Day 1: Colombo – Polonnaruwa Exploration – Overnight in Dambulla (L, D)
09:00 Our representative will meet and greet you on arrival at the port. Proceed in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to Dambulla via the Central Expressway/E04 (approximately 3 hours driving).
13:00 We will enjoy lunch at Tropical Village, Dambulla
14:00 Proceed the tour to leave for Polonnaruwa
15:30 Visit the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa – a “UNESCO World Heritage Site”. Polonnaruwa was the 2nd Kingdom & Capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th - 13th Centuries, contains some splendid and spectacular statues Lankatilake, Tivanka, and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and Tivanka has the best examples of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankoth Vehera and Kirivehera are well-preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing, and one reclining, and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver.
The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of Sri Lankan artists. The medieval capital was fortified with inner & outer moats and inner & outer walls. The Parakrama Samudra is on the western side of the city. The Royal Palace, Audience Hall, and other buildings in the inner city were enclosed by another tall wall.
19:30 Enjoy dinner at the hotel. Overnight at Jetwing Lake Dambulla.
Day 2: Dambulla – Sigiriya – Colombo (B, L)
07:00 Breakfast at the hotel
07:30 Leave the hotel, participants who cannot or don’t want to do the climbing tour can stay at the hotel
08:00 Climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress - (The climb up the rock and back down will take anywhere from 1.5 hours to 3 hours. (Depending on your fitness, age, and the crowds at the rock) There are some 1,200 steps to the top of the rock, where you will be rewarded with panoramic views and most certainly, a sense of accomplishment for completing the climb. Sigiriya the 5th-century rock fortress is a world heritage site built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The Lion Rock is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70-hectare fortified town. A moat, Rampart and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock.
11:00 Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple built in the 1st century BC and it is now a World Heritage Site. It is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. It contains over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha out of rock and spanning 14 meters. We will entertain ourselves with around 30 minutes of climbing here (approximately 200 steps). The best time to climb is in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.
13:00 Have lunch at the Pelwehera Village.
14:00 Leave for Colombo. Trip ends with our guide escorting you safely back to Colombo Port for your ship’s departure. Thanks for choosing Shore Excursions Asia!
