Cultural Drives

Discover the rich cultural heritage of this region of Sri Lanka on one of our discovery drives. Our drives focus on Sithulpawwa, a former Buddhist monastery in the heart of Yala National Park, which dates back to the 2nd century BC. Its series of stupas sitting majestically atop rocky outcrops peering across a vast canopy of the untouched scrub jungle (with the ocean visible in the distance) is easily one of Sri Lanka’s most stirring images.

Grey langur monkeys are one of the temple’s most prolific residents – easily outnumbering the number of clergies currently in residence – though since the road to Sithulpawwa travels through Yala wildlife is very much part of the experience. We also stop off at Magul Maha Vihara, an ancient forest hermitage thought to date back to the same period. Our cultural drives end with sundowners served to you beside a lake.