21 Amazing Places to Visit in Anuradhapura in 2024

Anuradhapura ticks a lot of boxes: it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, and, with so many things to do in Anuradhapura, is one of the best tourist attractions in the country. Not to mention, the ruins at the Anuradhapura ancient city rank as some of the world’s greatest and oldest Buddhist monuments. 

There are literally dozens of wonderful places to visit in Anuradhapura and a visit to this spectacular place should rank highly on any Sri Lankan itinerary.

Wondering where to start? Never fear, in this Anuradhapura guide, we’ll give you all the information you need so you find the best things to do in Anuradhapura and make the most out of your visit to this wonderful city.

When to Visit Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is best visited from November to April. During this time, the days will be (moderately) cooler. You can visit year-round, however, after April it becomes very hot. 

We visited in mid-April and it regularly reached over 35C during the day. 

An important note about visiting Anuradhapura: as the Anuradhapura ancient city is an important pilgrimage site, it becomes very busy during the monthly poya day (full moon). During this time, pilgrims flock to the sites to pay worship and respect. If you’re looking for a quieter experience, it’s best to plan your visit outside these days. Otherwise, if you don’t mind crowds, it’s quite the cultural experience! 

Anuradhapura Location

Anuradhapura is located 205 km north of Colombo in Sri Lanka’s North Central province. 

Anuradhapura is a part of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, and as such, is within close proximity to the other major historical sites in the country, including Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. 

Enjoy your visit to Anuradhapura? Read 14 Awesome Things to Do in Sri Lanka for more inspiration

Anuradhapura Overview

Anuradhapura comprises both the ancient city (one of the tourist places in Anuradhapura) and the ‘new’ city, where the shops, restaurants, guesthouses and residential development are located. 

There are a couple of things that make Anuradhapura unique amongst other Asian ancient cities: firstly, the ruins of Anuradhapura ancient city are spread throughout the new city, rather than contained in one, separate precinct. This provides the new city with a vibrance and colour not seen in other Sri Lankan towns. 

Secondly is the contemporary relevance of Anuradhapura. Several of the sites remain in use as important Buddhist pilgrimage sites and it’s not uncommon to see groups of pilgrims paying a visit alongside the tourists. 

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The new city of Anuradhapura is very pleasant. It has a very distinct small-town feel and it’s very easy to get around. It also has lots of great accommodation options and you can easily rent bikes and scooters to explore the area. 

Anuradhapura Ancient City History

Anuradhapura played a very important role in Sri Lanka’s history. The city was Sri Lanka’s first capital in 380 BCE. 

Under the reign of Devanampiya Tissa, it rose to become a major world city. Its rulers constructed enormous water tanks (i.e., reservoirs), which allowed the city to grow and flourish. You can see these water tanks throughout the city – they’re so large they look like small lakes! 

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How to Get to Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is located right in the centre of Sri Lanka, so it’s pretty straightforward to get to. 

By Train

There are two train stations in Anuradhapura. The Main Anuradhapura station is closer to the old bus station and is in town. The other, smaller, station is located south of town and is known as Anuradhapura New Town Station. 

From Colombo, the train takes around 3.5 hours and costs anywhere from 260 to 750 LKR. You can search for and buy tickets online at 12Go Asia. 

By Bus

Similarly, Anuradhapura has two bus stations: the ‘Old Bus Station’ and the ‘New Bus Station’. Different buses arrive / leave depending on where you want to go / are arriving from.

The Old Bus Station services areas to the south, while the New Bus Station services destinations to the north and east. 

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Places to Visit in Anuradhapura

There are a wealth of things to do in Anuradhapura and you can easily spend a few days exploring the area. 

Anuradhapura Ancient City

Of all the places to visit in Anuradhapura, exploring the ancient city should be your first priority. It is the number one thing to do in Anuradhapura and for good reason.

You can expect to find enormous dagobas (stupas), ancient water tanks (irrigation systems) and crumbling temples. It’s also highly likely there’ll be many pilgrims visiting as well. 

The ancient city is spread over a massive area of 40 square kilometres – i.e., it’s really huge. Fortunately, there are also heaps of greenery, parks, lakes (mostly ancient water tanks) and even rice fields, so strolling or riding through is a great thing to do in Anuradhapura.  

There are literally dozens of places to visit in Anuradhapura. In this Anuradhapura guide, we highlight some of the more notable Anuradhapura tourist places, as well as the free and low-cost sites. 

The Mahavihara Complex

This is an unticketed part of the ancient city, so it’s a free place to visit in Anuradhapura. That makes it a great Anuradhapura tourist place to prioritise if you’re on a budget.

