Located in Matale, a town which lies 25km from Kandy en route to the Cultural Triangle, the ancient Aluvihara Cave Temple is of great significance in the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was here that the teachings of Buddha – the Triptaka – were committed to writing for the first time, in the 3rd century AD. There is a cave dedicated to the ‘Venerable Buddhagosa’, the monk who spent several years in this cave documenting the doctrines of the Buddha in Pali. The language of these Buddhist scriptures (Pali) influenced the development of the Sinhala language. The temple consists of large caves decorated with images of Lord Buddha and frescoes similar to those of Dambulla Cave Temple.
Anuradhapura was Sri Lanka’s first civilisation and the centre-point of the island’s greatest kingdoms, acting as the royal capital for over 100 kings between the 2nd century BC and 1073 AD. At its height, Anuradhapura was home to thousands of monks from dozens of different monasteries, and it remains Sri Lanka’s most important cultural site, both in terms of history and religion. Founded in the 4th century by a minister called Anuradha, it became the capital of Sri Lanka two centuries later and would grow to become an extensive complex of monasteries, temples, buildings and bathing pools, all connected by an astonishingly complex irrigation system which was put in place due to the some of the Buddhist teachings which arrived in Sri Lanka at around this time. The ruins are remarkably well-preserved, and include towering dagobas which, when first built, were some of the largest man-made structures in the world, second only to the pyramids of Egypt. The Mahavihara (the first monastery), which served as the seat of Theravada Buddhism, the Thuparamaya (built by King Devanam Piyatissa in 250 BC) and the Ruwanwelisaya are the other ruins of particular historical interest found at this site.
Anuradhapura is also home to a sacred, ancient Bo tree, which originally came from a branch of the Bo tree in Budda Gaya – the tree under which Lord Buddha sat and gained enlightenment. This was brought to Sri Lanka in 288 BC by Princess Sagamiita, the daughter of Emperor Asoka of India. Anuradhapura can be explored on foot or by bike. The sprawling ruins extend over a few kilometres, so Red Dot recommends cycling if you want to see Anuradhapura in its glorious entirety. We offer a guided cycling tour of Anuradhapura, led by a local guide who is highly-knowledgeable about Buddhism and Sri Lanka’s ancient history, which covers the sites most awe-inspiring relics and ends with a scenic picnic by a lake. The trails are fairly flat and are not strenuous – even children will love exploring this fascinating cultural site by bike.
One of Sri Lanka’s most perfect and elegant statues, the Aukana Buddha lies to the west of the large Kala Wewa tank near Anuradhapura. The creation of both the temple and the tank (reservoir) is attributed to King Dhatusena in the 5th century. The statue stands 12m-high and is completely free-standing, carved from a single rock. It is an example of the Abhayamudra Buddha, showing superhuman qualities: the right-handed gesture, raised to the right shoulder with the palm spread, signifies lack of fear. The left hands position draws the worshipper to Buddha for release from their earthly bonds. The statue has gained significance in recent times due to the destruction of a similar Buddha in Afghanistan. The Aukana Buddha can be visited en route to Anuradhapura and can easily be combined with a visit to the ancient monastery site of Sasseruwa. It only takes a maximum of 45 minutes to visit the site and the nearby Kala Wewa tank is an excellent place to stop off and have a picnic in scenic surroundings.
The late Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most influential architect, was responsible for linking the ancient architecture of this island with that of the modern world. Bawa had a deep understanding and appreciation of the country’s cultural heritage – drawing ideas from the ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa as well as the colonial influences of the Portuguese and Dutch periods. His travels worldwide also resulted in an appreciation of the more contemporary architectural styles.
Dambulla Cave Temple first came to be of great significance when it was used as a refuge for King Valagambahu in 1st century BC. Concealed here by the local monks upon returning from exile to his throne at Anuradhapura, Valagambahu showed his gratitude by building a magnificent cave temple for them, which consists of a complex of Buddhist image houses. Its rock ceiling is one large sweep of colourful frescoes, some of which date back over 2,000 years, which depict Buddhist mythology, and the tales of the Buddha's previous births. This cave temple has the largest number of Buddha statues all housed in one place, including a colossal, 14-metre-long figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the rock. Dambulla Cave Temple is now one of the most popular religious cultural sites in Sri Lanka, attracting tourists from across the globe.
Red Dot now offers hot air ballooning in the Cultural Triangle, a dramatic and rewarding experience made even better by the warm and friendly welcome that you receive from villagers when the balloon finally lands. Your adventure starts at dawn: soar high above Kandalama, Dambulla, and Sigiriya and watch the landscape unfold beneath you, illuminated by the gentle morning light, and look out for wild elephants and water buffalo as you fly over untouched wilderness.
Your hot air balloon adventure starts early morning and will last about three and a half hours, starting with the preparation and inflation of the balloon, briefing, take-off, flight (approximately one hour), landing/retrieval and the return by van. After the pilot’s briefing, you will rise into the air and float gently over the breath-taking plains of the Cultural Triangle, dotted with striking ancient ruins and patches of jungle. The exact route of your flight cannot be predicted, as this is dependent on the prevailing winds. A support crew and vehicle follows the flight throughout. Upon landing, celebrate with champagne.
Kaludiya Pokuna Forest near Kandalama – not to be confused with the ‘Kaludiya Pokuna’ close to Mihintale – is a beautiful place for a nature trek in itself, quite apart from the ancient ruins which hide beneath the forest canopy. Those seeking some peace and quiet after exploring the popular Cultural Triangle sites will love this little-known adventure into the wilderness and the utter sense of tranquillity it brings, and keen birdwatchers will delight in the wide variety of birds that can be seen flitting through the trees.
Accompanied by a naturalist, take a jeep to the edge of the forest and then continue your journey on foot, following a footpath lined by wild grass. As you move deeper into the forest, watch out for interesting tropical flora and the endemic and migrant birds that live in the forest, which your naturalist will help you identify. This trek culminates in your arrival at the ancient ruins, a 1,200-year-old Buddhist monastery. The dagoba is still standing, along with a collection of strange, striking rocks jutting out of the earth, and there is a cave nearby which carries an inscription of medieval text, thought to have been written to mark the presence of treasure.
Historically recorded as the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Mihintale is commonly believed by Sri Lankans to be the meeting place of the Buddhist monk Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka of India, and King Devanampiyatissa in the 3rd century BC. Mahinda preached the doctrine of Lord Buddha to the King and his people on the full moon day in June (Poson), which remains a special holiday in Sri Lanka and also led to all Poya (full moon) days becoming holy days for Sri Lankan Buddhists – tourists should note that meat and alcohol are not served in the island on Poya days. This meeting was the beginning of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, which quickly became a core part of Sinhalese culture, something that is evident in all the island’s ancient cultural sites, such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla Cave Temple.
Mihintale is now a key pilgrimage site for Sri Lankan Buddhists, and is home to several majestic religious monuments including a magnificent 40ft stupa which dates back to the 1st century BC. After a short and non-strenuous climb of 15-20 minutes, you can explore Mihintale’s ancient ruins at your leisure – it remains relatively non-touristy compared to some of the other sites in this area. We recommend doing the climb in the early morning or the late afternoon – it is a beautiful place to see at sunset. You must dress respectfully (with your elbows and knees covered) and may be required to remove your shoes at certain points. You can visit this site independently, with your chauffeur-guide or with our specialist guide, who is highly-knowledgeable about Buddhism and Sri Lanka’s ancient history. The full guided tour of Mihintale takes approximately three hours and includes some refreshments overlooking a picturesque lake.