Why Habarana is the Perfect Base for Exploring Ancient Cities and National Parks

Strategically situated in the centre of the island’s Cultural Triangle, Habarana is a peaceful village that offers easy access to some of Sri Lanka’s top wildlife reserves and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As a verdant oasis teeming with pastoral landscapes, Habarana Village is a popular holiday hub mainly due to its proximity to the region’s best highlights. Let’s take a look at the top reasons why tourists couldn’t ask for a more convenient base location in the heart of the country.

A Tranquil Village Setting

The main reason Habarana is the perfect destination for tourists with an interest in Sri Lanka’s cultural and wildlife heritage is due to the city’s proximity and its distance from iconic attractions and popular national parks. Offering visitors a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of towns and resorts within the Cultural Triangle, Habarana allows travellers the opportunity to stay in a scenic, serene village that’s within easy driving distance of the region’s main points of interest. In essence, Habarana is located close enough to central Sri Lanka’s best historical and natural tourist attractions but is also sufficiently removed to provide a more relaxing vacation experience.

The City’s Proximity to Anuradhapura and  Polonnaruwa

One of the most advantageous aspects of Habarana’s unbeatable location is that it is just an hour’s drive away from not one but two former Sri Lankan capitals. As the two most prominent ancient cities in the Cultural Triangle, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are UNESCO World Heritage Sites lined with palaces, iconic temples, bathing ponds, and stone sculptures. Some of the biggest highlights in Anuradhapura include the temples that make up the Eight Sacred Sites (“Atamasthana”) and the Sri Maha Bodhi tree, which is a sapling of the Bodhi tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Polonnaruwa’s main landmarks, on the other hand, include the Gal Viharaya, the Samadhi Statue, and countless other temples, palace ruins, and the Parakrama Samudra reservoir, all of which are easily accessible to anyone based in Habarana.

It’s Close to The Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Holidaymakers based at Habarana Village By Cinnamon can also take in the views from atop the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which is referred to as a Palace in the Sky by architecture buffs and historians. Famed for its exquisite frescoes, extensive water gardens, and the shimmering Mirror Wall, the Lion Rock, as it is also known, is ranked among the most awe-inspiring places to visit in Sigiriya and Sri Lanka, at large. Pidurangala Rock, which lies opposite the Sigiriya  Rock Fortress and the Sigiriya Museum are other historic landmarks visitors can easily explore from a base in Habarana due to the short distance between the two locations.

The Dambulla Rock Temple

Habarana is also less than 40 minutes away from Dambulla, where the world’s best-preserved cave temple also happens to be located. As another UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s a short distance away from Habarana, the Dambulla Cave Temple is an architectural marvel that contains hundreds of Buddha sculptures and breathtaking murals dating back to the 1st century B.C. Divided into 5 caves, the artefacts and religious relics housed within this fascinating spiritual epicentre are the main reason why tourists flock to this cave temple encircled by a tropical jungle.

Image via Habarana Village By Cinnamon

National Parks Galore

Habarana is also within close range of some of Sri Lanka’s largest national parks and best safari hubs. The Minneriya National Park is one such wildlife reserve that’s not only famous for the annual gathering of countless elephant herds but also for the other mammals, birds, and reptiles found within its leafy confines. Although the dry season is the best time to embark on a safari adventure at this particular national park, jeep safaris are accessible throughout the year. Nature lovers based in Habarana can also drop by the Hurulu Eco Park during their trip, as this is another natural habitat renowned for its elephant population and diverse ecosystems.