Sri Lanka's first ancient capital, with monumental dagobas, monastic ruins and the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree.
Anuradhapura was Sri Lanka's capital for well over a thousand years, and the scale of what remains reflects that — towering brick dagobas, sprawling monastery complexes and the sacred Bodhi tree, grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.
The Sacred City spreads over a wide area, so most visitors explore by bicycle or tuk-tuk rather than on foot.
The Sacred City of Anuradhapura is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Home to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, one of the oldest documented trees in the world
Monumental dagobas among the tallest brick structures built anywhere in the ancient world
A quieter, less-visited counterpart to Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa
Visit the sacred fig tree, a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists.
See one of the most revered and best-preserved ancient dagobas.
Explore the ruins of what was once a major centre of Buddhist learning.
Look for the famous rock carvings at this small cave temple.
Rent a bicycle to cover the site's wide distances between monuments.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba
Jetavanaramaya
Abhayagiri Dagoba
Isurumuniya
Getting there
About 4–5 hours by road from Colombo.
Best time to visit
Morning, both for cooler cycling weather and softer light on the monuments.
Good to know
Modest dress and bare feet are required at the sacred sites; the site area is spread over several kilometres.
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Lanka