About This Listing
Explore ancient Anuradhapura by bike, using this farmer’s home stay as your base camp.
Price is per double room and there are two rooms available.
The Space
Located amidst the paddy fields and just a few minutes from old Anuradhapura town lies Geethika’s, a simple family farmhouse with two double rooms, a common living room and simple but functional sanitation with squat toilet. No luxury in that sense, but where else can you sit in the shade of a mango tree and hear the monks chanting in nearby Sandahiruseve temple?
Interaction with Guests
A real farmer’s homestay this is, hosted by Ms. Geethika and Mr. Jayathilaka (and their little daughter), who work the 10 acres of paddy fields that surround the house while running a little spice business on the side. Geethika prepares fresh made meals upon request and Jayathilaka can arrange tours around Aruradhapura, as well as show you around the farm. They have a tuktuk and two bikes for rent, so transportation should be easy.
The Neighborhood
Though Anuradhapura’s certainly a popular destination in Sri Lanka, it’s surprising how few tourists you actually bump into. Last time we were there on a Poya day we ran into more than one hundred thousand worshippers dressed in white, but we saw more elephants than tourist. Probably this is because Anuradhapura, as an ancient temple complex, is huge. Go there, seriously, because this place is beautiful and, though it’s incredibly old, its cultural heritage is very much alive.
Geethika’s is a five minute walk from where they’re currently building the world’s biggest Sandahiruseya p(website hidden). Practically all other sites are within a three kilometre radius.