Sigiriya Dambulla Day Excursion
Trip starts from Colombo or Negombo and it is about 150 km and will take approximately 3 ½ hours. Stop at Kurunegala for breakfast and continue to Dambulla Rock Cave Tempe, this temple complex dates back to the first century BCE.( world heritage site) This is the most notable cave temple in Sri Lanka. It has five caves, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry. Inside the ceilings of the caves there are colourful religious images as well as those of various gods and goddesses. There are images of the Lord Buddha and bodhisattvas. The caves, built at the base of a 150m high rock during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa era. Names of the five caves - Devaraja Lena, Maharaja Lena, Maha Alut Viharaya, Paccima Viharaya, Devana Alut Viharaya. Continue to Sigiriya, ( 18 Km ) Sigiriya was designated as a world heritage site in 1982 and is famous for it's palace ruins on top of a massive 200 meter high rock surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures.The rock itself is a lava plug left over from an ancient long extinct volcano. It is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescoes), which are similar to those found at Ajanta Caves in India. It is generally agreed, however, that the Sigiriya Frescoes exhibit a uniquely Sri Lankan style. Sigiriya may have been inhabited through prehistoric times.It was used as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 5th century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees for the Buddhist Monks. Sigiriya Museum shows photos of the excavation of Sigiriya, reproductions of the frescoes, examples and translations of some of the graffiti on the Mirror Wall, and artifacts excavated from the site. You can probably view the museum in about 1 hour. Since the museum is outside the main entrance. On completion you can do a village tour in the Sigiriya village (Optional), this is a typical countryside experience to a rural village in Sigiriya. The trek begins with a beautiful walk along to a man-made reservoir. You will also experience a boat ride, bullock cart ride, walk through vegetable cultivation, paddy fields and enjoy an authentic Sri Lankan lunch at a Village house. Return to Colombo or Negombo hotel. ( 4 1/2 hours)
