Three Ancient Kingdoms Tour | from Colombo
Description
This tour allows you to visit three ancient kingdoms of Sri Lanka, located in the Northwestern Province. Get to see the royal palace complex of Dambadeniya. Visit the beautiful rock fortress of Yapahuwa. See the old city of Panduwasnuwara with its ruins spanning a period of over two millennia.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will be starting your tour at 6:00 am when you get picked up from your hotel in Colombo. You will be taking 2 hours to travel to your first destination, Dambadeniya. It is recommended that you bring a packed breakfast with you to eat on the way. The kingdom of Dambadeniya was at its peak during the mid-thirteenth century, especially during the reign of King Parakramabahu II. He was a peaceful king who brought Sinhalese literature to new heights with his epic poetic masterpieces ‘Kavisilumina’ and ‘Visuddi Marga Sannasa’. You will get to see the recently excavated remains of the old Temple of the Tooth, where the Tooth Relic was housed previously, and the ruins of the royal palace complex with its gardens, walls, and moats.
The drive to your final destination, Panduwasnuwara, will take up to an hour and a half. The ancient city was one of the first kingdoms of Sri Lanka, having been the capital during the 5th century BC. The site was used much later in the 12th century as well, resulting in a mix of ruins from various periods. The ruins are spread over an area of almost 12 hectares. Some of the most notable sights are the recently restored monument that was the two-storied former Temple of the Tooth, ruins of the royal palace and the artificial reservoir Panda Wewa that is considered one of the earliest irrigation systems ever made by man. You will also be visiting the museum of Panduwasnuwara, which has many archeological finds from excavations in the area. You will be spending an hour and a half in Panduwasnuwara. You will be leaving at 5:00 pm and returning to your hotel.
You will leave for Yapahuwa at 9:00 am. You will get there by 10:30 am. Yapahuwa was the capital of Sri Lanka right after Dambadeniya when the Dravidians invaded. The fortress was built on a giant rock in the style of the Sigiriya rock fortress. However, the architecture of this fortress is completely different from Sigiriya with wide staircases, beautiful stone sculptures and highly detailed carvings on pillars. The fortress was later used as a monastery by Buddhist monks. On your visit, you will be able to climb to the fortress and view the ruins of the stupa on the summit of the rock. The stupa has some notable statues and imagery from the Kandyan era that you can peruse. You will be spending a couple of hours at Yapahuwa. After this, you can spend some time having lunch at one of the good restaurants in the area.
Yapahuwa was one of the ephemeral capitals of medieval Sri Lanka. The citadel of Yapahuwa lying midway between Kurunagala and Anuradhapura was built around a huge granite rock rising abruptly almost a hundred meters above the surrounding lowlands. In 1272, King Bhuvenakabahu transferred the capital from Polonnaruwa to Yapahuwa in the face of Dravidian invasions from South India, bringing the Sacred Tooth Relic with him. Following the death of King Bhuvenakabahu in 1284, the Pandyans of South India invaded Sri Lanka once again, and succeeded in capturing Sacred Tooth Relic. Following its capture, Yapahuwa was largely abandoned and inhabited by Buddhist monks and religious ascetics.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick you up from your Hotel in Colombo
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(19)
This was perhaps the most underwhelming (and overpriced) excursion I've ever done through Viator. Two of the stops left me wondering what I even signed up for. The Yapahuwa stop was the only worthwhile stop. That was the only redeeming thing for me not being completely disappointed with this day trip.
A great tour. The ruins were very interesting, but the highlight was climbing up Yapahuwa Rock Fortress. Our driver Christopher was excellent.
Excellent tour showing lesser known historical sites. My guide was knowledgeable and accommodating. Tour company kept me updated on needed information. Would highly recommend
Very interesting tour to three cool sites with no tourists! The history is fascinating and the views are incredible. Two of the sites are amazing and the third also quite interesting although not as impressive. It's quite a lot of driving for one day but definitely worth it. The driver was great - sharing his views on the country and sites with us. Our only complaint is that the tour should advise you that you will have 2 local guides at the sites. Knowing this is important so you plan for appropriate tips to them in addition to the driver.
It was a great trip. the places are not so popular for tourists but they are really handsome. The driver follow us in everything we have done and was so kind with us. The tour was not like the other touristic tours that takes you in other places you don't want to go. Soo.. Highly Recommend.
Our driver is very knowledgeable about the history of Sri Lanka. He is a kind and experienced person.He was very friendly with us.He did everything according to our needs. He recommended us a very clean place to have breakfast and lunch. His guidance is excellent.. I would like to tell you to go check out this unknown masterpiece.. Yapahuwa is located in a mountainous area with rocks.. The view is amazing.. I thought it was Sigiriya.. Such a wonderful creation.
Yapahuwa is a great place where you can see the greatness of the advanced technology and creations of the past.. The mountain area with big stones is amazing.. It is as beautiful as Sigiriya.. The view is good.. Driver guidance and his knowledge were very important.. He really made our trip very successful.. A very important fun trip than expected.
I have been wanting to see the yapahuwa creation for some time.. I visited Sigiriya during my previous visit to Sri Lanka and missed it due to lack of time. Truly a masterpiece of the same class as Sigiriya. The arts and crafts developed in the history of Sri Lanka are amazing. The fact that my driver was also very knowledgeable helped me a lot. A must visit.
A trip to see the amazing arts and crafts of Sri Lanka. Yapahuwa is excellent. Black stone steps were created very beautifully.. The location is unimaginable. There is an impressive view.. It is quite a distance but it is an absolutely wonderful trip that can be done in a day. The driver and the vehicle were very good...a great trip that I would recommend
A tour of Yapahuwa and Dambadeniya offers a journey through Sri Lanka's ancient capitals. At Yapahuwa, explore the majestic rock fortress, known for its intricately carved stone staircase and views of the surrounding landscape. Dambadeniya, once a thriving royal city, features ruins of palaces, temples, and an ancient throne, reflecting the grandeur of its past. Both sites are steeped in history and culture, providing a fascinating glimpse into the island’s medieval era, with opportunities to discover sacred relics, stunning architecture, and picturesque surroundings.
