Day 2: Anuradhapura to Dambulla

An early bird for the day and walked towards Isrumaniya Temple (5.5 kms). The quiet & clean roads of Anuradhapura are remarkably peaceful for walking/biking in the early hours, but pretty warm place. Post that decided to visit other places through Tuk Tuk [TT]. Managed to get a TT, but the driver couldn’t understand English & couldn't find any TT. My sign language & dancing ability miserably failed after 10 minutes. Next act was to download the pictures and make him to understand. The prices was interchanged by writing in paper, finally we both came into agreement of the price and the places to visit after 15 min. Perhaps the driver was considerate enough to stop for breakfast and pack food.

By the time the exploration of Anuradhapura was completed, the sun was blazing hot event at 10.30. Returned to stay place, rested for a while and decided to move ahead to dambulla.

Reached Dambulla round 2.0 PM, the homestay which I have chosen was just 300 mts from golden temple and 5 minutes’ walk from bus stand. Planned to cover both sigiriya and pidurangala in the evening and had to eat lunch. The home stay Russian lady suggested to take TT as the buses would shut down at 5.0 PM at sigirya. Ate a yummicious hot lunch at 3.0 pm which had the best fish curry.

Sigriya & Pidurangala

Climbing sigriya was fun and was totally crowded, it took around 2.5 hours to complete. Was rewarded with the cool breeze after a climb and enjoyed. The entrance and trail path to pidurangala is a beautiful stretch with water bodies. Another 10 min by TT is the pidurangala and last few parts had some rock climbing (40 min), after the climb witnessed a beautiful sunset. Due to late lunch, had some light dinner and retired to homestay. The golden buddha statue is of closest proximity from the sit out of the homestay and relaxed with the cute baby milly.

How to reach Dambulla from Anuradhapura

To reach dambulla take buses from Anuradhapura old bus station, the intercity AC buses & other kandy buses are available from stage 2. The old bus stop has 2 stages with a reach of 5 min of walk. Since I reached new bus station from homestay, took another local bus to reach (15 min).

Expenses
Anuradhapura Touring: 1000 LKR

Stay at Anuradhapura: 1320 LKR
Intercity Bus from Anuradhapura to dambulla 300 LKR
Tuk Tuk to Sigirya & pidurangala 2500
Stay at Dambulla - 1100
Entrance fee to Pidurangala – 500 LKR
Entrance fee to Sigirya – 2310
TT to Bus stand – 100 LKR
Food & Snack - Dinner 120/Snacks 225/Coconut – 70/Breakfast 140/ Lunch 220
Total : 9905 LKR

Stay at Dambulla

https://www.booking.com/hotel/lk/oasis-tourist-welfare-center.en-gb.html?

Caution:

The view from pidurangala is beautiful compared to sigirya, so you can skip sigirya in case you are not really inclined about ruins as the entrance fee is 20$ with passport. Without passport you need much more. The guides at sigirya are totally annoying, they try to indulge in explanation, beware of those.

Places visited

Isrumaniya Temple & museum

The Isrumaniya museum & temple has some best views of the whole cultural places of Apura. Museum had Stone seats and lovers statue which belongs to -8 AD.

                

Roads of Anuradhapura

Isrumaniya

Key Hole at Isrumaniya with bats

Ruwanelisya stupa & Maha Bodhi Tree

Milikish stupa looking stunningly beautiful and the as it was Sunday it was crowded and people in white clothes were ardently praying near the maha bodhi which was brought from India before 2000 years where few branches were supported by gold plated poles.

Ruwanelisya Stupa

Ruwanelisya Stupa

Maha Bodhi

Maha Bodhi Tree

Abhyadagiri Stupa

Which is made of million + of bricks. Abhyadagiri is made of several acres of land spreading across with green shades and cool breeze. Another wonderful place to bike around. Also visited Twin bath, moon stone which is the same arena of Abhayadagiri

Abhayadagiri Stupa

Moon Stone

Twin pond

Sigriya Rock entrance

Pond at the top

Full of view of sigriya

Pidurangala Climb