11 Places To Visit In Vavuniya
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1. Madukanda Vihara
4 km from city center
Buddhist Temple
The Buddhist temple of Madukanda Vihara is located 4 kilometres away from Vavuniya, in Madukanda village. Buddhists believe the temple site to be the sacred Buddha tooth relic’s fourth resting point on its journey from Mullaitivu to Anuradhapura. Visitors to the temple can marvel at the intricate carvings on granite stones, as well as experience a bygone era through the ruins at the site. There al (Read More)so is an image house and guard stones, while the temple offers lodging and basic amenities to visitors.
2. Kandasamy Kovil
0 km from city center
Temple
Dedicated to the Tamil God of War and Victory Lord Murugan, the Kandaswamy Kovil temple is situated near the centre of Vavuniya. Within the temple complex are a golden shrine and an elaborately decorated entrance tower. The temple is open to worshippers daily and hosts a poosai (puja ceremony) every Friday
3. Archeological Museum of Vavuniya
1 km from city center
Museum
The Archeological Museum of Vavuniya is owned and run by the Department of Archeology of Sri Lanka and has on display archaeological objects gathered from Vavuniya and its surrounding regions. Exhibits include statues of Gautam Buddha, those of Hindu gods and goddesses, as well as objects such as the baptismal font.
4. Grand Jummah Mosque
0 km from city center
Mosque
The Grand Jummah Mosque is situated right in the heart of Vavuniya. Its onion-shaped golden domes tower over the very busy part of the city it is built, and the mosque stands out because of its aqua-tinted tiles on the outside, unlike the usual white mosques. The mosque is an active place of worship, with namaz ceremonies being held daily.
5. Kaludiya Pokuna Archaeological Site
101 km from city center
Forest
The Kaludiya Pokuna Forest is an archaeological site as well as a forest containing remains from settlements stretching back to the 2nd century BC. Within the forest are remains of a monastery, places of residence, and a few inscriptions. The forest is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including the purple-faced langur and the tufted grey langur, the Sri Lankan elephant, wild boar, and s (Read More)potted deer. In addition, around 120 species of birds inhabit the forest, as do endemic species of snakes, such as the Sri Lankan flying snake. Trees with high timber value are also found in the forest and remain untouched by humans.
6. Isinbessagala Ruwangiri RajaMaha Viharaya
21 km from city center
Buddhist Temple
Located around 20 kilometres from the centre of Vavuniya, Isinbassagala is home to a stupa set atop a giant rock. The stupa is believed to have been built around 250 BC and has undergone restorative work. Around the temple, a cobra-carved stone and footprints of Lord Buddha have been excavated, representing two different eras of worship. Visitors to the stupa can enjoy panoramic views of the rolli (Read More)ng green hills around the rock and the serenity that comes with it.
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7. Mihintale Peak
45 km from city center
Mountain
Locals believe the mountain peak of Mihintale to be the meeting point of the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa, inaugurating Buddhism in the country. The peak is 12 kilometres to the east of Anuradhapura, around an hour away from Vavuniya. The way up the peak is lined with ruins, including the ruins of a hospital at the base, as well as the ruins of a monastery. On the topmost part i (Read More)s the ancient circular stupa of Kantaka Cetiya, as well as the remains of a refectory. Mihintale is a Buddhist site of pilgrimage.
8. Jethawanaramaya Stupa
46 km from city center
Buddhist Temple
The Jethawanaramaya Stupa is located in the UNESCO world heritage site of Anuradhapura and used to be the tallest stupa in the world, at 400 feet tall. While the stupa has reduced in height through restorative and rebuilding work, it remains the largest stupa in the world, with a base area greater than 2 square kilometres. Visitors can Marvel at the intricate carvings on the walls of the stupa and (Read More) appreciate the engineering techniques employed to construct it. The stupa is 52 kilometres from the city of Vavuniya.
9. Wasgamuwa National Park
121 km from city center
National Park
75 kilometres from Vavuniya lies the Wasgamuwa National Park, a protected area housing a herd of 150 Sri Lankan elephants. There are 23 species of mammals, including the toque macaque, the purple-faced langur, the Sri Lankan axis deer and even the Sri Lankan leopard. There also are 143 species of birds in the park, including endemic species like the red-faced malkoha and the Sri Lankan junglefowl. (Read More) This diverse National Park also houses over 150 species of flora.
10. Jaya Shri Maha Bodhi
47 km from city center
Buddhist Temple
The Jaya Shri Maha Bodhi, a sacred fig tree, is situated in Anuradhapura and is the oldest living link to Gautam Buddha. This tree is believed to have grown from a branch of the Bodhi tree, brought to Sri Lanka by the Buddhist nun Sanghamitta Maha Theri, and is over 2000 years old. The tree is a pilgrimage spot, and the site's caretaker offers worship daily. The site is also home to two statues of (Read More) Buddha, inscribed monolith heads, and a cobra stone.
11. Royal Palace of King Vijayabahu 1
37 km from city center
Historical Site
The royal palace of King Vijayabahu I was built in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Anuradhapura between 1153 and 1186. While the palace is believed to have originally had seven stories, only three stories and 55 halls remain. Within the palace, premises are the king's council chamber, and outside the citadel is the royal bath.