Sri Lanka is one of the best destinations in Asia for Buddhist pilgrimage tours. Sri Lanka is one of the oldest countries that maintained the pure Theravada Buddhist traditions unaffected for over 2500 years. The Sri Lankan culture is heavily shaped by Theravada Buddhism. Over 30,000 Buddhist monks are devoted to serving and preaching Lord Buddha’s teachings in over 6,000 Buddhist monasteries spread out all across the Island. There are many sacred Buddhist places of worship in Sri Lanka that have high religious significance and one should visit at least once in your lifetime. During the Buddhist pilgrimage tour in Sri Lanka, you will be able to explore the most venerated Buddhist Temples, Pagodas, Image Houses, and other important Buddhist monuments as well as Buddhist religious practices.
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The capital of Sri Lanka from the 05th Century B.C. to the end of the 10th Century A.D. was the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. The city’s greatest treasures are its dagobas constructed of bricks and hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagobas are the Ruvanveliseya which dates back to the 2nd Century B.C. and is 300 feet in diameter, the Jetawanarama is 370 feet and the Thuparama Dagoba enshrines the collarbone of the Buddha. The city’s most renowned relic is the sacred Bo Tree, which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained Enlightenment. It was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world.
Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is now a pilgrimage site, and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures.
Polonnaruwa replaced the Ancient city of Anuradhapura and had three Kings. The city of Polonnaruwa was invaded in the 12th Century and was pitifully captured with much evidence remains. Today, even with the ruins the city looks glorious and elegant. The ruins of the ancient city stand on the east shore of a large artificial lake. The remains are in and around the TopaWewa Lake or the ParakramaSamudraya which was built by King Parakramabahu the 1st during whose reign was the kingdom known as Golden. Some of the most popular attractions in Polonnaruwa can be named as
An ancient historical city as Polonnaruwa has many more interesting attractions to keep your eyes struck.
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Dambulla is an ancient city of Sri Lanka, a charming and spiritual city of Sri
Lanka. Our tourists love the stunning Sigiri Rock Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site built by King Kasyapa, the country's most memorable single attraction, and
the Dambulla Cave Temple, an unforgettable archaeological site with its dramatic
backdrop.
Dambulla Cave Temple also known as Golden Temple is unbelievable to see the
150 plus Buddha statues residing gracefully with statues of kings, gods, and
goddesses of ancient Ceylon. There are 80 documented caves in the vicinity of
the Golden Temple, five of which are the most impressive for their beautiful
archaeological features. Other interesting artifacts include traditional
frescoes on the ceiling and walls depicting the life of Buddha and 157 Buddha
statues of various sizes. The adrenaline that one gets by stepping into one of
the carefully preserved temple complexes in the world; is beyond explanation.
It is a must to include Kandy in your Sri Lanka itinerary as there are beautiful
and exciting places to visit. The most famous Temple of the Tooth shrine and the
drop-dead gorgeous botanical garden is situated in the heart of Srilanka with
incredible forms of flora and near-endangered plants that have been cultivated
years back. Add a note in your Sri Lanka itinerary to enjoy the beauty and
serenity of the city while refreshing and revitalizing your body and mind with a
quick yoga break at Sri Lanka’s largest botanical gardens. To get a memorable
experience with elephants let’s visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and then
have a tour around the city of Kandy witnessing the beautiful places that the
Kandy city is known for. To end the day you will witness a beautiful cultural
dance comprising of dancers dressed in colorful costumes dancing for the beat of
the drums. With that, we will end the day with a relaxing overnight stay at the
hotel.
Temple of Scared Tooth Relic (28.2°) - A world-renowned
place of worship, where the left Canine tooth of Gautama Buddha is enshrined.
The temple which is venerated by thousands of local & foreign devotees and
tourists daily was named as a world heritage by UNESCO in 1988. The temple which
carries a lot of value to Buddhists all over the world also has immense cultural
value. The architecture is of unique Kandyan architectural style with a
combination of the unique style used to build “Dalada Mandira” the shrines which
housed the Sacred Tooth Relic previously in other kingdoms.
Ambuluwawa Tower : The tower is a highly popular tourist attraction that offers exceptional panoramic vistas of the surrounding area. Situated atop the mountain is a Buddhist temple known as Sri Saranatissa Dhamma Kuta Vihara, which encompasses the tower. Each level of the tower embodies a distinct facet of Buddhist philosophy, lending the edifice a unique character. The first level and the water feature on the second level represent the earthly realm. The third and fourth levels symbolize fire and wind, respectively. The fifth level represents space, while the sixth level embodies consciousness. The seventh and highest level represents Nirvana.
Kande Viharaya Buddhist Temple : This temple is considered one of Sri Lanka's esteemed monuments and a must-visit destination. Its most significant attraction is the colossal Buddha statue, which was unveiled in 2007. Standing at a towering height of 160 feet, the statue depicts the Bhoomisparsha Mudra and is recognized as the world's tallest sitting Buddha statue. Additionally, the temple complex comprises several other notable structures, including the Stupa, Bodhi Tree, Relic Chamber, Image House, Upulvan Devale, and other main Devalas such as Kataragama and Pattini Devalaya. The Bodhi Tree, preaching hall, and Seema Malaka, which are over 300 years old, are located outside the Vihara premises. The Stupa, built in a bell shape, is erected within an octagonal shelter. The entrance of the chamber is adorned with a sculptured stone moonstone and door frame, while the ceilings of the chambers are decorated with Jataka tales, life events of Buddha, and various other murals.
The first National Holiday Resort developed by the Ceylon Tourist Board as a planned resort. There are 6 tourist hotels in the beach span of 5 miles with all the facilities a resort would require. Water sports facilities are available as in the Beruwela Resort. Many interesting sightseeing tours are possible from here, such as the Turtle Hatchery, Mask factory, Galle Fort, Mini Zoo, Garden Brief, Boat trips on Bentota River etc.
Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, is buzzing day and night and it expresses a diverse culture. With European culture and traditional Sri Lankan culture, the taste of Colombo city is different from all other destinations.
The Gangaramaya Temple, renowned as the most visited temple in the city, boasts a rich history spanning 120 years. Founded in 1885 by Venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera, the temple played a pivotal role in the revival of Buddhism and cultural resurgence during the colonial rule of Sri Lanka. The temple's architecture is a harmonious blend of modern and traditional elements, featuring an extensive museum that showcases Buddha statues from various parts of Asia, including the island's smallest Buddha sculpture, which is carefully encased in a glass box for visitors to view with a magnifying glass. The Gangaramaya Temple is renowned for organizing Sri Lanka's largest and most colorful Vesak festival annually.
