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Ride the trails to visit King Parakramabahu’s royal palace, council chamber, and elaborate royal bath. However, the city is perfect for exploring via bicycle and rentals are available.
#Sri lanka ancient cities full#
One full day is required to see the ruins, especially if you are on foot. The ruins showcase the later years of Sinhalese society and Buddhist tradition. Polonnaruwa will truly enhance your experience of Sri Lanka with its two square miles of ruins. From here you will take in unparalleled views of the entire complex, and have the opportunity to explore bathing pools, royal chambers, and a throne. The Lion Gate is a stairway that is flanked by ominous clawed lion paws, it then leads into the mouth of the beast and up to Lion Mountain Summit on top of Sigiriya rock. The Lion Gate and Lion Mountain are a true tribute to the King’s lavish tastes. Sigiriya then enjoyed the spotlight as the capital city when the King claimed it the “new” capital over Anuradapura. The monks originally inhabited the caves, and the palace and gardens were later constructed by King Kaspaya (477-495 A.D.). Sigiriya’s natural wonders and architectural splendors make for an unforgettable experience.
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and is a striking example of ancient urban planning, with stylish gardens, protective moats, elegant water fixtures, mysterious caves, and bright frescoes. This expansive royal complex dates back to the 5 th century B.C. Sites of particular reverence include the monastic complex of Isurumuniya Vihara, the Jetavanarama stupa, the Ruwanwelisaya stupa, and the Thuparamaya Dagaba which is the oldest stupa in Sri Lanka. Anuradapura’s location in an arid zone meant that the survival of its inhabitants was entirely dependent upon the city’s impressively advanced irrigation system. Iron Age artifacts reveal that the area has been inhabited since the 10 th century B.C. Amongst the most famous of these is the Sacred Bodhi Tree, a tree that was propagated from the original Bodhi, or “enlightenment”, tree under which Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment. It is home to a number of significant archeological sites. You can include this experience as part of an Experience Travel Group holiday designed exclusively with you.Anuradapura is one of the oldest cities in the world, and has played a key role in Buddhist culture and religion since the 4 th century B.C. The size has to be seen to be believed, and the more it comes to life the more it's possible to understand what made this the world's most advanced civilisation of its time. Spend a fascinating day wandering around this ancient city, visiting palaces, dagobas, gardens and the sacred Bodhi trees, with your guide bringing the ruins to life. It is also the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world, having been tended by an uninterrupted succession of guardians for over 2000 years.
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This sacred Bodhi tree, central to the ancient city in both the spiritual and physical sense, was brought as a cutting from Bodhgaya in India by the sister of Mahinda, who originally introduced the Buddha's teachings to Sri Lanka. Of the various sights across Anuradhapura, one particularly worth visiting is Sri Maha Bodhi.
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The ruins of the ancient city cover an area over 16 square miles, and yet more is still to be uncovered. The ancient city, which is considered sacred by Buddhists, contains a vast collection of archaeological and architectural wonders such as large dagobas, soaring brick towers, ancient pools and crumbling temples built during the city's 1000 years of rule over Sri Lanka. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. What happens if something goes wrong on my holiday?įamous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient civilisation, Anuradhapura is one of the ancient Sri Lankan capitals.Anuradhapura Ancient City Sri Lanka, Cultural Triangle