Cultural Triangle

Can anyone help?

Really looking forward to visiting the cultural triangle Dec/Jan but just don't have enough time to see everything unfortunately. Will definitely be in Kandy and would love to see Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Sigirya, but think I'm going to have to limit myself.

If you absolutely HAD to skip one of these places which would it be? They all sound amazing, I can't decide. Any ideas gratefully received...except increasing the length of my holiday which is impossible, stupid work.

Cheerio for now

Hi beccyi,
OK< If I had to absolutely skip one of these places,,, it would be Dambulla cave temple, if it helped, but it wouldn't.
I've been to all of them quite a few times and found , of all the sites, Dambulla had less to see than the others.
( To all the Budhists out there who're gonna scream at me,, this is my personal opinion).
But,,, there's a big but !.
Dambulla is en-route between Polonorua / Sigirya area and Kandy.. So you'll be going through Matale and passing near to Dambulla. So missing this place out wouldn't save you much time.
Same with Sigirya, although that would be the last place I'd miss. I love it up there. So, it comes down to Anuradhapura or Polonorua. Both completely different and both from different historical times. Anuradhapura is more spread out and more dificult to see every thing there, so I'd miss Anuradhapura. Polonorua is also nearer the other places so cuts down on the travelling time between sites.
So, I'd opt to see Polonorua, Sigirya, Dambulla, and then on to Kandy.
Shame to miss Anuradhapura, along with Aukana, Ritigala, Mihintale and even the elephant ride at Habarana, still, it'll give you reason to start thinking of your next trip to Lanka.
Rod.

Hello Rebecca,
I agree with Rod. Pollonaruwa is probably the easiest as you are short of time. Are you trying to fit several in one day? Otherwise, you could squeeze Dambula, Sigiriya and Pollonaruwa into one day (with a driver). then if you have more than a day and staying on route, it's possible to see more.
best wishes
Chris

Hi, I did all 4 in two days with a driver....
We left from Kandy to dambulla (indeed least interesting I think, but on the route anyway) and Anuradhapura on the first day (and also a quick stop at the big Hindu temple in Dambulla).

In the evening we drove to Polonaruwa (we could have stayed in Anuradhapura, but in that way it was way more relaxing visiting Polonrawa in the morning instead of havind to drive for 2 hours first) where we visited the site in the morning (on bikes, recommandable). After lunch we left for Sigirya and went on to Kandy again in the evening.
Very do-able in two days.

Sayed at 'Devi' guesthouse, very very nice people, very nice food, clean and quite cheap rooms. They also have good bikes.

And if you hace to skipp something.. It would be dambulla or Anuradhapura to me.

I also think Sigirya is amazing and unmissable...

Polonaruwa was also interesting and with a driver you can certainly do both in two days.

e

Wow, thanks so much for these useful comments. I think perhaps I can do more than I thought in the time I've got. Great news! Cheers to you all and happy travelling!