Dambulla Sigiriya Polonnaruwa in one day

Table of Contents

• Is it possible to visit Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa in one day?
• What is the duration of the Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa tours?
• Time required to explore the monuments
• Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa 3-day tour
• 3-day tour itinerary
• What are the important places to visit on a Sigiriya, Dambulla Polonaruwa tour?
• Sri Lankan cultural triangle
• Why visit Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa?
• When is the best time for the Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa trips?
• What is the program for Dambulla Sigiriya Polonnaruwa one-day tour?
• Visiting Cultural triangle
• Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya on one-day tour
• Starting place of the trip to Dambulla, Polonnaruwa Sigiriya
• Visiting Sigiriya: the first activity on Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa one-day trip
• Drive from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa
• Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa by bus
• Visiting Polonnaruwa
• Polonnaruwa city tour
• What to see during Polonnaruwa city tour
• Polonnaruwa museum and Parakrama samudra
• Visit Golden temple on Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa one-day tour
• Sigiriya to Dambulla
• Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa day trip in a nutshell
• Less important places to visit in Sigiriya and Dambulla
• Visiting Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa in one day without the Dambulla cave temple
• Why choose Seerendipity Tours for your Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa trip?
• The best price guaranteed for your Sri Lanka trip
• Plan your best Sri Lanka trip with an expert

Is it possible to visit Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa in one day?

Is it possible to visit Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa on a one-day Sri Lanka trip? Yes, but starting the tour from Dambulla or Sigiriya is very important in order to explore Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa in one day. Because you have to travel around 150 km on this trip (supposedly you start the tour in Sigiriya or a nearby place).

It is possible to visit Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa in one day but the trip should starts in Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Habarana.

In this article, we are concentrating on one particular question that many travellers have in their minds as they plan a Sri Lanka trip. The question is, can we visit Dambulla Sigiriya Polonnaruwa in one day? As far as my experience is concerned, visiting the trio is possible in one day, in fact, I have done it many times. Here, I’m going to show you step-by-step how to do it.   

What is the duration of the Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa tours?

First of all lets talk about how long this one day tour last. With a private car or some otherr private transport the tourists may be able to drive between these 3 places and see the important monuments at each place within 6-7 hours.

The duration of the Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa tours is 6-7 hours if you start the trip either from Habarana or Sigiriya. However, the time required for Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa’s one-day tour varied vastly depending on the time you spent in each city and transport mode. As per my experience, you have to allocate about 3 hours for travelling between these 3 cities.

Time required to explore the monuments

You also need around another 4 hours to explore the monuments in Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa; which means the entire tour lasts about 6-7 hours. If you are an experienced trekker or do walk often at home, you may be able to save about an hour and curtail the duration of the trip by an hour. Please keep in mind that I have not calculated the time required for a lunch break or any other brief rest.

If you start a Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa trip from Colombo or any other beach resort on the west coast or south coast, you have to allocate about 8 hours for travel. Due to the long journey from Colombo, the one-way trip may last at least 4 hours. If you are based in Colombo or in a beach resort on the west coast, it is best to plan a 2-day cultural triangle trip to visit Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa.

Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa 3-day tour

I feel it is much better if you can book a 3-day Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour. This 3-day tour covers Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy, all major archaeological sites (UNESCO world heritage sites) in the cultural triangle. Apart from the historical monuments, this 3-day trip also includes safaris, city tours, a botanical garden, cultural shows, and many more.

3-day tour itinerary

• Your guide will meet and greet you before you depart for the hotel in Sigiriya, making stops along the way at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and Dambulla Temple.
• Climb Sigiriya rock fortress in the morning and visit Polonnaruwa ancient city in the afternoon. later safari at Minneriya National Park
• Leave for the hotel in Colombo via Kandy; en-route, stop at the Tooth Relic Temple, Matale Spice Garden, and Royal Botanical Garden.

What are the important places to visit on a Sigiriya, Dambulla Polonaruwa tour?

