Isurumuniya Temple
North Central Province
Photo by Abhaya77 at English Wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
About Isurumuniya Temple
Isurumuniya is the most intimate of Anuradhapura's great sites: a small rock temple built around a boulder-framed pool at the edge of the royal Tissa Wewa reservoir, founded in the 3rd century BC for newly ordained monks. Its fame rests on stone: the 'Isurumuniya Lovers', a tender 6th-century carving of a warrior and his lady in the refined Gupta style, popularly identified as prince Saliya and the low-caste maiden Asokamala for whom he renounced a throne; the vigorous 'Man and Horse' relief carved into the cliff face; and the playful bathing elephants cut into the rock right at the pool's waterline, as fresh as the day they were chiselled. A small museum houses the Lovers today, and the shrine above the boulders - reached by rock-cut steps - looks across the waters that once bathed royalty.
Top Activities
- ✓The Isurumuniya Lovers carving
- ✓Elephant pond reliefs at the pool
- ✓Rock-top shrine climb
- ✓Royal pleasure gardens (Ranmasu Uyana) next door
- ✓Combine with the Anuradhapura sacred city
Nearby Attractions
Closest Places in This Guide
Straight-line distances; allow considerably longer by road, especially in the hills.
Travel Tips
Don't miss Ranmasu Uyana's rock gardens two minutes away.
The Lovers are in the site museum - included with entry.
Golden hour light on the pool carvings is superb.
Quick Info
Best Time
May to September; early morning
Weather
Hot and dry; morning visits are the most comfortable.
Estimated Daily Budget
8.3311°N, 80.3967°E
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