The Cultural Triangle
Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle covers the region north of Kandy, and includes Sri Lanka's historic capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the amazing rock citadel of Sigiriya, the cave temples of Dambulla and the Mineriya-Giritale National Parks.
This is one of Sri Lanka’s most fascinating regions and is a great place to spend a few days exploring some superb ancient ruins, reclining buddhas, magnificent frescoes and some of Sri Lanka’s best scenery and wildlife.
A visit to Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle can easily be combined with a safari in Wilpattu National Park, a stay on one of Sri Lanka's East Coast beaches or as part of a longer Sri Lanka tour including Kandy and the Hill Country.
There are plenty of great luxury and eco boutique hotels in Sri Lanka's dry zone, especially around Sigiriya.
Discover The Cultural Triangle
Wild Grass Nature Resort
Tranquil boutique haven in Sigiriya - privacy and luxury amongst the forest. Just 5 Private Villas.
Ask us about Offers
Sigiriya Nature Resort
View Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Jim's Farm Villas
Ideally located for exploring the Cultural Triangle and nearby sights such as the Knuckles Range or even Kandy.
Lovely Rural Location
Great Base for Exploring
View Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Athena Lake Hotel
Boutique hotel in a tranquil lakeside setting convenient for ancient cities and Dambulla.
Trip Advisor Favourite
Lakeside Boutique Hotel
View Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Jetwing Vil Uyana
Luxury Eco-hotel amidst reed beds and paddy fields by a man-made lake in the shadow of Sigiriya.
Highly Recommended
Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Ulagalla
Small luxury eco-hotel in Anuradhapura. Discover Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle and linger longer in the region's best hotel.
Region's Top Hotel
Anuradhapura Eco-luxe
View Flight inclusive price from UK
Easy Sri Lanka in Style
Browse a few suggested combinations for luxury 2 and 3 centre Sri Lanka holidays - mix culture, wildlife, scenery & relaxation.
Luxury Sri Lanka Holidays
Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Relaxing Sri Lanka
Enjoy the best of Sri Lanka at a gentle pace, with time spent in and around Kandy - with time for relaxation in one of Sri Lanka's boutique beach resorts.
8 - 14 night Itineraries
Touring & Boutique Beach
View Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Twin Centre Sri Lanka
Enjoy a mix of culture, wildlife, scenery and beach on a tailor made twin-centre Sri Lanka holiday.
Boutique & Luxury Hotels
Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Discover Sri Lanka Family Holiday
Climb Sigiriya Rock fortress, search for Leopards, visit an Elephant Sanctuary, enjoy the beach and go Dolphin watching.
Kandy, Sigiriya, Wilpattu, Beach
Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Highlights of Sri Lanka
Enjoy the best of Sri Lanka at a gentle pace, visiting the highlights - with time for relaxation in one of Sri Lanka's boutique beach resorts.
Includes Train Excursion
Sigiriya, Kandy & Beach
View Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Classic Family Sri Lanka
Staying in smaller family friendly accommodation, this is a perfect option for a varied and exciting Sri Lanka family holiday.
Two Week Family Holiday
Classic Family Holiday
View Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Classic Sri Lanka Tours
Classic Sri Lanka Tour including the Cultural Triangle, the Hill Country, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Horton Plains, Yala National Park, Galle and more.
Tailor Make your Trip
The Best of Sri Lanka
View Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Sri Lanka & The Maldives
Sri Lanka & the Maldives offer a compelling combination of culture, cuisine, scenery, history and some of the world's best beaches.
Tailor Made Sri Lanka & Maldives
Tour & Beach Combinations
View Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Sri Lanka Panorama
Enjoy Sri Lanka in some depth on this journey through Wilpatu, the Cultural Triangle, Hill Country, Yala National Park and the Southern Coast.
Boutique Hotels, Private Car
Culture, Nature & Wildlife
View Flight Inclusive Price from UK
Sigiriya
One of Sri Lanka's most symbolic attractions, the imposing rock fortress of Sigiriya has been under human use since at least the 4th century BC when it was used as a Buddhist Monastery.