There are a dozen important historical monuments on this route, but due to the limited time available, the major tourist attractions you visit on this trip are the Dambulla Golden Temple, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, and Polonnaruwa Ancient City. Time constraints make it difficult to consider visiting other historical monuments, participating in safari tours, or attending cooking classes or village tours. If you can extend your trip and make it a 2-day tour, there is a very good chance of visiting a few other important historical monuments, such as the Pidurangala temple. You can also embark on a wildlife tour at a wildlife reserve located within the cultural triangle. Below is a list of important tourist attractions to visit on this trip

• Sigiriya rock fortress
• Dambulla golden temple
• Polonnaruwa museum
• Polonnaruwa ancient city
• Pidurangala temple
• Minneriya national park

Sri Lankan cultural triangle

The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, which some people call the golden triangle of Sri Lanka, includes many iconic tourist attractions such as Sigiriya and Dambulla. Visiting the cultural triangle allows you to see hundreds of crumbling historical monuments dating back to the 3rd century BC. But there are not only cultural and historical monuments to be explored on the island; there are also so many other important places as well. 

It is a common practice among travellers to allocate a few days for sightseeing in each part of the island. E.g., the travellers plan 3 nights in the cultural triangle to visit historical monuments, then move to Sri Lanka’s upcountry to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Later, the travellers move further south to take part in Sri Lankan jungle tours and visit wildlife reserves. And ultimately, they wind up their trips by visiting the west coast and south coast beaches.

Due to this common habit, most travellers visit as many sites as possible when they are in the cultural triangle before going on to their next base. The travellers choose the best and most popular places to visit.

Why visit Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa?

Visiting historical monuments in Sri Lanka is a popular activity among foreign visitors. Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa are UNESCO world heritage sites and important historical monuments. Therefore, all three places are included in most Sri Lankan road trips.

I receive many emails every week with questions like “Can we visit Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya in one day?”, “Can you arrange a tour to visit Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya? ”, “How long does it take to visit Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya?”. That’s why I thought of crafting this blog post, in order to give a complete picture of the day tour to Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya.

Even though there are hundreds of crumbling ancient structures in the cultural triangle, Sigiriya, Dambulla cave and Polonnaruwa are the most popular places in the cultural triangle.

When is the best time for the Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa trips?

If you are wondering what the best time of the year is for the Dambulla Sigiriya Polonnaruwa trip, I would say this trip can be done throughout the year. Dambulla, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa are all year-round holiday destinations due to the dry weather.

Dambulla, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa are located within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka and all of these places are in Sri Lanka’s dry zone. The rainfall in the dry zone of Sri Lanka is limited and most of the year remains dry, which means travelers can have nice sunny weather most of the year. However, the weather can be very wet during the rainy season and travellers need to keep an eye on the weather in the area, especially in the month of October, and November.

What is the program for Dambulla Sigiriya Polonnaruwa one-day tour?

• 07.00 am – Start the hike at Sigiriya rock fortress
• 09.45 am – Finish the Sigiriya rock hike
• 10.00 am – Drive to Polonnaruwa
• 11.00 am – Arrive at Polonnaruwa and start the Polonnaruwa city tour
• 01.00 pm – Leave Polobnnaruwa historical city
• 01.20 pm – Lunch
• 03.30 pm – visit Dambulla golden cave temple
• 04.30 pm – end of the one-day Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla trip

Visiting Cultural triangle

Visiting the cultural triangle is a minimum 2-day affair but with a tight schedule, if you like to explore the cultural triangle at a normal pace with a bit of leisure, you need to allocate 3 days minimum. Venturing on a cultural triangle tour, such as a 4-day Sri Lanka cultural triangle tour, is an interesting thing to do because it allows you to see remnants of a well-developed culture in the past.

The stupendous Dagobas, interacting wood and stone carvings, gigantic granite statues and centuries-old paintings are the proof of this civilization. You will encounter many dozens of cities, parks, palaces and temples in historic cities.   

IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE, PLEASE READ MY ARTICLE, “MOST IMPORTANT CITIES TO VISIT IN THE SRI LANKA CULTURAL TRIANGLE.”.

Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya on one-day tour

I presume you have private transport to travel from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa and later to Dambulla because it is very important to have a proper way of travelling between those sites in order to save time. If you resort to public transport, it might be a daunting task to visit Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya in one day. Usually, public transport is slow and behind schedule.

Starting place of the trip to Dambulla, Polonnaruwa Sigiriya

To explore Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa in a single day, you must begin your journey from a nearby location. This is because the journey, assuming you begin in Sigiriya or a nearby place, spans approximately 150 km and takes approximately 3 hours. Additionally, you will need approximately an additional 5 hours for sightseeing, resulting in a total tour duration of roughly 8 hours. Of course, you also have to calculate some time for a couple of rests (for lunch, to have a drink, to use the toilet, etc.), and therefore you will not have much time to do anything else.

If you plan the trip from a faraway destination like Colombo or Kandy, you have to start it very early (around 4 a.m.), and the tour ends late at night. Therefore, we recommend a 2-day tour if you wish to explore Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa in one day from Colombo, Kandy, or the west coast. By taking a 2-day tour, you can not only visit Dambulla and Sigiriya Polonnaruwa in one day, but you can also add a few other interesting things to the trip, such as a safari, visiting the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, visiting a spice garden, and taking part in the Sigiriya village tour.

Visiting Sigiriya: the first activity on Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa one-day trip

I suggest you start the one-day tour as early as possible (around 7 a.m.), and I suggest you visit the Sigiriya rock fortress at the beginning. You might be wondering why I recommend visiting Sigiriya early in the morning. First, you can shield yourself from the intense heat and sun rays during the Sigiriya hike, which is an outdoor activity. t inconvenient, but if you do the hike during the day, it makes you sweaty and tired. In fact, a trip to Sigiriya entails a few hours of steep climbing on 1200 narrow steps.

The early morning visit to Sigiriya Rock also enables you to avoid the horde of tourists who start to gather at the entrance at around 8 a.m. and then continue until about early afternoon.

If you are caught in tourist traffic, you may have to spend a few hours more on the climb, as there is only one narrow stair to climb the rock. Unusually, the climb at Sigiriya spans approximately 2 hours, encompassing both upward and downward journeys; however, on exceptionally busy days, this duration may extend to approximately 3–4 hours.

Time management is important on this trip, as you have to visit three major tourist attractions and travel around 250 km in a day. Attempt to restrict the duration of the Sigiriya hike to 2 hours, as this will simplify the remainder of the trip. Usually, it takes about 2 hours for most travelers in Sigiriya.

Early morning climbing allows you to explore the archaeological site when there are fewer people on the site, which means you can explore the monument at your own pace (no rush), and, most importantly, there is no waste of time in the queue.  

Drive from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa

The drive from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa takes approximately an hour, and the distance covered is 55 km. The trip from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa and vice versa is very popular among travelers, as most of the drive happens inside the Minneriya National Park. Travelers frequently witness wild elephants on this route. Keep your antenna up; you might catch a glimpse of a few wild elephants. There are only a few places where you can see wild animals as you drive on the road. 

Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa by bus

However, if you opt to travel by public transport (bus), it might take up to 3 hours to reach Polonnaruwa from Sigiriya due to the few transit points. Inamaluwa is the first transit point, and Habarana is the second. There is no direct bus from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa; therefore, you must travel to the Inamaluwa junction from Sigiriya and take a Habarana-bound bus from Inamaluwa. You will be able to take a direct bus to Polonnaruwa from Habarana.

Ask your driver or guide to take Moragaswewa-Illukwewa Rd., better known as the Sigiriya shortcut, as you drive from Sigiriya Rock to Polonnaruwa. If you take the main road (via Habarana), the journey will be prolonged by about 40 minutes.

