Colombo Trip Overview
Book this all inclusive private day tour to the UNESCO City of Anuradhapura in the comfort of an air conditioned vehicle with an English speaking driver to guide you along the way. Pedal through the Cultural Triangle City of Anuradhapura, and explore 2000 year-old ruins of royal palaces and monasteries, ancient gardens, and esoteric relics. Constructed over 2000 years ago, there is so much architectural and construction detail, to astound you by the knowledge of those times. Covering over 40sq kilometres, the kingdoms of this era created planned cities, complete with: royal palaces, temples, monasteries, gardens and even magnificent stone cut swimming pools.
Additional Info
Duration: 11 to 12 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Book this all inclusive private day tour to the UNESCO City of Anuradhapura in the comfort of an air conditioned vehicle with an English speaking driver to guide you along the way. Pedal through the Cultural Triangle City of Anuradhapura, and explore 2000 year-old ruins of royal palaces and monasteries, ancient gardens, and esoteric relics. Constructed over 2000 years ago, there is so much architectural and construction detail, to astound you by the knowledge of those times. Covering over 40sq kilometres, the kingdoms of this era created planned cities, complete with: royal palaces, temples, monasteries, gardens and even magnificent stone cut swimming pools.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
Sri Jaya Maha Bodhi is the most sacred and venerated site in Sri Lanka. Its importance is not only revered by the Buddhist world but the entire world in celebration of its fame as the oldest recorded living tree in the world. It is the spiritual heart of Anuradhapura, protected by a golden railing adorned with colourful prayer flags offered by pilgrims. Although Anuradhapura was eventually abandoned as the capital of the country and taken over by the jungle, the pious people tendered to the tree and protected it through time making the Sri Jaya Maha Bodhi the most sacred and venerated site in Sri Lanka. Its importance is not restricted to the Buddhist world but also to the outside world who celebrates its fame as the oldest recorded living tree in the world.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Ruwanwelisaya, Abhayawewa Rd, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba is considered an icon of architectural glory in ancient Sri Lanka and is the oldest stupa in the island. It is also known as the Great stupa and was built by the victorious King Dutugemunu in 140 BC. It was his ambitious project and this stupa bears witness for its unparalleled service to revive Buddhism in the country. Standing tall at 388 feet with a diameter of 90 metres at the base and a circumference of 950 feet, Ruwanwelisaya is revered to be one of the world’s tallest monuments. This stupa is one of the 8 places of reverence situated in Anuradhapura which are places believed to have been visited by Buddha during his three visits to Sri Lanka.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Jethawanaramaya Stupa, Watawandana Road B341, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
The magnificent Jetavaranama stupa was the largest brick structure in the world and the third largest structure of any type. Consisting of over 90 million bricks, this enormous bulbous stupa can get one be reflective and connect to its past with emotions of calm and serenity. Therefore it is well worth the visit for the scale of its structure shows the feat and determination at the time. It is around 400ft in height and 113m in diameter. Elaborate shrines mark each of the 4 cardinal points. The non-plastered and gigantic stupa was the centrepiece of the great Jetavaranama monastery founded by King Mahasena.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Abayagiriya Stupa, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
The Abhayagiri Stupa was constructed over a footprint of Lord Buddha. A part of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree is there. The stupa is 370 feet tall when originally built and it was the second tallest stupa in the island. During its zenith, the monastery was home to one of the greatest libraries in the world. A museum was inaugurated by the government of China to commemorate the efforts of Fa-Hsien, a Chinese monk who had devoted his time studying the Buddhist manuscripts. This museum was also initiated to keep all archaeological treasures and artefacts that have been excavated through archaeological explorations.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Twin Baths (Kuttam Pokuna), Watawandana Road, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
Kuttam Pokuna, known as the ‘Twin Ponds’ is an architectural landscape to be explored in Anuradhapura. It was built to be a bathing pool with terraces for the monks and it dates back to the 8th century. At that time, there was no modern technology to construct the place to its full effect yet it is an example of noteworthy achievements in engineering and architecture. The pond at the northern end measures 91 feet long whereas the other pond is 132 feet long. Both ponds have steps right to the bottom of the pool. This gives evidence that there was an improvisation in Sri Lanka’s Irrigation system. Water from the man made reservoir, Basawakkulama which comes through stone conduits underground fill up the pools.
Duration: 20 minutes
