Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka

Overview

Be it the incredible cuisine, tropical climate, or the sandy beaches, Sri Lanka boasts a plethora of excellent reasons that make it one of the most beautiful South-Asian countries to visit! A cultural Sri Lanka tour makes the tourists understand the history and tradition of this stunning country. Also called the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean,’ Sri Lanka has aesthetic historical places like the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the Temple of the sacred Tooth relic, Polonnaruwa, etc. Be it experiencing the Kandyan Dance show in Kandy, or visiting the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, a cultural Sri Lanka tour will make your experience of everything in this rich south-Asian country! Apart from being a historical haven, Sri Lanka is also very famous amongst watersports and wildlife enthusiasts. A cultural Sri Lanka tour will help travelers to explore and immerse themselves in the local culture of this stunning country.

Trip Highlights

Exploring Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the eighth wonder of the world
Dig into the history of the ancient Sinhala civilization by visiting the ruins at Anuradhapura
Observe the ruins, lakes, and temples in the ancient city of Poá¸·onnaruwa
Enjoy the renowned spices of Sri Lanka by taking a Spice plantation tour at Matale
Immerse yourself in the beauty and peace of the temple of the sacred Tooth relic in Kandy
Amaze yourself by seeing the cultural Kandy dancing show
Pet and play with the friendly Asian elephants at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Get a chance to spot some of the most unique species of birds at Kandalama

