Cultural Triangle

For over 1000 years Sinhalese kings ruled from the great city of Anuradhapura and it remains the most extensive and important of Sri Lanka's ancient cities. One of the main attractions here is the Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred Bo tree, recorded as the oldest tree in the world. The architecture of this era must have been spectacular. Today only 1600 columns remain of the Brazen Palace, which once stood nine stories high and accommodated 1000 monks and attendants. There is much to see here - palaces, dagobas, guard stones, ponds, Buddha statues and it is all spread out in vast shady woodlands. Renting a bicycle is also a good way of leisurely making one's way around the sites.

At Polonnaruwa you will see ruins of the Royal Palace which is said to have had seven stories, the audience hall, bathing pools, relic halls, dagobas, monasteries and the splendid giant Buddha images in standing, reclining and sitting positions. The Sea of Parakrama, a vast reservoir built by King Parakrama in the 12th century is another outstanding feature of this site.

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