Manakanda Archaeological Site

You are looking for an untouched heritage destination, an attraction that is not crowded with busloads of other tourists? But reaching the site should not require leaving your Cultural Triangle round tour for far distances? Then Manakanda is your place to see. It’s actually only 3.5 km away from the main junction of highways A9 and A11, where the roads from Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and Dambulla meet. Actually, almost all travellers proceeding from Anuradhapura or Mihintale to Kandy come along this junction.

Manakanda is a former Pansukulika monastery, the same kind of aramic complex without any stupas, images houses, bo trees that is typical of this ascetic group of hermits called Pansukulikas ot Pamsukulikas. Typical structures of sich a Pansukulika monastery are meditation platforms called Padhanagaras and Ayurvedic hospitals called Jantagaras and an extraordinarily large pond with Ghats. Exploring the archaeological site of Manakanda along jungle pathes is an extraordinary experience of feeling like an explorer. There are not many places of interest left as untouched as Manakanda. You can also climb the hill for spectaculat views. But don’t do this without a local guide, because Manakanda is elephant area.

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