Colombo Trip Overview
Explore three UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this 2 days all inclusive tour from Colombo. Visit the best preserved cave temple, Dambulla temple (also known as the Golden Temple). These caves are filled with religious paintings and sculptures. A 15 m long sculpture of Buddha is the highlight of this place. The frescoes on the walls and ceilings are from the 15th century and they depict scenes from the life of Buddha. Next proceed to Sigiriya. Sigiriya, the most beautiful historic monuments in Sri Lanka. It is located between Dambulla and Habarana. This astounding rock structure is 200 meters higher than the surrounding. This fort includes remains of a ruined palace. Sigiriya served as a monastery during the 3rd century BC. Spend your second day on visiting the ruined ancient city of Polonnaruwa and its main attractions. You will be travelling in the comfort of an air conditioned vehicle with all required facilities.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Explore three UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this 2 days all inclusive tour from Colombo. Visit the best preserved cave temple, Dambulla temple (also known as the Golden Temple). These caves are filled with religious paintings and sculptures. A 15 m long sculpture of Buddha is the highlight of this place. The frescoes on the walls and ceilings are from the 15th century and they depict scenes from the life of Buddha. Next proceed to Sigiriya. Sigiriya, the most beautiful historic monuments in Sri Lanka. It is located between Dambulla and Habarana. This astounding rock structure is 200 meters higher than the surrounding. This fort includes remains of a ruined palace. Sigiriya served as a monastery during the 3rd century BC. Spend your second day on visiting the ruined ancient city of Polonnaruwa and its main attractions. You will be travelling in the comfort of an air conditioned vehicle with all required facilities.
Itinerary
Day 1: Colombo – Dambulla – Sigiriya
Stop At: Dambulla Cave Temple, Jaffna Hwy, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka
The Buddhist temple complex of Dambulla consists of five cave temples carved under a very large overhanging rock. The temples were carved out over several centuries, but the oldest dates back to the 1st century B.C.E. The temples include numerous carved statues of Buddha, and his faithful disciple Ananda, as well as Hindu deities. The largest of the caves is known as the Maharaja Vihara Lena, or Cave of the Great Kings, so named because the cave contains the statues of two ancient, great Sri Lankan kings—Valagambahu and Nissankamalla. The cave walls and ceiling are entirely painted with paintings depicting early Buddhist historical events and murals with traditional Buddhist designs. Like all the other cave temples, this one is dimly lit, preserving the vibrant colors of the paintings and murals.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress in the Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Stroll in some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world and past unique features like the mirror wall. So highly polished was this, the king could see himself as he walked by. Over the centuries graffiti became commonplace – some, quite entertaining. Find small examples of colorful frescoes which once covered the western side of Sigiriya, or “Lion Rock”, derived from a plateau where once a huge stone lion sat, guarding the gateway to the top. See the remnants as you climb!
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a 3 star hotel in Sigiriya
Day 2: Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Colombo
Stop At: Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sacred City, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
The Polonnaruwa Vatadage is an ancient structure dating back to the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa of Sri Lanka. It is believed to have been built during the reign of Parakramabahu I to hold the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha or during the reign of Nissanka Malla of Polonnaruwa to hold the alms bowl used by the Buddha. Both these venerated relics would have given the structure a great significance and importance at the time. Located within the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, it is the best preserved example of a vatadage in the country, and has been described as the “ultimate development” of this type of architecture.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Gal Vihara, 440/225 Palm Grove State Minuwangoda road, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
The Gal Vihara consists of four separate images, all cut from one long slab of granite. At one time, each was enshrined within a separate enclosure. The standing Buddha is 7m tall and is said to be the finest of the series. The unusual crossed position of the arms and sorrowful facial expression led to the theory that it was an image of the Buddha’s disciple Ananda, grieving for his master’s departure for nirvana, since the reclining image is next to it. The reclining Buddha depicted entering parinirvana (nirvana-after-death) is 14m long. Notice the subtle depression in the pillow under the head and the lotus symbols on the pillow end and on the soles of Buddha’s feet. The other two images are both of the seated Buddha.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Sathmahal Prasada, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
This pyramid-shaped, seven storied building called Sathmahal Prasadaya (11th -13th century) is thought to be an unusually shaped stupa. There are 4 known square shaped stupa’s in Sri Lanka. The most popular is the Sathmahal Prasadaya. The rest of the 3 stupas can be found in the ancient Anuradhapura kingdom which are rarely visited by the pilgrims. One of these stupa’s is Nakha Vehera. The other 2 belongs to the Abhayagiriya Monastic Complex. One of them is known as Indikatu Seya. The other lies west of Eth Pokuna on the western border of the Abhayagiri Monastery.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Pothgul Viharaya, Bund Rd., Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
The Pothgul Viharaya is just about hundred meters away from the Parakramabahu Statue. The library is built on raised-up grounds with four levels. Notice the symmetrically cut stone door frames and remains of the limestone plastered inner walls. Surrounding the main building are four smaller dagobas, which forms a quincunx arrangement with five objects and one being in the center of a square. The quincunx formation of the dagobas and the main building could also be an astrological representation relating to zodiac signs.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Pabalu Vehera, Gal Vihara Road, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
Pabalu Vehera is located in the sacred city of Polonnaruwa. Pabalu Vehera, an unusually shaped brick building, was probably started by Queen Rupavati, the wife of Parakramabahu in Polonnaruwa. The original name of this vehera is unknown. The present name “pabalu” (meaning “beads”) is made from the discovery of a large number of small glass beads while excavating the area around the stupa. From the outside we can see that this rather impressive building resembles a stupa on a second stupa. The vehera usually has only 4 images. But there are nine image houses around the vehera. Some of them still preserve Buddha images. Among these are statues, standing and sitting, and several statues in between.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
