Anuradhapura Day Tour

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The ruins of Anuradhapura are one of South Asia’s most evocative sights. The sprawling complex contains a rich collection of archaeological and architectural wonders: enormous dagobas (brick stupas), ancient pools and crumbling temples, built during Anuradhapura’s thousand years of rule over Sri Lanka. Today, several of the sites remain in use as holy places and temples; frequent ceremonies give Anuradhapura a vibrancy that’s a sharp contrast to the museum-like ambience at Polonnaruwa.

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  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
    Day Tours
  • Activity Level Leisurely
    1/8
  • Group Size Large Group
    6
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All about the Anuradhapura Day Tour.

The ruins of Anuradhapura are one of South Asia’s most evocative sights. The sprawling complex contains a rich collection of archaeological and architectural wonders: enormous dagobas (brick stupas), ancient pools and crumbling temples, built during Anuradhapura’s thousand years of rule over Sri Lanka. Today, several of the sites remain in use as holy places and temples; frequent ceremonies give Anuradhapura a vibrancy that’s a sharp contrast to the museum-like ambience at Polonnaruwa.

  • Pick up from Kandy Hotel and transfer to Anuradhapura – Approximately 3-4hours drive
  • Explore the the places Abhayagiri Dagoba, Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba and Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba
  • Lunch at a recommended restaurant
  • Visit  Mihintale, Ratnaprasada, and Jetavanarama Dagoba
  • Transfer to Kandy – 3-4 hours drive approximately
The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

✓ English Speaking Chauffeur guide
✓ All Cost Relate to Car and Chauffeur
✓ No Hidden Cost
✓ Highway tolls
✓ Hotels/accommodation
* Dinner
* breakfast

What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.

o Meals Out Side of the Stated Meal Plan
o Expenses of PersonalNature
o Train Ticket
o Any Other Services not specified above
o Entrance Tickets for All Mentioned Excu

  1. Attraction 1 Abhayagiri Dagoba

    Abhayagiri Dagoba

    Dating back to the 1st century BC, this colossal dagoba was the ceremonial focus of the 5000-strong Abhayagiri Monastery. Originally over 100m high, it was one of the greatest structures in the ancient world, its scale only matched by the pyramids of Giza (and nearby Jetavanarama). Today, after several reconstructions, Abhayagiri Dagoba soars 75m above the forest floor. Visually, it’s stunning, and your first glimpse of this brick monument through a gap in the surrounding forest is breathtaking.

     

  2. Attraction 2 Sri Maha Bodhi

    The sacred bodhi tree is central to Anuradhapura in both a spiritual and physical sense. It was grown from a cutting brought from Bodhgaya in India and is said to be the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world, tended by an uninterrupted succession of guardians for over 2000 years. Today thousands of devotees come to make offerings, particularly on poya (full moon) days and weekends. Sunset is a magical time to visit.

  3. Attraction 3 Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba

    This magnificent white dagoba is guarded by a wall with a frieze of 344 elephants standing shoulder to shoulder. Apart from a few beside the western entrance, most are modern replacements of the originals from 140 BC. Today, after incurring much damage from invading Indian forces, it rises 55m, considerably less than its original height; nor is its form the same as the earlier ‘bubble’ shape.

  4. Attraction 4 Archaeological Museum

    The old British colonial administration building has recently been renovated and has an interesting collection of artwork, carvings and everyday items from Anuradhapura and other historic sites around Sri Lanka. Exhibits include a restored relic chamber, found during the excavation of the Kantaka Chetiya dagoba at nearby Mihintale, and a large-scale model of Thuparama Dagoba’s vatadage (circular relic house) as it might have been if a wooden roof had existed.

  5. Attraction 5 Isurumuniya Vihara

    This charming rock temple, dating from the reign of Devanampiya Tissa (r 307–267 BC), is set around a lovely lotus pond, the corner of which is carved with images of elephants playfully splashing water. The central temple has some particularly fine mural paintings. Climb around the back to the rock summit to see the bell-shaped stupa and a pair of Buddha footprints etched into the rock.

     

    Mihintale, Ratnaprasada, and Jetavanarama Dagoba

  6. Attraction 6 Jetavanarama Dagoba

    The Jetavanarama Dagoba’s massive dome rises above the entire eastern part of Anuradhapura. Built in the 3rd century by King Mahasena, it may have originally topped 120m, but today is about 70m – similar to the Abhayagiri. When it was built it was almost certainly the third-tallest monument in the world, the first two being Egyptian pyramids.

  7. Attraction 7 Ratnaprasada

    Most of the 8th-century Ratnaprasada or ’Jewel Palace’ lies in ruins today, though it was originally seven storeys high with a graceful, tiered roof. The entrance is marked by a beautifully carved muragala (guardstone), which depicts the Cobra King holding a vase of abundance and a flowering branch, with a dwarf attendant at his feet and his head framed by a cobra hood.

  8. Attraction 8 Mihintale

    Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is now a pilgrimage site, and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures.

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