Anuradhapura City Walk Guide: Beneath the Bodhi Tree of the Millennial Sacred City and the White Stupa Ensemble

Anuradhapura is located in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, approximately 205 kilometers from Colombo. It was Sri Lanka's first capital (4th century BC to 10th century AD) and one of South Asia's most important Buddhist pilgrimage centers. In 1982, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city was built around a tree — in the 3rd century BC, Princess Sanghamitta, daughter of Indian Emperor Ashoka, brought a branch from the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment and planted it here. This Sri Maha Bodhi tree still stands today, the oldest documented living tree in the world at over 2,300 years.

Anuradhapura's glory lasted 1,300 years until it was destroyed by South Indian invaders in 993 AD. For centuries afterward, the great city was swallowed by jungle until British colonists rediscovered it in the 19th century. Today, the ruins cover approximately 40 square kilometers, scattered with massive white stupas (dagobas), ancient reservoirs, exquisite stone carvings, and countless monastery ruins.

Unlike other Sri Lankan tourist cities, Anuradhapura is a living sacred city — every day, thousands of white-clad pilgrims circumambulate the stupas chanting, offer lotus flowers beneath the Bodhi tree, and bathe beside ancient reservoirs. The air is filled with sandalwood and lotus fragrance, and chanting echoes from dawn to midnight.

🚶 Day 1: Sacred City Core — Bodhi Tree and Super Stupas

Sri Maha Bodhi Tree

The Sri Maha Bodhi is Anuradhapura's most sacred site. This Bodhi tree was grown from a cutting of the original tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it has been alive since 288 BC. The tree is protected by golden railings and surrounded by a massive temple complex with four entrance gateways on each side.

Every morning and evening, thousands of pilgrims come to offer lotus flowers and pray beneath the tree. The platforms around the tree are covered with white lotus flowers and lit coconut oil lamps, the air fragrant with flowers and sandalwood. Even if you are not Buddhist, standing beneath this ancient tree that has witnessed 23 centuries of history, you can feel an indescribable sense of solemnity and peace.

Visitors must remove shoes and dress conservatively. Free admission.

Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba

The Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba was built in the 2nd century BC, standing 103 meters tall with a diameter of about 90 meters — Anuradhapura's most spectacular stupa. The pure white circular stupa gleams in the sunlight, topped with a golden spire and jeweled ornamentation, surrounded at the base by a ring of beautifully carved elephant stone pillars.

The stupa is said to enshrine relics of the Buddha. Every evening, hundreds of pilgrims walk clockwise around the stupa's perimeter path (called Pradakshina), holding lotus flowers and chanting. Joining them is the best way to experience Anuradhapura's spiritual atmosphere.

Abhayagiri Dagoba

The Abhayagiri Dagoba stands about 75 meters tall, built in the 1st century BC, one of Anuradhapura's largest stupas. It was the centerpiece of the Abhayagiri Monastery, which at its peak housed 5,000 monks — one of the world's largest Buddhist monastic centers at the time.

The stupa's dome has partially collapsed, lending it a weathered beauty. Surrounding it are extensive monastery ruins including exquisite moonstones (semi-circular carved stones at entrances) and guardstones.

🚶 Day 2: Hydraulic Engineering and Stone Carving Art

Jetavanarama Dagoba

The Jetavanarama Dagoba stands approximately 122 meters tall, one of the tallest brick structures in the world (second only to the Egyptian pyramids), built with about 93 million bricks. Constructed in the 3rd century AD, its sheer scale is breathtaking.

Standing at the base of the stupa looking up, you feel humbled before the power of faith. The surrounding monastery ruins feature fine stone carvings and bathing pools.

Samadhi Buddha Statue

The Samadhi Buddha Statue was carved in the 4th century AD and is considered one of South Asia's finest Buddha sculptures. The statue stands about 2.1 meters tall in a meditation posture (Samadhi), with a calm and serene facial expression and a slight smile, radiating a transcendent peace and wisdom.

The statue sits in a tranquil park surrounded by ancient trees and lotus ponds. India's first Prime Minister Nehru once said that during his most difficult moments in prison, he maintained inner calm by visualizing this statue.

Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds)

Kuttam Pokuna is a masterpiece of Anuradhapura's ancient hydraulic engineering. Two rectangular bathing tanks are built side by side — the northern pool is 40 meters long and the southern pool 27 meters, both about 5 meters deep. The stone walls and steps are finely carved, with sophisticated filtration systems at the bottom.

Built between the 6th-8th centuries AD for monks' bathing, these pools still fill with clear water during the rainy season, testament to their brilliant design.

🚶 Day 3: Isurumuniya and Mihintale

Isurumuniya Rock Temple

The Isurumuniya Rock Temple was built in the 3rd century BC, famous for its exquisite stone carvings. The temple is built beneath a massive rock, with finely carved reliefs of "The Lovers" (an embracing couple) and "Elephant and Rider."

