Ritigala Forest Monastery

Polonnaruwa ancient city. All incredible, all worth visiting, all completely packed. Ritigala in Sri Lanka offers something different: authentic exploration without the crowds. The monastery belongs to an enigmatic Buddhist sect called the Pamsukulikas (literally “rag robes”) who practiced extreme austerity.

Duration: Approx. 1.5 hours + the driving there and back or to your next activity.

Ritigala is an world famous ancient Buddhist monastery and mountain range in Sri Lanka . The ruins and rock inscriptions of the monastery date back to 1st century BC. It is located 43 km away from the ancient city of Anuradhapura and also 40Km from Dambulla.

The ancient city of Anuradhapura is one of the most important archaeological sites in the cultural landscape of Sri Lanka. According to historical records, Anuradhapura was the capital of the ancient Ceylonese kings from the 5th century BC until the 11th century AD.