Full Day Tour To Sigiriya Rock Fortress And Dambulla Cave Temple From Kandy

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Ancient City of Sigiriya, Sigiriya Site between the towns of Dambulla and Habarane, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka

Sigiriya Rock Fortress is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. The name refers to a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 metres (660 ft) high. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Culavamsa, this site was selected by King Kasyapa (477 – 495 CE) for his new capital. He built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure — Sīnhāgiri, the Lion Rock (an etymology similar to Siṃhapura, the Sanskrit name of Singapore, the Lion City). The capital and the royal palace was abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.

Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Sigiriya Museum, Sigiriya Thalkotta Sigiriya Thalkotta, Sigiriya, Central Province, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka

A visit to the new Sigiriya museum, one of its kind in Sri Lanka, is interesting, inspiring and intellectual. You do not go through it with a catalogue in hand or a head-set explaining each artifact as you pass it. Rather it is a museum one looks through mind engaged, sensibilities awakened and realizing it effectively though unobtrusively complements the stupendous Rock. Designed and built by Sri Lankans with Japanese aid and expertise, the new museum was opened to the public in August 2009. Its guiding concept was ‘artifact as text'- displayed artifacts being text within the contextual site. The conceptual design of the museum was by Prof Seneka Bandaranayake.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Dambulla Cave Temple, Jaffna Hwy, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka

Dambulla cave temple 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. This site is situated 78 kilometres (46 mi) north of Kandy.

Dambulla 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 five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses. The latter include Vishnu and the Ganesha. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square metres (23,000 sq ft). Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara, and Buddha's first sermon.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Golden Temple of Dambulla, Dambulla 21100 Sri Lanka

Dambulla cave temple 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. This site is situated 72 kilometres (45 mi) north of Kandy.

Dambulla 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 five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses. The latter include Vishnu and the Ganesha. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square metres (23,000 sq ft). Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara, and Buddha's first sermon.

Duration: 1 hour