3 Ancient Kingdoms from Negombo (Private Day Tour)

3 Ancient Kingdoms from Negombo (Private Day Tour)

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.

SKU: LK60051000

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Dambadeniya Ancient Kingdom Museum, Dambadeniya, Sri Lanka

Your tour starts at 6:30am when you are picked up from your hotel in Negombo by your private guide. With a 2-hour drive to your first destination, Dambadeniya, it's recommended that you bring a packed breakfast to eat on the way.

The kingdom of Dambadeniya was at its peak during the mid-13th century, especially during the reign of King Parakramabahu II, a peaceful ruler who brought Sinhalese literature to new heights with his epic poetic masterpieces ‘Kavisilumina’ and ‘Visuddi Marga Sannasa.’ At the royal palace complex, see the recently excavated remains of the old Temple of the Tooth, where the Tooth Relic was previously housed, and the ruins of the gardens, walls, and moats.


Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Yapahuwa Ancient Kingdom, Yapahuwa Temple, Yapahuwa Sri Lanka

Leave for Yapahuwa Rock Fortress at 9am, arriving by 10:30am. 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. During your visit, you can climb to the fortress and look at the ruins of the stupa on the summit of the rock. The stupa features notable statues and imagery from the Kandyan era.

After spending a couple of hours at Yapahuwa, enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants in the area, according to your choice and budget. The drive to your final destination, Panduwasnuwara Kingdom, takes 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 in the 12th century, as well, resulting in a mix of ruins from various periods, spread over an area of almost 30 acres (12 hectares). Some of the most notable sights are the recently restored monument that was the 2-story former Temple of the Tooth, ruins of the royal palace, and the artificial reservoir Panda Wewa, considered one of the earliest irrigation systems ever made by man. You will also visit the museum of Panduwasnuwara, which features many archaeological finds from excavations in the area. Spend an hour and a half in Panduwasnuwara.

You will leave at 5pm to return to your hotel. You will get back at 7:30pm, completing your tour.

Duration: 2 hours