ITINERARY - 8 Days

Day 1	Arrive at Colombo After having a pleasant flight, you will arrive at the International Airport of Colombo. Our representative will be there at the airport to receive you and will transfer you to your hotel in Negombo. After having a smooth check-in, you can relax and spend your night at your hotel.
Day 2	Drive from Negombo to Kandalama After having a delicious breakfast, you will drive for 4.5 hours towards Kandalama. After reaching Kandalama, you will check-in your resort and relax. Being extremely famous for bird watching, Kandalama has a variety of 165 bird species that live in a varied environment. You can enjoy various bird-watching trails by visiting 'twitches', or you can also explore the various World Heritage Sites, like the sacred pilgrimage site of Dambulla, the ancient capital city of Anuradhapura, and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress that form an integral part of cultural Sri Lanka. You can have the rest of the day as per your comfort, explore the stunning beauty, and spend your night at Kandalama.
Day 3	Explore Anuradhapura & Mihintale After having a heavy breakfast, you will drive towards Anuradhapura. You will stop and visit Mihintale during your two-hour drive to Anuradhapura. Regarded as Sri Lanka's birthplace for Buddhism, Mihintale is a sequence of beautiful stupas, shrines, and caves in the wooded hills. Kantaka Cetiya, Ambasthala Dagoba, Mihindu Guha, Kaludiya Pokuna, and Vejja Sala are the must-visit places in Mihintale. After exploring the historical places, you will proceed towards Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura is a sacred city established in the 4th century and is full of monasteries, monuments, and palaces. Home to some of the most iconic monuments, some of the best visit places include Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya stupa, Jetavanaramaya monastery, Abhayagiri Vihara, Thuparamaya, and many more. After visiting Mihintale and Anuradhapura, you will drive back to Kandalama and spend your night at the hotel.
Day 4	Excursion to Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Polonnaruwa After having breakfast, drive for 30 minutes to see the stunning Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The Sigiriya Rock Fortress is an ancient fort located in Sri Lanka's Matale District. Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the height of this fort is 370 meters and it lies between the towns of Habarane and Dambulla. You will get to see the moats, gardens, the Mirror Wall, the Lion Gate, and many gorgeous frescoes. After seeing the stunning fortress, you will return to your resort and have lunch. After having lunch, you will drive for one hour to visit Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa is the island's medieval capital that became famous after the decline of Anuradhapura. Being a world heritage site, its ruins are in excellent condition. Some of the best places to see include the Parakrama Samudra or the great artificial lake covering an area of 6,000 acres, ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya, Audience Hall, the statue of King Parakramabahu, and the Lotus Bath. It also has sacred places like the Shiva Temple, the Vatadage, the Lankathilaka, the Galpotha, the Temple of the Tooth Relic, and the Kiri Vehera. After spending time in Polonnaruwa, you will return to Kandalama, have your evening at leisure, and rest overnight at your resort.
Day 5	Drive to Kandy After having a healthy breakfast, you will drive towards Kandy, the hill capital of Sri Lanka. During your drive, you will take two stops and visit Dambulla Cave Temples and Matale. Dambulla Cave Temples: The Dambulla Cave Temple dates back to the 1st century BC. The complex of 5 caves in this temple was used by an ancient king as his refuge for regaining his throne. The king ordered beautifully carved images within the living rocks of the caves. The carvings were improvised by the later kings and the cave temple is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. After Dambulla Cave Temples, your next stop will be at Matale. Known for its spice gardens, you will take a tour of a spice garden in Matale and see different and famous Sri Lankan spices. You will experience the process of growing, grounding, and processing the spices. After reaching Kandy, you will check-in and relax at your hotel. Apart from being the Hill Capital, Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that retains the aura of the grandeur of the Sinhala Kings. The city is surrounded by hills and has a tranquil lake in its center. It has the Royal Botanical garden that is home to one of the best orchids in the world. It is also known for the shrine of Tooth Relic of the Buddha. After relaxing at your hotel, you will visit the temple of Tooth Relic in the evening. Temple of Tooth Relic: Being one of the world's most venerated places of worship for Buddhists, the Temple of the sacred Tooth Relic was built in the 16th century. It houses the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha that was brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD from Kalinga province in ancient India. You will return and spend your night at your hotel in Kandy.
Day 6	Explore the city of Kandy After having a delicious breakfast, you will leave for seeing the iconic places in Kandy. Royal Botanical Garden: Regarded as one of the most beautiful gardens in South Asia, the Royal Botanical garden has every variety of tropical and temperate trees. Begun by a Sinhala King, the garden has different varieties of flowers. It is very famous for its orchids and e cacti. After exploring the Royal Botanical Garden, you will visit the British Garrison Cemetery to enjoy Kandy's scenic beauty. Peradeniya: Located 4 miles away from Kandy, this garden was built by a Sinhala king and was later expanded by the British. Covering an area 147 acres, it is known as a walkers paradise as it has pavilions, extensive well-kept lawns, an octagon conservatory, a giant Javan fig tree, fernery, and numerous flowerbeds. The star attraction of this garden is the orchid house. Your afternoon will be at leisure and you can walk around the lake. Famous for Kandy Dancing, you will enjoy the Kandyan Dance Performance in the evening, and rest overnight at your hotel.
Day 7	Visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage You will leave early morning and drive towards Colombo. While driving, you will stop at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to play with the famous Asian elephants. Elephant Orphanage: Situated northwest of the Kegalle town and halfway between Colombo and Kandy, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was established in 1975 by the Wildlife Department of Sri Lanka. The 24-acre large elephant orphanage is a very famous breeding place for elephants, as more than twenty elephants have been born here since 1984. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage also has the world's greatest herd of elephants in captivity. After visiting the elephant orphanage, you will continue your drive towards Colombo. After reaching, you will relax for some time and have your lunch. In the evening, you will visit the Gangaramaya Temple. Being one of the most beautiful temples, the Gangaramaya temple has statues and carvings inside the temple and Beira Lake on one side. You will love the giant Buddha statue and the scenic beauty of the temple. You will spend the night at your hotel.
Day 8	Departure Post breakfast, you will check-out from your hotel and visit the best places in Colombo. You will enjoy a walking tour of Colombo's historic Fort and Pettah districts. The cultural Sri Lanka walking tour will help you in discovering the vibrancy of Colombo as you will visit fascinating attractions and interact with the locals. The colorful streets of the lively markets in district Pettah will amaze you. You will get to try delicious street food, buy exotic spices, wander around the market stalls, and visit the Red Mosque. You can spend some time in the Fort area, which is one of the most significant commercial hubs in Sri Lanka. Later, you will visit the Dutch Period Museum and the Dutch Reformed Church. Both the Museum and the Church carry a 200-year-old history of Dutch control of Sri Lanka's coastal areas. You will get to see various Dutch artworks, artifacts, and furniture in the museum. After spending the day in exploration, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.