Temple Stay in Anuradhapura
Beach vacations, hill country stays, wildlife adventures, and historical expeditions all sound good to enjoy on your Sri Lanka holiday. But when you are looking for something unique to experience or to immerse yourself in a spiritually rich getaway, a temple stay in Anuradhapura must make it to your bucket list in Sri Lanka. This is an experience that lets you enjoy the culture, nature, and local life while evoking a deep connection with your mind and body. In this article, we share all about the LHA’s new initiative – Temple Stays in Anuradhapura, which offers a one-of-a-kind experience during your holiday in Sri Lanka.
What is a Temple Stay in Anuradhapura?
With a temple stay, you get to stay in an active Buddhist temple where you can spend time closer to Buddhist monks. Participate in meditating sessions and spend your time in mindfulness with the guidance of the monks. The calm and serene surroundings will help you take a real break from your noisy everyday life and give your mind the space to breathe and heal.
A temple stay in Anuradhapura, the first kingdom of Sri Lanka, offers you the best chance to have a firsthand spiritual experience. The city has a long history and is home to many ancient sacred sites. It is a place that has preserved the Buddhist culture at its finest to this day, thanks to many holy monks over generations. So, there’s no better place to experience the Sri Lankan temple culture in Sri Lanka than here, as you will be able to watch the rituals and traditions that are practised daily by monks up close– even take part in them as you like to get a hands-on experience.
A temple stay also offers many opportunities for you to explore the culture, history, cuisine and local lifestyle of the nearby communities.
Your accommodation will be set on the temple premises and will have all the amenities and facilities you need for a comfortable stay.
So, let’s look at what you can experience during your Temple Stay in Anuradhapura.
Tour Highlights
- Wake up to the chirping birds and experience what life is like in a Buddhist monastery.
- Pay a visit to learn how farming is done in the area and engage in an Organic food cultivation experience.
- Exclusive meditation sessions and receive guidance from the monks and learn from the best who have walked the walk.
- Experience the best vegan diet with Sri Lankan flavors.
- Live cooking experience in a traditional kitchen with hands-on experience.
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Destination
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Included
BreakfastDinnerLunchLuxury Boutique / Villa / Resort AccommodationPersonal GuidePrivate Transfers -
Not Included
Air TicketEntrance TicketsPersonal ExpensesTips and PortageVisa
From our gallery
Here are just a few of the great moments captured in camera
Gallery
Here are just a few of the great moments captured in camera
The sacred city of Anuradhapura is only a 40 kms away from the temple premise. Being the first kingdom in Sri Lanka, this is a popular historical city where ancient ruins still stand with pride. From gigantic stupas to massive Buddha statues, grand ruins of palaces and temples to man-made lakes, the area has so much to explore. The area has been the victorious capital of 122 Kings and queens and has many interesting stories with many intricate arts and crafts that showcase the constructional brilliance of the yesteryears. With a 14-century-long history, this ancient is a UNESCO World Heritage site that tells a unique story that has been preserved for hundreds of years.
Wilpattu Safari
A safari ride in a national park is a must-see when you are in Anuradhapura. Wilpattu National Park is one of the best choices for your safari adventure in Sri Lanka for many reasons. The national park, which spans 1317 square kilometres, is home to many wildlife species, including elephants, leopards, peacocks, deer, wild boar, monkeys and many more. The beautiful small water bodies, or Villus, unique to the national park, add to the beauty of the national park. A safari ride on a 4x4 jeep into the thick wilderness where exotic wildlife resides is one the great ways to be a part of nature and get close and experience wildlife. There are early morning and evening safaris that you can join at your convenience and watch a sunrise or a sunset, depending on the time you are on the safari.
Mihintale
Mihintale is another sacred site for Buddhists near Anuradhapura that encompasses history, natural beauty, and spirituality. The Mihintale rock is believed to be the place where Mihindu Thero, an Indian Buddhist monk who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka, met the Sri Lankan king at the time for the first time. After embracing Buddhism, the king built this beautiful temple that still stands strong to this day. During your visit, enjoy the ancient paintings and statues and join the thousands of Buddhist devotees who flock around the place every day. The view of the surrounding greenery from the top is breathtaking. The area becomes a whole other world that leaves visitors in awe in the evening with the sunset.
Kalawewa elephants
Watching wild elephants is a cool experience. But what makes things even better is when you get to see them in a lake, bathing, swimming and drinking water.
Witness tuskers and baby elephants against the glistening waters of the lake as the lush tree line merges the blues of the sky and the lake is a sight to behold whether you are an elephant lover or not. Kalawewa(Kala Lake) is one such place located in Anuradhapura, where elephants gather, especially from October to November.
Avukana
Avukana Buddha statue is a masterpiece of the Sri Lankan stone workers, which was built in the 8th century. The standing Buddha statue with calm eyes that follow you 180 degrees is considered the pinnacle of stonework in Anuradhapura Kingdom. The statue is known to radiate calmness and peace, which is contagious to anyone looking at it.
- Stay in special semi-luxury accommodation that has a spacious room with an attached bathroom in the temple premises.
- Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Arrival & Departure Transfers in AC private Vehicle with English Speaking Chauffeur
- Government Taxes