In the 5th Century the rock was utlised as a Royal Palace and was used as such until the 14th Century when it's use converted back to a Monastery.
Once the centre of a short lived Kingdom in Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is an imposing presence in the landscape and Sigiriya is Sri Lanka's most visited attraction for good reason.
The setting is spectacular and the views from 180 metres above the plain are quite spectacular.
The main entrance to the Palace was once taken up by a huge stone carved lion, of which only the paws remain, nevertheless still quite an imposing sight.
Sigiriya is known in Sri Lanka as the "Lion Rock".
Sigiriya is a great base for exploring Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle as Sri Lanka's ancient capitals are all within day excursion range.
Frescoes
The famous frescoes of Sigiriya can be viewed on a small platform a short distance up the rock face.
Formerly covering the whole of the western wall of Sigriya, only 18 frescoes still remain, celebrating female beauty.
Visiting Sigiriya
Sigiriya is best visited early or late in the afternoon outside the hottest hours of the day.
It's a steep climb up but manageable for the averagely fit.
There are 1250 steps to the top and it can take up to two hours at a very easy pace.
Don't forget to take bottled water and a hat because the sun can be fierce.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is one of Sri Lanka's ancient capitals and was the seat of Sri Lankan power for over a thousand years and the centre of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka for hundreds of years.
Today vast dagobas and tall brick-built towers evoke former glories of the period between the 4th and 11th centuries when Anuradhapura was the Sinhalese capital.
Anuradhapura is still a large population centre in Sri Lanka today and as such is one of the world's oldest coninually inhabited cities.
The drive from Colombo is about 4 hours and a visit to Anuradhapura is often combined with a safari in Wilpattu or a stay in Sigiriya.
The Ruwanwelisaya is Anuradhapura's most voluminous building, totally white-washed and a striking sight.
The Jetavana is another of Anuradhapura's most imposing buildings and a very sacred Buddhist site.
Anuradhapura Today
Still vibrant and alive as a place of worship and celebration, Anuradhapura is no mere historical site.
The city is held sacred in much of the Buddhist world and today, monasteries dot the surrounding area.
The Bhodi Tree Temple is Sri Lanka's second most sacred site (after the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy) and is marked by a Bodhi Tree supposedly grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment.
Remember when visiting Anuradhapura and other sacred monuments in Sri Lanka it is polite to walk around to the left, so that your right hand is always facing the monument.
Ulugalla is a fabulous luxury eco-hotel in Anuradhapura and highly recommended.
Polonnaruwa
Almost a thousand years ago Polonnaruwa was the centre of a Sri Lankan Kingdom and a busy commerical and religious centre.
Nowadays, the remains of Polonnaruwa attract visitors from around the world and are a real highlight on any tour of sri Lanka.
Tombs and Temples, Stupas, Statues and Moonstones mean that a visit to Polonnaruwa is a varied experience with something new at every turn.
Visiting Polonnaruwa
The various ruins can be easily visited on foot as everything is quite compact, although to see everything is quite a walk (up to 10 km to cover everything).
Walking around the ruins of Polonnaruwa it's not difficult to envisage how the city might have appeared and felt in its heyday.
Bicycle is a popular option and something we can easily arrange should you wish.
Polonnaruwa is where you will see the huge seated and recling buddhas, one of the most photographed sights in Sri Lanka.
Dambulla
Just a short distance off the Kandy to Sigiriya road, Dambulla is an important religious sight in Sri Lanka, famous for its caves filled with Buddhist images and for it's frescoed cave walls.
There are 5 separate caves at Dambulla which contain statues and paintings.
The murals at Dambulla cover over 2,000 square kilometres.
Visiting Dambulla
Dambulla is best visited either as an excursion from Sigiriya or en-route between Sigiriya and Kandy.
the caves at Dambulla are easily accessed and are just a short uphill walk from the parking area.
There is no real reason to stay in Dambulla itself and we recommend staying in Sigiriya where there are several great accommodation options.
