Top Things to do in North Central Province
10 Things to do in North Central Province That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in North Central Province, Sri Lanka including Rana's Travel Counter & Information Center, Ruwanwelisaya, Minneriya National Park, Polonnaruwa, Mihintale, Kaudulla National Park, Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Dambulla Cave Temple, Hurulu Eco Park.
Restaurants in North Central Province
1. Rana's Travel Counter & Information Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 81 reviews
We give all information for the tourist about the Archaeological sites ,National parks & Road map for their travel destination.I help the tourist to find the bus stops with the bus number for their destination.At the same time, I give the small maps to find the buses & manage their travel destination. we provide taxi service(luxury vehicle). We arrange budget jeep safari(Minneriya,Kaudulla,Eco park).We provide budget hotels& taxi service(Airport drop,pick-up,excursions,round tours).We rent motor bikes & Bicycles. We book train tickets & Kandy dance show tickets. we do village/Nature tours,Elephant ride,Sri lankan Ayurveda Herbal treatments as well.
Reviewed By 975karenc - Kandy, Sri Lanka
Rana organised our elephant safari, trip to Pollonnorawu and also drove us to Kandy from our hotel in the Sigiriya area. He didn’t hard sell which we appreciated. He even helped us find train tickets to Ella, which are like gold dust at the busy season. And helped resolve an issue we had with our Sri Lankan SIM. He was a real Mr Fix-it! Rana was fun, knowledgeable, friendly and reliable. Thank you!
2. Ruwanwelisaya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 988 reviews
At 300 feet, it is the third biggest stupa in Anuradhapura.
Reviewed By Mithila_kumarasinghe - Doha, Qatar
Ruwanwalisaya is a stupa sacrad to many Buddhist all over the world, It was built by King Dutugamunu, It is believed that the relics of the Buddha are enshrined with the stupa, which is the largest collection of his relics anywhere. Additional tips: * The Stupa quite busy during the poya days, * Men are required to wear long pants and women must cover their shoulders and were lose pants or skirts. * Parking available in walking distance. * Area quite hot during day time * Please protect the site.
3. Minneriya National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,982 reviews
Minneriya National Park is a national park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka.
Reviewed By KimH347 - Peterborough, United Kingdom
We did a jeep safari tour as part of our Sri Lankan tour and we had the most fantastic day we say hundreds of elephants in their natural environment just doing what elephants do, there were several herds and we also saw some babies that were only a week or so old, we also saw water buffalo, and pelicans, deer and lots of other birds. It was a spectacular afternoon made all the better by our guides.
4. Polonnaruwa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,582 reviews
Reviewed By paulsY2649EH - Binfield, United Kingdom
Our guide took us here as part of a cultural triangle tour - medieval capital of Sri lanka - wonderful history going back 1000 years and very well presented - the history is quite superb and whilst it is quite spread (so allow plenty of time) it is well worth a long visit - ignore traders who approach you - as others have said not too busy
5. Mihintale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,383 reviews
Reviewed By malithadissa - Negombo, Sri Lanka
According to legend, it was at Mihintale – literally “Mahinda’s Hill” – that the Indian missionary Mahinda, met and converted King Devanampiyatissa in 247 BC, establishing Buddhism as the island’s state religion. Mahinda was the son of the great Mauryan emperor Asoka, sent by his father to bring word of the Buddha’s teachings to Sri Lanka. Buddhism was immediately embraced with fervour by the Sinhalese people and soon became firmly established in the island – unlike in India, its birthplace, where it would subsequently fall into terminal decline. Mihintale, on a higher plane All over the world, high places are given religious significance, with the result that devotees are always climbing steps. Sometimes on their knees. Mihintale is one such place, its various shrines connected by a total of some 1,840 steps that ultimately lead to the summit – steep enough to require deep breaths and a meditative pace. They were built in the reign of Bhathika Abhaya (22 BC–AD 7), although a later paved road provides a short cut up to the first level.there have so many histrionically place in here
6. Kaudulla National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,024 reviews
A safari in the Kaudulla national park in Sri Lanka is a bucket-list aspiration for many tourists, which mean the place is an absolutely incredible wildlife spectacle. Located in the historic city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka, Kaudulla national park presents an ample of opportunities for travellers to spot majestic elephants in their natural habitats. In addition to the elephants, sambar deer, Sri Lankan axis deer, chevrotain, wild boar, Asian spoonbill, grey-headed fish eagle, painted stork and openbill stork are common visuals at the park. Aside from these, one could rarely capture the glimpse of leopard and sloth bear in the forest. Going on a bumpy ride through an evergreen forest of Kaudulla national park along the small trails is a great adventure, wildlife enthusiasts can’t say ‘NO’ to. The Kaudulla reservoir being the life blood to the wildlife of the park, attracts herds of elephants during the dry season from nearby Minneriya, Wasgamuwa and Somawathiya national parks.