It’s also home to some of Anuradhapura’s biggest star attractions and best things to do in Anuradhapura, including:

Abhayagiri Complex

This place to visit in Anuradhapura is ticketed, but in our experience, tickets aren’t frequently checked. The main attraction here is the stupendous Abhayagiri Dagoba, which dates back to the 1st century BCE. 

The Abhayagiri Dagoba was originally over 100 metres high, making it one of the greatest structures of the ancient world. At its time, it was only matched by the Great Pyramids of Giza. It is stunning and incredible to see. 

Isurumuniya Complex 

Constructed in the 3rd century BCE, this is a very charming temple built into a rock. It’s very unique and we really enjoyed visiting this Anuradhapura tourist place. Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to throw a coin into the temple. It’s one of the best things to do in Anuradhapura!

This place to visit in Anuradhapura has a separate ticket, which costs 200 LKR per person, making it a very affordable site within the Anuradhapura ancient city. 

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Tissa Wewa 

Tissa Wewa is one of the ancient water tanks in the Anuradhapura ancient city. Visiting Tissa Wewa is a nice place to catch the sunset and a great thing to do in Anuradhapura at the end of the day. It feels like a small lake and you can see the two glorious white stupas in the distance. This area is completely free to visit.

Ranmasu Uyana

Also known as the Royal Pleasure Garden, Ranmasu Uyana is a garden where the once unmarried kings and queens came to bathe and meet new partners. So, it’s pretty much a version of Tinder, just 2000 years old. This place to visit in Anuradhapura is free.

Mihintale

Visiting Mihintale is one of the best things to do in Anuradhapura and should not be missed.

Located 13 km east of Anuradhapura, Mihintale is the location where Buddhism first arrived on the island. All of Mihintale is located on a large hill, overlooking the central plains. From the top, you have great views of the surrounding countryside.

Make sure you visit Mihintale for sunset, as the colours from the top of the hill are simply outstanding. 

When you arrive at Mihintale, you will reach the bottom of the hill. It takes around 25 minutes to walk up to the area where all of the monuments are. 

Tickets to Mihintale cost 1000 LKR per person. You can probably get away without buying a ticket, as the inspection booth is to the far left of the path up the hill and they’re not super strict on checking. 

How to Get To Mihintale

Mihintale is approximately 30 minutes from Anuradhapura.

The best way to get to Mihintale is to rent a scooter in town and drive out. Otherwise, you can hire a tuk-tuk to take you. This can be organised locally, in town (around 4000 LKR), or via an organised tour.

If you want a bit of exercise, there are even fun cycling tours from Anuradhapura to Mihintale!

Dambulla Cave Temple

The Dambulla Cave Temple is another one of Sri Lanka’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The caves are very beautiful and absolutely worth a visit. We went with pretty low expectations and were pleasantly surprised by this Anuradhapura tourist place.

Visiting the Dambulla Cave Temple makes a great day trip from Anuradhapura city, or on your way to other destinations in the cultural triangle, like Sigiriya. 

The Dambulla Cave Temple features five separate caves, each featuring beautiful murals and Buddha statues. In total, there are around 150 Buddha statues and paintings. These make up some of Sri Lanka’s most important religious art. The Buddha images were first created more than 2000 years ago and have been added to since. 

The Dambulla Cave Temple is set at the top of a hill, which takes around 15 – 30 minutes to climb. There is a clear set of stairs, so it is not a difficult climb. My elderly parents were able to do it without any problems. 

Besides the actual caves, the beautiful views over the central plains of Dambulla are also an attraction in itself and a wonderful thing to do in Anuradhapura. On a clear day, you can even see Sigiriya in the distance. 

When you arrive at the Dambulla Cave Temple, you buy your ticket at the base of the hill. Entrance costs 2000 LKR per person. 

At the Dambulla Cave Temple, there are guides who will give you a brief tour of the caves and some history of the area. They ask for around 300 – 500 LKR, but the ‘tour’ is very quick and not really worth it. 

How to Get To the Dambulla Cave Temple

The Dambulla Cave Temple is located in the city of Dambulla, 63 km south of Anuradhapura.

From Anuradhapura, you can hire a driver to take you. It should take about 1.5 hours and cost 12,000 LKR for the entire day, roundtrip. 

To get to Dambulla via public transport, you can take either a train or a bus. The closest train station is in Habarana, which is 25 km north. Local buses run frequently from the train station to town. 

You can also take a bus from Anuradhapura to Dambulla. This will take approximately 2 hours and cost around 150 – 200 LKR. 

