the sky at its bluest. A typical trip
would start at dawn and last for approximately one
hour – depending on the prevailing winds.
A support vehicle will follow the flight and a champagne
breakfast will be organized at the landing site.
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| Anuradhapura,
Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s
first capital, was the greatest monastic city of
the ancient world. It was royal capital for more
than 100 Sri Lankan kings and at its heights was
home to thousands of monks from dozens of monasteries.
Originally founded by a minister called Anuradha,
in the 4th century BC, it became the capital of
Sri Lanka two centuries later. After a long and
sometimes bloody history, it was abandoned in 1073
and is now today the most important religious and
cultural site in Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura’s
ancient, spiritual ruins can leave you in awe. It
can be an inspiring visit at all times of year but
attending one of the festivals held through out
the year is a special, once in a life-time experience.
A complex that spans several square miles, with
many contrasting elements, your Red Dot guide will
take you through the history and meanings of the
many buildings, statues and symbols within the site.
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| Aukana,
Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: One of Sri Lanka’s most
perfect and elegant statues, the Aukana Buddha lies
to the west of the large Kala Wewa tank. Creation
of both the temple and the tank (reservoir) is attributed
to King Dhatusena in the 5th century. The statue
stands 12m high, carved from a single rock and is
completely free-standing. It is an example of the
Abhayamudra Buddha, showing superhuman qualities.
The right handed gesture, raised to the right shoulder
with the palm spread, signifies lack of fear. The
left hands position draws the worshipper to Buddha
for release from their earthly bonds. The statue
has gained significance in recent times due to the
destruction of similar Buddha in Afghanistan. The
Aukana Buddha can be visited en route to Anuradhapura
and can easily be combined with the ancient monastery
site of Sasseruwa. It only takes a maximum of 45
minutes to visit the site. The nearby Kala Wewa
tank (reservoir) is also an excellent place to stop
off and have a picnic with a most satisfying view.
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| Dambulla
Golden Temple, Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: Dambulla Golden Temple and Cave
Temple are two engrossing cultural historical sites
in one place. For the serious culture junkies, they
offer hours of exploration. Your first sight of
Dambulla will be the giant gold Buddha sitting on
the roof of the Golden Temple. Built in 2001 it
is said to be the largest o f its kind in the world.
Aside from this eye-catching, if slightly tacky,
recent addition, the ancient caves reward immediately
those who’ve endured a steep climb up to them
with a fine panorama of surrounding jungle, tanks
and Sigiriya Rock, 19km away. The caves at first
came into use as a refuge for King Valagambahu in
1st century BC. Concealed by the local monks, upon
returning from exile to his throne at Anuradhapura,
he had the magnificent cave temple built for them.
There are five main caves, created by a cliff overhang,
fronted by an assortment of monastic buildings surrounding
a ceremonial courtyard. Each cave is spectacularly
painted and different from the next.
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| Mihintale,
Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: Mihintale, one of Sri Lanka’s
most significant cultural sites, lies 13kms east
of Anuradhapura and is where Buddhism originated
on the island. In 247 BC King Devanampiya Tissa
of Anuradhapura, was deer hunting on the plains
beneath Mihintale, and met Mahinda, son of the Indian
Buddhist emperor, and chose the path of Buddhism
for the Sinhalese nation following Mahinda’s
persuasion. Despite this, Mihintale is less famous
than many cultural triangle sites, but those who
visit are rewarded with a beautiful location with
magnificent views, along with the experience of
visiting a working Buddhist temple, the intriguing
excavated ruins of a former monastery, a stunningly
set dagoba and arguably the most religious rock
in Sri Lanka- where Mahinda preached Buddhism to
the deer-hunting King Tissa below. Well-worth a
visit and easily combined in a day with Anuradhapura,
Mihintale is a little-known gem that will enthral
all culture-junkies.
