Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle & Heritage Site Entry Fee Calculator

Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle and outlying heritage monuments are ticketed by two authorities: the Central Cultural Fund (CCF), which runs the five sites bundled into the Cultural Triangle Round Ticket (Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Dambulla and Nalanda Gedige), and the Department of Archaeology, which administers outlying monuments like Mihintale, Yapahuwa, Ritigala and Medirigiriya under the Antiquities Ordinance. The calculator combines both authorities into a single fee table and runs two parallel cost paths for any party you describe.

The two cost paths

Path A — per-site.For each selected site, sum across the six visitor categories using that site's gazetted rates: foreign adult, foreign child, SAARC adult, SAARC child, Sri Lankan adult, Sri Lankan child. Foreign and SAARC rates are quoted in USD and collected in LKR at the day's middle rate; Sri Lankan rates are quoted and paid in LKR directly. Per-site grand total = sum of every site row.

Path B — Round Ticket plan. If at least one of the five bundled sites is selected and at least one foreign or SAARC visitor is in the party, compute a single Round Ticket purchase per eligible visitor (USD 50 foreign adult, USD 25 foreign child, USD 25 SAARC adult, USD 12.5 SAARC child). Add the per-site cost for any non-bundled selected sites (Mihintale, Yapahuwa, etc.). Add the per-site local cost across all selected sites — Sri Lankan citizens are not eligible for the Round Ticket and always pay the local per-site rate.

The calculator subtracts Path B from Path A. If the difference is positive, the Round Ticket plan saves money and the recommendation banner says “Buy the Cultural Triangle Round Ticket.” If the difference is negative or zero, per-site wins. A direct flat-sum formula re-runs Path A independently and the result displays a “direct formula verified” badge when the two methods agree to the rupee — a regression in either branch surfaces as a mismatch.

Why a single Round Ticket isn't always the answer

Three patterns where per-site beats the bundle, even for foreigners: (1) only one bundled site is selected (Sigiriya only is USD 30 per adult vs USD 50 for the bundle); (2) the itinerary is dominated by outlying Department of Archaeology sites that the bundle doesn't cover — buying the bundle still leaves you paying full per-site for Mihintale and Yapahuwa; (3) the party is Sri Lankan-only, in which case the bundle isn't sold to you in the first place and per-site at Rs 75–100 per site is the only option. The recommendation banner spells out which of these is in play, so you don't miss a saving — and don't buy a bundle you can't use.

What the 5-site Round Ticket actually covers

One entry to each of Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Dambulla and Nalanda Gedige, valid 14 days from the date of first punch (not from the date of purchase). The ticket is non-transferable; your passport number is printed on it and checked at each subsequent gate. You can visit the sites in any order. Re-entry on a different day to a site already punched is not allowed — the ticket is a one-shot bundle, not a season pass.

What this calculator does not include

Entry-fee tool only — no guide hire, no transport, no hotel. Local guides at Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa charge LKR 1,500–3,000 per group and are negotiated at the gate or pre-booked through the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority registered-guide list. Camera/video permits, drone permits, and commercial-filming permits are out of scope; apply at the CCF head office at least two weeks ahead if you need one. National parks (Yala, Wilpattu, Udawalawe) use a different fee structure under the Department of Wildlife Conservation — see the Sri Lanka National Park Entry Fee Calculator for those.

Three scenarios that map to the most common Cultural Triangle itineraries, worked end-to-end at Rs 305/USD. Try plugging the inputs into the calculator above — the per-site grand total should match the numbers below to the rupee.

• Central Cultural Fund (CCF) — official ticket prices for Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Dambulla and the Cultural Triangle Round Ticket
• Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka — fees for Mihintale, Yapahuwa, Nalanda Gedige, Ritigala and Medirigiriya
• Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) — SAARC and foreign visitor-category definitions
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Sri Lanka site listings (Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla)

This calculator's rates were last cross-checked against the CCF schedule and Department of Archaeology notices on 2026-05-17. The page is reviewed quarterly and after any extraordinary gazette touching site fees. The ticket counter is the legal source on the day of visit — if it quotes a different figure, please email so we can update the table.