OneCeylon
temples
All questions

How many days do tourists need to properly explore ancient Anuradhapura.

Seen by 254 travellers
Jump to the accepted answer
S
Sterling BX.•1350 rep•1

I want to truly appreciate the sacred city rather than rushing through. How many full days should I allocate and what are the absolute unmissable ruins and temples inside the site.

27
temples

3 Answers from travellers

✓Accepted Answer

Anuradhapura truly deserves a minimum of two full days to explore properly. The ancient city covers a massive area of over forty square kilometers with major ruins scattered widely apart. Day one should focus on the sacred Bodhi Tree precinct including the Sri Maha Bodhi believed to be the oldest historically documented tree on earth, the massive Ruwanwelisaya stupa, and the beautifully carved Thuparamaya dagoba. Day two covers the outer monuments including the Jetavanaramaya which was once the third tallest structure in the ancient world, the Abhayagiri monastery complex, and the twin ponds called Kuttam Pokuna.

49
G
Gamini A.•28470 rep•1

Dress in white clothing if possible when visiting the sacred Bodhi Tree area as this is the traditional color worn by Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees. Bring lotus flowers as an offering which you can buy from vendors outside the entrance for around two hundred rupees. The entrance fee for the entire sacred area is around twenty five dollars for foreigners and covers all monuments across both days if you keep your ticket.

26
D
Dimuthu R.•29240 rep•1

Rent a bicycle for around five hundred rupees per day as the distances between monuments are too far for comfortable walking but too short to constantly hire tuk tuks. The flat terrain and shaded tree lined roads make cycling a genuinely pleasant experience. Start each day before seven in the morning to avoid the intense midday heat which becomes brutal by ten.

5
A
Asanka J.•27430 rep•1

You must be logged in to post an answer.

Log In to Answer

Related questions

Browse all questions