ANCIENT CITIES Sri Lanka has some of the richest archaeological sites in Asia. The largest and most dramatic sites are in the Cultural Triangle, by linking the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy, with sigiriya in the center. The Cultural Triangle includes five of Sri Lanka’s seven World Heritage Sites.

Other Places to visit   Asokaramaya Beautiful mural paintings.   Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya Recognised seat of learning and beautiful mural paints.   Dipaduttaramaya Colombo's oldest temple,built in 1806. Murals painted by Burmese monks in 1890. Gothami Viharaya Mural paintings by well known artist George Keyt assisted by Manjusri. Issipatanaramaya Beautiful mural paintings. Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya One of the 3 places in Sri Lanka visited by Lord Buddha. Fascinating wall & ceiling paintings by famous artist Mendis. The annual procession in January is second only to the Kandy precession in spectacle. Paramanada Purana Viharaya Very old temple built in 1806. Vajiraramaya Highly recognized seat of learning.	Anuradhapura  -  A ” World Heritage Site” - First Capital City ( 5th century BC –10th century AD)  Located in the North-Central part of the island. The pre-Christian capital is a stately metropolis of striking monuments, parks and irrigation lakes, which was originally founded by the minister named Anuradha in 500 BC. The 2250 year-old Sacred Bo Tree(ficuss riligiosa), grown from a sapling obtained from the tree, under which the Buddha was meditating and attained enlightenment, is the oldest living tree in documented history in the world. Ruwanweli ( 161-137 BC ) ,  Abhayagiri (103-77 BC ), Jethawana ( 247-301 AD ) Dagabas ( dome-shaped massive Buddhist relic shrines), are classed after Egypt’s Great Pyramids as the world’s most massive ancient monuments. This ancient city has served as the royal capital of 113 kings. It was fought over and finally abandoned in 1073 when the capital was moved to Polonnaruwa. In the 19th century, the “lost” city was rediscovered by the British explorers and restoration and rebuilding the city has since begun. Anuradhapura is a living pilgrims site, which attracts thousands of visitors and pilgrims. Mihinthale (The Cradle of the Buddhism in Sri Lanka ) - Mihinthale is a wide-spread monastic city of caves, temples and ruins, situated 11 Km. east of Anuradhapura, is regarded as the Cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, as Arahath Mahinda Thera (a Buddhist monk), son of great Buddhist Emperor Asoka, who brought Buddhism to the island in 247 BC from north India and met then ruling king Devanapiya at this historic place and it led him converted to the Buddhism. Arahath Mahinda Thera came with a group of missionaries and settled in a hermitage of cave on the hill of Mihinthale. A grand stairway of 1840 steps made of granite slabs 15ft. wide, leads to the summit. Avukana - It is well known for its 13 metes high, magnificent and most well preserved Buddha statue, constructed in the 5th century AD during the time of king Dhathusena, Kalawewa (huge man-made irrigation reservoir) is another great gift given to the nation by this King. Polonnaruwa - A “World Heritage Site” – Second Capital City (11th  - 13th century AD)  Sri Lanka’s splendid medieval capitol Polonnaruwa is a classic ‘Sleeping City’. It replaced Anuradhapura, plundered made desolate and laid hopelessly bare to the invading armies from South India. In its time, a 6 Km. long rampart protected the city and three kings dominated the annals of the city and the period. The ancient remains consist of a walled inner and outer city, surrounded by monasteries and temples, with palaces, gardens and man-made lake, The Gal Vihara is a Buddhist rock-cut temple containing four great masterpieces of world sculpture. One of the most striking features in Polonnaruwa is the vast Prakrama Samudra, of 5940 acres, an irrigation tank (lake) built, as the name indicates by King Parakramabahu the Great, and so well named his ‘sea’, is one of the best examples of how advanced engineering and construction skills prevalent  during ancient times. Sigiriya  -   A “World Heritage Site”  -   5th century AD This massive rock fortress is an unusual beauty rising 200 metes from the scrub jungle, built by patricide king Kashyapa in the 5th century AD for defense in preparation for the revenge attack from his half brother Mugalan. It is an enduring tribute to one man’s vision. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. Two moats, rampart and extensive gardens including the renowned Water Gardens ring the base of the rock. In a sheltered pocket of the giant rock are the well-known frescos, “Sigiri Maidens”. Only 23 out of the original 500 odd frescos painted in the 5th century remain today. The Lion stairway, mirror-wall, containing graffiti written by visitors to the site in early times, water gardens and boulder gardens are Sigiriya’s other highlights. Dambulla -  A “World Heritage Site”        Dambulla is the most impressive cave temple in Sri Lanka and its history goes back to the 1st century BC. It is best known for its well-preserved 15th to 18th  century paintings on the ceiling and the wall and about 150 life-size statues of Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of Buddha carved out of rock spanning 47ft. It is the one of the largest cave temple complexes in South Asia with about 2000 square metes of rock and wall paintings. The temple consists of five caves under a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip-ledge to keep the interior dry.  Kandy  - The Hill Capital -  A “World Heritage Site” ( !6th – 19th Century AD) The historic city of Kandy was the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka, withstood the onslaught of three invading European armies for over two centuries, until it was captured by British in 1815. It was an urban and royal center from 15th to the 19th century. Today the city contains the famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth-Relic of the Buddha, which was the palladium of royalty, the royal place complex, a picturesque lake, surrounded by forested hills, and one of the world’s earliest botanical gardens.The Kandy Perahera (procession, one of the most spectacular festivals in the world), held annually in August (or late July), is a traditional ritual festival dating back to 5th century AD. The sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is taken in procession in a torchlight parade consisting of dancers, drummers, acrobats, musicians, dignitaries and caparisoned elephants. Yapahuwa - An ancient fortress and capital in the year 1301, situated in the North-West province and about 145 Km. from Colombo. Yapahuwa is like the better-known Sigiriya, a rock rising abruptly from its surroundings, to a height of 300ft. and is surrounded by moats and ramparts. Many traces of other ancient battle defense may still be seen, while an ornamental stairway remains its biggest showpiece.