Habarana Trip Overview
(SKU: LK60321800) Anuradhapura is on of the largest and most ancient cities of Sri Lanka. The location of the capital of the first major kingdom of the island.It was a very religious city.Its temples and dagobas stand to this day, a crumbling testament to religious fervor.This one-day tour gives you the chance to walk among st the haunting landscape of Anuradhapura filled with the aura of spirituality. Visit key monuments and lesser known marvels. Learn the history of these structures, and their early Buddhist connotations. Explore the hidden meditation caves of the monks from centuries ago. Find your own inner spirituality and peace as you discover this city of spiritual marvels.
Additional Info
Duration: 9 hours
Starts: Habarana, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Habarana Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Habarana, North Central Province, Sri Lanka
(SKU: LK60321800) Anuradhapura is on of the largest and most ancient cities of Sri Lanka. The location of the capital of the first major kingdom of the island.It was a very religious city.Its temples and dagobas stand to this day, a crumbling testament to religious fervor.This one-day tour gives you the chance to walk among st the haunting landscape of Anuradhapura filled with the aura of spirituality. Visit key monuments and lesser known marvels. Learn the history of these structures, and their early Buddhist connotations. Explore the hidden meditation caves of the monks from centuries ago. Find your own inner spirituality and peace as you discover this city of spiritual marvels.
Stop At: Ruwanwelisaya, Abhayawewa Rd, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
You will then be going to see many important ancient stupas, such as Ruwanweli Maha Seya. This giant stupa was built by King Dutugemunu in 140 BC. It later fell into ruin and was renovated by a monk in the 19th century. Dutugemunu was one of the earliest Sinhalese kings of Sri Lanka. You will learn more about his enthroning and his reign. Many other such ancient historical temples will be part of your tour.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Sri Maha Boodhi Temple, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
It is hard to believe – but there is no shadow of doubt at all – that this small tree with limbs so slender that they must be supported on iron crutches, is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world.
It has never since been without its hereditary attendants and care, to the very end, of the country’s kings. As lately as the reign of King Keerti Sri Rajasingha, a wall was built around the tree. In 1966 it was enclosed with a golden railing.
The great ancient Sinhalese Buddhist monuments of Anuradhapura are clustered around this Peepal tree (ficus religiosa) called Sri Maha Bodhi, a sapling of the Peepal Tree at Buddha Gaya, Northern India in whose shelter Gautama Buddha attained supreme enlightenment.
The sapling was brought to Sri Lanka by Buddhist nun Sanghamitta, the daughter of King Asoka of India during the 3rd Century B.C. To the north of the well protected and well adorned tree are three great monasteries: the Mahavihara, the Abhayagiri and the Jetavana.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Jethawanaramaya Stupa, Watawandana Road B341, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
The Jetavanarama Dagoba’s massive dome rises above the entire eastern part of Anuradhapura. Built in the 3rd century by Mahasena, it may have originally topped 120m, but today is about 70m – similar to the Abhayagiri. When it was built it was almost certainly the third-tallest monument in the world, the first two being Egyptian pyramids.
Its vast, bulbous form is unplastered and said to consist of more than 90 million bricks.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Abhayagiri Vihara, Watawandana Rd, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
The main stupa at Abhayagiri Monastery , Abhayagiri Stupa was built over a footprint of Buddha. The Bo tree at the monastery is an off-shoot of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree also at Anuradhapura. Standing at 370 ft in height, when it was first built, Abhayagiri Dagoba was the second tallest dagoba in Sri Lanka. During its glorious days, Abhayagiri Monastery was home to one of the finest libraries in the world. In memory of the Chinese Buddhist monk Fa-Hsien who studied the Buddhist manuscripts therein in the 5th Century CE, a new museum was established by the Chinese government so that the archaeological treasures discovered in the recent excavations could be deposited and displayed.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Aukana Rajamaha Viharaya, Kalawewa-Avukana Rd, Avukana, Sri Lanka
Aukana Buddha Statue in Asisa Mudra or the “posture of blessing” is carved out of a rock boulder. The statue is carved in the round connected to the back to the rock boulder. The delicate and skillful carving of the Buddha’s robe humanizes and chastely reveals the underlying form of his body, while the face’s impassive expression projects an aura of spiritual supremacy.
It is said that the degree of alignment of the statue is such that raindrop on the nose would drop straight down to small depression carved between the toes. Aukana Buddha Statue is a masterpiece of a colossal Buddha Statue by an unknown sculptor: the serene expression of the statue, the gracefully carved robe with neat pleats brings in delicateness that could hardly be moulded into a rock. The impassive expression of the face reflects the supreme spirituality.
Duration: 30 minutes
