Abhayagiri Dagaba
Abhayagiri Dagaba
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
206 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
74
Average
28
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Silver Wings Tours
Wattala, Sri Lanka220 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
Based on the history, this massive stupa was built in the 1st century BC. It's different than the other usual stupas in Sri Lanka. Highly recommend to visit this place if you travel to Anuradhapura.
Written May 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sipke vink
Cairns, Australia219 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
You feel very humble when you standing close it , glad to see it getting well maintained and the playful monkeys around it
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth C
Aylesbury, UK771 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
I'm sorry to distract from the beauty of this stupa and point out the practicalities but the Anuradhapura site is enormous and for all the temples shoes must be removed. When you're walking on the equivalent of hot coles you tend to miss out on the experience... perhaps wear trainer socks and then you can enjoy it more!
Written February 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
worldnomad_01
Los Angeles, CA1,597 contributions
Nov 2018
This is the second largest stupa (after Jethawanaramaya Stupa) in the Anuradhapura Archeological Park - it is made of bricks, it was massively restored and is a bit less impressive than Jethawanaramaya. Worth a short visit...
Written December 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tassaduq Hussain
Multan, Pakistan3,368 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
ABHAYAGIRI TEMPLE
Abhayagiri Vihara (temple) in Anuradhapura is one of the most sacred places and oldest temples of Theravada Buddhism. It is one of eight most venerated places (Atamasthana) and one of the five highest/tallest Viharas in Anuradhapura. Abhayagiri monastery was founded by King Vatttagamani Abhaya (also called Valagambahu) (89-77 BC) in 88 BC.as a religious school. Originally its height was more than 330 feet and it was built on the ruins of a Jain hermitage, destroyed by Abhaya. Within next 200 years it became a great international institution for Buddhist learning alongwith its rival orthodox monasteries of Mahavihara and Jetavana which professed Mahayana Buddhism.
Abhayagiri means ‘Hill of Protection’ or ‘Fearless Hill’. Reportedly a statue of a bull made of pure gold, containing relics of the Buddha was buried in the core of the stupa. Reportedly the dagoba was built over a footprint of the Buddha with a circumference of 1300 feet (400 meters).
Abhayagiri Vihara (temple) in Anuradhapura is one of the most sacred places and oldest temples of Theravada Buddhism. It is one of eight most venerated places (Atamasthana) and one of the five highest/tallest Viharas in Anuradhapura. Abhayagiri monastery was founded by King Vatttagamani Abhaya (also called Valagambahu) (89-77 BC) in 88 BC.as a religious school. Originally its height was more than 330 feet and it was built on the ruins of a Jain hermitage, destroyed by Abhaya. Within next 200 years it became a great international institution for Buddhist learning alongwith its rival orthodox monasteries of Mahavihara and Jetavana which professed Mahayana Buddhism.
Abhayagiri means ‘Hill of Protection’ or ‘Fearless Hill’. Reportedly a statue of a bull made of pure gold, containing relics of the Buddha was buried in the core of the stupa. Reportedly the dagoba was built over a footprint of the Buddha with a circumference of 1300 feet (400 meters).
Written May 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindsey S
Bangkok, Thailand12 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Went at 8am and was the only tourists at this magnificent dagoba. It's top is still intact and I think it's nicer than the Jetavanaramaya Dagoba, mostly because it's less busy and is a wonderful sight to behold free of crowds.
Written August 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
webgenius_1
Bengaluru, India310 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
Yet another of these Sri Lankan dagoba. Nothing special here. The place was deserted when we visited in the evening. It's just like other dagobas and local pray here.
Felling ripped off after paying 3250 bucks for seeing these kind of attractions in Anuradhapura. Better skip Anuradhapura. It's not worth visiting this place at all!
Felling ripped off after paying 3250 bucks for seeing these kind of attractions in Anuradhapura. Better skip Anuradhapura. It's not worth visiting this place at all!
Written January 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
top-trippers
Bolton, UK621 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
Let me first preface by saying Anuradhapura is a long distance to travel from the main coastal resorts and so you should probably only consider if you are touring the island. It was about a two hour drive from Sigiriya. The area is too big to cover on foot in a single day and, whilst bicycles and TukTuks are easy and cheap to hire, I would recommend a driver/guide who can direct you to and provide commentary on the most significant sites.
Abhayaagiri was a complex of monastic buildings founded in the first or second century BC. It is still being uncovered and restored. The stupa is huge (230fit high and very similar to Jethavanarama) but as it still under renovation there is lots of scaffolding. The grounds are the main attraction. The Twin Bathing Pools (Kottum Putan) are very tranquil and worth a 5-10 minute stop as it’s a great example of the amazing engineering and water management that was typical across ancient Sri Lanka. Here solid stone was carved out to create two large pools used by thousands of monks for bathing. Elsewhere across the island earth was excavated on an even larger scale to create huge water tanks which were used for feeding crops as well as bathing.
If you are in the area I would recommend that you also visit the ruins of King Mahasen’s Palace to see an exquisite example of a moonstone doorstep with finely detailed symbolic carvings; the Ratnaprasada (Gem Place) for the guardstone; and the Mahapali Refectory with its huge rice trough and bathing pools.
Abhayaagiri was a complex of monastic buildings founded in the first or second century BC. It is still being uncovered and restored. The stupa is huge (230fit high and very similar to Jethavanarama) but as it still under renovation there is lots of scaffolding. The grounds are the main attraction. The Twin Bathing Pools (Kottum Putan) are very tranquil and worth a 5-10 minute stop as it’s a great example of the amazing engineering and water management that was typical across ancient Sri Lanka. Here solid stone was carved out to create two large pools used by thousands of monks for bathing. Elsewhere across the island earth was excavated on an even larger scale to create huge water tanks which were used for feeding crops as well as bathing.
If you are in the area I would recommend that you also visit the ruins of King Mahasen’s Palace to see an exquisite example of a moonstone doorstep with finely detailed symbolic carvings; the Ratnaprasada (Gem Place) for the guardstone; and the Mahapali Refectory with its huge rice trough and bathing pools.
Written March 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrewJV_11
Jefferson Valley, NY52 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
While the stupa is monumental, one of the best parts of Anuradapura was wandering in the very extensive area covered by these ancient monastery ruins, still not widely recovered and restored from the overgrowth. It's got a great atmosphere for those who like to explore and imagine they are one of the first to discover this site. The moonstones are beautiful and not hard to find. Check out the big pools as well and have a good wander around the fallen down monastery residences that stretch out through the woods.
Written February 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter K
Griffith, Australia467 contributions
May 2012 • Family
The Abhayagiri Dagoba will be spectacular once its sheds its bamboo skirt. The UNESCO repairs are continuing at a rapid pace and will return the Dagoba to its former glory. Its on the outskirts of Anuradhapura and is worth the walk or tuk tuk ride. Dont miss the swimming pools nearby.
Stock up on food and drink from the stalls nearby and also go to the museum at the entrance to the precinct.
Stock up on food and drink from the stalls nearby and also go to the museum at the entrance to the precinct.
Written December 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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