Isurumuniya Temple
Isurumuniya Temple
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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.
Popular mentions
4.0
463 reviews
Excellent
183
Very good
212
Average
61
Poor
5
Terrible
2
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Peter M
Melbourne, Australia1,292 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Isuruminya Temple is in the Royal Pleasure Gardens next to the Tisa Tank. There are three carvings of special interest in this Temple (Vihara)-Isuruminiya Lovers, Elephant Pond and the Royal Family. I only saw the Elephant Pond the largest. It was built by King Devanampiya Tisa (307-267BC)
Written August 13, 2023
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.
Premil Shasendra
Negombo, Sri Lanka123 contributions
Dec 2022
This is a beautiful historical site situated by the side of the "Tisa Wewa" and a fully-fledged Buddhist temple, where devotees can worship the essential features of a temple: the stupa, the Bodhi Tree, and the Image House.
According to the chronicle, after receiving the tooth relic from India (309 AD), King "kithsirimevan" placed the relic here.
The figure of a man and horse carved on the rock by the side of the image house was believed to be Agni as fire, and the man sitting in the royal posture as "Parjanya," the rain god.
A pre-Buddhist cult worshipping the rain god may have continued throughout the Anuradhapura period because the sculpture is believed to have been created between the 5th and 7th centuries.
"Isurumuniya" is famous mainly for its sculptures, of which the majority are non-religious and most probably bought from the adjoining "Ran Masu Uyana" (pleasure gardens for the Kings).
According to the chronicle, after receiving the tooth relic from India (309 AD), King "kithsirimevan" placed the relic here.
The figure of a man and horse carved on the rock by the side of the image house was believed to be Agni as fire, and the man sitting in the royal posture as "Parjanya," the rain god.
A pre-Buddhist cult worshipping the rain god may have continued throughout the Anuradhapura period because the sculpture is believed to have been created between the 5th and 7th centuries.
"Isurumuniya" is famous mainly for its sculptures, of which the majority are non-religious and most probably bought from the adjoining "Ran Masu Uyana" (pleasure gardens for the Kings).
Written December 17, 2022
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.
Alice S
Lund, Sweden644 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
The one place we visited who really stood out. It is different and scenic. We were about to skip it but decided in the last minute to go and take a look and we are so happy that we did. You'll have to pay another entrance ticket fee but we fount that it was worth it. It is buildt into the rock itself. Overall a nice visit!
Written December 22, 2021
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.
Annelies Leussink
20 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Beautiful temple in natural surroundings where you really experience Buddhism. Many local families who come to visit the temple. Beautiful and old images. Also nice are the crocodiles in the pond in front of the temple.
Automatically translated
Written July 29, 2024
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.
Ishan Tours and Holidays
Matale, Sri Lanka90 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
A buddhist temple in srilanka with climbing rock.We were there for 2 hours and went to see tissawewa the tank done by a famous king in Anuradhapura.
Written September 2, 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.
bearanddragonNevada
Chiang Mai, Thailand117 contributions
Apr 2012 • Solo
As with all things holy in Sri Lanka, you remove your feet and walk around barefoot. The grounds themselves are in decent shape, but I'm sorry to say, and I"m going to come across as an arrogant sounding tourist here, but: having to skip around from shady spot to shady spot and wincing every time my feet felt jagged stones was not a pleasant experience, and far from a spiritual one. Be prepared to have your feet burned off.
The temple itself is nothing spectacular. There is a old bath with some carvings, and stairs to climb up a boulder. There's another grotto kind of built into a cave with Buddha statues. Interesting, if you don't mind the hundreds of bats that have made it its home - although you can get some photos there. Once you see all three things, each worth about 5-10 minutes of your time, you're pretty much done... I honestly found the surrounding lily ponds and view of the reservoir more interesting than the temple itself. Definitely see that.
All in all, a somewhat mediocre site as far as historical/cultural attractions go. I pegged down because of 1) the shoe policy: temples elsewhere, for example, often hand out clean flip flops to use. and 2) The site itself was simply not that spectacular. I mentioned this in another review of Anuradhapura, but skip this town unless you have time. Sigiriya and Polonaruwa, in the cultural triangle, are both more interesting.
The temple itself is nothing spectacular. There is a old bath with some carvings, and stairs to climb up a boulder. There's another grotto kind of built into a cave with Buddha statues. Interesting, if you don't mind the hundreds of bats that have made it its home - although you can get some photos there. Once you see all three things, each worth about 5-10 minutes of your time, you're pretty much done... I honestly found the surrounding lily ponds and view of the reservoir more interesting than the temple itself. Definitely see that.
All in all, a somewhat mediocre site as far as historical/cultural attractions go. I pegged down because of 1) the shoe policy: temples elsewhere, for example, often hand out clean flip flops to use. and 2) The site itself was simply not that spectacular. I mentioned this in another review of Anuradhapura, but skip this town unless you have time. Sigiriya and Polonaruwa, in the cultural triangle, are both more interesting.
Written May 8, 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.
Kavitha A
1 contribution
Jul 2014 • Friends
I went there together with other norwegian citizen. Since they had Sri-lankan origin they went in for free when I was asked by a silly soldier women to pay tourist ticket because I was white. Because of this experience I have desided not wisit Sri-Lanka anymore and I will not recomend that destination to anyone. What makes me realy pissed off is that Norwegian tax payers have helped that country billins of dollars but as we use to say in Norway ungreatfullnes is the worlds payment.
Written November 5, 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.
Ruwan W
Ratmalana, Sri Lanka365 contributions
Aug 2019
Isurumuniya is a Buddhist temple situated near to the Tissa Wewa in Anuradhapura, The temple was built by King Devanampiya Tissa (307 BC to 267 BC) who ruled in the ancient Sri Lankan capital of Anuradhapura.
This temple is famous for its stone carving of the "Lovers"
As it is a Buddhist temple an appropriate dress code is recommended.
If you are interested in stone carvings this site is worth the visit.
This temple is famous for its stone carving of the "Lovers"
As it is a Buddhist temple an appropriate dress code is recommended.
If you are interested in stone carvings this site is worth the visit.
Written October 11, 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.
Malki S
Bentota, Sri Lanka58 contributions
Sep 2018 • Family
This is a religious place for Buddhists. However it is extremely rich in ancient technology and art. This is a place where you can learn about the history if Sri Lanka, the ancient technology and art,architecture and Buddhist culture.
Written October 6, 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.
Twisterella11
Tamworth, Australia82 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
Has a beautiful reclining Buddha and a very old Bho tree. Can climb to the top for a beautiful view out over Anuradhapura. Friendly staff, easily accessible.
Written June 16, 2017
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.
What is the triangular rock at Isurumuniya temple ?
Written April 8, 2019
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