Mirisawatiya
It was about 7 AM the next day when we arrived at Mirisawatiya, and we were greeted by some retired test cricketers! ;)
...and these 3 handsome kingfishers:
...and a family of mynas, looking wet after a bath! :D
We planned to visit Thanthirimale, the Charikaramaya and Isurumuniya afterwards.
Both Thanthirimale and the Charikaramaya were really really green with trees growing and lakes filled up due to the monsoon rains. They seemed much greener than when Harumi visited last August.
Thanthirimale
Thanthirimale is believed to be the ancient village of 'Thiwanka Bamunugama', where the party led by King Tissa transporting the Sri Maha Bodhi sapling to Anuradhapura are said to have rested.
One of the original 8 saplings from the Bodhi in Anuradhapura
is said to have been planted in Thanthirimale
Thanthirimale can only be described as a vast sea of
Granite. Please visit before the sun heats up the rock and makes it impassable.
The new shrine room was completed recently thanks to
donations made by pilgrims who visited Thanthirimale
Some of the footpaths in Thanthirimale had been flooded by the rainwater.
The Charikaramaya
The 'Siri Sambuddha Pancha Sathika Shrawaka Charikaramaya' (situated on the Wilachchiya road, which we use to travel to Thanthirimale) had been mostly completed, with only the last few (about 100-50) statues and rock-shaped Shrine room were yet to be completed and painted. When completed the statues will depict The Buddha and 500 disciples travelling on foot. Every statue is unique in the sense that they had taken pains to make small differences to the faces and stances of each disciple.
Some statues and the rock-shaped Shrine room were
yet to be completed.
Isurumuniya
We visited Isurumuniya (near the Tissa wewa bund) and as traditionally done, threw coins into a carved niche in the rock, which if done successfully, is supposed to grant your wish. Yeah, you're supposed to make a wish before you throw the coin, and I forgot this essential detail in my hurry to somehow impress everyone by throwing a coin in. I overheard someone there saying "I hoped for an overwhelming victory for the President" but yeah, let's not go there! :P
Lucky Niche
Isurumuni rock, as seen above the shrine room
Some say this is the family of King Dutugemunu (erm, no jokes here! lol)
Isurumuni Lovers
Last pic my camera snapped before the battery went boo-hoo! :(
Accommodation
We usually stay at M.R. Tourist Rest on Kurunegala Road, near Wessagiriya complex. It's a good place with tiled bathrooms and good food. The manager, Mr. Dissanayaka, can be contacted on 025-7902255. Yes, I was paid to promote them, envy me! :P
So yeah, that was my long weekend! It was totally worth cutting uni on Friday... ;D
what??!! :P
So you forgot to wish anything? too bad :)
ReplyDeleteYes you have to visit Thanthirimale before noon..
Thanks for the info on tourist rest too..
Yeah, 'twas too bad! hehe ;)
ReplyDeleteYou should check out the tourist rest if you're passing that way. The location is beautiful, right on the side of the paddy fields, and downstream from the Tissa wewa bund. Really breezy and comfortable! :D
You guys are making me homesick!
ReplyDeleteSigma - purely unintentional man... sorry about that! :(
ReplyDeleteAWWWWWWWW!! chavieeee I envy you soooooooooo , . . . me wanna go tooooo =(
ReplyDeleteI love your pics.
Hey Chavie,
ReplyDeleteYou've got some great shots of Anuradhapura. Last time I went there I was about 6. so don't remember it at all. When I come back to Sri Lanka I hope to visit the place again.
And it's making me homesick too. Though I did drop by SL just last week. Makes me realize how much there is to see in our own country.
Great Post!
:D
TSC - hehe, yeah you should! :) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAamina - Thank you! Yeah you should really visit, and don't forget the museum... :D
Yep, there's loads to see... Hope you can come back for a longer vacation... Kirigalpoththa, and Jerry, Halik and the gang visit some awesome places! :D
Thank you again! :D
Wow.. you went to Tantirimale and Charikaramaya! And ya, it sure looks more green and lively now than last time when we got there.
ReplyDeleteHope to visit T'male again.. though might not be in the near future. And must say this too is an awesome set of pics. Thanks for telling about that Rest too, you've made them world famous! hehe..
Harumi - Thank you! :D Yes, you should visit again sometime, maybe stay a day or two to explore all the attractions, Mihinthale, Thanthirimale and perhaps Aukana and Raswehera? :)
ReplyDelete