The beautiful Royal Rock Temple complex sits about 160m above the road in the southern part of Dambulla. Five separate caves contain about 150 absolutely stunning Buddha statues and paintings, some of Sri Lanka's most important and evocative religious art. Buddha images were first created here over 2000 years ago, and over the centuries subsequent kings added to and embellished the cave art. From the caves there are superb views over the surrounding countryside; Sigiriya is clearly visible some 20km distant.

The Minneriya National Park is probably the most easily accessed national park from the cultural triangle. The largest seasonally recurring concentration of wild elephants takes place between July and September at Minneriya (and Kaudulla) National Park. Over 300 elephants may gather on the seasonally drying lake bed in Minneriya National Park. This gathering is listed by Lonely Planet as among the Top Ten wildlife spectacles in the world.The list includes famous nature events such as the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti, brown bears feasting in Alaska, the penguin rookery in the Atlantic, the Monarch butterfly migration in Mexico, orca feeding in Argentina, starling roosting in England, and the salmon run in South Africa. Although the months in which the elephant gathering occurs offers the best experience, the safari tour of Minneriya National Park is a rewarding safari experience any day of the year. Although elephants are its main attraction, Minneriya hosts more than 160 species of birds, a few of which are endemic to Sri Lanka, such as the Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, the Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, and the Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill. Large mammals, including, sloth bears, Sambar deer, and axis deer, as well as smaller mammals such as the Purple-Faced Langur, Toque Macaque, and the Grey Slender Loris make the Minneriya National Park their home. Guidance by our local specialised guide makes this experience even more special. Elephant tours Sri Lanka