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Approximate travel time from Deer Park Hotel: 2.5 hours
The first capital of Sri Lanka – and remaining so for 1,400 years – Anuradhapura was abandoned and swallowed by the dry-zone jungle two centuries after Vijayabahu I had retaken the country and retained the Cholas capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th Century.
The only thing that has managed to live – literally – throughout the centuries, carefully attended by guardians all this time, is the sacred Bo Tree, the Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a sapling of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The original Bodhi tree has since died, but the Sri Maha Bodhi survives and has been worshipped for 23 centuries, making it the oldest tree in the world.
The significance of this tree attests to the widespread influence of Buddhism, of which the surviving shrines of the ancient city provide more visible evidence. These dome-shaped monuments of worship are known as dagobas or stupas, and notable ones include the Ruwanweli Seya, Thuparamaya and Jetavanarama and Abhayagiri Dagoba.
Monks resided in the Brazen Palace (Loha Prasada), which was first built by King Dutugemunu in the 2nd Century B.C. and which, having suffered two fires, underwent numerous changes at the hands of successive rulers. You’ll have to imagine what this once-magnificent 9-storey high residence must have looked like because all you will see now is a massive space filled with 1,600 pillars in a 40-by-40 grid. Dugutugemunu’s successor Sadhatissa rebuilt a 7-storey building, which was destroyed by the Cholas in the 11th Century, and later restored in the 12th Century by Parakramabahu I, a palace of which only the pillars have survived to the present day.
Other interesting historical sites to visit include the Samadhi Buddha, the work of an anonymous master-sculptor depicting Buddha in deep meditation (an image, in the form of a photograph, which former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sought inspiration from while serving a prison sentence); the Awkana, a gigantic granite Buddha statue about 32 miles southeast of Anuradhapura; and Mihintale, the sacred site at which Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka in the year 247 B.C.
Ruwanweli Seya
Otherwise known as the "Great Stupa", Ruwanweli Seya was built under the order of King Dutugemunu, who lived long enough to see through its completion in 144 B.C. - on his deathbed.
Thuparamaya Dagoba
The first dagoba built in Sri Lanka; Thuparama is believed to enshrine the right collarbone of the Buddha, which Emperor Asoka dispatched in acknowledgment and appreciation of the city’s conversion to Buddhism. Restoration over the centuries has altered the original design.
Jetavanarama Dagoba
The largest and tallest brick monument in the world, and only shorter than two Egyptian pyramids, this mighty dagoba was originally 400 feet high (500 feet including the crystal finial) and 370 feet in diameter at its base. Erected in the late 3rd Century A.D. by King Mahasena, it used to house gold plates containing Sanskrit text of a Mahayana sutra. The Jetavanarama has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Abhayagiri Dagoba
Created by King Vattagamani Abhaya in the 1st Century B.C., this 75-meter high dagoba was originally the centerpiece of a monastic complex accommodating 5,000 monks. The Abhayagiri complex had to honor of being the first place in Sri Lanka to house the sacred "Tooth Relic". |
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 KarmaWhatever you give, you receive in turn. Book between the 1st and 15th of March, and you'll get the value of your room to spend however you please. It's our own kind of karma. And it's valid for stays between 1st April to 30th June (all dates inclusive). Available exclusively by booking here.
This offer is bookable from 1 Mar 2010 to 15 Mar 2010, valid for stays from 1 Apr 2010 to 30 Jun 2010 (all dates inclusive).  Best Available RateEnjoy the best of what this intriguing destination has to offer with Deer Park Hotel�s Best Available Rate!
 Best Of AngsanaPutting together the ultimate getaway is hassle-free with the Best of Angsana. This two-night package is specially crafted to highlight the most stunning experience of Deer Park Hotel, with the inclusion of one signature dining experience for two, one deluxe spa treatment from Angsana Spa, daily breakfasts, and accommodation in an Angsana Cottage. |
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 View MapsSituated on the banks of the Giritale Reservoir within the district capital of Polonnaruwa, five hours by road from the capital, Colombo, and Bandaranaike International Airport.  AnuradhapuraThe first capital of Sri Lanka – and remaining so for 1,400 years – Anuradhapura was abandoned and swallowed by the dry-zone jungle two centuries after Vijayabahu I had retaken the country and retained the Cholas capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th Century.  DambullaAbout 12 miles from Sigiriya you’ll come to the Raja Maha Vihara, otherwise known as the Dambulla Cave Temple or Golden Temple. This is actually a series of five temples that finds its origin in the Anuradhapura period (1st Century B.C.)  KandyThe Hill Capital may be some distance from Deer Park Hotel, but what you can do is to stop by for half a day on your way back to Colombo for your flight home. As the last major capital of the Sinhala kings, Kandy is definitely a place not to be missed if you want your Sri Lanka trip to be complete.  Parakrama Samudra“Let not one drop of water reach the sea without first serving man.” These were the words of 12th Century King Parakramabahu I, who was responsible for one of the largest man-made reservoirs – the Parakrama Samudra, or Sea of King Parakrama. This astonishing tank is larger in size than even the Colo  PolonnaruwaAs early as the 7th Century, when Anuradhapura was still the capital, Sri Lankan kings had made Polonnaruwa their country retreat. With the Cholas’ conquest of Anuradhapura in the 11th Century, Polonnaruwa succeeded it as the capital and remained so for the next 200 years - even when Vijayabahu I ev  SigiriyaDesperation can also drive a man to greatness. It must have been a mixture of fear and guilt for having his own father slain and stealing the throne from right under his half brother's nose that motivated King Kasyapa to erect this magnificent fortress – 'Palace in the Sky' – in the 5th Century A.D.  Minneriya-Giritale National ParkA flapping sea of black invades the emerald Minneriya Tank, as a flock of two thousand cormorants nosedive for fish. Later, elephants trudge by, drinking from the same reservoir.  Wasgamuwa National ParkLong before wildlife conservation became fashionable, Sri Lanka already had areas of jungle marked out for conservation. One such case is that of the Wasgamuwa National Park, a portion of which was declared a Strict Nature Reserve as early as 1938.  Other National ParksSri Lanka is full of forests, and it is natural that as one of the pioneers of conservation the country contains more national parks, or nature reserves, than you have time to visit.  Sun & SeaAs the shimmering horizon disappears into the distant azure sky, tall gusts of waves surf towards the palm-fringed sandy beaches encircling Sri Lanka.  HistoryTaprobane, Serendib, Emerald Island and The Teardrop of India - Sri Lanka has earned many endearing monikers for its colorful past.  ReligionIt is worthy of note that an eyetooth remains the most significant religious symbol in Sri Lanka since Buddhism was first introduced to the Sinhalese in 250 B.C. This is no ordinary pointed conical tooth – it is believed to have belonged to Siddhartha Gautama, otherwise more popularly worshipped as  Tea & SpicesWhat does “The Hound of the Baskervilles” have to do with Ceylon tea? Read on.  WeatherSri Lanka is blessed with a tropical paradise climate. Most days are hot, humid and sunny with temperatures averaging between 27 ~ 31°C. A hat and sunscreen will be essential if you are planning to spend the day outdoors, whether romping around a hertitage site or lazing at the beach. |
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