By air
Bandaranaike (CMB), ~4 h by road
Indian Ocean Islands · Sri Lanka
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Sacred stupas and the oldest planted tree
Getting there
Best time to visit
January to April — dry in the north-central plains
Don't miss
The Sri Maha Bodhi
Ruwanweli Maha Seya
Jetavanaramaya
Mihintale
Things to do
Cycling between the ancient stupas
The Sri Maha Bodhi at dawn
Climbing Mihintale
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: A.Savin · FAL
What to pack
White clothing for the temples, a sun hat
A quieter corner
Isurumuniya's rock carving of the lovers
Questions travellers ask
Is there a dress code for Anuradhapura's temples?
Wear white clothing for the temples, and bring a sun hat.
What are the main sights of Anuradhapura?
The Sri Maha Bodhi (go at dawn), Ruwanweli Maha Seya and Jetavanaramaya, and the climb up Mihintale. Cycling between the ancient stupas is a good way to see them.
Is there a lesser-known sight in Anuradhapura?
Isurumuniya's rock carving of the lovers. Afterwards, try village rice and curry.
What's the best season for Anuradhapura?
January to April, when the north-central plains are dry. It's about 4 hours by road from Bandaranaike (CMB).
About Anuradhapura
- Inland
Where it is
Anuradhapura lies in the dry zone of North Central Province, Sri Lanka, on the Malvathu Oya river among great ancient reservoirs, about 200 km north of Colombo.
History
Anuradhapura was the capital of Sri Lanka's first great kingdom for well over a thousand years, until the early 11th century, and Buddhism took root here after the monk Mahinda's mission in the 3rd century BC. Its kings built colossal stupas, monasteries and irrigation reservoirs, and the sacred city was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
People
Anuradhapura's people speak Sinhala and Tamil, and farming families in the surrounding villages grow rice with water from reservoirs built many centuries ago. Pilgrims dressed in white come from across the island, especially on Poya full-moon days and at Poson in June, which marks the arrival of Buddhism.
Known for
- The Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred fig tree
- The white stupa of Ruwanweli Maha Seya
- The vast brick Jetavanaramaya
- Mihintale, where Buddhism arrived
- Ancient reservoirs such as Tissa Wewa
Did you know?
The Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, was planted in the 3rd century BC and is said to be the oldest living human-planted tree with a known planting date.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.