Ruwanwelisaya
Sacred City, Anuradhapura
The great white stupa of 140 BC, ringed by a wall of stone elephants.
Culture
City
Anuradhapura
Places to see
5
8.311, 80.404
The island's first capital: 2,000-year-old stupas, the sacred Bodhi tree and the pilgrim hill of Mihintale.
Travels well for
Also found in and around Anuradhapura: Adventure.
Top places in Anuradhapura
Grouped by what they are, biggest groups first — every place in Anuradhapura and the destinations inside it.
Temples
4 places
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
Sacred City, Anuradhapura
The oldest documented tree in the world, grown from a cutting of the Bodhi tree in 288 BC.
Culture
Isurumuniya Vihara
Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura
Rock temple beside Tissa Wewa known for its carved "lovers" relief.
Culture
Mihintale
Mihintale
Where Buddhism arrived in 247 BC: 1,840 steps to stupas and sunset views (13 km east of town).
CultureAdventure
Cities
1 place
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, North Central Province
Ancient capital and sacred city; the archaeological park is a day of cycling between stupas.
Culture
Destinations near Anuradhapura
Destinations inside Anuradhapura and the ones next door, biggest first.
- AreaNearby
Sigiriya & Dambulla
The Lion Rock and the painted cave temples, with elephant safaris at Minneriya and Kaudulla nearby.
5 places
Culture · Wildlife · Adventure
- CityNearby
Polonnaruwa
The compact medieval capital: Gal Vihara's rock Buddhas and the great Parakrama Samudra reservoir, best explored by bicycle.
3 places
Culture · Family
Tours that go to Anuradhapura
Packages published by tour operators themselves — none covers Anuradhapura today.
No tours listed for Anuradhapura yet
Tour operators publish their own packages to TripLogist, and none of them has named Anuradhapura — or a destination inside it — on a live listing. A tour that names the wider area is listed on that area's own page.
Open Cultural TriangleOperators who work in Anuradhapura
1 operator with a published profile — the ones who name Anuradhapura itself first, then verified accounts.
ABC Travels
Commercial tour operator listed on TripLogist · Powered by TripLogist
Verified by TripLogistRegistered business
Serves a wider area that includes Anuradhapura
Small-group Sri Lanka tours, guided in English, Sinhala and Tamil.
Specialises in
- Wildlife
- Culture
- Family
Service area
- Sri Lanka
- Hill Country
- Ella
Coming to this page
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Events & festivals
Coming soonDated festivals, processions and seasonal events in Anuradhapura — the ones worth planning a trip around.
Traveller reviews
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Community updates
Coming soonRecent on-the-ground intelligence from travellers in Anuradhapura — closures, conditions, prices.