Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle

The former island of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka is an amazing place that seduces tourists with exoticism, stunning landscapes, sunsets, impenetrable jungles, the noise of the Indian Ocean... however, in addition to beach holidays, Sri Lanka has a unique place, visiting which you can see the country from the inside, get acquainted with its historical monuments, many of which are protected by UNESCO.

It is possible to touch the milestones of the history of this amazing country in the "Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka", also called The "Golden Triangle of Sri Lanka".

If you break away from the beautiful ocean for at least two or three days and make your way to the central province of the island, then it is there that you can see the three historical capitals of Sri Lanka: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwu and Kandy. The territory in the central part of the island, the tops of which are these capitals, is the "Cultural Triangle". But not only these cities are places to visit in the Cultural Triangle. It also includes Dambulla cave temple, an ancient city Sigiriya, the cradle of Sri Lankan Buddhism Mihintale, the ruins of Nalanda and a huge number of small monuments scattered throughout Central Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's holiest city and the first place to visit in the Triangle is Anuradhapura. It was she who became the first capital of the island and it is with her that the history of Buddhism is connected. This is evidenced by various Buddhist religious buildings, called stupas, temples, palaces, built in the IV century before Christ. And just a few kilometers from Anuradhapura is the town of Mihintale, on Mount Mahinda, in which, according to legend, Buddhism originated in Sri Lanka. This mountain is one of the most sacred places in the country and a place of pilgrimage.

The most unique monument that is part of the "Triangle" and which should not be missed is, of course, Sigiriya. Just imagine: a 200-meter rock on top, which is almost under the clouds of the ruins of the palace of King Kasyapa.

There is something to see in the rock Buddhist monastery Dambulla. It is more than two thousand years old, and monks still find shelter here.

The second oldest capital in the Triangle is Polonnaruwa. It remained the capital from the XI-XIII century. Now it's ruins ... ruins, palaces, temples and the spirit of antiquity in the air.

And finally, the former capital of Kandy, which today is the cultural center of the country. We can say that this is a modern city, but the old traditions are undoubtedly present here. One of the most significant cultural and religious monuments in Kandy is the Temple Of The Sacred Tooth of the Buddha. The tooth of the famous Great Teacher is kept within its walls. It was preserved after the cremation of the body. And what happens here in the summer, when thousands of pilgrims and tourists come to the festival of Esal Perahera – words cannot convey!

Sri Lanka is such a multifaceted country that here everyone will find something to do, but do not forget about cultural food. During a visit to the "Cultural Triangle" you can taste it in full.

How to visit the Cultural Triangle

To visit all the main attractions of the Triangle will take at least a week. But if you have a shortage of time, you can visit at least the main places. There are short sightseeing tours lasting two to three days, during which tourists are briefly shown Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Sigiriya. Sometimes Polonnaruwa and Kandy are added, But then the duration of the tour increases to 5-7 days.

If you are traveling on your own, setting out to visit and get acquainted in detail with all the monuments of the Triangle, then this can be done quite easily. All cities and major attractions here are connected by bus routes that run very often (but only during the daytime), and you can safely go around them all, without planning in detail the routes of crossings and not adjusting to bus schedules. Bus fares range from 30 to 300 rupees between different cities.

An excellent option is to visit the Triangle on rented transport. Rent a car is best with a driver. You can go around the Triangle in 5 days on a rented car from drivers for 200-500 dollars, depending on the conditions of the trip. If you drive a motorcycle, you can rent it for 7-10 dollars per day, for example, in Kandy, go around the Triangle and return the motorcycle there.

Entrance fee

There is no need to pay for entry into the "Cultural Triangle" itself. But visiting most of the attractions is paid, and the cost is not "childishly" high.

Previously, there was a single triangle ticket that covered entry to most attractions, but now it is not valid, despite the claims of most sites on the Internet. Today, for the entrance to each attraction will have to pay separately.

Here is the cost of visiting only the main attractions:

• Anuradhapura - $30
• Dambulla - $10
• Mihintale - $4
• Sigiriya - $30
• Polonnaruwa - $25
• Ritigala - $10

In addition, you will have to pay extra for entrances to museums or individual temples, even on the territory of these tickets.