Anuradhapura

About Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura was the capital for roughly 1,300 years, from the 4th century BC until invasion pushed the court south in the 11th century AD - a span that makes most ancient cities look brief. What survives is spread across a plain of enormous man-made reservoirs, and it is far too big to walk: hire a bicycle. At its centre stands the Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a cutting of the tree the Buddha sat under, planted here in 288 BC and tended without a break since, which makes it the oldest historically authenticated planted tree in the world. Around it rise the great stupas - Ruwanwelisaya, white and perfectly restored; Thuparamaya, the island's first; and Jetavanaramaya, built of some 93 million bricks and once, at over 120 metres, among the tallest structures on the planet after the pyramids at Giza. Add the monastic city of Abhayagiri, the carved bathing tanks at Kuttam Pokuna, and the lovers of Isurumuniya. UNESCO-listed since 1982.

Top Activities

• ✓Sri Maha Bodhi sacred tree visit
• ✓Ruwanwelisaya Stupa
• ✓Thuparama Dagoba
• ✓Jetavanaramaya ruins
• ✓Abhayagiri Monastery
• ✓Cycle tour of the ancient city

Nearby Attractions

Closest Places in This Guide

Straight-line distances; allow considerably longer by road, especially in the hills.

• VessagiriyaHeritage · Nature2 km
• Isurumuniya TempleHeritage · Cultural2 km
• Ranmasu UyanaHeritage · Nature4 km
• Sri Maha BodhiCultural · Heritage4 km
• Mirisawetiya StupaHeritage · Cultural4 km
• Lovamahapaya (Brazen Palace)Heritage4 km

Travel Tips

Travel Guides That Cover Anuradhapura

• Sri Lanka Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14-Day Routes That Actually WorkThree routes for a first trip, built around realistic travel times, the current state of the hill-country railway and the coast that is in season.
• What It Costs to Visit Sri Lanka's Big SightsSigiriya, Kandy, Anuradhapura and the national parks - what foreign visitors actually pay in 2026, and which of the best places are free.
• Sri Lanka on a Budget: What $30 a Day Really BuysA realistic breakdown of rooms, food, transport and tickets for budget travellers in 2026 - where the money goes, and where it quietly leaks away.