Route
Theravada pilgrimage through ancient capitals and the living tooth-relic cult — the island’s classic sacred circuit.
Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa preserve the monumental dagoba landscape of early Sinhala Buddhism; Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth remains a living national shrine.
5 mapped anchors on the circuit.
1AnuradhapuraSri LankaAncient Sri Lankan capital and heart of the Theravada monastic tradition.Anuradhapura → Mihintale· ~13 km / 8 mi
2MihintaleSri LankaMountain monastery where Buddhism was traditionally introduced to Sri Lanka.Mihintale → Dambulla Cave Temple· ~57 km / 35 mi
3Dambulla Cave TempleSri LankaRock-cave vihara with centuries of Buddha images — a Cultural Triangle pilgrimage essential.Dambulla Cave Temple → Polonnaruwa· ~42 km / 26 mi
4PolonnaruwaSri LankaMedieval capital of Sri Lanka with vast dagobas, palace ruins, and the Gal Vihara Buddha images.
5Temple of the Tooth (Kandy)Sri LankaSri Dalada Maligawa — guardian temple of the Buddha’s tooth relic.
