At first, you will visit Sigiriya rock fortress on this day excursion. Some identify Sigiriya as the 8th wonder of the world. Once you visit the site, you will understand why. Sigiriya is the most visited site in Sri Lanka. It is located 30 km northeast of Dambulla caves. This astounding rock structure is 200 meters higher than the surrounding plains. Sigiriya served as a monastery during the 3rd century BC. Later during the 5th century, King Kasyapa used this place as his fort & the palace complex. Originally designed to resemble a lion, now the upper body is completely ruined.
Hiriwadunna village tour.
This going to be an amazing experience for you. After the Sigiriya Rock adventure, the chauffeur will take you to the trek starting point at Hiriwadunna Village. Mount a bullock cart for a traditional travel experience that lasts roughly fifteen to twenty minutes through the rural village to Hiriwadunna lake. Enjoy a boat ride across the serene water blanketed with lily pads. The local boatman will make a hat using a lily pad and a lotus flower which you can wear for the rest of your tour. See the views of Sigiriya in the distance and spot a few unique species of birds as the boat is being paddled across the water. Upon reaching the shore you will be escorted to the house of a village local where your authentic Sri Lankan lunch will be cooked from freshly grown produce. Climb a treehouse which is used by the local farmers to keep a watch on their crops and scare aware any elephants that come to attack it. After that, board a tuk-tuk and enjoy a breezy ride back to the starting point.
Dambulla UNESCO world site.
After lunch, your chauffeur will take you to the Dambulla temple or Golden temple. It is the best-preserved ancient cave temple in Sri Lanka. These caves are filled with religious & historical paintings. Some of them are as old as the 2nd century before Christ. But most of them are from the 15th century. A 15m long Buddha statue is the highlight of this complex. The largest cave contains 150 artistic statues.
