What to do in Cultural Triangle

Topping many a bucket list, the fascinating Cultural Triangle is home to six out of Sri Lanka's 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all within driving distance of each other. Your days will be spent admiring ruined cities, beautifully-carved temples and royal relics. Major highlights include the Sacred Quadrangle in Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya's rock fortress, the sprawling Anuradhapura ruins and the Dambulla cave temple complex, which has remained a revered pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, and preserves Buddhist mural paintings and statues. Explore these auspicious sites on foot or bicycle, or take it all in from the basket of a hot air balloon. Discover the region's natural beauty with a safari in the Minneriya National Park, where the largest annual gathering of Asian elephants takes place, or hike into the flourishing Knuckles Mountain Range.