Matale Highlands and Cooking Experience from Dambulla

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Dambulla, nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka, is renowned for its majestic cave temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Carved into a vast granite outcrop, these caves house ancient statues and vibrant frescoes depicting Buddha's life. Beyond its cultural allure, Dambulla captivates visitors with its lush greenery and serene surroundings. The town offers a tranquil escape, inviting exploration of its rich history and natural beauty amidst the island's central plains.

   Passes by

2. Nalanda Gedige is an old Dravidian (Pallava era) structure believed to have been built between the 8th to 10th centuries. At first view, it’s an obviously Hindu temple from the detailed wall and roof architecture, to the little windowless main shrine. However, the site’s erotic tantric sculptures, along with its plain moonstone, point to a more Buddhist origin.

   30 min

3. Europia Spice Garden Start your visit with a 1 to 1.5-hour tour of the spice and herbal gardens. During the tour, you will learn more about the gardens’ different spices and herbs, as well as how they are grown and harvested and watch a traditional cooking demo that puts them to good use.

   1.5 h

4. Aluvihara is most famous as the place of creation of the Buddhist religious script ‘Tripitaka’. The stupa is literally built on top of a large rock. Meanwhile, the rock itself is riddled with a cave system. So far 13 caves have been found, with much more buried under old cave-ins. You will have to climb up and through the rock to see the historic and interesting insides of these caves and learn more about the history within.

   1 h

5. You can return to Kandy at this time, or opt for a sunset visit to Sembuwatta Lake located in the Elkaduwa area. You will get there by 4:30 pm. Sembuwatta is an artificial lake made from a natural spring in the area. It’s famed for its amazing views and natural swimming pool. You will be spending a relaxing hour here, allowing you to take some spectacular photos with the setting sun.

   1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Anuradhapura

• Its from-price is 18% below the median of the 351 experiences we list in Anuradhapura.
• It is longer than most of them.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka's dry north-central plain, is an ancient capital of vast white stupas, ruined palaces and a sacred fig tree.

Anuradhapura was the capital of Sri Lanka's first great kingdom for well over a thousand years, from around the fourth century BC, and is now one of the island's most sacred cities. Its ruins, listed by UNESCO, spread across a wide plain of reservoirs and woodland. The Sri Maha Bodhi, a fig tree grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha is said to have found enlightenment, is the most venerated site, and pilgrims in white bring flowers.

Top-ranked sights in Anuradhapura: Ruwanwelisaya, Mihintale, Ritigala Forest Monastery.

See all 351 experiences in Anuradhapura