A guide to Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle

Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle packs quite a heritage punch. This is our go-to starting off region for first time visitors: it’s a relatively short hop from the airport in the capital Colombo by road (or a short flight with Cinnamon Air) and there’s nowhere better to discover how the past has shaped present-day Sri Lanka. 

What is the Cultural Triangle?
Good question – the clue is in the name but it’s a slightly ambiguous clue. Thought you’d ever hear the phrase isosceles triangle again? Well, think again. That’s pretty much what this region looks like mapped out on a bird’s eye view of central Sri Lanka. Stretching between Anuradhapura to the north, Polonnaruwa in the east and Kandy to the south – and with invisible lines joining the dots and encompassing everything in between – this is an area where you’ll be tripping over a treasure trove of ruins, rock fortresses and wildlife.

Exploring the Cultural Triangle with Kuoni
It's rare if any of our suggested Sri Lanka itineraries or bespoke holidays don’t include a visit to one or more of the towns, cities or rural retreats within the triangle. Even if you’re coming back for a second visit, there’s always more to see, a different angle to take, and another place to stay.

The easiest way to explore is with a private chauffeur. You’ll arrive at your home for a few nights and then your driver will pick you up each day and take you to not only the hot spots of your choice, but also to some lesser-known gems, street-side food stalls and viewpoints. Sri Lanka is their home, and they can show it to you like no one else could.

Where to stay in the Cultural Triangle
With a whole load of wonders to take in, you may think that you need to pack up and move every night to see it all. Thankfully, it’s a relatively small area with a two hours’ drive between the main sights at the very most. This means you can stay in one place for a few nights or more to really settle in and then head out on easy-peasy out-and-back day trips, either with your chauffeur or a local guide.Water Garden SigiriyaYou could stay within sight (and really easy reach) of Sigiriya Rock at Water Garden Sigiriya, Aliya Resort & Spa or Heritance Kandalama; feel tucked away at one of the rural retreats of Jetwing Vil Uyana, Cinnamon Lodge Habarana or Habarana Village by Cinnamon; or go all out for some sensational service and a real sense of place at Uga Ulagalla out in the countryside near Anuradhapura.

Unmissable sights
There’s a handful of big-hitting sights that you categorically must not miss on your visit to the Cultural Triangle. Starting up north, there are the ruins of the ancient city of Anuradhapura, the first of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites packed in this relatively small area. There are the well-preserved remains of palaces, temples and monuments aplenty in this 2500-year-old former (and first) capital city.

Talking of former capitals, there’s also Polonnaruwa, another set of spectacular ruins at the eastern limit of the Cultural Triangle. This was the country’s second capital so not quite as old in the tooth as Anuradhapura but no less intriguing. Wandering through this twelfth and thirteenth-Century site is like peeling back layers of time and civilisations.

When it comes to icons of Sri Lanka, there’s nowhere quite as legendary as Sigiriya Rock. Rising out of the level plains of the island’s dry zone, the ‘Lion’s Rock’ is impossible to miss. The steep slopes and flat top of this granite monolith was chosen by King Kassapa I to be his capital all the way back in the late 5^th Century CE. If you have a head for heights, an early morning climb to the summit will be one of the most memorable moments of your trip. A metaphorical stone’s throw away is Pidurangala Rock, another popular peak to summit, but this time you’ll have unbeatable views of Sigiriya itself.

Just to the south of Sigiriya, and often featured in a double-header day of exploration, is Dambulla Royal Cave Temple. It’s the fifth of the tick list of the Cultural Triangle’s five UNESCO heritage sites and a stunning example of nature, religion and history combining. The cave you’ll see on your visit, which is packed with sculptures and has jaw-dropping Buddhist murals on the walls, is just one of 80 caverns in the area that make up this hugely important, almost 2000-year-old pilgrimage site.

If all this history and culture may leave you craving a side of nature, we’ve got you. Minneriya National Park is the perfect spot for a tack-changing experience while you’re in the Cultural Triangle. While out on safari, you’ll likely see huge herds of elephants that pass through the park on the ‘elephant corridor’ between nearby Wasgamuwa and Kaudualla National Parks.