Dambulla Temple & Eco Park Safari Day Tour
Dambulla Temple & Eco Park Safari Day Tour. Immerse in culture and nature, and witness the beauty of Sri Lanka’s treasures
At a Glance
Dambulla
Experience the captivating heritage of Sri Lanka through two remarkable sites. Dambulla Cave Temple, a massive isolated rock, holds a rich history dating back to the 1st century B.C. It began as a refuge for King Valagambahu and later transformed into a rock temple. Over 22 centuries, the Golden Temple of Dambulla has drawn pilgrims from both Buddhist and Hindu communities, housing a stunning collection of 157 Buddha statues, including a magnificent 15-meter reclining Buddha. The cave monastery’s ancient murals narrate the life of Lord Buddha, while vibrant frescoes adorn the walls and ceiling, creating the world’s largest antique painted surface. Climbing barefoot up the slope to the summit, 100 meters above, visitors are greeted by the awe-inspiring Dambulla rock temples, each cave filled with Buddha images that stand, lie, and sit. UNESCO recognized the caves’ remarkable frescoes and historical significance, safeguarding them as a World Heritage Site.
Hurulu Eco Park
Discover the thriving ecosystem of Hurulu Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka, designated as a biosphere reserve in 1977. This vital habitat is home to the iconic Sri Lankan elephant, known for its migratory behavior between surrounding forests during the dry season. The reserve showcases the distinctive dry-zone dry evergreen forests of Sri Lanka and is surrounded by protected areas like Ritigala strict nature reserve, Minneriya-Girithale, and Mahaweli flood plains nature reserves.
Human settlements and cultivation are intertwined with the reserve, leading to challenges like human-elephant conflicts due to habitat encroachment. Translocation is a common strategy to address these issues. The landscape experiences an annual average temperature of around 27.3°C with 1600 mm of annual rainfall, characterized by a distinct dry season from April/May to September. The elevation varies from 90 m to 150 m above sea level.
Within close proximity lie three national parks: Minneriya National Park, Kaudulla National Park, and Hurulu Eco Park. These parks are renowned globally for their vast elephant herds. During July to September, elephants gather in Minneriya National Park, moving to Kaudulla National Park from October to November due to rain and filled lakes. Finally, the elephants complete their migration at Hurulu Eco Park from December to January, making this region a must-visit for elephant enthusiasts and nature lovers.
- Start the journey early morning.
- Snacks on the way and proceed to Sigiriya Rock fortress.
- Experience local life with a village tour, catamaran ride on Palvehera or Hiriwadunna lake, and cooking/eating a traditional meal
- Visit Dambulla rock cave temple.
- On the way could visit a spice and herbal garden, traditional Batik design factory, wood carving place, etc. depend on clients request only.
- Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Package includes:
- English-speaking guide (or guide in specific language upon client request)
- Comfortable air-conditioned transportation
- 2 × 500ml water bottles per person
- Authentic Sri Lankan fruit tasting experience
Not included:
- Entrance tickets
- Cost of Safari Jeep
- Lunch or any meals
Please be aware that these tours are currently primarily available for departure and return from Colombo and Negombo only. If you are located in other areas, kindly inform our operators during your conversation
Tour Price:
- The listed price on Google is for each person sharing the tour with another participant.
- Each tour requires a minimum of 2 participants to proceed.
Published Rates:
- The rates on Google are based on tours starting and ending in Colombo city.
- If the starting and ending points differ, the price may vary accordingly.
Inclusions and Exclusions:
- Make sure to thoroughly read about what is included and excluded in each tour package. This will help you have a clear understanding of what to expect during your adventure.
How to book this tour ?
You can get in touch with one of our operators through WhatsApp or by filling out the ‘Contact Us’ form by clicking the buttons below.