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The Three Temple Loop – Gampola

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Possibly Gampola’s most legendary attraction, the Embekke, Lankatilaka and Galadeniya are a short distance from each other and sometimes referred to as the ‘three-temple loop’. The temples serve as a living testimony to Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage, history and exceptional craftsmanship. Each temple holds a considerable amount of historical information of the ancient kingdom’s era, carved mostly in stone.

Experience Overview

Hop on a tuk tuk and navigate the rural setting of Gampola to explore the three lesser known temples in the area with a knowledgeable host. Start off with Gadaladeniya Viharaya, a temple built exclusively by stone by Gampola’s King Bhuvanekabahu IV. Settled on a rock cliff, the temple exhibits a combination of Dravidian and Sinhalese architecture styles and offer its visitors a panoramic view of the countryside. Then enjoy a ride though paddy fields and reach the second temple, Lankathilaka, considered as the most magnificent architectural monument to be built during the Gampola era. During the experience, your host will talk you through the foundations of Buddhism and its significance in Sri Lanka. Before making your way to Embekka, a Hindu shrine, stopover at a plantation that grows tea, coffee and pepper to get a glimpse of the island’s numerous cultivations. This particular shrine is renowned for its intricately carved wooden pillars and its high pitched roof. Embekke consists of three sections, the ‘Sanctum of Garagha’, the ‘Dancing Hall’ and the ‘Drummers’ Hall’.

Includes:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Includes:

Host, water and tuk-tuk journeys

Duration:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Duration:

2.5 hours

Difficulty:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Difficulty:

Easy

Suitable for children:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Suitable for children:

More suitable for older children

Meeting time:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Meeting time:

8am, 11am and 2pm

What to wear or bring along:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
What to wear or bring along:

Conservative clothing and sunscreen

Private or not?  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Private or not?

Private

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Managing Expectations

It is important to remember that, whilst they are experts in their field, the people who run or host our experiences are not necessarily used to working in the tourism industry and may not offer the level of service you would find at a five-star hotel. For example, instead of a formal lecture, you may get a relaxed conversation where open discussion is encouraged. All of our hosts are, however, extremely engaging, knowledgeable and passionate about educating visitors about their chosen subject and we have worked with them to ensure that they deliver worthwhile, fulfilling experiences. We welcome feedback, so please let us know what you thought and if you think any improvements could be made to the experiences we offer.

Enquire Now

Get in touch with one of our knowledgeable travel experts to plan your Sri Lanka journey.