289

Itinerary Classic Holidays - Option I - Winter
Duration Info DAY - 5 (Anuradhapura - Sigiriya)
Accommodation Info
Location SIGIRIYA
Meals Info Bed & Breakfast
Hotel Fresco Water Villa
Image 1.jpg
Id 289
Created 4/26/20, 5:20 AM

Description

<ul><li>Breakfast at the hotel.<br></li><li>Transfer you to Sigiriya. Approximately 2 and a half hours’ drive if you drive directly.</li><li>En-route visit Ritigala Forest Reserve which is also an archaeological site and Dambulla cave temple, UNESCO cultural world heritage site</li><li>Dinner and overnight stay at Fresco Water Villa, Sigiriya</li></ul>

Related Activities

Id Location Id Thinkstodocategory Id Title Name Decsription Duration Hours Suitable Time Good For Difficulty Clothing Equipments Numberofparticipants Importanttoknow Approximatecost Remarks Showforpublic Image Created Actions
309 49 40 Dambulla cave temple, World heritage site Dambulla cave temple, World heritage site <ul>Dambulla cave temple, a world heritage site, (also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla) is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Dambulla cave temple is on a vast isolated rock mass towering 160 m. It was built by King Valagambahu in the 1st century BC and renovated in the 12th and 18th centuries AD by King Nissankamalla and King Kirti Sri Rajasinha.<br> <br>There are about 80 documented caves around the temple area. The cave temple is spread over 5 caves. The ceiling of those caves decorated with colourful paintings. Dambulla cave temple has the largest collection of over 150 Buddha statues within one place.<br> <br>The first cave is highlighted with a 14 m Buddha statue. The second cave, the largest contains 40 seated and 16 standing Buddha statues, statues of gods Saman and Vishnu, statues of Bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Maitreya, and a dagoba. The ceiling of the cave is decorated with one large sweep of colourful paintings depicted scenes of Buddha’s life.<br> <br>The third cave contains masterpieces of the Kandy style ceiling and wall paintings depicted Buddhist traditions and tales of the Buddha’s previous birth. There are 50 Buddha statues and 4 statues of the Sri Lankan King in this cave. The fourth and fifth caves are small. </ul> 1 B.jpg 12/20/19, 11:43 PM View Edit
Delete
279 27 4 Ritigala, Mountain hike Ritigala, Mountain hike <ul>Ritigala is famous due to Ritigala Mountain, Ritigala forest, Ritigala forest monastery, and Ritigala Jayasena. It is located 43 km north of Sigiriya.<br> <br>Ritigala Mountain is remarkable for its history, legends, and nature. It is a steep jungle-clad mountain with a height of 764.25 m. The summit of the mountain is a mini plateau on which the vegetation is different from the surrounding area. Hence the summit has a cool and wet micro-climate. This mountain is a herbal medical garden also where many rare herbal medical plants are to be found.<br> <br>According to the Mahavamsa, this mountain is referred to as “Arittha Pabbata”, where the king’s army was raised. During the reign of King Surathissa (177-187 BC), a temple called “Sankha Viharaya” was built. Several following kings also reconstructed the temple and added more Viharas and Stupas. The remains of this monastery complex can still be found today.<br> <br>There are well-known legends related to Ritigala. One is related to Ramayana and the other one regarding Ritigala Jayasena. Ritigala Jayasena is being a good Angampora warrior, he challenged Gotaimbara, one of the King’s army commander. During the battle, Jayasena’s head was removed by Gotaimbara. After his death, Ritigala Jayasena became the much-feared demon “Mahasona”.<br> <br>According to the Ramayana, Rama’s brother, Lakshman was wounded during the battle between King Ravana. The monkey god “Hanuman”, was sent to the Himalayas to find some special medicinal herbs. But Hanuman forgot which herbs he needed. In desperation, he took a chunk of the mountains and twisted in his tail, and came back. On his way back he dropped a piece of it at Ritigala mountain. It is believed, that is how the great variety of medicinal herbs can be found in the Ritigala Mountain. </ul> 1 RITIGALA---B.jpg 11/16/19, 3:25 PM View Edit
Delete