Colombo Trip Overview
Visit the scared city of Anuradhapura and Mihintale in one day. Being two of the most important historical and religious monuments in Sri Lanka Anuradhpura and mihthale scared cites attacts number of tourists worldwide. Due to the importance of the places to Buddhism it is the most scared pilgrimage site sto all budhdhit pilgrims in Sri Lanka. Anuradhpura is was named as a UNESCO world Heritage to to its importance in showcasing Sri Lanka Archeology and Culture. Minthale rock will not only be a religious site but the climb to the top of the rock will give you a site to behold.
• 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
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Visit the scared city of Anuradhapura and Mihintale in one day. Being two of the most important historical and religious monuments in Sri Lanka Anuradhpura and mihthale scared cites attacts number of tourists worldwide. Due to the importance of the places to Buddhism it is the most scared pilgrimage site sto all budhdhit pilgrims in Sri Lanka. Anuradhpura is was named as a UNESCO world Heritage to to its importance in showcasing Sri Lanka Archeology and Culture. Minthale rock will not only be a religious site but the climb to the top of the rock will give you a site to behold.
• 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
The main reason for the historical city of Anuradhapura to become a sacred city was the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.The sacred Bodhi sapling has been ceremonially brought here by Arahant Sanghamitta Maha Theree, under instructions of Arahant Mihindu Maha Thero. King Devanampiyatissa who ruled Sri Lanka in this period has planted this Bodhi tree with great pageantry in the Maha Megha Vana Royal Park dedicated to the venerable bhikkhus. The present age of the Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is 2,247 years. Accordingly, the oldest tree of the whole world with a written history is the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura. He attained Samma Sambodhi, enlightenment, seated with his back against it under the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree of Bodhgaya, India. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura being the southern branch of that sacred Bodhi tree is the second most special reason.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ruwanwelisaya, Abhayawewa Rd, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
Ruwanweliseya, also known as the Swarnamali Maha Chaitya, is the most venerated and well-known stupa in Sri Lanka. Built by King Dutugemunu in 140 BC, it’s a textbook example of the bubulakara (bubble-like) design of stupas. It’s one of the world’s tallest monuments, standing at 103 metres with a circumference of 290 metres. Standing at a circumference of 370 feet and a height of 180 feet, Ruwanweliseya, the third largest stupa of Sri Lanka, is the focal point of the Maha Vihara, the first monastery of Sri Lanka. It is believed that a considerable number of relics of Buddha is enshrined in this glorious stupa, built in replicating the shape of a bubble of water. At the eastern entrance to the stupa is a statue of King Dutugamunu.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Dagoba of Thuparama, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
The aesthetically built, bell-shaped Thuparamaya stupa is situated in the highly sacred Mahamewna Uyana in Anuradhapura and is a significant and certainly much-visited site. Thuparamaya, which was built by the King Devanampiyatissa during his reign of 3rd century BC, and said to be one of the earliest stupa to be built in the country after the advent of Buddhism. It is believed to be the repository for the sacred right collar bone relic of the Buddha and some even theorize that it originally held the sacred tooth relic.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Abhayagiri Dagaba, Watawandana Rd, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
Jetavanaramaya is an ancient Buddhist stupa situated in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, which is considered as the tallest stupa in Sri Lanka and the third tallest ancient structure in the world when it was built by King Mahasena. It is believed that a part of a sash or belt tied by the Buddha is preserved here. The structure shows the tension which was between the two main branches of Buddhism – Theravada and Mahayana. The compound covers approximately 5.6 hectares and is estimated to have housed 10,000 Buddhist monks. This area was once part of an ancient pleasure park called Nandana Uyana, said to be the site of the first sermons on Buddhism preached by Mahinda in the 3rd century BC
Duration: 1 minute
Stop At: Mihintale, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
According to legend, it was at Mihintale – literally “Mahinda’s Hill” – that the Indian missionary Mahinda, met and converted King Devanampiyatissa in 247 BC, establishing Buddhism as the island’s state religion. Mahinda was the son of the great Mauryan emperor Asoka, sent by his father to bring word of the Buddha’s teachings to Sri Lanka. Buddhism was immediately embraced with fervour by the Sinhalese people and soon became firmly established in the island. The climb to Mihintale is not strenuous – it takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Mihintale is a fabulous place to see the sunset.
Duration: 2 hours
