Step into the ancient world of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first great royal capital and one of the island’s most important centres of Buddhist heritage. Spread across a vast archaeological landscape, the city is home to magnificent stupas such as Ruwanwelisaya, Abhayagiri and Jetavanaramaya, ancient monasteries, stone carvings and the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi, believed to have grown from a branch of the original Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Beyond its impressive ruins, Anuradhapura remains a living place of pilgrimage, where devotees continue to visit sacred sites much as generations have done before them. Exploring the ancient city offers a remarkable glimpse into Sri Lanka’s early civilisation, religious traditions and architectural achievements.
