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Ranmasu Uyana
Pass by
Ranmasu Uyana is situated north to the Isurumuniya.The originator of this garden is lost in the history but Ranmasu Uyana was probably established as an alternate to all the parks donated to the maha sanga. Each of these ponds are designed with precision irrigation techniques so that the water from tissa weva passed through all the ponds and tanks in the garden before releasing them for irrigation work.
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Ruwanweli Maha Seya
20m · Admission ticket not included
Ruwanwelisaya is one of the eight places of veneration situated in Anuradhapura. The stupa is believed to have been visited by Buddha during his three visits to Sri Lanka. It is located just a short walk away from Maha Bodhi tree and is considered an icon of architectural glory. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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Abayagiriya Stupa
20m · Admission ticket not included
Jethawana Stupa is the largest stupa in the Sri Lanka. It was originally 400 feet (122 meters) in height and was the third tallest building in the world at that time. Even today as a brick monument, Jethawanaramaya still remains the tallest of its kind. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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Tissa Wewa
20m · Admission ticket not included
Tissa Wewa is an ancient irrigation tank was built by King Devanampiya Tissa (250-210 BC). The embankment of Tissa Wewa is 11,000 feet long (Two miles) and 25 feet high. Only Panda Wewa and Abhaya Wewa are considered to be older than Tissa Wewa.
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Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
20m · Admission ticket not included
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka is the oldest living tree in documented history of the world. It is a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha enlightened. The oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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Abhayagiri
20m · Admission ticket not included
Colossal dagoba was the ceremonial focus of Abhayagiri Monastery in India. Originally over 100m high, it was one of the greatest structures in the ancient world. Today, after several reconstructions, it soars 75m above the forest floor. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
20m · Admission ticket not included
India's Bodhgaya tree is central to Anuradhapura in both a spiritual and physical sense. It has been tended by succession of guardians for over 2000 years and is said to be the oldest tree in the world. Thousands of devotees come to make offerings on poya (full moon) days and weekends.
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Dagoba of Thuparama
20m · Admission ticket not included
Thuparama Dagoba is the oldest dagoba in Sri Lanka. It was constructed by King Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BC. Its 'heap-of-paddy-rice' shape was restored in 1862 to a more conventional bell shape. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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Mirisaveti Stupa
20m · Admission ticket not included
Mirisawetiya Dagaba has been built by King Dutugamunu (161-137 BC) and this belongs to Mahavihara Complex.It is said that he called this dagaba "Mirisavatiya" because the king forgot to present a food made out of chilli (miris) to the Buddhist priests before he consumed it. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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The Royal Palace (Vijayabahu Maligaya)
20m
Built in 1070 (some 12 centuries after Anuradhapura’s heyday), this palace was an attempt by King Vijayabahu I to link his reign with the glories of the ancient Sinhalese capital. Little remains today except two fine, but surprisingly modest, guard stones.
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Lankarama Sthupa
Pass by
The actual stupa has been renovated, but little remains of the vatadage except the ruins of a few broken pillars in the middle of the large courtyard. The name of the Stupa too has been changed from Silasobha Khandaka Cetiya to the simpler Lankaramaya. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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Lovamahapaya
20m · Admission ticket not included
Lovamahapaya in Sri Lanka, also known as the Brazen Palace or Lohaprasada, is a set of ruins with hundreds and hundreds of stone pillars that lie between the stupa Ruwanwelisaya and the Great Bodhi Tree of Anuradhapura. This is the location of a once mighty nine storied monastic structure built by the King Dutugemmunu in the 2nd century BC. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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Samadhi Statue
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Samadhi Statue is considered one of the best sculptures in the Anuradhapura era. It is made out of dolomite marble and stands 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 metres) in height. The statue's eyes are hollow indicating they were impressed with crystal or precious stones.
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Mihintale
30m · Admission ticket not included
With the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Mihintale Mountain began to serve as a residential area for the venerable monks headed by Arahath Mahinda Mahathera. Soon, with the royal patronage, the sanctuary housed a multitude of with monastic buildings-stupas, uposathgharas and bodhigharas.
