Sri Lanka / The Cultural Triangle / AnuradhapuraAnuradhapura
Sacred Bo Tree and the Great Stupas of the First Capital
Sri Lanka's first great capital, for some 1,400 years, and one of Buddhism's holiest places: the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a cutting of the Bodh Gaya tree brought by Sanghamitta, Emperor Ashoka's daughter, is the oldest recorded planted tree. Around it stand the white Ruwanwelisaya and the brick dagobas of Jetavanaramaya and Abhayagiri, among reservoirs and forest. Mihintale, where Buddhism reached the island, is 12 km east. Wear white to the temples, as pilgrims do; the site is spread out, so hire a tuk-tuk or bicycle.
Highlights
- Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
- Ruwanwelisaya at dusk
- Jetavanaramaya brick stupa
- Abhayagiri monastery and museum
- Isurumuniya rock temple and its lovers carving
- Mihintale's 1,840 steps
- Twin Ponds
Things to do
- Sri Maha Bodhi and RuwanwelisayaMorning · 2h 30m
- Jetavanaramaya, Abhayagiri and the Twin Ponds by bicycleAfternoon · 3h 30m
- Mihintale climbMorning · 2h 30m
- Evening puja at RuwanwelisayaEvening · 1h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: January – September
Heads up
Inter-Monsoon Storms
October and November bring thunderstorms across the whole island and the risk of cyclones from the Bay of Bengal: Cyclone Ditwah at the end of November 2025 caused deadly floods and landslides, especially in the hills. Watch the Department of Meteorology's warnings (meteo.gov.lk) and keep a spare day.
- Vesak — The full moon of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing: towns hang paper lanterns and lit pandals (thoran) telling Jataka stories, and roadside dansal stalls give free food and drinks to everyone. Colombo's lights round Beira Lake and Gangaramaya are the most elaborate. Alcohol sales stop and slaughterhouses close for the Vesak week; it also ends the Adam's Peak pilgrimage season.
- Poson at Anuradhapura and Mihintale — The June full moon marks Mahinda, Emperor Ashoka's son, bringing Buddhism to the island at Mihintale. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in white climb Mihintale and visit Anuradhapura's sacred sites; rooms and roads fill.
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudu / Puthandu) — The national new year, at the auspicious times astrologers set: families go home, many shops, restaurants and buses stop for two or three days around 13-14 April, and trains and buses before and after are packed. Nuwara Eliya has its season of races and shows round it.
Part of a longer route
Anuradhapura is a stop on a curated circuit through Sri Lanka.