All About World Heritage Sites
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Visit the UNESCO World Heritage monuments of Sigiriya on a guided tour of the rock fortress and amazing Dambulla cave temple complex. Stop at a spice garden in Matale and more.
Source: From Kandy: Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Cave Temple Tour
Explore Buddhist history in this colourful South Asian nation…
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Source: Climbing Sigiriya OR Pidurangala Rock in Sri Lanka – Which One is Better? | Drifter Planet
Two tourists enjoying the scenic beauty from the top of the famous Sigiriya rock fort, Two tourists enjoying the scenic beauty from the top of the famous Sigiriya rock fort,…
Source: Two tourists enjoying the scenic beauty from the top of the famous Sigiriya rock fort
Venetian adventurer Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as “the finest island of its size in all the world”. Sure, that was in the 13th century and young Marco hadn’t seen Tasmania but the myriad wonders of this tropical nouveau-paradise are as varied and exotic as the scents in the spice gardens of Matale and Kegalle. In short, Sri Lanka is a potpourri of unpredictable pleasures.
Once a flyover location, eschewed by travellers for years because of civil war, Sri Lanka is fast emerging from its travails, posting sharp rises in tourism since the 26-year conflict ended in 2009.
And Australians are catching on, finding Sri Lanka is so much more than the place where our tea comes from and our cricketers are bamboozled by mystical slow bowling.
Sri Lankan Airlines now operates direct flights from Melbourne, making it easier than ever for Aussies to reach its unique mix of natural and cultural marvels, pristine beaches, millennia-old heritage sites, multicultural festivals and glistening tea plantations. Plus elephants and leopards and sloth bears, oh my!
Read more from source: Why everyone’s loving this island right now
Thinking of visiting the Indian island nation? Here’s how to make your trip one you’ll never forget
If your travels take you north of the island then we highly recommend exploring the ancient royal cities and sites in Dambulla and Polonnaruwa. Get an early start and climb the rock fortress of Sigiriya Rock, the Unesco World Heritage site which sits 200 metres high. At the top you’ll find King Kasyapa’s ancient palace, but first you have to pass the giant lion gateway.
Once you’ve finished with your rock climb, nestled away in the nearby hilltops hides the uniquely preserved Dambulla cave temples waiting for you to explore. Inside the five cave temples sit 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four of gods and goddesses as well as hundreds of intricate wall paintings. Outside you’ll find a lotus pond, stunning vistas across the country and inquisitive monkeys.
If you’ve stopped to explore Sri Lanka’s capital, Kandy, then hop on a train from there to Ella and journey through the lush, green mountains.
“To learn about planned and landscaped ancient city in Sri Lanka, a visit to archaeological site Sigiriya is a must. It is an experience worth it,” inform my kin on the last leg of their two-week visit to Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, the spiritual city Kandy and surrounding areas are the most popular tourist destinations because of the holy Buddhist shrines, waterfalls, lakes, tea gardens, archaeological sites and spots with Ramayana connections, they inform.
It is told that in this area, Sigiriya – an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla – is visited by many tourists who believe in educative tourism. The site has a great historical and archaeological significance.
The structures here are indicative of the ancient urban planning. Moreover, the place is also related to King Ravana’s period in the scriptures.
Sri Lanka surprised me most pleasantly and I can’t wait to go back.
“Why do you want to go to Sri Lanka; isn’t it exactly like south India?” My friends bombarded me with this question in an attempt to figure out why I chose this island nation as my next destination. I had been wanting to travel to Sri Lanka for quite some time and my customary year-end vacation abroad seemed like the perfect time to do it. Like with any other place I visit, I restricted my research to the weather and public transport in the country, so that I have room left for surprises without any pre-formed opinion.
Sri Lanka
I am back from my backpacking trip across Sri Lanka. I can’t stop thinking about endless beaches, tea gardens, green mountains, coconut water and the locals with their never-fading smile.
Dating back to the 5th century, the stone fortress was constructed by King Kasyapa to avoid attacks from his brother Moggallana.
THE ANCIENT CITY FORTRESS OF SIGIRIYA is built on top of a massive 200-meter-high monolithic rock in the Matale District Central Province of Sri Lanka. Dating back to the 5th century, the stone fortress was constructed by King Kasyapa to avoid attacks from his brother Moggallana, the rightful heir.
The name Sigiriya originates from the Sinhalese word Sihagri, which translates to Lion Rock. About halfway up the ascent of the rock, Kasyapa built a giant lion gateway which is where the name derives. Kasyapa had selected this site for the new capital of Sri Lanka, and it remained so until he was defeated in 495CE.
Day 6: Sunday 10 September – Sigiriya – Dambulla – Kandy
This morning we explored Sigiriya, home to the 5th-century UNESCO World Heritage listed Rock Fortress, also known as ‘Lion Rock’. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.
Before starting our climb, we visited the Museum which told us the story of the rediscovery of the rock and the ruins. Even the museum was surrounded by water-lily covered ponds with many monkeys playing in the trees and around the rocks.
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (Lion Rock) is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province. The name refers to a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 metres high.
