How to survive the hot stones at Anuradhapura temples?
You have to walk barefoot around the massive stupas, but the white stone gets to 100 degrees by noon. Any hacks for not burning your feet?
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5 Answers from travellers
SOCKS! The rules state you must remove your shoes/sandals, but wearing socks is 100% permitted. Bring a thick pair of dark cotton socks (they will get very dirty) specifically for temple visits. It saves your soles completely.
Make sure to bring a plastic bag in your backpack to put the dirty socks in after you leave the temple!
Socks are a genius loophole. Packing three pairs of thick black socks right now.
Go at 7:00 AM! By 11:30 AM, the heat radiating off the stones is unbearable. We did all the major holy sites before 9:30 AM and cycled through the shaded ruins later.
Also, look for the coconut-fiber matting. Around the major stupas like Ruwanwelisaya, the monks lay down long, narrow carpets made of coconut husk leading to the shrines. Walk exclusively on those strips.
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