Bentota Travel Mart

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Golden Temple of Dambulla

The Golden Temple! This world heritage site is in the central plains of Sri Lanka and within the cultural triangle. Its History dates back to the 3rd to 7th centuries BC with new evidence showing even older occupation .Its magnificent rock cave temple complexes are well preserved and leave the visitor with a sense of awe. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses. The latter include Vishnu and the Ganesha. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square metres (23,000 sq ft). Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara, and Buddha's first sermon.

Minneriya National Park

Minneriya national park is located 182 kms away from Colombo, in the North Central Plains of Sri Lanka. The major city closest to Minneriya National Park is Polonnaruwa. The recently renovated, the ancient Minneriya Rainwater Reservoir irrigates a considerable area of the district of Polonnaruwa and is the focal point of the Minneriya National Park.The gathering is documented as the largest known meeting place of Asian Elephants in the world. During the dry season each year, herds up to 300 elephants are seen within a few square kilometers of the vast Minneriya Reservoir. This Elephant Gathering is a thrilling spectacle that would be remembered for rest of the life of all those who were fortunate enough to witness it. 24 species of mammals and over 170 species of birds have been recorded here and out Of the 25 species of reptiles recorded in the park 8 are endemic.

Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress

“The Lions rock” the 8th World Wonder is in our Central plains was chosen by King Kasyapa in the 5th century AD as his citadel. Jutting out of the countryside this famous rock is over 200 meters high and dominates the surrounding terrain. The King ruled for 18 yrs from this rock fortress, and is a colourful part of the Islands history .It is a marvel of engineering .The wall murals and the lions paws are a marvel of Art and architecture. The view of the surrounding countryside from the top is astounding. The Palace and its gardens on the crest and the design of surrounding landscape are beyond compare. Sigiriya has been designated an 8th wonder of the world and is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. A must visit for any traveller!