Visiting Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa, the second-most ancient capital of Sri Lanka, dating back to the 10th century AD, is Sri Lanka’ssecond-most ancient capital. Polonnaruwa hides a large number of historical monuments, and most of them are still in good shape. Here you will find dozens of palaces, parks, temples, audience halls, and many other historical structures that date back many centuries. Unlike in Sigiriya, there are no steps to climb in Polonnaruwa, but the monuments are scattered over a large area in the ancient city. Therefore, you have to walk or drive from one place to another.

Polonnaruwa city tour

The Polonnaruwa city tour is mainly about ancient monuments, historical temples, stupas, and museums. The duration of the Polonnaruwa city tour may vary depending on your interest in archaeology and the mode of transport. If you opt to walk during the city tour, it might take around 4 hours to explore Polonnaruwa. If you choose a car or a van to travel in Polonnaruwa, you may be able to complete the city tour in about 2 hours’ time.

Polonnaruwa is also located in the north-central province of Sri Lanka and shares the same climate zone as Sigiriya, which means the weather in Polonnaruwa is similar to the weather in Sigiriya. Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya have the same weather conditions with less rainfall, high humidity and high temperature.

What to see during Polonnaruwa city tour

A stroll along the dusty road in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa leads you to hundreds of ancient monuments. Polonnaruwa is full of ancient constructions; you will see a large number of temples, Dagobas, stupas, palaces, Buddha statues, Ayurveda temples, and many more. Some of the ancient monuments in the city date back hundreds of centuries, whereas the majority date back to the 10th century AD.

What’s interesting about Polonnaruwa is that it’s not only an archaeological site with monuments; it also has a well-built natural green cover. The travelers encounter huge trees and plants everywhere they go inside the ancient city. The ancient rulers meticulously planned the ancient city in the 10th century AD, incorporating walls, moats, parks, roads, and lakes.

Polonnaruwa museum and Parakrama samudra

Exploring the ancient city of Polonnaruwa begins with a visit to the Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum. You can walk a hundred yards along the main road to reach the archaeological museum, located near the bank of Parakrama Samudra.

The ancient engineers seriously considered a permanent water resource as they planned the city. Therefore, they built Parakrama Samudra near the city in order to supply water to the ancient city. Parakrama Samudra, one of the biggest man-made lakes in Sri Lanka, still plays a vital role in providing water for the people in the area.

Cycling is the best way to explore the city, as it allows you to explore the ancient monuments while cycling amidst the beautiful green surroundings. To hire a bike for your city tour, we recommend reaching out to a local tour operator like Seerendipity, who can assist you with bike rentals.

Some travelers opt to take a walk as they reach Polonnaruwa, which is also a viable option, and it can be a bit cheaper too. I’ve seen many backpackers who use public buses as a mode of transport on their Sri Lanka trip stick to this method so that they can save a few dollars.

Most travelers who book package tours with local tour operators should not bother about visiting Polonnaruwa. The tour operator arranges everything, including entrance tickets, tour guides, and modes of transportation within the ancient city.

Traveling by private car, van, or bus is also possible in the ancient city, and the roads are well equipped to accommodate them. A large number of travelers stick to that type of vehicle, and it is undoubtedly very convenient, quick, and comfortable for walking or cycling through Polonnaruwa, an ancient city.

All activities in Polonnaruwa are also outdoor activities (except the Polonnaruwa museum), but the green cover in the historical city of Polonnaruwa is much greater than in Sigiriya; that’s the difference between Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. Therefore, Polonnaruwa shields you from the sun and provides shade from shady trees. Polonnaruwa spreads artifacts over a large area and scatters people, preventing you from feeling the presence of a large crowd.

Visit Golden temple on Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa one-day tour

I recommend visiting the Dambulla Golden Cave Temple towards the end of the one-day tour that includes visits to Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa. The climb at the Dambulla cave temple is not as strenuous as in Sigiriya. With an easy hike that lasts no more than 10 minutes (maximum), you can visit Polonnaruwa at any time. Dambulla steps are easier to climb than Sigiriya rock-cut stairs; the latter is narrower.

