Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of Sri Lanka's oldest and most sacred cities and the administrative capital of the North Central Province. Once the centre of a powerful Sinhalese kingdom, it remains a living Buddhist pilgrimage destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose monuments are still used for worship today.

Founded around the 4th century BCE, the city served as Sri Lanka's first major capital and shaped the island's early history and culture. Its sacred sites include the Sri Maha Bodhi tree, the Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya and Abhayagiri stupas, Thuparamaya and the Samadhi Buddha statue, alongside ancient reservoirs, palaces and monastic ruins.

The Sacred City of Anuradhapura forms the historic core, while the modern New Town holds markets, guesthouses, restaurants, banks and government offices. The Archaeological Museum, Tissa Wewa reservoir, Isurumuniya rock temple and the Kuttam Pokuna twin ponds offer a fuller picture of the old capital's art, engineering and daily life.

Today the city balances heritage with a quiet provincial economy based on agriculture, pilgrimage tourism and public administration. Rice farming dominates the surrounding dry-zone countryside, and nearby Mihintale, the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, adds another important destination within easy reach.

For travellers, Anuradhapura is a gateway to Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle and a rewarding base for exploring Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa. Its deep religious significance, well-preserved ruins and unhurried pace make it distinctive for both leisure visitors and those travelling for study, government or business.