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buddha cave

Excursions near Diyabubula

Cultural Centre of Sri Lanka

Diyabubula is an ideal place from which to explore the art and architecture of the world heritage sites, natural wonders and wildlife.

Our experiences are not scheduled—they arise from your own rhythm, in dialogue with the land, the art, and your inner stillness. Whether you come as an artist seeking inspiration, a spiritual traveler in search of stillness, or a gourmand hungry for new flavors, this is a space where the essential is restored. We do not offer programs. No instructors, no rituals. Only the space, the time, and the quiet to return—to yourself, your breath, your way of being.

Art and Architecture

Dambulla – The Cave Temple
The largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, this UNESCO world heritage site has caves under a vast overhanging rock with intricately painted ceilings and Buddha statues in different postures.
dambulla

Art and Architecture

Sirigya – Rock painting, Fortress

Sigiriya is a UNESCO world heritage site dominated by a massive rock on top of which King Kasyapa built his fortress and palace. He decorated the walls with frescos, including the famous heavenly maidens.

sirigya

Art and Architecture

Polonnaruwa – Ancient City
Also an UNESCO world heritage site, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archeological sites in Sri Lanka It includes the great lake Parakrama Samudraya, a testimony to Sri Lanka’s ancient irrigation systems.
polonnaruwa

Wilderness and National Forests

Rose Quartz Mountain

Situated deep in the jungle, the Iron Wood Forest and Rose Quartz mountain range (Namal Uyana) is considered one of the oldest & largest rock outcrops in South Asia. The seven mountains are situated 180 to 300 meters above sea level and, according to archaeological research findings, the pink quartz dates back more than 550 million years.

rosequartz

Wilderness and National Forests

Minneriya National Park
During the dry season (from July to October), the Minneriya Wildlife sanctuary is a feeding ground for elephants, and herds of up to 200 elephants start to gather there. Lonely Planet has ranked this “gathering” of elephants as the 6th greatest wildlife spectacle in the world.
minneriya

Wilderness and National Forests

Ritigala Forest Reserve

An ancient Buddhist monastery and mountain range, Ritigala is a forest reserve with medicinal herbs, ruins and rock inscriptions dating back to the 1st century BC. At the summit of the mountain range is a patch of vegetation with healing herbs, distinct from the dry-zone flora of the lower slopes. This gives rise to the legend that it was a chunk of earth from the Himalayas dropped by Lord Hanuman as he carried the earth with medicinal herbs for Lord Rama’s brother Lakshmana, as written in the ‘Ramayana’.

ritigala

Time to Return

If you feel the call to come and come again, trust it. This is a place for those who are ready to hear themselves again.