Culture & Heritage
Historical & Cultural Sri Lanka
Four days through the ancient capitals
Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Mihintale and the Temple of the Tooth — the whole Cultural Triangle in four days.
Cultural Triangle
Anuradhapura
A capital that ran for thirteen hundred years.
- Region
- Cultural Triangle
- Best time
- May to September
- How long to stay
- 1 to 2 days
Anuradhapura was the seat of Sinhalese power from the fourth century BC until the eleventh century AD. The scale is hard to absorb: the Jetavanaramaya was, when built, the third tallest structure in the world after two of the pyramids.
At the centre is the Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, planted in 288 BC and tended without interruption ever since.
Cycle it rather than drive it. The site is enormous and the roads between the ruins run through forest.
What not to miss
- Sri Maha Bodhi
- Ruwanwelisaya dagoba
- Isurumuniya rock temple
- Cycling the sacred city
Journeys including this place
Tours that visit Anuradhapura.
Start here
Your Sri Lanka story starts here.
Tell us what you imagine — a rough idea is plenty — and we will turn it into a journey worth remembering. No obligation, no pressure, and a real person on the other end.
Or call +94 77 790 4054 · Mon–Sat, 8.30am – 6.00pm (GMT+5:30)