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Ritigala Forest Monastery
Pass by
The Ritigala Mountain is the highest mountain in the north-central dry plains of Sri Lanka. It is the watershed of the Malwatu Oya which feeds the Nachaduwa tank and Kalueba Ela which feeds Huruluwewa.
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Isurumuniya Temple
20m · Admission ticket not included
This charming rock temple, dating from the reign of Devanampiya Tissa (r 307–267 BC), is set around a lovely lotus pond, the corner of which is carved with images of elephants playfully splashing water. The central temple has some particularly fine mural paintings. Climb around the back to the rock summit to see the bell-shaped stupa and a pair of Buddha footprints etched into the rock. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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Kalu Diya Pokuna Natural Black Water Pond
Pass by
The approach to this ancient historical site is very pleasant, winding its way through paddy fields and vegetable cultivations – typical rural Sri Lanka, which gives way to beautiful stands of tall, dry monsoon forest. You even find peacocks crossing the road at intervals. The archeological site at Kaludiya Pokuna has a few ruins including a stupa, and it is very obvious to the visitor, that this ancient site screams of neglect
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Moonstone or Sandakada pahana
20m · Admission ticket not included
The moonstone (Sandakada Pahana) is a permanent feature of the Buddhist building of all historical periods. This is a semi-circular piece of stone which stood at the foot of a flight of steps in most Buddhist buildings. Although the moonstone is generally semi-circular, sometimes you can come across square moonstones. It is thought that the moon stones originated as blank square stone and later developed in to a semi-circular shape. This again developed to include multitude of carved decorations in later stages. (03 Hrs - Ancient City combined)
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Vessagiriya Ruins
Pass by
Vessagiriya is located few hundred meters left to the current Isurumuniya on the old Anuradhapura-a-Kurunegala road. This temple complex is located in and around 3 beautiful bolder formations spread across a large area in front of the Tissa Weva. On one these is a remains of a dagaba. Remains of 23 caves with drip ledges which the monks used can be seen on two of the rock formations.
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Abhayagiri Museum
Pass by
This museum, south of the Abhayagiri Dagoba, is arguably the most interesting in Anuradhapura and contains a collection of squatting plates, jewellery, pottery and religious sculpture from the site. The new museum at Abhayagiri Monastery, a source of valuable information to the tourists, was established in memory of Fa-hien to house the treasures discovered during the excavations at Abhayagiri Monastery.
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20m · Admission ticket not included
The impressive Royal Palace, located in Sri Lanka's historic city of Polonnaruwa, was built between 1153 and 1186 during the reign of King Mahaparakram Bahu. Due to its significant historical significance, UNESCO designated the Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu as a World Heritage Site in 1982.
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Dalada Maluwa
20m · Admission ticket not included
The circular building of Dalada Maluwa, also known as Terrace of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, is a beautiful work of art and architecture of the 12th century. It was built by King Parakrambahu the great (1164-1196AD), it was later enhanced and decorated by King Nissankamalla (1198-1206).
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Polonnaruwa Vatadage
20m · Admission ticket not included
This lovely Stupa House (Vatadage) was constructed before Nissanga Malla's (1187–1196) reign, but he carried out significant renovations on it. Thus, what you see today was probably created by him. (combined with Dalada Maluva)
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20m · Admission ticket not included
Atadage Dalada Maligaya is the house of the tooth relic of Buddha built by King Vijayabahu I (1070-1110). This building is built on 54 stone pillars. The tooth relic has been kept on the second floor probably made out of wood.(combined with Dalada Maluva)
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Rankoth Vehera
20m · Admission ticket not included
Rankoth Vehera is the 4th largest stupa in Sri Lanka. It was built by the Nissanka Malla(1187-1196) it is one of the most sought after tourist attractions, i.e. 'dagobas' of the country.
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Gal Vihara
Pass by
Gal Vihara is a rock temple of Buddha which is in the north of Sri Lanka. It is located in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Polonnaruwa. It has four rock statues, each portraying different figures of Buddha. The third one is a standing figure, and the fourth is a reclining figure.
