Best of Anuradhapura

The ancient city of Anuradhapura has long impressed travelers with its collection of stupas, ruined monasteries, and crumbling temples that evoke a bygone age. King Pandukabhaya made Anuradhapura the capital of Sri Lanka in the 4th century BCE, and successive rulers added to the city’s grandeur. It flourished for over 1,300 years until its sack by the Cholas in 1017 and subsequent abandonment. Today this sprawling UNESCO World Heritage site lies near a modern city of the some name that has extensive lodging options for overnight visitors. 

A guided visit over one or even two days gives insight into Anuradhapura’s remarkable past. You’ll explore the site’s many highlights, including the 2,000-year-old Abhayagiri Monastery, which is surrounded by the thick encroaching forest. At the hemispherical Jetavanarama Dagoba—one of the tallest structures of the ancient world—you can visit the site where the some of the earliest followers of Buddhism introduced the religion to Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura also shelters Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred bodhi tree that attracts thousands of pilgrims each year.