A few years ago, when the travelers began their hike near the A9 main road, the hike at Dambulla was significantly more strenuous and lasted longer than it does today. Later, another temple in the same area took over the temple’s management, making the hike easier with a new entrance. Because of the heat, the best time to hike at Dambulla is in the afternoon or early morning. Usually, the tourist traffic in Dambulla is much less than in Sigiriya; however, there are instances in which a couple of hundred travelers flock into the cave. Most travelers visit Dambulla in the early hours of the day. The visit to Dambulla cave temple lasts about 1 hour, with visits to all 5 caves and upward as well as downward journeys.

Sigiriya to Dambulla

Using public transport, travelers can easily drive from Sigiriya to Dambulla. On this route, however, you do not get trail transport. The distance from Sigiriya to Dambulla is 17 km, and it takes between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on how you travel. If you have a private vehicle, you can save time and drive from Sigiriya to Dambulla in 20 minutes. If you opt for the public bus, it will take at least 40 minutes.

Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa day trip in a nutshell

You must adjust your schedule to accommodate any additional time you need while traveling. For example, if you stay in a hotel in Habarana or Dambulla, you have to add another 30 minutes for the drive from the hotel Sigiriya, which means you have to leave the hotel at 6.30 a.m.

7.00 am: Start the climb at Sigiriya rock
8.00 am: reach the summit and explore the ruins
8.30 am: start the downward journey
9.15 am: Reach the vehicle at the park
9.15 am: 30 minutes rest (near the Sigiriya Rock, you can find dozens of cafeterias and having a cool drink will be a good reward after the strenuous climb)
9.45 am: start the journey to Polonnaruwa
10.45 am: reach the archaeological museum and purchase the ticket; subsequently, see the valuable artefacts in the museum
11.30 am: visit the historical city of Polonnaruwa
01.30 pm: finish sightseeing tour of Polonnaruwa and leave the site
02.00 pm: Lunch
03.00 pm: Drive to Dambulla cave temple
04.00 pm: visit the Dambulla cave temple
05.00 pm: leave the temple
End of the Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa one day trip

Less important places to visit in Sigiriya and Dambulla

Apart from Dambulla, Sigiriya, there are many things to do and see in Sigiriya and Dambulla. Some of them are Minneriya National Park Safari, Habarana Village Tour, and Pidurangala Temple. However, with a packed itinerary, you won’t have much time left over for other activities during this one-day trip. We recommend planning a 2-day trip that includes an overnight stay in a hotel in Sigiriya or Polonnaruwa, allowing you to visit many interesting places in 2 days, including Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa in one day.

Visiting Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa in one day without the Dambulla cave temple

Visiting Sigiriya and Polonnaruwamin in one day is quite easy, but you don’t save much by omitting the Dambulla cave temple from the Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa day trips. You don’t lose much time visiting Dambulla Golden Temple compared to Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. And if you drive to Sigiriya, Dambulla is not far away; it is just a matter of 20 minutes to get there. The Dambulla hike is quite easy, and it takes only 10 minutes to go up the stairs, unlike the hike at Sigiriya.

Why choose Seerendipity Tours for your Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa trip?

Seerendipity Tour is an entirely locally owned travel company with a head office in Colombo. The highly experienced local staff is a key strength of Seerendipity Tours, and they can plan your dream holiday to Sri Lanka.

The best price guaranteed for your Sri Lanka trip

When you book a tour with Seerendipity Tours, you directly book the tour with the local company, which means there are no middlemen and therefore you can guarantee the best price. Simply get in touch with us and let us know when you travel and what you like to see.

Plan your best Sri Lanka trip with an expert

Our staff makes a personalised programme for you, which you can change until you find the best Sri Lanka trip package for you. You can also browse our existing tour packages for inspiration (www.sirilaktours.com); all our ready-made tour packages are customizable and can be tailored to meet all your expectations. Write to us at admin@seerendipitytours.com, tel. 0094-77-440977, WhatsApp 0094-77-4440977