Landmarks in Anuradhapura
- 01
Abhayagiri Vihara
The ruins of a great monastery founded in the 2nd century BCE, centred on a restored stupa, with moonstones, ponds and the remains of a large community of monks.
- Time needed
- About 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- Entry to the main archaeological area is covered by a foreign-visitor ticket, reported at about US$25 for the five largest temples, with a reduced rate for South Asian nationals who show a passport; prices change, so check at the Archaeological Museum or the gate. Shoes and hats off at the stupa platform; dress modestly. Check which features are open before you go.
- 02
Jetavanaramaya
A colossal brick stupa from the late third century CE, once the tallest structure in the ancient world after the great pyramids and still the largest in base area.
- Time needed
- About 40 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- Entry to the main archaeological area is covered by a foreign-visitor ticket, reported at about US$25 for the five largest temples, with a reduced rate for South Asian nationals who show a passport; prices change, so check at the Archaeological Museum or the gate. Shoes and hats must come off at the stupa precinct. Check whether the Jetavana Museum is covered by your ticket.
- 03
Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds)
A pair of beautifully built granite bathing ponds from the Abhayagiri monastery, with underground water channels, carved stairs and a sleeping naga guardian.
- Time needed
- About 20 to 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, when the ponds are best lit
- Tickets
- Entry to the main archaeological area is covered by a foreign-visitor ticket, reported at about US$25 for the five largest temples, with a reduced rate for South Asian nationals who show a passport; prices change, so check at the Archaeological Museum or the gate. Check if the ponds are included in your ticket for the Abhayagiri area; no special dress beyond modest clothes.
- 04
Lovamahapaya (Brazen Palace)
The ruined site of the Brazen Palace, an ancient monastic hall once said to have nine storeys on 1,600 stone pillars, now a field of stone columns near the Bodhi tree.
- Time needed
- About 20 to 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning
- Tickets
- Entry to the main archaeological area is covered by a foreign-visitor ticket, reported at about US$25 for the five largest temples, with a reduced rate for South Asian nationals who show a passport; prices change, so check at the Archaeological Museum or the gate. Dress modestly; check whether shoes must come off.
- 05
Samadhi Buddha Statue
A seated Buddha in meditation, dated to roughly the 4th to 6th centuries and admired for its calm face; Jawaharlal Nehru kept a picture of it while imprisoned in India.
- Time needed
- About 20 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning light
- Tickets
- Entry to the main archaeological area is covered by a foreign-visitor ticket, reported at about US$25 for the five largest temples, with a reduced rate for South Asian nationals who show a passport; prices change, so check at the Archaeological Museum or the gate. Shoes and hats off; modest clothes. Do not turn your back to the statue for photographs.
Places of worship in Anuradhapura
- 06
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
A sacred fig tree grown from a cutting of the Bodh Gaya Bodhi tree, planted here by Sri Lankan tradition in the third century BCE and revered as the oldest human-planted tree with a known planting date.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning, or dusk for the lamp-lit atmosphere; poya days are very busy
- Tickets
- Entry to the main archaeological area is covered by a foreign-visitor ticket, reported at about US$25 for the five largest temples, with a reduced rate for South Asian nationals who show a passport; prices change, so check at the Archaeological Museum or the gate. Shoes and hats must come off, and shoulders and knees should be covered. The uppermost terrace where the tree stands is restricted to protect it, so you view it from the lower terraces. Confirm opening times locally.
- 07
Mirisawetiya Stupa
A large white stupa built by Dutugemunu after his victory over Elara, linked with a story about chilli curry, and rebuilt in the 1990s after a collapsed restoration.
- Time needed
- About 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or sunset
- Tickets
- Entry to the main archaeological area is covered by a foreign-visitor ticket, reported at about US$25 for the five largest temples, with a reduced rate for South Asian nationals who show a passport; prices change, so check at the Archaeological Museum or the gate. Shoes and hats off; modest clothes; walk clockwise.
- 08
Ruwanwelisaya
A huge white stupa built by King Dutugemunu around 140 BCE, still the main place of worship in Anuradhapura and a reminder of how pilgrimage works in Sri Lanka today.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or dusk; poya evenings are crowded
- Tickets
- Entry to the main archaeological area is covered by a foreign-visitor ticket, reported at about US$25 for the five largest temples, with a reduced rate for South Asian nationals who show a passport; prices change, so check at the Archaeological Museum or the gate. Remove shoes and hats, and cover shoulders and knees. Photography is usually accepted outside but is discouraged when others are praying; confirm local rules.
- 09
Thuparamaya
The earliest documented stupa in Sri Lanka, built under King Devanampiya Tissa to enshrine the Buddha's right collar-bone, now with a ring of stone pillars from an old shrine house.
- Time needed
- About 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- Entry to the main archaeological area is covered by a foreign-visitor ticket, reported at about US$25 for the five largest temples, with a reduced rate for South Asian nationals who show a passport; prices change, so check at the Archaeological Museum or the gate. Shoes and hats off; modest clothes. Check opening hours locally.
Museums in Anuradhapura
- 10
Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum
The oldest and largest museum of Sri Lanka's Department of Archaeology, with statues, relic caskets, coins, inscriptions and a model of the Abhayagiri stupa.
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Midday, when it is too hot outside
- Tickets
- Tickets for the sacred area have been reported as sold at the museum. Confirm opening hours, fees, and photography rules on arrival.
Temples in Anuradhapura
- 11
Isurumuniya Rock Temple
A small rock temple beside the Tissa Wewa reservoir, known for carved elephants, a pond and ancient sculptures that give it a different feel from the great stupas.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Late afternoon, when the light on the rock is soft
- Tickets
- Isurumuniya has a separate small entrance fee reported at Rs 500 on Wikivoyage, which may not be covered by the main ticket; confirm on arrival. Shoes and hats off and modest clothes are required.
Day trips in Anuradhapura
- 12
Mihintale
A pilgrim hill about 12.5 km east of Anuradhapura, where the monk Mahinda is said to have met King Devanampiyatissa and introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Early morning; Poson is very busy
- Tickets
- Mihintale is an active pilgrimage site and the Wikipedia article gives no fees. Confirm whether tickets are needed, and cover shoulders and knees; shoes and hats come off at sacred areas.
