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Anuradhapura
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Overview
Anuradhapura was Sri Lanka’s first capital and the centre of the Buddhist world for over a thousand years. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this vast sacred city spreads across the northern plains in a landscape of colossal brick stupas, monastery ruins and ancient reservoirs, still alive with pilgrims and saffron-robed monks.
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The Sacred City of Anuradhapura
At its heart stands the Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment and the oldest living human-planted tree with a recorded planting date. Around it rise the great dagobas: the gleaming white Ruwanwelisaya, the immense red-brick Jetavanaramaya, once among the tallest structures in the ancient world, and the Abhayagiri complex, along with the serene Samadhi Buddha and the Twin Ponds.
The sacred city is large and spread out, so it is best explored with a vehicle or by bicycle, driving between the monuments and walking each one. As an active place of worship, it calls for white or modest clothing and bare feet on the stupa platforms.
Things to Do in Anuradhapura
- Sri Maha Bodhi sacred tree
- Ruwanwelisaya & Jetavanaramaya stupas
- Abhayagiri monastery & Twin Ponds
- Samadhi Buddha statue
Good to Know
- Entrance fee: about USD 30 per foreign adult (2026)
- Best time: early morning, all year
- Getting there: about 1.5 hrs from Sigiriya
- Pair it with: Mihintale, cradle of Buddhism
Anuradhapura features on our Buddhist Heritage Pilgrimage and cultural round tours, and pairs naturally with nearby Mihintale. A private Anuradhapura & Mihintale day tour runs from Sigiriya, Habarana or Dambulla, with entrance fees and lunch included, and bicycles available across the sacred city.
Anuradhapura highlights: Sri Maha Bodhi sacred tree, Ruwanwelisaya & Jetavanaramaya stupas, Abhayagiri monastery & Twin Ponds, Samadhi Buddha statue.
Best time to visit: early morning, all year. getting there: about 1.5 hrs from Sigiriya. Lanka Itinerary can include Anuradhapura in a private, fully customisable Sri Lanka tour with a local chauffeur-guide. Contact us to plan your trip.
Key Tour packages based on Anuradhapura
Key Activities
About USD 30 per foreign adult in 2026, priced in dollars and paid in rupees at the daily gate rate, with a 50% SAARC discount. It is included on our tours.
White or light modest clothing with shoulders and knees covered. You will remove shoes and hats at the Sri Maha Bodhi and on the stupa platforms, and the stone is hot by midday, so carry socks. We keep sarongs in the vehicle.
Anuradhapura is large and the monuments are far apart, so a vehicle or bicycle is essential. Your guide drives you between sites and walks each one with you; bicycles can be arranged if you prefer to pedal between the dagobas.
It was planted in the 3rd century BC from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree in India, which makes it the oldest living human-planted tree with a recorded planting date. It remains one of Buddhism's most sacred objects.
Yes. Mihintale, where Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in 247 BC, is only 12 kilometres away and makes a natural afternoon addition, ending with the view from the summit steps.