How to get to the Ritigala ancient monastery?

You can hire a private vehicle from Dambulla or Habarana to get to the remote Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve, which sits about an hour off the main A9 highway. There isn’t any public bus that goes straight to the archaeological site’s lesser-known entrance.

The last bit of the route is unpaved, and you will do best with a high-clearance jeep or a sturdy van. Expect roughly two hours for the walk along the old stone paths and to look around the abandoned monastic hospital tucked under the thick jungle canopy.