Colombo Trip Overview
Discover the historic city of Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the Dambulla Cave Temple. Polonnaruwa, is a wonderful treasure trove of ancient Buddhist monuments, from royal palaces to colossal rock-cut statues and One of Sri Lanka’s most dramatic natural sights, the unforgettable rock-fortress of Sigiriya towers high over the surrounding plains. More or less at the center of the Cultural Triangle, the imposing 160-metre (52ft) Dambulla Rock houses the most impressive and venerated Buddhist cave temples in Sri Lanka, festooned with a marvelous array of sculptures and murals.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Discover the historic city of Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the Dambulla Cave Temple. Polonnaruwa, is a wonderful treasure trove of ancient Buddhist monuments, from royal palaces to colossal rock-cut statues and One of Sri Lanka’s most dramatic natural sights, the unforgettable rock-fortress of Sigiriya towers high over the surrounding plains. More or less at the center of the Cultural Triangle, the imposing 160-metre (52ft) Dambulla Rock houses the most impressive and venerated Buddhist cave temples in Sri Lanka, festooned with a marvelous array of sculptures and murals.
Itinerary
Day 1: Colombo – Dambulla – Sigiriya
Stop At: Dambulla Royal Cave Temple, Kandy – Jaffna Highway, Dambulla 21100 Sri Lanka
Dambulla Cave Temple (also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla) is located in the central part of in Sri Lanka. The largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, the rock from which the caves were carved towers 160 meters (520 ft) over the surrounding plains. More than eighty caves have been discovered and documented in the area. Major attractions are spread over five caves which contain statues and paintings of Lord Buddha and his life. A total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses also stand in the site. The latter include statues of the Hindu deities, Vishnu and Ganesh. The murals found there cover an area of 2,100 square meters (22604 sq ft). Depictions on the walls of the caves include Buddha’s temptation by Mara and Buddha’s first sermon. UNESCO designated the Golden Temple of Dambulla a World Heritage Site in 1991.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Sigiriya (Lion’s rock) is a rock fortress and ruins of a palace situated in central Matale District of Sri Lanka dating to the fifth century B.C.E. Although the history of the building of the fortress, palace, and monastery is unclear, most probably it was built by King Kasyapa (477–495 C.E.) of the Moriyan dynasty as a fortress and palace. After Kasyapa’s death, the fortress was converted into a Buddhist monastery and served for the next eight hundred years when it was abandoned in the fourteenth century. Rediscovered by British explorer John Still in 1907, the site has undergone extensive archeological work, opened to researchers, scholars, and visitors.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in Sigiriya
Day 2: Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Colombo
Stop At: Gal Vihara, 440/225 Palm Grove State Minuwangoda road, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
The Gal Vihare refers to a rock temple of the Buddha in Polonnaruwa. Parākramabāhu I constructed the temple in the twelfth century, his architects excavating the shrine and leaving an inscription describing their work. Four large statues of the Buddha, carved into the face of a granite boulder by Parākramabāhu’s architects, constitute the central attraction of the shrine. Those include a recumbent statue of the Buddha measuring forty six feet and a standing statue twenty three feet in height. Historians have identified a standing figure on a lotus throne located in the shrine Parākramabāhu I as Ananda, the Buddha’s chief disciple, weeping over the recumbent figure of the Buddha who has just attained Nirvana. Some historians, including Andreas Nell suggest that the expression of sorrow on the Buddha’s had been created by the natural elements ware upon the stone.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Rankoth Vehera, Ancient Bhikku Hospital, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
Rankoth Vehera is the largest stupa in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and the 4th largest in Sri Lanka. It is about 33m in height and 170m in diameter. It was built by the King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196). This stupa has constructed with the same design as the Ruwanwelisaya in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura. According to a stone inscription found in the vicinity of the stupa, it was initially named as “Ruwanweli Stupa”. However, later it has come to be known as Rankoth Vehera.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sacred City, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
The centerpiece of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, the Dalada Maluwa (the hall of the Tooth Relic), was a sacred precinct containing 12 magnificent buildings. Although there are numerous vatadage across Sri Lanka, the Vatadage at Polonnaruwa is the most famous. As with many other vatadage, it had a stupa in the center with four Buddha images facing the cardinal directions. The Vatadage, one of the oldest & most beautiful monuments in Polonnaruwa, is to our left as we enter the Dalada Maluwa. In spite of its modest proportions, the circular building with concentric terraces is a superbly planned & executed 12th century masterpiece. It was certainly intended to house the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha, which is now deposited at The Sacred Temple of Tooth in Kandy. Built by King Parakrambahu the great (1164-1196AD), it was later embellished by King Nissankamalla (1198-1206).
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Nissanka Latha Mandapaya is a masterpiece of the highest order. Located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, this majestic monument vividly portrays the astonishing talent of the ancient Sri Lankan stone carvers. This site was built by King Nissanka Malla who reigned in the island between 1187 and 1196. The monument which is named after him is believed to have provided shelter to the king as he listened to pirith or chanting of Buddhist teachings. Details given on a stone inscription located on the site attests to this fact.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Gal-Potha Stone Book, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Gal Potha (Stone Book) is a giant stone inscription located in the Dalada Maluwa premises of main archaeological site in Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka. It is a work of King Nissankamalla (1187-1196) and it is the largest stone inscription discovered so far. The inscription itself tells that this large stone was transported from Minintale, some hundred kilometers away from Polonnaruwa. It describes the genealogy, heroic and altruistic deed of King Nissankamalla. The letters of the inscription were embossed with molten iron. The figure of the woman on the side face of the stone on whom two elephants are sprinkling water has been identified as Goddess Gajalakshmi (Goddess of Prosperity).
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Hatadage, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Hatadage is an ancient shrine in the Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was built by the King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196 A.D.). This had been used to place the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. According to historical sources, the shrine has built in sixty hours. The English translation of the Sinhalese word “Hata” is sixty, represent the duration of the construction period and the word “Dage” has the meaning of “relic shrine”. The remaining features of the building for today, evidence that the shrine was originally a two-story building. The shrine is 120 ft in length and 60 ft in width.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
