Boralesgamuwa: Park Trail and Esala Procession

Boralesgamuwa can be explored through two different travel experiences: the walking and cycling trail in Weras Ganga Bellanwila Recreation Park and a cultural event in the surrounding area. The park lies between Boralesgamuwa and Bellanwila; the Esala Procession takes place at Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya. This allows you to consider exercise on a named route and an annual event as two distinct focuses for your trip.

A trail for walking and cycling

Weras Ganga Bellanwila Recreation Park has an approximately 3 km walking and cycling trail. Its approximate length makes it easy to plan the trail as a specific part of your outing: you can include it in your day on foot or by bicycle. Both ways of using it are explicitly mentioned, so you can choose according to your preferred mode of travel. Beforehand, consider whether you would rather plan the route as a walk or a cycling trip.

The park lies between Boralesgamuwa and Bellanwila and has entrances from both areas. This gives you two reference points for planning your route: you can plan your visit to the park from Boralesgamuwa or Bellanwila.

The Esala Procession and history in Bellanwila

In the surrounding area, an annual Esala Procession takes place at Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, usually in August or September. The exact dates can vary from year to year. If the event is to shape your travel plans, check the dates for the relevant year and do not choose your travel period based solely on the usual months. This cultural focus differs from the park trail: for the procession, the key consideration is its variable timing during the year.

The Bodhi tree at Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya is considered one of 32 saplings of the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura; its planting is dated to the 3rd century BCE. Thus, in addition to the annual event, the surrounding area offers a historical connection to Anuradhapura. The tree and the procession give the cultural theme two different timeframes: a planting date reaching far back into the past and an event whose date can change each year.

Choose your travel dates and holiday rental to suit your plans

To shape your trip, it helps to compare the two options: the park trail is a specific activity for walking and cycling with an approximate length; the Esala Procession is an annual event with a variable date. If you are travelling together, you can first decide whether exercise or a cultural event should be the main focus. For the procession, the date is the main consideration; for a visit to the park, the two named access areas and your preferred way of using the trail are useful points of reference.

You can also tailor your search for a holiday rental in Boralesgamuwa to these interests. If the park trail is central to your plans, include Boralesgamuwa and Bellanwila—the two named access areas—in your considerations of where to stay. If the Esala Procession is to determine your travel period, first check the dates for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Uswetakeiyawa, Hokandara, Gavaragiriya, Pugoda, Kandana, Kotugoda, Minuwangoda, Divulapitiya.

For the broader travel overview: Western Province.