Anuradhapura City Tour

The Ancient city of Anuradhapura stood tall for over a thousand years, from the 05th Century B.C. to the end of the 10th Century A.D. this was the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. The city’s greatest treasures are its Dagobas constructed of bricks and are hemispherical in shape. The city’s most renowned relic is the sacred Bo Tree, which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained Enlightenment. It was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world. In fact, Anuradhapura is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Sri Maha Bodiya-(Approx. 1 ½ hours)

The most crowded part of Anuradhapura is around the Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Bo Tree). It is one of the oldest trees in the world and has been tended devotedly for 23 centuries, even during the long centuries after the rest of the city was abandoned to the jungle.

• Ruwanwelisaya-(Approx. ½ hours)

A gigantic white dome denotes the Ruwanweliseya (Great Stupa). It was built by Dutugemunu, the hero king of the Mahavamsa, who was supposedly inspired by seeing a bubble floating on water – the dome itself represents heaven, or alternatively, you could see it as representing the head of Buddha

• Thuparamaya- (Approx. ½ hours)

The Thuparama is the oldest stupa in Anuradhapura, and indeed in the island. It may be small, but it is very sacred to Buddhists since it is believed to enshrine the right collarbone of the Buddha.

• The Jetavanarama monastery and stupa- (Approx. ½ hours)

The vast Jetavanarama monastery and stupa is the largest stupa in Anuradhapura, around 122 meters (400ft) in height and 113-metre (370ft) in diameter.

• Samadi Statue- (Approx. ½ hours)

It is a Buddhist statue in Anuradhapura. This 4th-century statue, seated in the Samadhi (meditation) pose, is regarded as one of the finest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. When constructed, it was likely one of four statues placed at the cardinal directions.

• Isurumuniya Vihara-(Approx. ½ hours)

It is set around a lovely lotus pond, the corner of which is carved with images of elephants playfully splashing water and small museum features the famous ‘lovers’ sculpture.