ANURADHAPURA

Situated in the North central Province, Anuradhapura is 210 Km from Colombo. It is the oldest capital city of the country, built by a Sinhala king in the 4th century BC. In the 5th century a prince called Vijaya in North India was banished by his father, along with some of his followers, in a boat drifted into Sri Lanka. With Vijaya’s arrival in the island, began the dynasty of kings. In time, one of Vijaya’s kinsmen picked on Anuradhapura for reasons of security and fortified it and built it as tha capital. Also in the same century, a north Indian emperor despatched his son, a Buddhist monk, to preach the doctrine of the Buddha in Sri Lanka. Buddhism was accepted by the Sri Lankan king and it flourished as the main religion here. A few years later, the sister of the monk, a Buddhist nun, came to Anuradhapura with a sapling of the  Bodhi tree under which the Buddha had  attained enlightment, and presented it to the king. This was planted at Anuradhapura and is venerated to this day by all as the oldest historical tree in the world. Many kings held way in Anuradhapura and left their mark on the capital in the shape of shrines, imposing dagabas, preaching halls, monasteries and great religious images.

As this city was laid in the dry zone, it became necessary for the rulers to construct reservoirs (tanks) to collect the water to irrigate the paddy fields and for domestic use. The wonder of students of history, these are still being used for their original purpose.

This city also became the target for invading forces from South India during these.

Nature & Wildlife Tour

10 Nights 11 Days

Tour Itinerary

Day 01 – Wilpattu 
Pick from meeting point & drive to Wilpattu check in to the hotel in Wilpattu.

Day 02 – Wilpattu / Anuradhapura 
Do Morning safari in Wilpattu. Drive to Anuradhapura check in to the hotel.

Day 03 – Anuradhapura / Sigiriya
After breakfast visit to Anuradhapura sacred city drive to Sigiriya. On the way visit to Mihintale Check in to the Hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 04 –Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa
In the Morning visit to Sigiriya Lion rock do the hiking after drive to Polonnaruwa sacred city Check in to the Hotel.

Day 05 – Dambulla / Kandy
After breakfast visit to Kandy On the way visit to Cave Temple Dambulla/Spice garden Matale Hindu temple Check in to the Hotel in Kandy.

Day 06 – Kandy 
After breakfast visit to Kandy botanical garden after visit to the Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy Down town market and do the cultural drum show in Kandy Check in to the Hotel in Kandy.

Day 07 – Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast drive to Nuwara Eliya on the way visit to Tea plantation and Tea Factory in Nuwara Eliya in the evening visit to Gregory Lake park Check in to the Hotel.

Day 08 – Ella
After breakfast catch the train to Ella in the evening visit nine arach bridge little Adam perk Check in to the Hotel.

Day 09 – Thissamarama
After breakfast drive to Thissamarama on the way visit to Rawana water fall in the evening do the Yala safari.

Day 10 – Galle
After breakfast drive to Galle relax in beach.

Day 11 – Airport 
After breakfast drive to Airport.

— TOUR ENDS —

Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 metres (6,900–7,500 ft) is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. This region was designated a national park in 1988. It is also a popular tourist destination and is situated 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Ohiya, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the world famous Ohiya Gap/Dondra Watch and 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Nuwara Eliya.

The Horton Plains are the headwaters of three major Sri Lankan rivers, the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Walawe. In Sinhala the plains are known as Maha Eliya Plains. Stone tools dating back to Balangoda culture have been found here. The plains' vegetation is grasslands interspersed with montane forest, and includes many endemic woody plants. Large herds of Sri Lankan sambar deerfeature as typical mammals, and the park is also an Important Bird Area with many species not only endemic to Sri Lanka but restricted to the Horton Plains

The historic city of Anuradhapura is an essential stop on any tour of Sri Lanka. This city, located around 205 kms north of Colombo, is one of eight World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Anuradhapura currently serves as the capital city of the North Central Province, and is considered the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Its vast network of ancient Buddhist temples, monasteries and places of worship which cover over 40 sq kms has made it a sacred site to Buddhists around the world.

Located on the banks of a river, Anuradhapura is now a picturesque ruined city, filled with mystery and steeped in a rich Buddhist culture. Tour groups and pilgrims alike visit this city, and this diverse and versatile city caters to a locals and visitors alike. The ancient city lies adjacent to the modern, and ruined buildings, ancient temples, cobbled streets, and even crumbling fort walls are spread out and interspersed with all signs of modern life in this bustling and thriving city.

History of Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka’s historical chronicle, the Mahavamsa, records that Anuradhapura first became the capital of ancient Lanka in 4th Century BC, during the reign of King Pandukhabaya. The King is attributed with designing the city, developing a core town and even surrounding suburbs based on a highly complex plan.

Anuradhapura came into prominence after Buddhism was introduced to the island in the 3rd Century BC during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa. He built the country’s first stupa here, the Thuparama, which is said to house a relic of the Buddha, his right collarbone. King Tissa also arranged for the planting of the sacred Bo sapling brought to the country by Princess Sangamitta, daughter of Emperor Asoka of India. This is today the venerated Sri Maha Bodhi, which is considered the oldest living tree in the world.

King Devanampiya Tissa was also one of the first Kings to build irrigation tanks to develop inland agriculture, especially the growing of rice. He is credited with building the Tissa wewa (also known as Tisa wewa), which covers an area of approximately 550 acres and the embankment alone is measured at around 2 miles long. This man-made lake continues to be a major irrigation tank even today, and has become an essential resource to rice farmers in the area.

This ancient capital city fell many times to invading armies from India, but was famously recaptured and established as the pinnacle of the country’s development and culture by King Dutugemunu in the 2ndCentury BC. During his reign in Anuradhapura, he embarked on a massive construction project which created many of the magnificent monuments which are visible even today, chief amongst them the Ruwanweliseya stupa (built to house the begging bowl of Lord Buddha), the Mirisavetiya temple and the Lohapasada or Brazen Temple.

There were many among King Dutugemunu’s successors who added on to the city through construction of religious buildings, gardens and parks as well as irrigation tanks. The city became not only the centre of commerce and religion, but a place of learning and cultural expression.

King Valagamba, who reigned towards the end of the 3rd Century BC, built the 230ft high Abhayagiri stupa, while King Mahasena is credited with having built 16 irrigation tanks which created a thriving agricultural community in Anuradhapura and its environs. King Mahasena also built Sri Lanka’s tallest stupa, the Jethavanaramaya, which at 400 ft is one of the highest stupas in the world, as well as one of the oldest brick buildings of the ancient world.

Anuradhapura continued to be the seat of power from the 4th Century BC to 11th Century AD. During this period, there were intermittent invasions by armies from India, but it remained the stronghold of the King of Lanka until King Vjayabahu I declared Polonnaruwa the capital city in 1070.