Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle comprises of a collection of cities that served as centres of administration at different times in history and cities that played a significant role in the Buddhist religion at different times. All of these cities were central to the advancement of Sri Lanka as a nation and in establishing Buddhism in the country. All of them contain some of the country’s most precious archaeological treasures.
The cities of the Cultural Triangle are located in the interior of the country with Anuradhapura in the northern part of the triangle, Polonnaruwa in the south east, Kandy in the south and Dambulla and Sigiriya in the middle. Anuradhapura served as the country’s capital from 4th century BC to 1017 AD and some of this city’s ancient infrastructure such as its irrigation reservoirs and some temples are still in use today. The remains of ancient Anuradhapura are now spread over an area of 40 square km. Polonnaruwa was the capital of medieval Sri Lanka from the 11th to about the 13th century. Some of the great irrigation works built during this time are also still in use today albeit with some improvements. Kandy up in the hills was the final refuge of the kings of Sri Lanka. It served as the country’s political centre from about the 15th century until it was captured by the British in 1815. Dambulla is famous as the largest rock cave temple complex in the country. Sigiriya a 5th century complex is well known around the world for its gardens with water features that still work, boulder gardens, paintings of heavenly maidens and its palace atop a rock 200 meters above the surrounding area. One cannot but be impressed that a country so small in size as Sri Lanka was the site of several remarkable civilizations at different times in its history, some of the infrastructure of which still works today.
Stay at the Sigiriya Village, within easy reach of the famed Sigiriya archaeological site and other well known ancient sites of the country’s Cultural Triangle. Enjoy the rural ambience of this Sigiriya hotel with its lush tropical gardens and lotus filled ponds. Stay in cottage style accommodation at one of the prominent hotels in Sigiriya and experience this historical area at your leisure enjoying its many facilities.