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Samudra Parakrama
Pass by
Parakrama Samudra is a water reservoir which consists of five different lakes namely Thopa, Dumbutulu, Erabadu, Boo, Katu tanks. Parakrama Samudra is a water reservoir which consists of five different lakes. It is also known as King Parakrama's Sea and is in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Topa Wewa is the oldest reservoir here which was built around 386 AD.
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Pothgul Viharaya
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Pothgul Viharaya is an old library and monastery in the Polonnaruwa district of Sri Lanka. The ruins of this ancient library date back to the twelfth century. It was thought to be a Buddhist library complex where Buddhist writings were studied. Now it is nothing but a demolished historic site.
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Pabalu Vehera
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It is in outstanding condition and is the third-largest dagaba of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. It is unknown where the Pabalu Vehera stupa got its unusual shape. A concubine of the great Parakramabahu the Great erected it ( 1153-1186 AD). Currently, this stupa is referred to as "Pabalu,"
amount of glass beads were discovered. Recently, invading parties and treasure hunters demolished the stupa's top and middle sections.
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Nissanka Latha Mandapaya
Pass by
Nissanka Latha Mandapaya is located in Dalada Maluwa quadrangle of Polonnaruwa district in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The purpose of this construction was to recite and hear Buddhist scriptures. The granite pillars are 8.5 feet tall and surprisingly curved at three places. The middle of the platform is a small stupa, which is also made of stone. The top of the pillars has a carving of a blooming lotus, while the test of the columns denotes the structure of a stem.
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Pass by
The Nelum pokuna or the Lotus bath is a small stone bath of completely unique design, built in tiers of eight petalled lotuses. The jewel of the architecture lies hidden along the lonely road to the northern city, well away from the bus loads of pilgrims and tourists.
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Thivanka Image House
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The Buddha statue at the Thivanka Pilimage is about 8 meters in height but today the part of the statue above the head has been destroyed. The inside walls of the buildings has been decorated with frescoes showing the Jataka Stories (prior births of Buddha before enlightenment). As most other structures of this era, this is too built with bricks including the statue.The Buddha statue at the Thivanka Pilimage is about 8 meters in height but today the part of the statue above the head has been destroyed.
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Pass by
The Shiva Devale No. 2 is thought to be the oldest structure in Polonnaruwa because it was constructed during the South Indian Chola era, when the city was founded by Indian invaders. It had been constructed entirely of stone, in contrast to many of the structures in the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa. This is why the building is still in a similar shape to how it was when it was built hundreds of years ago. Keep an eye out for the statue of Nandi, the bull, Lord Shiva's mount.
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Kiri Vehera
Pass by
The Kiri Vehera of Polonnaruwa is said to have been built by a queen of king Parakramabahu (1153-1186). The original name of this has been "Rupavathi Stupa" and this too is a part of Alahana Privena. Its cylindrical surfaces are divided in to eight parts with pilasters between the pilasters are figures of deities with hands in the attitude of adoration. According to Paranavithana, the stupa had 16 reliefs telamons supporting the pseudo-entablature which was badly weathered. The two identical stupas south to the Lankathilaka is thought to be built upon remains of a king and a queen.
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Ederagala Wana Senasuna
Pass by
Enderagala Wana Senasuna is a Buddhist temple in a calm and quiet location in Dambulla in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. According to the inscription found in the caves, the history of this temple dates back to the 2nd – 1st century B.C. The temple is located beside the Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Trincomalee (A006) Highway, only 6km away from the Dambulla city. You can reach Enderagala Wana Senasuna withing15 minutes from Dambulla Cave Temple.
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Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs
Pass by
Ibbankatuwa Ancient burial ground lies five kilometers before the Dambulla town on the Kurunegala-Dambulla Road. An archeological Department board will indicate the turn off from the main road. The site is reached by traveling about 500m in to this road. The site was developed in to a tourist attraction in 2017 and was formally open to the public.
