Cultural Heart

A short, temple-rich loop: Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, the Temple of the Tooth, and Nuwara Eliya. Vegetarian meals are easy. SAARC discounts cut several tickets almost in half.

Built for guests flying in from India and the Maldives — temples, the rock, tea country, and time for shopping. SAARC ticket rates apply at several sites.

Route: Airport → Dambulla / Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Airport

From USD 520 per person, twin share

Days

1. Day 1

   Airport to the Cultural Triangle

   Transport

   CMB Airport → Dambulla / Habarana · ~4–4.5 hrs

   Visit time

   Dambulla caves ~1–1.5 hrs if you land before mid-afternoon

   Pickup at Bandaranaike. Drive the expressway then north. If timing allows, walk the five cave temples at Dambulla before check-in near Habarana. Early night — tomorrow is the rock.

   • [Dambulla Cave Temple ~USD 10 pp (LKR 3,000)]

2. Day 2

   Sigiriya Rock Fortress

   Transport

   Habarana → Sigiriya · ~20 min each way

   Visit time

   Climb and gardens ~2.5–3 hrs · start 6:30–7:00am to beat heat and coaches

   Lion Rock at opening. Frescoes, the mirror wall, the summit palace. SAARC guests (India & Maldives) pay roughly half. Afternoon village walk or rest by the pool.

   • [Sigiriya entry USD 35–36 pp · SAARC ~USD 18 · child ~USD 18–20]

3. Day 3

   Polonnaruwa, then Kandy

   Transport

   Habarana → Polonnaruwa · ~1 hr · then Polonnaruwa → Kandy · ~3–3.5 hrs

   Visit time

   Ancient city ~2.5–3 hrs (bicycles if you want them)

   The medieval capital by bicycle or car — Gal Vihara Buddhas, the royal palace, Rankoth Vehera. After lunch, the long scenic drive to Kandy. Evening lake walk.

   • [Polonnaruwa USD 30 pp · SAARC ~USD 15 · bicycle hire ~USD 5 if used]

4. Day 4

   Temple of the Tooth and the hills

   Transport

   Kandy → Nuwara Eliya · ~2.5–3 hrs after the city

   Visit time

   Temple ~1–1.5 hrs · Peradeniya gardens ~1–1.5 hrs

   Sri Dalada Maligawa in the morning (cover shoulders and knees). Optional Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya — easy walking, good for families. Then climb into tea country. Nuwara Eliya is cool; pack a layer.

   • [Temple of the Tooth ~USD 10 pp (LKR 3,000; SAARC half)]
   • [Peradeniya gardens ~USD 12 pp (LKR 3,540)]

5. Day 5

   Tea country

   Transport

   Local tea roads around Nuwara Eliya · ~1–2 hrs total

   Visit time

   Factory tour ~45 min · lake and viewpoints the rest of the day

   A working tea factory (tasting is usually free). Gregory Lake, a quiet estate walk, and time for woollens shopping if you want it. This is the ‘Little England’ day Indian guests often ask for.

   • [Tea factory usually free or a small tasting fee]
   • [Gregory Lake park ~USD 1]

6. Day 6

   Colombo and the airport

   Transport

   Nuwara Eliya → CMB · ~5–6 hrs · add ~1.5 hrs if you stop in Colombo

   Visit time

   Colombo shopping / Gangaramaya ~1–2 hrs if the flight is evening

   Drive west. If your flight is after 6pm we can add Colombo — Odel / Dutch Hospital or a temple stop. Airport drop three hours before departure.

   • [Colombo sites optional and mostly free or low-cost]