We started our tour in Anuradhapura at the temple, which was an ideal spot to begin exploring and understanding why this city is so important to Sri Lanka’s history. As the country’s first capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there’s a lot to see here, so planning ahead on what to visit is crucial to avoid missing out. Personally, I would have tried to see everything and ended up at the hotel by midnight. Luckily, Evaneos organized some local experts to guide us to the key sites, like the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
After the temple, we walked past a pile of used clay pots, heated by the sun like a furnace, on our way to Ruwanwelisaya. This stupa is not only one of the tallest monuments in the world but also very significant. Along the way, we visited Lovamahapaya, the bronze palace, and I was quite proud to remember all these names without notes!
Walking through the well-preserved city, it’s astounding considering Anuradhapura is over 3,000 years old, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Even from afar, Ruwanwelisaya is a striking sight. Before entering, remember to take off your shoes and cover your legs, so bring a sarong or loose trousers and maybe some socks, as the ground can get pretty hot. Georgia for instance ended up wearing socks due to the heat.
In front of the stupa, a monk stood with a sign advising not to offer money but welcoming observation and photography. With his intense focus in the scorching sun, his resolve was impressive. Walking around Ruwanwelisaya has to be done clockwise since it’s believed the Buddha will bless you from your right arm. There are also smaller stupas surrounding the main one.
Observing Ruwanwelisaya’s size beside people highlights just how gigantic it is. As we were leaving, we encountered a loud procession of villagers at the stupa for a post-harvest ceremony. They carried and wrapped a long piece of orange fabric around the stupa, so we decided to stay and watch the ceremony.
Eventually, we continued our journey before the sun set, heading to our next destination, which held significance as meditation caves for Sri Lanka’s first monks, given by the King. These caves also have engravings of old Sri Lankan alphabets.
We ended the day by venturing a bit off the beaten path into the countryside, a beautiful way to wrap up the evening.