Isurumuniya Temple Tourism

Temple4.0(462 reviews)

About Isurumuniya Temple

Isurumuniya Temple is a significant Buddhist temple situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Known for its rock carvings, historic significance, and stunning architecture, it dates back to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (307–267 BCE). This temple, tucked away near the Tissa Wewa (an artificial reservoir), has deep connections with the introduction of Buddhism to the island. Isurumuniya houses several key attractions, including the famous Isurumuniya Lovers rock carving, which depicts a couple in a graceful embrace, linked to a local love story with regal implications. The temple also features other notable sculptures such as the Royal Family and Elephant Pond carvings. Visitors are welcomed by a large white stupa and can also explore the small museum within the premises which displays artifacts and relics. Large boulders and a serene ambience complement the temple’s sacred grounds, marking it as a haven of tranquility and spiritual significance. Isurumuniya Temple is not only a place of worship but also of immense archeological and cultural importance, drawing countless pilgrims and tourists eager to experience its unique blend of history and spirituality.

Top 5 Reviews on Isurumuniya Temple

sriyanit2019
5.0
Wrote on 16 Feb 2024
Issuruminiya Lovers
Interesting archeological site of an old temple built before Christ. The location is very interesting. There is a small museum where you can see the original sculpture of the Issuruminiya Lovers, which is why this place is so famous.
M1ke_Br0wn
1.0
Wrote on 13 Feb 2024
Don’t go in strong sun.
We arrived at the hottest part of the day to be told that we could not wear hats or even parasols to protect us from heat stroke. And I’m talking from the car park onwards not just in the temple buildings. Having paid already they would not refund us when we pointed out the dangers of sunstroke. Very unpleasant experience. Avoid.
Arnab_phenomenon
5.0
Wrote on 20 Oct 2023
Beautiful temple, & very well maintained
It's a beautiful temple & is well maintained. There are a lot of things to see in the temple compound so you might need a guide to explain them to you. Definitely recommended
petermY2777LY
4.0
Wrote on 13 Aug 2023
Isurumuniya Temple
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)
reallankaholiday
5.0
Wrote on 17 Dec 2022
Nice historical place to discover
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).