You can always visit the Dambulla Cave Temple as part of a tour. There are many, many options, most of which include a visit to Pidurangala and/or Sigiriya.

Visit Wilpattu National Park

Anuradhapura is an ideal location to base yourself to visit Wilpattu National Park, the best place in Sri Lanka to go on a safari. It’s a great thing to do in Anuradhapura!

Read more about visiting Wilpattu National Park in our complete guide

With heaps of animals (including the elusive Sri Lankan leopard!) and very few visitors, you can expect tranquillity, nature and lots of fauna.

A visit to Wilpattu can easily be organised once you are in Anuradhapura, or in advance as part of a tour.

Visit Minneriya National Park

If you want to get more wildlife in, another excellent place to visit in Anuradhapura is Minneriay National Park. Located just a couple of hours away from Anuradhapura, Minneriya National Park is perhaps the best place in Sri Lanka to see elephants. It’s another excellent thing to do in Anuradhapura.

You can visit Minneriya as part of a half-day safari.

Anuradhapura Tips and Tricks

• For visiting the Anuradhapura ancient city, give yourself at least one full day at a minimum. There are many things to do in the Anuradhapura ancient city, so be sure to take your time. If you can, another day will really enhance your experience. 
• Start early! It gets super hot in Anuradhapura and trust us, you’ll want to tour the Anuradhapura tourist places in the morning to beat the heat. 
• Rent a bike or a scooter. The places to visit in Anuradhapura are very spread out and it’s hot. It’s much more enjoyable to tour the Anuradhapura tourist places on a bike or scooter than attempting to walk between sites. You can also hire a tuk-tuk to take you around for the day. Of course, you can always organise a tour.
• Dress appropriately. All of the Anuradhapura tourist places are still sites of religious pilgrimage (including Mihintale and the Dambulla Cave Temple), so you are expected to dress accordingly. This means covering your legs, shoulders and upper arms. You are also not allowed to wear a hat. 
• Wear socks. You will have to take your shoes off at each Anuradhapura tourist place and the ground gets excruciatingly hot. Socks will be a lifesaver. 
• Tickets. Be strategic with your entrance ticket for the places to visit in Anuradhapura. The ticket for the Anuradhapura ancient city is very expensive at $25 USD per person per day (and this only covers the 5 largest monuments). Plan your visit so that you can see all the ticketed Anuradhapura tourist places in one day and then leave the free or cheaper sites for the next day. If you want to save that $25, note that tickets are usually only inspected around the Jetavanarama sites and the Anuradhapura Museum. We were not checked at the Abhayagiri site but were checked at Twin Ponds. 

Looking for more Sri Lanka travel tips during your Anuradhapura visit? Read 47 Essential Sri Lanka Travel Tips

Is Anuradhapura Worth Visiting?

So, is Anuradhapura worth visiting? Yes, Anuradhapura is absolutely worth visiting!

There are a few reasons why Anuradhapura is worth visiting: there is a wealth of interesting and beautiful places to visit in Anuradhapura, there are some excellent day trips you can make, it’s a great city to get a sense of Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage, plus it’s an accessible and pleasant city.

Add to the mix some great places to stay in Anuradhapura and some good food options, and you’ve got yourself a champagne travel destination. So in sum, Anuradhapura is 100% worth visiting.

Where to Stay in Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is awash with great value accommodation options. 

Budget

Ceylonima Homestay

This was one of the best places we stayed in all of Sri Lanka and we can’t recommend it enough. The rooms are comfortable and the food is delicious. What really makes this place stand out though, are the owners, who make you feel like part of the family. They will go above and beyond and can arrange anything you want, at the best price possible. 

Mid-range

Aryana Boutique Hotel

This is a lovely boutique hotel located very centrally in town. The rooms are slightly small but still very nice and comfortable. The best part though is the much-welcomed pool, which is especially nice to jump into after a day exploring the ruins. 

The food isn’t great so you’re best seeking meals elsewhere. 

High-end

Uga Ulagalla 

At the top of the scale, this exclusive resort features everything you could ever ask for. The private villas feature plunge pools and there’s a spa on site. It’s located  40 km from town in a luxurious setting, surrounded by paddy fields and orchards. 

How to Get Around Anuradhapura

It’s very easy to get around Anuradhapura. Tuk-tuks are readily available, both on-demand and for daily hire. If you hire one for the entire day, expect to pay $20 – $30 USD. 

Most guesthouses can arrange scooter or bike hire. A scooter will cost around 2500 LKR per day and a bicycle will cost around 500 LKR per day. 

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