A voyage of discovery, way back in time!
Travel back thousand of years as you explore a fascinating culture & Heritage. Pick your passion from no less than ten UNESCO declared world heritage sites which includes ancients’ cities, cave Temple, the Temple of the Tooth relic, the rock fortress in the sky, a 400-year-old Dutch fort and a Bio Diverse tropical rain forest
The Sacred city of Anuradhpura (206Kms from Colombo)
Several centuries before the birth of Christ, when the legendary Greek Empire was at its peak, the Royal Kingdom of Anuradhapura was a flourishing civilization. In 500BC the city of Anuradhapura was acclaimed as the greatest monastic city of ancient world and is believed to have remained the royal capital for 119 successive Sinhalese Kings who prospered at Anuradhapura for more than 1300 years until about 1000AD
Anuradhapura is also home to the oldest surviving historical free in the word. The Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi was brought to Sri Lanka by the Their Sangamitta, Mahameghavana Park in Anuradhapura in 249BC by King Devenampiyatissa. It is said to be the Southern branch of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment.
Polonnaruwa – (100kms from Anuradhapura)
Found in the 11th Century Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993. In its time, a 6 km rampart protected the city. Even during the time when Anuradhapura was the capital Polonnaruwa was an important city because it strategically commanded all the crossings over the Mahaveli River and acted as a buffer against the invading armies. It comprises, besides the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century.
Ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya: (60Kms from Polonnaruwa)
Sigiriya was the capital city, built by parricidal King Kasyapa who reigned from 477-495 AD. The ruins of the city lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high. The rock was transformed into a recumbent lion, which dominates the jungle from all sides. A series of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a gigantic lion constructed of bricks and plaster provide access to the site.
Golden Temple of Dambulla (30kms from Sigiriya)
An exotic Gallery of priceless cave paintings of the Buddha, the coming of Buddhism to Sri Lanka and other intricate paintings of religious images are displayed an the walls and ceilings, along with colossal Buddha statues of Great antiquity
This Cave monastery having originally been used as meidition locations of Buddhist monk’s dates back to the reign of King Valagamba in the 01st Century BC and is believed to be the largest and the best-preserved Buddhist cave temple complex in South East Asia.
Sacred city of Kandy (70km from Dambulla)
One of the most picturesque cities in the country, Kandy is the lush green cultural capital of Sri Lanka. Immersed in a history dating back to the 14th Century. It was the Last capital of the Sinhalese Kings before it fell to the British in 1815
Kandy is where the temple of the sacred tooth relic placed. One of the most sacred places of Buddhist worship is located. Kandy has in its vicinity many famous attractions to offer its visitors: