Anuradhapura Hotels
Anuradhapura Rundown
No other country in Asia punches above weight quite like Sri Lanka. It is not banal hyperbole to claim that the plucky island state has it all. Name your pleasure and Sri Lanka can probably deliver. Care for a serene swath of sandy coast? Make a beeline for the Southern Province. Hanker for incendiary urban clatter? Look no further than Colombo. Maybe you covet the lush confines of a biodiversity hotspot. The Sinharaja Forest Reserve has the remedy. ... Read more »
Of the many charms to bejewel Sri Lanka, however, none is more vital than the vast cultural potency that spans Central and North Central province. Though barely the size of Swaziland - or the U.S. state of Connecticut for that matter - the highlands of Sri Lanka unfurl a singular UNESCO World Heritage quintet. The Sacred City of Kandy, Golden Temple of Dambulla, Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Ancient City of Sigiriya and Sacred City of Anuradhapura duly entice an incessant deluge of annual pilgrims and tourists.
Anuradhapura, a foremost spiritual and political capital for over 1,300 years, is a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. Ancient, venerable and a provenance of Sinhalese civilisation, the city is a bona fide open-air museum full of mystical ruins, temples, stupas, palaces and exquisite Buddhist sculptures.
ANURADHAPURA'S TOP 10
10. Folk Museum of Anuradhapura is quaint but contains some North Central province exhibits of interest. |
5. Brazen Palace was a behemoth with room for over 1,000 supplicants. |
9. Thuparama Dagoba is the oldest stupa in Sri Lanka.
|
4. Ruwanwelisaya is one of the most recognisable stupas in the Buddhist world. |
8. Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred tree and incomparable pilgrimage site. |
3. Dakkhina Stupa is well over 2,000 years old. |
7. Rathna Prasadaya was an ancient attempt at skyscraper architecture and construction. |
2. Isurumuniya Vihara is a rock temple with intricate artwork on the walls.
|
6. Royal Pleasure Gardens cover a verdant 144 hectares. |
1. Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum displays some of the most impressive relics from the ancient royal capital. |
ANURADHAPURA EVENTS
Anuradhapura New Town is home to many markets and handicraft stalls, all perfect for souvenir and treasure hunters.
WHEN TO GO
The relatively cool climate of the North Central province of Sri Lanka lures visitors from the coastal corners of the island and most certainly had a hand in the prodigious cultural development of the region over the millennia. While still firmly in the tropical belt, Anuradhapura is more comfortable, on the whole, than urban Colombo.
That aside, monsoons and heavy rain can disrupt the good times from May to July and, indeed, in December and January. It is best to keep an eye on the forecast, then, and give the highlands and northern parts of the country a wide berth in inclement weather.
The best time to visit Anuradhapura is between monsoon seasons, from March to the middle of May. Temperatures, for the most part, run between 73°F (23°C) and 86°F (30°C).
GETTING AROUND
The A9 highway from Kandy is the only viable route to Anuradhapura. The drive from Colombo to the UNESCO World Heritage city takes four to five hours.
Within Anuradhapura proper, most visitors walk from site to site or take a taxi, bus or some other form of tourist transport.
« Hide$410
- Overview
- Description
- Photos
- Map
- Amenities
Wasaladantha Mawatha Anuradhapura
Boasting comfortable accommodation and quality services, the Galway Miridiya Lodge Anuradhapura promises you a wonderf... More hotel details
