Main Attractions in Cultural Triangle Sri Lanka – Where to go and What to see

The popular town of Sigiriya is known to be home to the 'Lion Rock' – which is a staggering 200 meters in height! This is a popular tourist destination as the rock was once used as a royal fortress and has been marked a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the most visited in the cultural triangle. King Kasyapa built his kingdom in the city of Sigiriya, taking the rock as his palace. The summit of the rock was used as his fortress, and remains of its structure can be seen today. The famous frescoes of apsaras that decorate the walls of this rock can still be seen and are a popular tourist attraction. The area is also complete ancient pools and water ways that were used in ancient times. The ideal time to visit the rock would be in the morning – which makes for an easy climb up!

The revered city of Anuradhapura, once a city ruled by kings is now layered in ancient ruins ranging from religious Buddhist shrines to palaces and ancient water reservoirs. One most sacred Buddhist temple known as Sri Maha Bodhi, is home to one of the oldest Bo trees in the world, believed to have been planted by a sampling given by the Buddha himself. Anuradhapura was the first capital city of Sri Lanka and has been marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. A visit to the city will take you back in time to Sri Lanka's rich and colourful past.

Dambulla is located closer to Sigiriya, therefore if you're staying at a Dambulla hotel, it'll be easier to get to the most iconic tourist attractions of the cultural triangle from here. A popular tourist attraction around this city is the Dambulla Cave Temple which has been marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The golden temple holds a statue of a glimmering Buddha, while the caves of the temple are decorated in ancient paintings and various Buddha statues. The monastery is believed to date back to the 2nd century BC. Hotels in the area such as Jetwing Lake are known to offer excursions to the popular attractions in the cultural triangle, like the Dambulla Cave Temple. The ideal time to visit is early morning or late evening, as guests are required to remove their footwear before making their way up the rock to the temple's premises. Keep a keen eye out for wild monkeys, who are known to get overly friendly and will attempt to steal anything you bag you might be carrying.

Declared as the second capital of Sri Lanka, replacing Anuradhapura, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Till today, the city remains as being one of the best set out archaeological sites in the country and stands as a great testimony to the greatness of the Kingdom's rulers. Some of the key ancient attractions in the city to keep an eye out for are the Palace and Statue of King Parakramabahu, the Potgul Vehera and Shiva Devale.