In Sri Lanka, the city Anuradhapura has numerous tourist attractions because of its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sinhala civilization & its religious background. Now Anuradhapura city has been named as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Whenever you visit Sri Lanka, you should add Anuradhapura to your bucket list.
How to reach Anuradhapura
There are several ways to get from Colombo to Anuradhapura. You can select an option as you wish.
1. Train-approximately 3h 25m will take for the journey
Price of tickets -Rs.360-Rs.600
2. Bus-approximately 5h 15m will take for the journey
Price of tickets-Rs.220-Rs.300
3. Taxi-approximately 3h 34m will take for the journey
Price-Rs.18000-Rs.22000
4. Drive-approximately 3h 34m will take for the journey
Price-Rs.3000-Rs.4500
Best time to visit in Anuradhapura-April to September
Best places to visit in Anuradhapura
1. Mihinthalaya
It's a mountain peak that you have to climb by stone stairs with handrails. Sri Lankans believed that the place king Devanampiyatissa met Buddhist monk Mahinda. In brief, that is the place of birth of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. So now it's a pilgrimage site. The scenic view from the top of Mihinthale is beautiful.
Price of tickets-500LKR for a person
Opening - 9am-5pm
2. Taking a blessing at Jayasirimaha Bodhiya
Jayasrimaha Bodhiya is a sacred bo tree that considers as the oldest tree in the whole world. You can enter free of to this pilgrimage site.
3. Isurumuniya
Isurumuniya is a temple with unbelievable stone carvings. The most famous stone carvings from Isurumuniya are Isurumuniya lovers, the horseman, the elephant pond & the royal family. There is a bell-shaped stupa at the top of the rock. You can also climb it to see that. From there, you can take a scenic view of Thissa Wewa.
Price-200LKR for a person
Opening -7.30am-6.30pm
4. Royal Goldfish Park
Royal Goldfish Park is also known as Ranmasu Uyana, situated close to Isurumuniya Viharaya & Tissa Wewa. You can observe the example of ancient Sri Lankan landscape architecture here. In the park, there are various ponds and ruins of small buildings.
5. Ratnaprasada Guard Stone
Ratnaprasada guard stone belongs to the Abayagiri Aramic complex, which is crowned as the best-preserved guardian stone in the world. King Kanitta Thissa is considered as the builder of the Abayagiri complex, whose reign was during the 1st century A.D
6. Kuttam Pokuna
These are also known as twin ponds. these twin ponds are pretending the marvel of hydrological engineering & the architectural creation of the ancient Sri Lankan era. Kuttam Pokuna also belongs to the Abayagiri Aramic complex. origins of the Kuttam Pokuna is back to the reign of King Aggabodhi & this has been used by the monks for bathing.
7. Abayagiri Stupa
This stupa takes the main place in the Abayagiri Aramic complex. This is the second-largest stupa in Sri Lanka & it was built by King Walagamba in the 1st century B.C.this stupa is rising up to a height of 75m & its diameter is 106m
8. Ruwanweliseya
This is another main stupa in Anuradhapura, which is considered the most powerful place in the universe. This stupa was built by King Dutugamunu by enshrining one Drona of the Gauthama Buddha relics. The stupa is one of the world's tallest ancient monuments, it's rising up to 103m & the circumference of 290m
9. Samadhi Pilimaya
This is another famous pilgrimage site for those who visit Anuradhapura. At there you can see a statue of lord buddha associated with his first enlightenment. In the statue, the lord buddha is repicted in the position of Dhayana mudra with the posture of meditation. The statue is 7 feet 3 inches in height.
10. Visit a Lake for Sunset
According to my point of view, Thissa Wewa is a nice place to catch the sunset. Because there You can take a scenic view of two glorious white Stupa in the distance.
Photo by Kasun Peiris on Unsplash
Photo by Nawartha Nirmal on Unsplash