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| Nalanda
Gediga, Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: Nalanda Gedige (Buddhist Image House) is
a curious site found halfway between Dambulla and
Matale. Built in the 8th century, Nalanda Gedige,
uniquely, blends the architecture of Hindu temples
in south India and the more traditional Sri Lankan
Buddhist architecture. It also has a number of stone
carvings of the Karma Sutra, which can only just
be made out due to centuries of weathering. Nalanda
Gedige is visited very little, despite being on
the Cultural Triangle round ticket, which is surprising
as it stands next to a beautiful reservoir and is
a very atmospheric spot.
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| Polonnaruwa,
Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: Polonnaruwa became Sri Lanka’s
royal medieval capital in 1073. For nearly a century
it had been a military base for invading Chola tribes,
from southern India, until they were overthrown
by the Sinhalese king, Vijayabahu I in 1070. The
next king, Parakramabahu I, was the main driving
force behind the development of Polonnaruwa. It
remained Sri Lanka’s capital until the late
13th century, but became increasingly susceptible
to Chola invasions and it became lost to the jungle
once more as the capital drifted south-west. Today,
the ancient city’s ruins remain in remarkably
good nick, and are a fascinating site to visit.
Perhaps preferable to Anuradhapura because the Polonnaruwa’
buildings still stand in a state to distinguish
their original purpose, the site is well-visited
and definitely rewarding. Your Red Dot guide will
take you through Polonnaruwa five “groups”
of ruins explaining their historical and cultural
significance.
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| Ritigala,
Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: Ritigala nestles deep inside the
Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve, found just off the
Anuradhapura-Habarana road, and is the partially
excavated ruins of an extensive Buddhist Monastery.
It was abandoned following invasions in 10th and
11th centuries and today holds special appeal with
its curious blend of nano-safari and archaeology.
Walking around the beautiful ruins does certainly
give you a feeling of adventures in search of mythical
pasts; it is easy to imagine yourself as Indiana
Jones whilst clambering over the overgrown relics
of a forgotten time.
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| Sigiriya,
Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: Sigiriya, a world heritage site,
is one of the most dramatic, inspiring and beautiful
his torical locations in the world. A mythical past
of feuding dynasties suits Sigiriya’s striking
setting- it was built in 5th century AD by the playboy
king, Kasyapa, as a fortress-palace. Legend says
that King Kasyapa murdered his father, Dhatusena,
and claimed the thrown for himself. However, Kasyapa
was not the direct heir; his mother was one of Dhatusena’s
concubines, and he was fearful that his half brother,
Prince Moggallana, would return from exile in India
and rightfully claim his crown. Moggallana did return
to find Sigiriya in its full-glory and Kasyapa’s
army waiting for him. Despite building an impenetrable
stronghold, Kasyapa was defeated. Abandoned by his
army, Kasyapa killed himself and left his half-brother
to reign from his castle paradise. Worthy of being
called the “8th wonder of the world”,
Sigiriya is Sri Lanka’s answer to the Taj
Mahal and will astonish anyone with its outstandingly
beautiful views, staggering engineering and peerless
design. Your Red Dot guide will guide you through
Sigiriya’s legendary past and its subtleties
of design.
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| Yapahuwa,
Cultural Triangle |
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 Activity
Profile: After the fall of the great city
of Polonnuruwa, the Kandyan kings fled to a succession
of inaccessible crags, bearing with them the sacred
tooth relic of the Buddha. One of them was Yapahuwa,
a huge, yet little-visited rock fortress a little
way off the Kurunegala-Anuradhapura road, and one
of the great architectural sites of the island.
This early 13th century stronghold is reminiscent
of Sigiriya, a massive granite outcrop, set in a
shady location, and rising 100m above the plains
below. King Bhuvanekabahu I developed Yapahuwa,
building a palace and a temple which housed the
famous tooth relic for 11 years. After Yapahuwa
was abandoned, Buddhist monks took it over and still
remain today. Yapahuwa is worthy of a visit as it
is relatively quick to see, interesting and beautiful.
Although not as significant as other Cultural Triangle
sites it does have a special individual charm.
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