Sigiriya & Dambulla

A base for Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle: Sigiriya, the palace in the sky, the Dambulla Cave Temple, the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, and elephant-watching at Minneriya.

Sigiriya & Dambulla lie in north-central Sri Lanka and form the central base for the Cultural Triangle (Anuradhapura–Polonnaruwa–Kandy). Most visitors stay in Sigiriya village, Dambulla or Habarana. Highlights: Sigiriya Rock, the sky palace of King Kashyapa in the 5th century, and sunrise from Pidurangala Rock opposite; the Buddha statues and murals in the five caves of the Dambulla Cave Temple; the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa, an hour's drive to the east; the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the first ancient capital, about 1.5–2 hours to the northwest (with its sacred Bodhi tree and giant stupas), and Mihintale; and jeep safaris to see elephants in Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks. There are also lesser-known sites such as the Ritigala forest monastery, the Aukana standing Buddha, Yapahuwa and the Nalanda Gedige. The area lies in the dry zone: Jan–Apr and Jun–Sep are relatively dry, and Oct–Dec brings rain with the northeast monsoon; the Gathering of elephants at Minneriya is most spectacular in Aug–Sep. Getting there: about 4 hours by car from Colombo airport and about 2.5 hours from Kandy; locally, people mostly hire a car or take tuk-tuks. We suggest 3–4 days. Notes: foreigners' tickets at each site are expensive (USD 25–35); remove your shoes and cover your shoulders and knees at temples, and do not pose with your back to a Buddha statue for photos; the stone ground is scorching at midday, so climb the rocks early in the morning; wild elephants are common in the countryside at night, so do not walk along unlit roads.

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