Google
Custom Search
  • Home
  • Images
  • Wallpapers
  • Attractions
  • Trails
  • Tools & Tips
  • Forum
  • Contact Us
  • Trips

Trip Reports Archive » By Length » Longer than 3 » A Four Day Trip to Ridi Vihara, Mihintale, Atamasthanaya, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya and Namal Uyana

A Four Day Trip to Ridi Vihara, Mihintale, Atamasthanaya, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya and Namal Uyana

Copyright Notice: Please obtain permission from the author before duplicating, re-publishing or adapting content of a trip report
Be a responsible traveler! Watch this video before you hit the road! Download Video: MP4|3gp
Do you like to contribute a Trip Report? learn how to or download template and start straight away!
Tags & Author Archive

Abayagiriya, Anuradhapura, Aukana, Gal Viharaya, Galkiriyagama, Isurumuniya, Jethawana Stupa, Kalawewa, Kurunegala, Kuttam Pokuna, Lovamahapaya, Mihintale, Minneriya, Mirisawetiya, Namal Uyana, Polonnaruwa, Ridi Viharaya, Ruwanweli Seya, Samadhi statue, Sigiriya, Sri maha bodiya, Thuparamaya, Longer than 3, May, Dry Zone, National Park, Culture, History, 2011, Road Trip

Author: Lakmalnj (3 Trips)

Ads by Google
Year and Month May 2011
Number of Days Four days (3 night)
Crew
7 (between 3 – 74 years of age)
Accommodation Guru Gedara and other two rest houses at Anuradhapura and Minneriya
Transport Toyota Town-ace
Activities Ruins, Wildlife, Photography
Weather Good but very dry and hot
Route Panadura -> Horana ->Kurunegala -> Anuradhapura -> Sigiriya -> Polonnaruwa
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  • Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are dry and hot these days. But not crowded. You can visit most places without difficulties. During the Poson season (June) it will be completely different.
  • Extremely difficult to walk barefoot in some places. Suitable hours to visit Atamasthanaya,Sigiriya and Mihintale are 7am to 11am and 2pm to 7pm. You can use rest of the hours to rest/bath/cook/lunch
  • Carry enough water to drink. Because of dry and hot weather you will need more water.
  • This time sof the year not suitable to visit Minneriya Nationl Park. You will not see Elephants.
  • I think it is better for you to study the background of the places before you go there
Related Resources Trip Planing Thread – How to travel from Galle to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa ? Trip advice pls
Author Lakmalnj
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

  • A Four Day Trip to Ridi Vihara, Mihintale, Atamasthanaya, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa

1st day – Kurunegala Ridi Viharaya at Ridee gama and Monaragala Buddha statue.

Ridi Viharaya is a nice and ancient place. You will not be allowed take the photographs even without flash. But sadly you will see high voltage flash lights directed to some walls with ancient paintings.(Now those paintings are difficult see and don’t seem to have any protection)

Ridi Viharaya

Ridee Viharaya – Rideegama, Kurunegala

Some ancient paintings - Ridi Viharalya (Silver temple)

Some ancient paintings - Ridi Viharalya (Silver temple)

වරකා වැළදූ විහාරය – Ridi Viharaya

වරකා වැළදූ විහාරය – Ridi Viharaya

Monaragala viharaya

The largest samadi statue(67.5 feet) at Monaragala viharaya – Rambadagalla, Kurunegala

Monaragala viharaya – Rambadagalla, Kurunegala

The largest samadi statue (67.5 feet) at Monaragala viharaya – Rambadagalla, Kurunegala. This is not an ancient one and construction still in progress.

Kala Wewa

Kala Wewa is an ancient reservoir in A’pura. It was built by King Dhatusena around 400 AD. This reservoir has a circumference of 40 miles (64.4 km) and has a total area of seven square miles 7 square miles (18.1 km2) at full capacity.

Aukana Buddha Statue

Aukana Buddha Statue – This statue located close to the Kala Wewa rainwater reservoir, the perfect & elegant 12m-high standing Buddha Statue.

Aukana Buddha Statue

Aukana Buddha Statue

Aukana Buddha Statue

You will see paint or something in the statue. Seems some one had put something accidently or purposely. We should avoid this kind of activities and we all should keep this kind of great statue for our next generations.

I noticed that there were several renovation and repairing workhappening when at A’pura and P’naruwa. people who are assigned to do these tasks seems to have no idea about the value of ancient structures. No one was monitoring what they were doing. This should not be just repair job and should follow the correct process for it.

