The best way to visit the sites is to hire a guide/ driver. As well as the practicalities of getting around, it means you won’t have to negotiate with the many people who will want to be your guide and be most insistent in doing so. You’ll need plenty of water, sun block and should cover up. Some thick socks will also come in handy. Some of the sites require you to remove your shoes, not much fun when you are waking on a stone surface which has been exposed to the sun for many hours.
The easiest site was the Cave Temples at Dambulla. You walk up quite a steep incline to get to the caves, but it’s a short walk. The caves are all quite compact and have a wide range of Buddha images and cave paintings, it is believed they are 1900 years old.
The most impressive site was Polonnaruwa. It is about 1000 years old and was a Royal Capital for three centuries. There are many impressive examples which show the skill of those involved in the construction and get an impression of the vision and greatness of what was.
Sigiriya has at various times been a rock fortress and monastic retreat. You can walk up the 200m high rock and enjoy excellent views, there is also water garden, a boulder garden and caves with frescos.
If your itinerary allows, the sensible thing to do would be to do the Cave Temples one day and the Ancient Cities on the other. The Cave Temples are a convenient and easy stop off on the way to Kandy. The trip could be tricky with very young children and requires a degree of physical fitness.
