Pilgrimage in Sri Lanka - Anyone interested?

[puppha]

Dear All,

I would like to do a pilgrimage in Sri Lanka, probably in March 2013 for 2 weeks. I don't have a fixed itinerary yet, except that I want to go to Anuradhapura and probably Kandy too.

I read that monasteries in Sri Lanka are generally welcoming and that the monks often accept pilgrims spending the night in the monastery. Is that true?

All suggestions, travel tips, things a westerner should be aware of, good places to visit, etc. are most welcome!

Also, if anyone is interested in joining me, please PM me! The dates are not fixed yet.

Metta

[Ben]

Very interested but financially restrained.
kind regards,

Ben

[James the Giant]

I'm going too, but towards the end of 2013, for three months.
Here's a good booklet showing good places for laypeople to visit. It was updated in 2006, but it should give an idea of some good monasteries and their contact details. http://what-buddha-said.net/library/pdfs/Meditation_Centers_in_Sri_Lanka.pdf
When I go, I'm going to climb Sri Pada,

and go to Sigiriya,


And of course visit the tooth relic in Kandy. If you go at the end of July you can catch the Tooth Relic festival, from what I have been told they have more than a hundred decorated elephants in the parade... some of them carrying their own generator to power the lights strung on their harnesses!

[David N. Snyder]

When I go, I'm going to climb Sri Pada,

Beautiful mountain, is there a monastery or temple at the top?

I definitely want to see Sri Lanka someday, perhaps in the next few years or so.

[James the Giant]

Beautiful mountain, is there a monastery or temple at the top?

There's some temple buildings covering an imprint of a foot, a biiig footprint. Supposedly the Buddha's footprint, although the Muslims, Christians, and Hindus have all claimed it as made by one of their prophets or gods too.
I think a caretaker may have a little room somewhere, but nobody else lives up there. Lots of pilgrims sleep the night on the ground, as it's a long climb and a long descent.

[puppha]

Very interested but financially restrained.

That's a shame... Maybe next time!

[puppha]

Dear James,

I'm going too, but towards the end of 2013, for three months.

So I'll go before you. If I find anything that a pilgrim have to know, I'll keep you informed!

Here's a good booklet showing good places for laypeople to visit. It was updated in 2006, but it should give an idea of some good monasteries and their contact details. http://what-buddha-said.net/library/pdfs/Meditation_Centers_in_Sri_Lanka.pdf

Thanks for the link!

When I go, I'm going to climb Sri Pada, and go to Sigiriya,

Yes, I heard about those. I'll probably visit those, especially Sigiriya.

Metta

[James the Giant]

If I find anything that a pilgrim have to know, I'll keep you informed!
Metta

Yes, please do. You can email me or PM me or post here. Thanks.

[Viscid]

Highly recommend Sigiriya and Sri Pada.