Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka's first ancient capital, a sacred city of over a millennium and a World Heritage Site, where the Bodhi tree, giant white stupas and monastery ruins lie scattered through the woods; nearby Mihintale is where Buddhism arrived, and Wilpattu to the west offers leopard sightings.

Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, was the island's first royal capital, serving as the seat of the Sinhalese kingdom for more than a thousand years from the 4th century BC to the 11th century AD. It is also a holy city of Theravada Buddhism, and in 1982 it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as the "Sacred City of Anuradhapura". The ancient city and the new town are separate. In the ancient city (the sacred area), the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi — grown from a cutting of the tree at Bodh Gaya in India and regarded as the oldest human-planted tree in the world with a documented history — stands alongside the three great stupas of Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya and Abhayagiri, as well as Thuparamaya, the stone pillars of the Lovamahapaya (Brazen Palace), Isurumuniya Temple, the Samadhi Buddha, the Twin Ponds (Kuttam Pokuna) and the moonstones, all spread across tens of square kilometres of woodland and ancient reservoirs. Most visitors get around by bicycle or hired tuk-tuk; allow 1–2 days, sightseeing in the early morning and late afternoon and avoiding the midday heat. A combined ticket for the ancient city costs about US$30, while active temples such as the Sacred Bodhi Tree and Ruwanwelisaya are entered separately on a donation basis. Mihintale, about 12 km away, is where Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka, and Wilpattu National Park, about 30 km to the west, offers safaris to spot leopards. The climate is hot; the dry season from December to April is the best time to visit, while October–November brings heavy northeast monsoon rains. On every full-moon day (Poya), pilgrims flock to the city — the atmosphere is intense, but crowds are large. Getting there: from Colombo it's about 4–5 hours by train or about 5 hours by bus. Sigiriya and Dambulla are about 60 km away, making Anuradhapura a natural stop at the northern tip of the Cultural Triangle. Note: when entering temples and stupa areas you must remove your shoes and hat and wear clothing covering your knees and shoulders; the stone paving gets scorching at midday, so consider wearing white socks. Do not pose for photos with your back to a Buddha statue.

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