2nd day – Mihintale and Atamasthanya (අටමස්ථානය)

Difficult to visit the palces in time between 11 am – 2 pm because of strong sunlight and hot conditions. I think it is better for you to start going there early in the morning and rest in between mentioned hours (You can use these hours for cooking/lunch/bathing)

Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura

Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura. The site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Arahat Mahinda and the King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the Buddhism in Sri Lanka

Mihintale

Mihintale

Mihintale

Mihintale

Mihintale

Mihintale

Mihintale – View from top of Aradhana Gala (ආරාධනා ගල)

Mihintale – View from top of Aradhana Gala (ආරාධනා ගල)

Mihintale – View from top of Mihintale

Mihintale – View from top of Mihintale

Mihintale – Aradhana Gala (ආරාධනා ගල)

Mihintale – Aradhana Gala (ආරාධනා ගල)

Mihintale – The way to Mihidhu Lena

Mihintale – Mihintale – The way to Mihidhu Lena

Mihidhu Lena – Belief is that the Mihidhu thero rest at this place

Mihidhu Lena – Belief is that the Mihidhu thero rest at this place

Aradhana Gala (ආරාධනා ගල) - Mihintale

Aradhana Gala (ආරාධනා ගල) - Mihintale

Some ancient buildings – Mihintale

Some ancient buildings – Mihintale; Seems like there is no proper maintenance of this historical site.

Ambasthala Dagoba (අම්බස්තල දාගැබ) - Mihintale

Ambasthala Dagoba (අම්බස්තල දාගැබ) - Mihintale

Isurumuniya temple

Isurumuniya temple

King’s family – Isurumuniya Museum

King’s family – Isurumuniya Museum

Lovers – Isurumuniya

Lovers – Isurumuniya; One of the famous Gupta style carving in Sri Lanka

Ruwanweli maha seya

Ruwanweli maha seya

Ruwanweli maha seya

Ruwanweli maha seya

Inscriptions

Inscriptions (Click Image to Enlarge)

Sri Maha Bodhiya

Sri Maha Bodhiya

Lovamahapaya

Lovamahapaya

Thuparama stupa

Thuparama stupa

Muragala

Muragala

Abhayagiri Stupa

Abhayagiri Stupa

Samadhi Buddha Statue

Samadhi Buddha Statue – Consider Sri Lanka’s most perfect Buddha Statue

Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds)

Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds)

Korawakgala (කොරවක්ගල)

Korawakgala (කොරවක්ගල) – You can see sri lanka’s best Korawakgala close to Kuttam Pokuna

Jethawana Stupa

Jethawana Stupa

Mirisawetiya stupa

Mirisawetiya stupa

3rd day – Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa

Use morning hours. Then you can get there without much tired.

At Sigiriya only few sentences you can see clearly in “Katapath Pawra (කැටපත් පවුර)” and don’t foget to see it.

At Polonnaruwa don’t forget to visit “thiwanka Pilima gee” If you are interesting in our old paintings (But you should go there before 6 pm. Because you have to go through forest)

Sigiriya Road map

Sigiriya Road map (Click Image to Enlarge)

Sigiriya

Sigiriya

Paintings

Paintings

කැටපත් පවුර (Mirror wall)

කැටපත් පවුර (Mirror wall) - Only these text you can see clearly

View from Sigiriya

View from Sigiriya

සිංහ පාදය (lion’s gate)

සිංහ පාදය (lion’s gate)

View from Sigiriya

View from Sigiriya

Thorne – Sigiriya

Thorne – Sigiriya

Sigiriya

Sigiriya

Statue of King Maha Parakramabahu

Statue of King Maha Parakramabahu

Gal Viharaya (Rock temple)

Gal Viharaya (Rock temple)

Gal Viharaya (Rock temple)

Gal Viharaya (Rock temple)

4th day – Minneriya National park, Namal Uyana

These days you will not see many Elephants in the park (sometime not even one). That happens due to heavy rain experienced during last few months. According to our trekker, a lot of elephants can be seen in July – August months. Also you will not be able to visit some areas of National park during this time of the year because the graces growing.

Also don’t use early morning session and use after 3 pm session to visit there.

Minneriya National Park – Night Safari

Minneriya National Park – Night Safari (We didn’t do the night safari but according to the trekker this is still not up to the standard)

Inside Minneriya National Park

Inside Minneriya National Park

Inside Minneriya National Park

Inside Minneriya National Park – They are trying to remove these bamboo trees because these spread fast and becomes a threat to some other trees. But that hasn't been sucessful

Nice view – Inside Minneriya Park

Nice view – Inside Minneriya Park

Nice view – Inside Minneriya Park

Nice view – Inside Minneriya Park

Nice view – Inside Minneriya Park

Nice view – Inside Minneriya Park

Museum - Minneriya National Park

Museum - Minneriya National Park

Namal Uyana - Galkiriyagama

Namal Uyana - Galkiriyagama (Click Image to Enlarge)

Namal Uyana – You can see lot of Na trees

Namal Uyana – You can see lot of Na trees

Pink quartz – Namal Uyana

Pink quartz – Namal Uyana

Pink quartz – Namal Uyana

Pink quartz – Namal Uyana

Pink quartz – Namal Uyana

Pink quartz – Namal Uyana

Pink quartz – Namal Uyana

Pink quartz – Namal Uyana

Namal Stupa – Namal Uyana

Namal Stupa – Namal Uyana

Kalutara Stupa - Kalutara

Kalutara Stupa - Kalutara

Copyright 2011 Lakdasun.org - Please obtain permission from the author before duplicating, re-publishing or adapting content of a trip report

Best Viewed with Minimim Horizontal Resolution of 1024 Pixels | Site Tested for IE7, Firefox and Chrome