Reviewed By thebusyitinerary - Pune, India
Kaudulla or Minneriya is the obvious question when one is in Sigiriya area. Guides and jeep drivers decide on know positions of elephant herds and water level in the area. Our Jeep safari suggested Kaudulla, so off we went. We did have a few sighting of peacocks, deer, birds, monitor lizards, but these parks are for the majestic Asian elephant the largest mammal on land. After a bumpy ride through the greens we came across a vast expanse of grassland and so many elephants. There were everywhere, near us, ahead of us & everywhere we could see. This was a large gathering of approx 350 wild elephants. Our driver said that there are more baby elephants this year than last. This is the best place in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants in such a large number. Park ticket costed us LKR 14800 for a group of 6 and jeep charges were LKR7500
7. Gal Vihara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 848 reviews
Reviewed By phait_lee - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A very serene and quiet ancient site which has 4 Buddha statues. Visiting this site brings serenity and peace. A rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was fashioned in the 12th century by Parakramabahu I. The central feature of the temple is four rock relief statues of the Buddha, which have been carved into the face of a large granite rock. The images consist of a large seated figure, another smaller seated figure inside an artificial cavern, a standing figure and a reclining figure. Our guide explained the 4 carved statues represent the 4 stages of Buddha. First statue on the left represents Buddha achieving enlightenment, second statue is in a seated position representing Buddha preaching, third statue is a standing Buddha contemplating suffering and the final one in reclining position represent Buddha in deathbed.
8. Polonnaruwa Vatadage
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 370 reviews
Reviewed By sydneysider48 - Sydney, Australia
This is a world heritage site of great beauty and interest. The site is well preserved and maintained and contains a number of historic remains most of which are intricately carved with beautiful designs, symbols, images and intricate scenes. As so often happens at these historic sites one marvels at the beauty of these ancient monuments and finds it difficult to imagine them in all their glory when they were intact, gilded and highly decorated.
9. Dambulla Cave Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 825 reviews
The Dambulla Cave Temple is located 24 km (30 min) from Sigiriya in central Sri Lanka. Built in about 80BC It is the largest and best preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka. Inside are 153 Buddha statues in various reposes, three statues of ancient kings, and four other statues including those of Vishnu and Ganesh. The ceiling and walls have been repainted over the centuries contain a juxtapose of imagery including those of royal life.
Reviewed By Holidaymad - Brentwood, United Kingdom
Although there are approx 300 steps from the car park up until the caves, it was definitely worth the climb. All 5 temples are very interesting, and have been lit in a way that compliments the statues, stupas and Buddhas. I would definitely recommend a visit here - it’s a very unique site and the history behind it is very interesting.
10. Hurulu Eco Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 361 reviews
Reviewed By cedrich_11 - Citta di Castello, Italy
Taking local advice on where the elephants were, we spent a beautiful afternoon in the Eco Park. Here the grass is tall and so the elephants are harder to see, and pop out of the high grass unexpectedly, which they did. Always take local advice and a fantastic experience is to be had, in a lovely landscape.
