Anuradhapura Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

🚲 Cycling around Anuradhapura

The UNESCO world heritage site of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka is justifiably famous, but sadly the extortionate ticket prices put it out of our budget. Instead, we enjoyed a lovely day cycling around the less famous ancient temples centred around a beautiful tank (reservoir) to the south of the main park. One of my favourite things to do when travelling is to hop on a bike and explore on two wheels. Anuradhapura is pretty flat so it's easy to cycle around, and you get a much more local experience, while also saving money/ hassle on tuktuks. #srilanka #anuradhapura #biketrip #cyclingday #passionpassport #budgettravel

a unesco sacred city in Sri-Lanka

this splendid complex has been hidden in the jungles for many years before to be discovered…it was abandon due to an invasion in 1017. Was the political and religious capital of SriLanka for more than 1400 years. The center of the sacred city is a Buddha’s fig tree planted in 3 BC, king Vijayan is the one that designed the city. #2023travelwish #lucaworldtraveler

Step into the sacred city of Anuradhapura ~ Fearless Mountain Stupa

Near the Bodhi Temple, there is a huge brick-red stupa. When you ride a tutu car through the fields, you can intermittently see this stupa standing tall in the vastness. When you get closer, you will be shocked by its height and huge volume. This stupa in Sinhalese means Abhayagiri Stupa, also known as Fearless Mountain Stupa, one of the most magnificent stupas in Anuradhapura. In the first century BC, King Vattagamani Abhaya ordered the construction of this stupa, which was said to be 110 meters high at that time, almost as high as the Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, although now only a bare stupa remains, it was only a part of the overall temple architecture at that time. According to records, the temple could accommodate 5,000 monks at that time. The famous Chinese monk Faxian had studied and researched Buddhist scriptures here. Now it is about 75 meters high. 🌟Highlights: In Buddhist history, Fearless Mountain Stupa not only represents a temple, but also a unique historical record, tradition and sect of life philosophy. This was the main temple of Mahayana Buddhism in Sri Lanka at that time. By the third century AD, King Mahasena's support policy allowed Fearless Mountain to reach its peak. It had all the elements that a temple should have: Buddha Hall, Stupa, Bodhi Tree Temple, Library, Chanting Hall, Living Area, Dining Hall, Bath, and even developed road traffic and water diversion systems. By the twelfth century, there was a power conflict between Mahayana Buddhism centered here and Theravada Buddhism centered on the Great Temple. The king at that time suppressed Mahayana Buddhism, and then Mahayana Buddhism began to disappear in Sri Lanka. After thousands of years of wind and rain, now these buildings are basically only the base or completely disappeared, blending with the lush wild grass and old trees around. ✅The achievement of Fearless Mountain is also reflected in the exquisite architecture and sculpture art, among which the most prominent are the Moon Stone and the Guardian Stone. 📝tips: ✅The attractions in the ancient city of Anuradhapura are relatively scattered, generally choose to pack tutu, if you have good physical strength and are not afraid of the sun, you can also rent a bicycle. ✅You need to take off your shoes to enter the temple. If you are afraid that the ground is too hot, you can prepare a pair of socks. Although there are dress requirements for visiting each stupa, they are generally not checked too strictly, but the inspection of the Bodhi Temple is slightly strict. 🗓Itinerary: Most people's choice when they first arrive in Lanka should be to stay in Negombo for rest. I arrived at more than nine in the morning, so I plan to take a bus directly to Anuradhapura and then play slowly. 🚌Major traffic: First take a tutu from the airport to Negombo bus station, there is an air-conditioned minibus to Kurunegala, 210 rupees per person, and then transfer to Anuradhapura. Kurunegala is an important transportation hub, the cars are parked in a mess, if you want to take a few buses, just ask a ticket seller, they will tell you. 🚲Minor traffic: At first we bargained with the homestay brother and rented two bicycles for 700 rupees a day. The next morning, a Korean sister from the same homestay said she had already contacted a tutu, 2000 rupees for six hours, if three people can share, hesitated and decided to take a tutu. The fact proves that although the bicycle is cheap and free, if you choose again, tutu is more comfortable. 🏠Accommodation information: When you get off the bus in Anuradhapura, it feels like you are on the side of the road. Since there is no reservation, it took ten minutes to find GH. The place is not big, you can walk along the main street, or you can book in advance online.

St. Bodhi is undoubtedly the center of Anura's geography and spirit. The focus of the believers and Buddha visits. According to legend, in the third century BC, the princess of the Moh, the son of Ashoka, brought the branches of the Bodhi tree of Sakyamuni into the royal garden. This St. Bodhi tree is one of the oldest trees recorded in history. This leafy tree is now surrounded by layers of high-rise auditoriums. The believers and tourists can't enter it. They can only send the gift of worship to the hands of the gift-holders before they are enshrined in the tree. . Occasionally the local family, the male owner gave the rich tribute to the gift holder, after the words in the mouth, put his hand on the daughter's head, pray for the daughter to remove the disaster. After the ceremony, the ceremony holder returned the basket of tribute, and the family thanked him sincerely.

Sri Lanka has the largest number of Asian elephants in the world. Although the government has enacted laws prohibiting the capture of wild elephants, it is still difficult to escape the fate of extinction. There are many reasons for this, injuries to humans and animals are being killed, religious culture and entertainment industries need to be housed, etc., but it is well known that the reproduction rate and survival rate of elephants under captivity are extremely low because they belong only to nature. The elephant belongs to a complex and perfect family structure in the natural environment. It requires dozens or even hundreds of square kilometers of activity space. However, in the imprisonment, they have no space to survive in the wild. They can only be forced to Family stripping, limited to a dozen square feet of space, and finally depressed. In the Kadura and Mineriya National Parks in Sri Lanka, the land is more than 150 square kilometers. It is a paradise for wild elephants. The vegetation is rich, and the green grass next to the reservoir attracts hundreds of heads. Elephants foraging. Tourists take off-road vehicles, just watching from far away, and not affecting the life of elephants. This is exactly the way I admire, protecting wild elephants while not being captive, and they are an undisturbed natural environment.

Sri Lanka is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Its biodiversity density is the highest in Asia. In the Kadura National Park, groups of Ceylon elephants are leisurely by my side; in Trincomalee, the white spotted deer is hidden in the grass; in the Lion Rock, the macaque is like a defending guardian; and Minerui Asian air lord serpent carving, Polonnaruwa lurking on the trunk of the chameleon, leisurely walking the mouth of the Kandy Lake, you will feel that this is a magical country, people and animals live in harmony, without any violation sense.

## [Airplane] Habarana Habarana, taking a catamaran, led by the villagers. Experience local farming culture. When the oxcart is done, it will not move if it is shaken. This docile animal is quite capable! In the early morning, walking in the countryside of Habarana, butterflies dance. The locals who have laundry and fishing on the riverside taste the delicious food made by the local villagers. Simple and sincere, deeply impressed. This is undoubtedly the closest distance to witness the real life of the Sri Lankan people. [Traveling with Weibo] On the way, I met a child who was playing on the road, the life of the Sri Lankan people, four words, no worries. Remember to bring a few chocolates in your pocket. The children here will be happy to show off your banana tree. [haha]

Hiking the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

One of the highlights of Sri Lanka was a day walking up the peak at Mihintale. Considered the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Mihintale consists of a series of fascinating stupas, shrines and caves spread throughout the hills. It was amazing to learn more about the history and culture of the region by exploring the many ruins along the way, with the walk ending at the temple on the summit. Top tips: 🚍 Take the public bus from Anuradhapura, which drops you off at the start of the trail. 🔆 Arrive early in the morning to avoid the midday heat. 👟 Bring comfortable walking shoes for the hike. ⭐ At the top, you must remove your shoes and wear long clothing to be respectful in the temple. Remember loose pants, a long sleeved shirt and socks (to protect your feet from the burning hot sand). 🖼️ As well as the famous summit, there are also some interesting ruined stupas and a lovely walk hidden around the side (see last photo). #srilanka #hiking #mountainview #celebratewithtrip #mihintale

Awkana Buddha

It’s amazing the details of the buddha It’s carved from one whole stone

Luvan Villisaya is not only the name of a tower, but also a sect, with a large-scale temple. Among the many pagodas in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, the most well-prepared and most resurrected is the Ruvan Villisaya stupa, which is the hero of the Sinhalese, hosted by King Tutumano. Unfortunately, the project is too large. The pagoda has not yet completed the king. It is said that it was 110 meters high when it was completed, and now it is only 55 meters. Even so, when you come to the tower and look up, it is enough to shock your eyes. . The stupa stands on a platform of three-story foundation. The upper part of the round stone pillar in the center of the tower is conical. The apex is gold-plated and towering above the cubic entity. It is a model of the Sinhalese architectural style. The stupa, so also known as the "big tower", has found ivory nude statues, pottery boxes, jewelry and other precious cultural relics. There is a circle around the tower, sculptured near the white elephant, but it looks a bit new, lost its distant value, and the craft is slightly rougher. This snow-white stupa should be the most popular stupa in the ancient city. Every year, there are endless pilgrims, monks, believers, tourists, people of all countries, and people of all colors come to Buddha with various hopes. Tower worship.