Cultural Triangle - 4N/5D

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. Much of the region’s history is contained in the remains of Anuradhapura, capital of the island for well over a millennium and adorned by countless kings with a succession of extravagant buildings.Sigiriya, also called Lion Rock Situated in central Sri Lanka consisting of the ruins of an ancient stronghold that was built in the late 5th century on a remarkable monolithic rock pillar. Sigiriya was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. The rock, which is so steep that its top overhangs the sides, rises to an elevation of 1,144 feet above Sea level and is some 600 feet above the surrounding plain. The Sinhalese king Kashyapa built a palace in the shape of a monumental lion on the several acres of ground at the summit, intending it to be a safeguard against his enemies. However, the king was defeated in 495, and the palace fell into ruin. The site soon became a pilgrimage destination, however, and it is now a popular tourist spot. Visitors begin the final ascent to the top through the open paws of the lion, one of the few remaining portions of the palace that are still intact. In the middle of the area lies Sigiriya, where a usurper defied engineering laws to build a royal palace in the sky on top of a giant rock, Sri Lanka’s single most extraordinary sight. Kandy is Surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and biodiverse rainforest. The city's heart is scenic Kandy Lake which is popular for strolling. Kandy is famed for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) shrine, celebrated with the grand Esala Perahera annual procession. This was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), which is a famous pilgrimage site, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world, which was built to protect the sacred tooth relic thought to belong to Lord Buddha, which has been enshrined in Sri Lanka for hundreds of years As well as a host of other temples, visitors to the city can wander along Kandy Lake, stroll through the stunning Botanical Gardens – created by the British in the 19th century and still one of the most beautiful gardens in Asia.The garden is famous for its countless (4000+) species of plants and trees. It is situated a 15-minute drive west of Kandy, and is a great escape from the city. Climbing the numerous steps to the top seeing the white colossal statue of Buddha named as Bahirawakanda Vihara gives one a sense of peace, serenity and harmony; and a stunning and gorgeous panoramic view of charming Kandy. The dry-zone plains north of Kandy were the heartlands of ancient Sri Lankan civilisation, and the ruins of the great cities which once flourished here are nothing less than staggering. The entire area is loosely referred to as the Cultural Triangle, an imaginary construct with its points at the three great Sinhalese capitals of Kandy, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, which encapsulates one of the world’s most extraordinary collections of Buddhist art and architecture.