Day Tour to Dambulla & Sigiriya

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Early morning leave for Dambulla (approx. 3 ½ hours drive from Colombo) and climb the Rock Cave Temple in Dambulla. After lunch visit Lions Rock in Sigiriya, a UNESCO world heritage site adorning a palace on its peak. Afterwards travel back to the starting point. Golden Rock Cave Temple, Dambulla – The Dambulla cave Temples are another UNESCO World Heritage site which date back to the 1st Century BC. This cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries was first used as a refuge by an ancient king who upon regaining his throne commissioned magnificent images to be carved from the rock. Later kings' mage further improvements and the caves now contain 150 images of the Buddha painted upon the walls. The hike up to the caves is short but steep (approx. 15-40 mins depending on route taken). At the top you can explore the caves and enjoy spectacular far-reaching views over the surrounding countryside.

   1.5 h

2. Sigiriya Rock Fortress –This UNESCO World Heritage Site’ is one of the Sri Lanka’s major attractions and the 5th Century ‘Fortress in the Sky’ which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. A spectacular pillar of rock visible from mils around. It is also known as Lions Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600 –foot high rock. Historically, the origins of the remains are disputed and though to have been either a royal fortress built under the reign of King Kashyapa (477- 495 AD) or a Buddhist monastery. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges of the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original colour. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, summerhouse, Boulder gardens and the Caves with the enclosed are should not be missed.

   3 h

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Know before you go

How it compares in Negombo

• Its from-price is 19% below the median of the 224 day trips we list in Negombo.
• Its length is typical for the group.

About Negombo

Negombo is a laid-back fishing town on Sri Lanka's west coast near the main airport, with a palm-fringed beach, a lagoon and Dutch-era canals.

Negombo's long beach is lined with guesthouses, cafés and seafood restaurants, and outrigger canoes and fishing boats pull up on the sand each morning. The fish market, one of the busiest on the island, spreads its catch out to dry in the sun along the shore, a vivid scene of traders and gulls.

Top-ranked sights in Negombo: Negombo Beach, Negombo Lagoon, Muthurajawela Marsh.

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