From the temple top, you can overlook Tissa Wewa Reservoir — an artificial lake built in the 3rd century BC that is still in use today, irrigating surrounding rice paddies.

Entrance fee is about 200 LKR.

Mihintale Sacred Mountain

Mihintale is located about 13 kilometers east of Anuradhapura, considered the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. In 247 BC, the missionary monk Mahinda, sent by Indian Emperor Ashoka, met King Devanampiya Tissa on this mountain and converted him to Buddhism, making Buddhism the state religion of Sri Lanka.

The mountain features multiple stupas, monasteries, and meditation caves. Reaching the summit requires climbing 1,840 stone steps, but ancient carvings and reservoirs along the way make the ascent rewarding. The Ambasthala Dagoba at the summit marks the historic meeting place of Mahinda and the king.

From the top, sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding plains unfold.

Entrance fee is about 500 LKR.

🍜 Food Recommendations

Must-Try List

Rice and Curry — Anuradhapura curries are made with local spices, unique flavor. About 300-500 LKR
Wood Apple Juice — North Central Province specialty, sweet and sour, refreshing. About 80-150 LKR
Hoppers — Breakfast staple with coconut chutney. About 50-100 LKR
Kottu Roti — Locals' favorite dinner. About 250-400 LKR
Fried Small Fish — From local reservoirs and ponds, crispy and tasty. About 200-300 LKR
Coconut Water — Fresh coconuts. About 60 LKR

Recommended Restaurants

Milano Restaurant — Most popular local restaurant, authentic Sri Lankan dishes. Rice and curry about 400 LKR
Dinapala Restaurant — Old establishment famous for Kottu Roti. About 300 LKR
Vegetarian Restaurants near Bodhi Tree — For pilgrims, cheap and generous portions. About 200-300 LKR
Roadside Fruit Stalls — Mangoes, papayas, and wood apples. About 50-200 LKR

🚄 Transport Guide

How to Get There

From	Transport	Duration	Cost
Colombo	Train	About 4-5 hours	About 200-500 LKR
Colombo	Bus	About 5 hours	About 300-400 LKR
Colombo	Private car	About 4 hours	About 10,000-12,000 LKR
Kandy	Bus	About 3 hours	About 200 LKR
Trincomalee	Bus	About 3 hours	About 200 LKR
Jaffna	Bus	About 3 hours	About 200 LKR

Local Transport

Bicycle: Best way to explore, about 400-500 LKR/day
Tuk-Tuk: Half-day tour about 1,500-2,000 LKR
Motorcycle: About 800-1,200 LKR/day
Walking: Core area walkable, but sites are spread apart

Best Time to Visit

Dry season (May-September): Best season with dry weather
Rainy season (October-January): Occasional heavy rain, but stupas have a special charm in rain
Poson Full Moon Festival (May): Commemorates Buddhism's arrival, a million pilgrims gather

💡 Practical Tips

Wear white clothing: Pilgrims wear white; tourists can also wear white to show respect
Removing shoes is the norm: Almost all sites require removing shoes, bring thick socks
Sun hat essential: Ruins have almost no shade, intense sun exposure
Bicycle is best: Sites are spread out, cycling is the most efficient way to explore
Visit morning and evening: Too hot at midday, dawn and dusk most comfortable
Pilgrims have priority: Let pilgrims go first at stupas and Bodhi tree
Buy combined ticket: Sacred city museum and main sites require tickets, about 2,500 LKR for foreign visitors
Climb Mihintale in the morning: Avoid midday heat, coolest at dawn
Bring enough water: Very few water vendors within the ruins area
Poson Festival note: Crowded during May Poson festival, book accommodation in advance

💰 Budget Reference

Item	Cost (LKR)
Accommodation (budget)	1,500-3,000/night
Accommodation (mid-range)	4,000-7,000/night
Sacred City combined ticket (foreign)	2,500
Mihintale entrance	500
Isurumuniya entrance	200
Bicycle rental	400-500/day
Meal	300-500
Tuk-Tuk half-day tour	1,500-2,000

Three-day budget (excluding transport to Anuradhapura):

Budget: About 15,000-25,000 LKR
Mid-range: About 30,000-45,000 LKR

Anuradhapura is not just ruins — it is a Buddhist epic written in brick and stone. When you stand at the base of the Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba gazing up at its 103-meter white dome, when you see the 2,300-year-old Bodhi tree swaying gently in the breeze, when you join white-clad pilgrims circumambulating the stupa chanting — you understand why Sri Lanka is called "the Island of Dharma." This sacred city took 1,300 years to build, slept for 1,000 years, and took 200 years to be rediscovered. It deserves three days of your time, to slowly walk through every corner.