Off the beaten path around Anuradhapura

This page is about less-frequented places of interest in the
area of Anuradhapura.

Find a list of links to dozens of off-the-beaten-path destinations
all over Sri Lanka here...

Anuradhapura

Popular tourist attractions in Anuradhapura District

Anuradhapura is the largest archaeological site in the country, it’s a must for study trips. Mihintale in only 10 km distance is not on each and every bus group’s itinerary but visited by many foreigners. Both historical sites, however, have a lot of undisturbed places, for example the Ashokarama in the very north of Anuradhapura or the Rajagirilena in Mihintale are left out on most shortlists of attractions, although they could count as highlights. Another major natural attraction in the Anuradhapura area is Wilpattu National Park. Most guests enjoy a half-day safari including the central lakes or ponds called Villus as highlights. Less crowded is the coastline of Wilpattu, the ancient Tambapanni, which can be reached on full-day safaris.

Lonesome places in the surroundings of Anuradhapura and Mihintale

2**stars & rarely visited

The quite picturesque historical pilgrimage site of Hatthikucchi, situated between Yapahuwa and Anuradhapura, is not completely off-the-beaten path any more, but most visitors are surprised to be able toe experience this charming ensemble of ruins surrounded by rock boulders in perfect tranquility. The rock-shelter with the perfect view to the valley is believed to have been the hideout of the legendary King Siridanghabo.

2**stars & rarely visited

Thantirimale to the northwest of Anuradhapura is most notweworthy for one of only three surviving rock-cut Buddhas in reclining posture. It's therefore sometimes called "Sri Lanka's second Gal Vihara". The giant statue is probably from the Polonnaruwa period, a much smaller seated Buddha carved from another rock surface definitely is. The wavy surfaces of the dark granite rocks and the valleys filled with water make Tantirimale an alluring historical site. A footpath leads to a cave with very rare examples of prehistoric paintings in Sri Lanka.

1*star & almost secret

Really off-the-beaten-path are the archaeological sites to the west of Anuradhapura and Mihintale. They are almost never frequented by tourists. Not far away from Mihintale is Veheragala. It has a painted cave temple and a stupa on a rock and some small ancient bathing ponds. Most importantly, Veheragala was the finding place ot the largest treasure of Mahayana Buddhist figurines, samples or copies of which can be seen in the small museum of the temple. However, for photographers Veheragala is not as attractive as other places further away from Mihintale.

2**stars & almost secret

Highly recommendable for heritage enthusiasts is a visit of the archaeological site of Kiralagala. It’s located 43 km northeast of Mihintale. However, when travelling from Anuradhapura or Mihintale to Trincomalee or Nilaveli Beach, a visit of Kiralagala only requires a small detour, of less than 10 kms. Kiralagala is the ancient Weherabendhigala. It seems to have been the first large monastery of the hermit brotherhood known as Pansukulikas, where typical features of Pansukulika architecture occur for the first time.

1*star & almost secret

Kokabe is a very small but charming achaeological site about 10 km to the south of Hamillewa at the Anuradhapura-Trincomalee road (A12). Let’s say, it’s worth a detour only for temple excavation fanatics. But when having a full day available for the transfer from Anuradhapura or Mihintale to Trincomalee or Nilaveli beach, it’s possible to see all those off-the-beaten-path destinations in this remote area, namely Veheragala and Kokabe and Kiralagala and also one or two more, for example Divulwewa and Madagama (the latter will be discussed further below, because it’s closer to Trincomalee than to Anuradhapura).

1*star & almost secret

Divulwewa is off-the-beaten path but a visit requires a quite long detour either from the Anuradhapura or the Sigiriya area (almost 50 km from each). To be honest, it’s not recommendable to spend so many driving hours to see this archaeological site, as you could visit many more other places of higher significancce elswhere during the same period of time. Divulwewa is an insider tip and a special recommendation only for those studying Buddhist scultures, as it has one of the very few large seated Buddha statues still in situ.

1*star & almost secret

A rarely visited temple of a completely different character is in Isinbassagala 25 km to the north of Mihintale. The shrine is new and gaudy. However, it’s worth climbing the granite rock which is crowned by a shining white stupa. This is one of the 360 degree panoramas in the plains of the so-called Vanni area, a dry zone scrub jungle in the very north of Sri Lanka. A break in Isinbassagala makes sense when travelling the direct route (A9) from Anuradhapura to Jaffna.