The Cultural Triangle

The Cultural Triangle

The Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s major archaeological centres, home to four of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is perfectly located in the centre of Sri Lanka. The ruins and temples date back to the 4th century B.C. The Cultural Triangle used to be the home of ancient Kingdoms. The area is full of culture, history and wildlife. Here the ancient Kings have developed one of the most sophisticated and advanced civilisations of Sri Lanka.
This is the perfect base to explore Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Polonnaruwa Medieval City, the Sacred City of Anuradhapura and the Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla. Remnants of these once glorious cities, their palaces, temples, monasteries, hospitals and theatres intricately carved and modelled out of stone, lay abandoned amidst the soaring mountains.
Of all the ancient sites the most famed and most exquisite is the Kingdom of Anuradhapura. Sri Lanka’s third and the longest serving capital and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world is also one of the most sacred cities of World Buddhists.

Polonnaruwa, the second most ancient kingdom of the country was first made the political centre of the country in the 9th century B.C. Irrigation systems that are far superior to those of the Anuradhapura Age were constructed in Polonnaruwa kingdom, and still provide irrigation water to the farmers in and around Polonnaruwa.
Sigiriya was designated as a world heritage site in 1982. Sigiriya is famous for its palace ruins on top of a huge 200 metre high rock surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures.
Dambulla Cave Temple complex dates back to the 1st century BCE. This is the most notable cave temple in Sri Lanka built during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa era at the base of a 150 metre high rock. You can visit five caves with colourful religious images inside as well as those of various gods and goddesses.