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Ritigala Forest Monastery, Anuradhapura

4.5
#5 of 15 in Historic Sites in Anuradhapura
Historic Site · Tourist Spot
Witness the remnants of an ancient culture as you trek the winding forest paths at Ritigala Forest Monastery. Originally inhabited by local aboriginals called Yukas, the ruins of the monastery complex are linked by stone paths that lead through the old trees of the jungle. Look for the ancient man-made reservoir, most likely used for ritual bathing purposes: dating between 437 and 367 BCE, it represents an engineering marvel for its time. Hire a knowledgeable guide that can explain the significance of each of the monastery ruins. As you walk between sites, listen to the sounds of the jungle, and contemplate the transportation of heavy rocks necessary for the complex's construction. Choose to start, finish, or center your holiday on a trip to Ritigala Forest Monastery by using our Anuradhapura trip planning site.
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Tours to Ritigala Forest Monastery

FROM $68 BOOK WITH VIATOR Birdwatching Walk in Ritigala from Habarana
Duration: 2 hours
Tours from $68 »
FROM $38 BOOK WITH VIATOR Ritigala, Kala Wewa and Namal Uyana from Habarana
Duration: 11 hours
Tours from $38 »
FROM $38 BOOK WITH VIATOR Ritigala, Kala Wewa and Namal Uyana from Dambulla
Duration: 11 hours
Tours from $38 »

Ritigala Forest Monastery reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
303 reviews
TripAdvisor
  • By wasantha123
    Ritigala Buddhist forest monastery is situated 55 kms away from waterfront home stay in anuradhapura. It is not a rain forest but it has all the elements a rain forest has. It is believed to be built....  more »
  • By newtraveller111
    Unesco Site an ongoing archaelogical dig. Very interesting. Bit of a clinb to get to main building over rocks and streams but worth the effort. The viewes for the Library was great.plenty of trees...  more »
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