Sri Lanka
Things to do in Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya)
23 places22 stories2 routes
Sightlore has 23 places to explore in Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya), and 22 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.
Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya)'s must-sees
The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.
- 1
Mirisawetiya Vihara
The Mirisaweti Stupa is a memorial building, a stupa, situated in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. King Dutugamunu (161 BC to 137 BC) built the Mirisaveti Stupa after defeating King Elara.
- 2
Gal Vihara
The Gal Vihara, and known originally as the Uttararama, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city Polonnaruwa, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, now present-day Polonnaruwa, in North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
- 3
Abhayagiri vihāra
Abhayagiri Vihāra was a major monastery site of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism that was situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
- 4
Polonnaruwa Vatadage
The Polonnaruwa Vatadage is an ancient structure dating back to the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa of Sri Lanka.
- 5
Vessagiri
Vessagiriya, or Issarasamanarama, is an ancient Buddhist forest monastery that is part of the ruins of Anuradhapura, one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka. It is located about half a mile south of Isurumuniya, among boulders.
- 6
Rankoth Vehera
Rankoth Vehera is a stupa located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka.
- 7
Avukana Buddha statue
The Avukana statue is a standing statue of the Buddha near Kekirawa in North Central Sri Lanka. The statue, which has a height of more than 14 m (46 ft), depicts the Buddha with a hand raised in reassurance, a variation of the Abhaya mudra.
- 8
Mihintale
Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
- 9
Gal Pota
Stone inscription in the Dalada Maluwa of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, regarded as the largest in the country; made by King Nissanka Malla and about 8.2 m long.
- 10
Dambulla cave temple
Dambulla cave temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a World Heritage Site (1991) in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country.
Discovery routes in Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya)
Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.
Cultural Triangle: Dambulla, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa
From the Dambulla cave temple to Sigiriya and Pidurangala Rock; in Polonnaruwa, Parakrama Samudra, the Vatadage, Gal Pota, Rankoth Vehera and Gal Vihara.
Cultural Triangle: Avukana, Anuradhapura and Mihintale
From the Avukana Buddha statue to the ancient city of Anuradhapura: Isurumuniya, Vessagiriya, Mirisawetiya, Sri Maha Bodhi, Lovamahapaya, the Archaeological Museum, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Jetavanaramaya, Abhayagiri and Kuttam Pokuna; the last stop is Mihintale.
Places to visit
Historic sites
Sigiriya
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Polonnaruwa Vatadage
The Polonnaruwa Vatadage is an ancient structure dating back to the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa of Sri Lanka.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is a major city located in the north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central Province and the capital of Anuradhapura District.
Vessagiri
Vessagiriya, or Issarasamanarama, is an ancient Buddhist forest monastery that is part of the ruins of Anuradhapura, one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka. It is located about half a mile south of Isurumuniya, among boulders.
Lovamahapaya
Lovamahapaya is a building situated between Ruwanweliseya and Sri Mahabodiya in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is also known as the Brazen Palace or Lohaprasadaya because the roof was covered with bronze tiles.
Kuttam Pokuna
Kuttam Pokuna (twin ponds or pools) are well preserved old bathing tanks or ponds in Sri Lanka. This pair of ponds was built by the Sinhalese in the ancient Anuradhapura Kingdom.
Museums
Anuradhapura Museum
Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum (also known as Puravidu Bhavana) is the oldest and the largest museum belonging to the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka.
Places of worship
Dambulla cave temple
Dambulla cave temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a World Heritage Site (1991) in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country.
Rankoth Vehera
Rankoth Vehera is a stupa located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka.
Gal Vihara
The Gal Vihara, and known originally as the Uttararama, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city Polonnaruwa, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, now present-day Polonnaruwa, in North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Isurumuniya
Isurumuniya is a Buddhist temple situated near to the Tissa Wewa (Tisa tank) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. There are four carvings of special interest in this Vihara. They are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family.
Mirisawetiya Vihara
The Mirisaweti Stupa is a memorial building, a stupa, situated in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. King Dutugamunu (161 BC to 137 BC) built the Mirisaveti Stupa after defeating King Elara.
Sri Maha Bodhi
The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred Bo tree (Ficus religiosa) located in the Mahamewuna Garden, within the historic UNESCO World Heritage City of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Ruwanweli Maha Saya
The Ruwanweli Maha Seya, also known as the Maha Thupa (lit. 'the Great Thupa'), is a stupa (a hemispherical structure containing relics) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Thuparamaya
Thuparamaya is the earliest documented Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. Its building dates to the arrival of Mahinda Thera (Mahindagamanaya) and the introduction of Buddhism to the island.
Jetavanaramaya
The Jetavanarama stupa or Jetavanaramaya is a stupa, or Buddhist reliquary monument, located in the ruins of Jetavana monastery in the UNESCO world heritage city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Abhayagiri vihāra
Abhayagiri Vihāra was a major monastery site of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism that was situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Mihintale
Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Monuments
Gal Pota
Stone inscription in the Dalada Maluwa of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, regarded as the largest in the country; made by King Nissanka Malla and about 8.2 m long.
Avukana Buddha statue
The Avukana statue is a standing statue of the Buddha near Kekirawa in North Central Sri Lanka. The statue, which has a height of more than 14 m (46 ft), depicts the Buddha with a hand raised in reassurance, a variation of the Abhaya mudra.
Nature
Pidurangala Rock
Pidurangala Rock is a rocky outcrop located in central Sri Lanka, in the Matale District, about 1 km (0.6 mi) north of the more well-known Sigiriya rock.
Parakrama Samudra
Parakrama Samudra (or King Parakrama's sea or the Sea of King Parakrama) is a shallow reservoir (wewa), consisting of five separate wewa (reservoirs) (thopa, dumbutulu, erabadu, bhu, kalahagala tanks) connected by narrow channels in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.
Angammedilla National Park
Angammedilla National Park is one of the new national parks in Sri Lanka.
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