planning trip to Polonnaruwa and Mihintale ancient sites

[maggs]

 
I wonder if there are any members who area able to help me with my trip plans ?
I would like to make the most of my visit to Polonnaruwa and Mihintale instead of just rushing around as in the past so I am looking for maps of those areas.  I know that I have missed some important sites on previous trips so I want to make sure that I see the less well known ones this time. I have googled diligently for many days with no result. If anyone knows of the links and can help me, that would be great. I was able to find something for Anuradhapura but that website does not also have Mihintale or Polonnaruwa. I think that the information Centre there may have what I am looking for however, if possible, I prefer to have a plan before arrival.

Thank you.

Maggs

[Harien de Mel]

lonelyplanet has a fairly well listed page on Polonnaruwa archaeological site. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka/the-ancient-cities/polonnaruwa/sights all those sites are located in Polonnaruwa city itself, pretty close by to each other.

other than what's listed there, in Medirigiriya, a village nearby, you could see the best 'watadage'. 

Somawathiya is another site with religious and historical importance that you wouldn't want to miss out if you are interested in the subject... public transportation won't get you there, but i know guys who have gone there even in tuk-tuks.

then you have two well-known national parks near by in Minneriya and Kaudulla if you are into wildlife.

i'm sure other guys will add whatever i've missed out.

you can read up on mihintale at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihintale
http://kataragama.org/sacred/mihintale.htm

it would be better if you specially mention what you are after.

[NG]

HI Maggs,

In Mihintale area two or three nice places are:
1. Kalu Diya Pokuna - ask any one near the Mihinthale car park they will tell you how to get there. It is a very lovely place. though it is fairly well known not many people go there. just be a bit careful as there are meditating monks very close by.
2. Just across this site is Rajagala - i have not been but it is supposed to be very nice.

3. A bit beyond along the bund of Mahakandarawa wawe is the old Gal palama. bit difficult to find but worth it if you are looking for less visited places.

4. another place is Veheragala, there is a archeological dept black board on the road between a'pura and mihintale, this is where the priceless bronze Bodisatwa statue was found. There is a lot of unusual stuff there, with a small meausium. teh old monk there was there when the statue was found.

In Pollonaruwa - just near Minneriya is a less visited place called Nagala Kanda - old hiti pilimaya, and other ruins. once again there are people meditating in the area so be careful/not too noisy.

Gal viharaya is always lovely but at dawn and dusk when the Hamuduruwo comes with the Buddha Pujawa it is particularly special. if you go in time it might be worth it.

HOpe this is the kind of info you were looking for.

N

[maggs]

Hi Harien and NG

Thanks for your replies. The information was exactly what I was after and the tips and advice were really valuable. I have managed to arrange to have six days in the area so I hope to explore several special sites that I have not previously visited.

Maggs

[Christy]

Hi Maggs,

Few days ago we went to Minneriya Park and saw the finest herd of elephants we have ever seen.

Try to cover that too as you intend to spend 6 days. Best time is the evening. You can hire a jeep for Rs.2500 and the total tour is 2 hours.

Regards

Christy

[NG]

Hi Maggs,
sorry i made a mistake with directions to Veheragala - it is after mhinthale if driving from a'pura. we were driving from Horopathana direction hence my memory that it was before Mihinthale.

Also try the following site which has an excellent collection of known and little known places

http://amazinglanka.com/heritage/index.php

happy exploring!
N

PS - if you are going to some of the smaller / less visited temples it is always nice to take some pirikara, just a thought.

[maggs]

Thank you NG, Christy and Harien for your informative replies. I think that our driver will be able to locate the places mentioned and we can always ask for directions.

That Amazing Lanka website is the greatest ! I just didn't come across it in all the hours spent googling. There are so many little known sites to visit that I could probably spend the whole 6 days in Anuradhapura alone - and I intended to go to Mihintale and Polonnaruwa as well ! Need more holidays !

I always love to see elephants in their natural environment so the safari suggestion and tips are good. Thank you Christy. I will certainly take some pirikara as well.

Thanks again

Maggs

[YohanW]

Hi

The turn-off to Veheragala is after the 103 km post (around 9 km past Mahakandarawa) when travelling from Mihintale towards Trinco. 

According to the young monk there, over 157 statues have been found there (some are missing now).  Apparently this is the largest number of statues that have found in one place in Sri lanka.  The museum closes at 4.30 pm.

Unfortunately Veheragala seems to be quite neglected unlike some of the other historic sites in Anuradhapura.  There is now a website : www.veheragala.lk

Kalu diya pokuna is a 'must see' if you visit Mihintale.  To me, it is one of the nicest and most peaceful places to visit in the Anuradhapura area. 

I did not have time to locate the 'gal palama' near Mahakandarawa and most people in the area do not seem to know about it.  However, the monk at Veheragala did confirm it's existence.

regards

Yohan

[NG]

Totally agree with Yohan on Kaludiya Pokuna....the only other place that come somewhere close is Asokaramaya ( Pankuliya) which for some reason is hardly visited.

And of course the gal palama does exist!!  ...but it is indeed a bit hard to find, we were even directed to the modern 'gal palama' across which the A'pura - trinco road runs. but don't give up its worth it:

from a distance:


when walking on it:



and hope this will help you find the place, from the point this pic was taken, you can not see the palama, and of course this board is hung in a tree and you can easily miss it!!  the land mark is a small stream, park near the culvert and find the place on foot.

[janz]

Yes, thanks to some of the comments, I was able to visit Kalu Diya Pokuna as here are some photos:


Path to Black Water Pond (Kalu Diya Pokuna)


See the 2 ppl (in white spots) below the top left corner and imagine the size of this pond.


Can you see a person on top of a rock(with 3 parts) just to left of the top right corner ? Next pic is taken from that point later


It was a rainy day so there were mist/clouds on far mountains and enough green


(colors altered a bit to add more artistic look)

[jayathurms]

Hi Janaka,

Wonderful pictures.. The best I have seen from the area by far. It seems to have been a mythical day with the rainy weather.

Br,
Jayathu

[NG]

What a find!

I searched "anuradhapura' to check if the search engine is working and found this!!

Yes! some of the BEST photos of Kaludiya pokuna I have seen too.  very nice angles and composition. lovely photos of a lovely place!

N.

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