Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle – Things to do and see

The cultural triangle is a combination of three major cities, namely Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. The reason the three culturally rich cities are known as the cultural triangle is because they form a triangle. Within the triangle, you'll also find other places such as Ritigala, Mihintale and Dambulla, which are also must visits.

When you pay a visit to Kandy, located in the very heart of Sri Lanka, you must make it a point to visit the Temple of the Tooth. This temple is famous and highly respected, as it houses a tooth relic from Lord Buddha, which is considered immensely sacred. In fact, this tooth is paraded around the city during Kandy Asala Festival, also known as The Festival of the Tooth. This festival is full of colourful elephants, dancers, and acrobats – this makes for a unique experience. Inside the Temple of the Tooth complex, you'll find numerous temples and even a museum, which will teach you all you need to know about Buddhism and history.

Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sigiriya is a Rock Fortress that holds years of history within it. The highlight of the climb includes the many murals or frescoes, which line the caves of the walls. However, the years have slowly gotten to the murals and only a few of them are in a good condition to appreciate. The climb to Sigiriya is not for the faint of heart, as it involves a lot of stairs and heights! The best time to climb the Sigiriya Rock would be during the morning hours before the sun shines too brightly. There are numerous Sigiriya resorts, the likes of Hotel Sigiriya, where you can head for some rest before you're back on another adventure!

A famous ancient city in Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa was actually the capital city of Sri Lanka between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. The three rulers during this time ensured the area prospered under their reign, by fostering and developing advanced structures, agriculture, religion and social development. Today, some of the remains still stand. You'll not be able to help but marvel at the majestic ruins left behind, as you walk through the pillars and statues where history was made.

A short distance from Sigiriya, you'll come across the Dambulla Cave Rock Temples. The climb up to these cave temples isn't as tiring as climbing Sigiriya, and the views on top are unmatched! The cave temples were a sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, and boast up to 5 caves, all of them covered in intricate murals and over 150 statues.

A truly heritage city that was established around a branch of the Buddha's Fig tree, Anuradhapura was the capital city for more than 13 centuries. There are several ruins, palaces, temples and monasteries you can visit during your stay here!