Kandy: the capital of the country prior to British colonization, Kandy is now the acknowledged capital of the central Sri Lankan hill country and the city that is most tourists’ first exposure to the Cultural Triangle. The most popular tourist attraction in the city is the Sacred Tooth of Buddha, housed in the incredible Dalada Maligawa temple complex. There are plenty of pre-colonial temples, palaces and buildings to explore, not to mention some great museums to browse. However Kandy is also a vibrant modern city, and there are a great range of comfortable facilities and amenities such as luxury hotels, upscale shopping districts, modern sporting facilities and quality restaurants. The most sacred Sri Lankan city, Anuradhapura is particularly famous for its Buddhist monuments and the revered bodhi tree that was grown from a sapling cultivated from the tree the Buddha meditated beneath, and is now protected by golden gates and armed guards. The two most popular of the numerous temples are the magnificent Jethawana and Abayagiri complexes, while the stunning Ruvanveliseya pagoda was one of the tallest manmade structures of its time in the world . Polonnaruwa: this medieval city was where the capital was transferred after Anuradhapura was abandoned in 1073 due to pressures from southern Indian kingdoms. Polonnaruwa was considered more easily defensible, and the new capital grew and prospered. Significantly better preserved than Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa was also much smaller, and today is easily explored on foot. Sigiriya: built toward the end of the Anuradhapura period, Sigiriya is one of the best preserved archaeological sites in Asia. Famed for its ‘Lion Rock’, a huge stone mountain upon which stands an impregnable fortress, Sigiriya is one of the most popular destinations within the Cultural Triangle. Aside from the fortress itself, there is an area at the base of the mountain that is walled in and protects a delightful rock garden, pools of water and fountains. There are many rock carvings to be discovered, particularly on the ‘Mirror Wall’, while inside the fortress there are stunning painted murals. The site is best toured in the early morning to avoid crowds and the heat, which can be stifling. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is positioned midway between Kandy and Anuradhapura. As with all Buddhist religious sites, shoes must be removed and proper attire worn prior to entering any sacred area. Dambulla has a good range of accommodation and is often used as a base for exploring the lesser known areas of the central part of the Cultural Triangle. Habarana: an off the beaten track waypoint for travellers wishing to experience authentic Sri Lankan culture first hand, Habarana is a charming town that has been used as a stop over for pilgrims since ancient times. It has the nearest train station to the popular destinations of Sigiriya and Dambulla, and therefore has a good range of comfortable accommodations. Matale: between Kandy and Dambulla lies the fascinating town of Matale, a very important Buddhist site. Here visitors will discover the amazing Aluvihara Rock Temple, which was where Buddhist scriptures were first put into writing. Even today, the temple is a source of hand-written material, and tourists can observe monks transcribing mantras on books made of palm leaves as they have done for centuries. | 
