Anuradhapura Trip Overview
This is a combination of highlights of Anuradhapura with a less-visited charming site further northwest, Thantirimale being an interesting heritage destination for several reasons. It has the second-largest reclining Buddha, a very unique specimen of a Bo-tree, and pre-historic cave paintings. Moreover, the sacred area of Thanthirmale is situated in a very pleasant and somewhat strange setting.
Our experienced drivers are known for careful driving. They have been doing these tours for 5 years. Their cultural & historical expertise well-founded.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 to 9 hours
Starts: Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Anuradhapura Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Anuradhapura, North Central Province, Sri Lanka
This is a combination of highlights of Anuradhapura with a less-visited charming site further northwest, Thantirimale being an interesting heritage destination for several reasons. It has the second-largest reclining Buddha, a very unique specimen of a Bo-tree, and pre-historic cave paintings. Moreover, the sacred area of Thanthirmale is situated in a very pleasant and somewhat strange setting.
Our experienced drivers are known for careful driving. They have been doing these tours for 5 years. Their cultural & historical expertise well-founded.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya, Thanthirimale Road Thanthirimale, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
Thanthirimale is the location of Sri Lanka’s most famous love story, the island’s version of Romeo and Juliette. It’s a romantic site indeed. What visitors can see at this pilgrimage site are a large reclining and a smaller seated Buddha in the style of Polonnaruwa. The ancient Bo-tree grows atop a large turtleback rock. This is considered to be a natural miracle. Though Thanthirimale is a very charming place and of some historical significance, it is still not crowded with tourists.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Nellikulama Temple, Nellikulama, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
On the way back from Thanthirimale we stop at the modern temple of Nellikulama, which has become a noticeable site recently, as life-size sculptures of the 500 Arahats or disciples of the Buddha are standing here in a long line one after another.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Sri Maha Boodhi Temple, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
In the afternoon we will first visit the most famous places of Anuradhapura, namely the famous Bo-tree and the nearby pillars of the Brazen Palaca and the refectory hall of the Mahavihara complex and the large white dome of the Ruwanweli stupa. We also visit the world’s largest surviving stupa, which is known as Jetavanarama Dagoba. It’s also the world’s largest bakestone building. The Thuparama is the oldest stupa in Anuradhapura, adorned with several circles of carved pillars and two moonstones.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Isurumuniya Temple, At Royal Pleasure Gardens, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
In the late afternoon, we visit three more historical sites in the very soith of Anuradhapura, namely the Isurumuniya rock temple, which is famous for its rock carvings, the Goldfish Park called Ranmasu Uyana in Sinhala, which has the most enigmatic and mysterious carving of Sri Lanka, and the very ancient monastic rock shelters of Vessagiriya, where traces of rock paintings from the Anuradhapura period can still be seen. You can enjoy sunset at Tissa Wewa.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