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Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Pass by
Sri Lanka's 30,000-seat Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium is a cricket stadium. The Stadium, the first and only international cricket pitch in Sri Lanka's dry zone, is located in Dambulla on land leased from the Rangiri Dambulla Temple. The Dambulla Tank (reservoir) and the Dambulla Rock are visible from the stadium.
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Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre
Pass by
Located in the Dambulla Secretariat Division of Matale District, in the center of Dambulla town started in 1999 to establish a wholesale market for vegetables and fruits. One important feature of the DDEC is thus a more direct participation of the farmers is selling farm produce.
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Golden Temple of Dambulla
15m
One of Sri Lanka's most frequented, appealing, and well-liked tourist destinations is Dambulla. Buddhist ideas are present in this historical and religious location, which allows visitors to sense that special sensation before even arriving in the city. (photo stop)
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Golden Temple of Dambulla
1h · Admission ticket not included
The Rock Temple of Dambulla, called Jumbukola Vihara (Dambulla Cave Temple) in the (Mahavamsa)-the principal Pali Chronicle of Sri Lanka, is situated about forty seven miles north west of Kandy, the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, on the main road to Anuradhupura. Dambulla is a scent of unique interest. Its rock temples are the most extensive in the Island, and one of the most ancient, and in the highest state of preservation and order.
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2h · Admission ticket not included
A must-see for every visitor to the historic city of Kandy is the Kandyan Cultural Dance Show, an enlightening display of Sri Lankan arts, dance, and cultural history. It is typical for generations to carry down specific dance styles that are exclusive to certain parts of the island.In local rites these dances are done utilizing regionally specific drums and clothing.
A must-see for every visitor to the historic city of Kandy is the Kandyan Cultural Dance Show, an enlightening display of Sri Lankan arts, dance, and cultural history. It is typical for generations to carry down specific dance styles that are exclusive to certain parts of the island. In local rites these dances are done utilizing regionally specific drums and clothing.
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Lipton’s Seat
2h · Admission ticket not included
The Sri Lankan highlands are where Lipton's Seat is situated. 7 kilometers separate this little settlement from Dambatenne, a tea plantation. Every bus or tuk-tuk, regardless matter where you start from, must travel the tiny road that weaves its way up through the tea plantations from Dambatenne town to the viewpoint. The tea factory, which many tourists visit after Lipton's Seat, lies in the town of Dambatenne. Dambatenne does not have lodging, thus you must stay in either Ella or Haputale (more info below).
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Little Adam's Peak View Point
3h · Admission ticket not included
Little Adams Peak whether considering the word ‘Little’, it is named after the sacred Adams Peak (Sri Pada –where the footprint of Lord Buddha is preserved) regarding the similarity between the two mountains. Therefore, the mountain was called as Little Adams Peak.
“Punchi Sri Pada” is another name for this peak. It is 1141 m in height. Little Adam’s Peak attracts many travelers who come to Sri Lanka. Gradually with an easy hike up to the mountain of Little Adams Peak you can consummation a worth panoramic view. You have to walk through lush green tea plantations, waterfalls and paddy fields while enjoying the sceneries.Experience the flying Ravana Zipline activity.
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1h · Admission ticket not included
Flying Ravana is Sri Lanka’s first ever mega dual zip-line, located amidst the luscious green estates of Ella,Sri Lanka. (Near Little Adams Peak - Ella's main attraction) The two-wire zip-line stretches for more than half a kilometre, slides at max 80kmph and offers a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful hills of the island. Flying Ravana is truly, Ella in all its glory.
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30m · Admission ticket not included
The Nine Arch Bridge in Ella is on the Demodara loop and spans 91 meters at a height of 24m. The beautiful nine arches make it a very picturesque spot especially as it is located in a dense jungle and agricultural setting. Behind the railway, a forest is booming and below, tea leaves are being cultivated.
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30m · Admission ticket not included
The Ravana Cave is located about 2 km from the Ella town and 11 km (7 mi) away from Bandarawela. It is quite a small cave, measuring about 50ft wide, 150ft long and 60ft high. History says that the cave is used by King Rawana to hide the Princess Sita.