Sigiriya - Dambulla Day Trip
This is a MUST DO TRIP When you are spending your holiday in Sri Lanka.Both Dambulla nad Sigiriya are nominated as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES and Sigiriya was once announced as eight wonder of the world.
The tour starts form Kandy and there will be a 21/2 hours’ drive to Dambulla.Dambulla was designated a World Heritage site in 1991. Dambulla is sited on a gigantic rock which towers more than 160m above the surrounding land. The cave was refuge of King Walagamba when he was exiled for 14 years. When he regain back his throne at Anuradhapura he made this Dambulla refuge cave into a magnificent rock temple. The site has being repaired and repainted several times in the 11th, 12th and 18th centuries. The caves has a mixture of religious and secular painting and sculpture. There are several reclining Buddha's, including the 15m long sculpture of the dying Buddha in Cave 1. the frescoes on the walls and ceiling from the 15th-18th centuries; the ceiling frescoes show scenes from the Buddha's life and Sinhalese history.
You will be guided and described the history of Dambulla by our guide and you will have the chance to explore the cave temple and be marveled by its beauty and architecture. You will have the chance to view Lord Buddha’s life is painted on the walls of the cave which is believed to be done during the 2 nd century.
After exploring the Dambulla cave temple you will have a chance to have your Lunch at a recommended restaurant. After that you will be able to engaged in Elephant back ride which is one of main attractions in this tour.
Your next destination will be Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Which is translated as “Lion’s Rock”in to English. The name of the monument indicates the way in which visitors used to begin their final ascent to the top – through the open jaws and throat (‘giriya') of a lion (‘sinha'). Unfortunately, the only remains of this lion figure are the gigantic paws, sculpted into the side of the rock. The Rock Fortress is built by King Kashayapa as his palace during the 5 th Century. The area is filled with massive complex of ancient buildings and ruins and the Sigiriya Rock suddenly emerges from the flat land and above the forest which is an eye-catchy sight. After exploring the very surrounding of Sigiriya your day tour will come to an end and you will be transferred back to Kandy.
