Colombo Trip Overview
The sacred cities of Anuradhapura and Minhthale signifies the Sri Lankan culture, religion, and history is impossible to overstate. The sacred city of Anuradhapura was named as a UNESCO Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Site due to its significant importance in Sri Lankan architecture and culture. Despite boasting some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful and impressive attractions, it maintains an off-the-beaten-path vibe. Its religious significance for Buddhism in Sri Lanka makes it a big destination for pilgrimages and devotees.
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-offs
• Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle with a travel guide driver
Additional Info
Duration: 12 to 14 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
The sacred cities of Anuradhapura and Minhthale signifies the Sri Lankan culture, religion, and history is impossible to overstate. The sacred city of Anuradhapura was named as a UNESCO Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Site due to its significant importance in Sri Lankan architecture and culture. Despite boasting some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful and impressive attractions, it maintains an off-the-beaten-path vibe. Its religious significance for Buddhism in Sri Lanka makes it a big destination for pilgrimages and devotees.
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-offs
• Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle with a travel guide driver
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
It is a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha enlightened. It was planted in 288 BCF and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. It was brought from Buddhagaya India by the Ven. Sanghamitta Therini, a sister of Arhant Mahinda – who introduced the Teachings of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. The Sacred Bodhi tree is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world, it has been tended by a continuous succession of guardians for over 2000 years, even during the periods of Indian occupation. It is known to have healing powers and is a blessed place for Buddhists who worship with faith.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Abhayawewa Road, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
The Ruwanweliseya was built by King Dutugamunu is ranked among the tallest ancient monuments in the world. Legend has it that King Dutugamunu built the Stupa at a place where he found a rock inscription by Arahath Mahinda. The inscription says “In time to come a great king would establish a great stupa where the stone is established. “The Ruwanweliseya is adjacent to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya in the Mahamevuna Uyana. Other names for the Ruwanweli Seya are the Maha Stupa, Swarnamali Chaithiya and Rathanamali Dagoba.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Abhayagiri Dagaba, Watawandana Rd, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
Abhayagiri Monastery was established in the second century B.C., by King Valagamabahu in order to pay his gratitude towards the Buddhist monks. It was not only complex of monastic buildings, but also a great seat of learning. This huge stupa is an incredible testimony to ancient architecture and devotion people had toward Buddhism. This area is considered to be carrying the secrets of Theravada Buddhism. Abhayagiri continued to flourish until Anurādhapura was abandoned in the 13th century. Even then, two of its main colleges continued to operate until the 16th century.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Twin Baths (Kuttam Pokuna), Watawandana Road, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
Kuttam pokuna or this twin pond is built completely with granite rock and is the size of a large tennis court. Historically it is said that the former kings who had been governing this country during the 26th and 17th centuries had built these two ponds which are located side by side, for the purpose of bathing mainly reserved for Buddhist monks as those kings had greatly respecting the Buddhist monks who were following the preachings of lord Buddha. The construction of this pond , without the aid of modern technology or the modern machines is a great marvel of the ancient people who lived those days. Any one visiting Anuradhapura sacred city should not miss to watch the twin ponds.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Isurumuniya Temple, At Royal Pleasure Gardens, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
This charming rock temple, dating from the reign of Devanampiya Tissa, is set around a lovely lotus pond, the corner of which is carved with images of elephants playfully splashing water. The four carvings of special interest in this Vihara are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family. Isurumuni Lovers is a 6th Century Gupta style carving where a woman, seated on the man’s lap, lifts a warning finger, probably as a manifestation of her coyness; but the man carries on regardless. There’s a belief that this is a sculpture of King Dutugemunu’s son Saliya and the caste maiden Asokamala whom he loved and had to give up the throne for her.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Mihintale, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
In the 3rd century BC, area of Mihintale (mihinthalaya) was a thick jungle area inhibited by wild animals and was a hunting ground reserved for the royals. All this changed in 250 BC when the son of the Indian Emperor Asoka, Mahinda Maha Thero arrived at the Missaka Pauwa to meet king Devamnampiyatissa for the first time and asked the famous questions to decide whether he is intelligent enough to understand the philosophy of the Buddha. The area of Mihintale surrounds with a jungle and there are rock boulders scattered around the mountainous area. There are many caves which were earlier used by monks for meditation in a quite surrounding away from the main city of Anuradhapura. Mihintale architectural feats are mainly visible in Kanthaka chetiya Vahalkada, Alms Hall, Ancient Stairway, Kalu Diya pokuna and at ancient Hospital.
Duration: 2 hours
