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Anuradhapura, located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, is a city steeped in history and spirituality. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Anuradhapura was once the capital of ancient Sri Lanka and served as a center of Buddhist culture and learning.
Today, it is home to a wealth of archaeological treasures, including towering dagobas, intricately carved stone pillars, and sacred bodhi trees. Join us as we explore the rich cultural heritage of Anuradhapura and uncover its significance in shaping the identity of modern-day Sri Lanka.
The entrance fee to visit the sacred ancient city of Anuradhapura is $25 USD including entrance to the museum. The grounds are extensive but the ancient ruins are few and far between. For this reason, a tuk-tuk or bike is essential to get around. Alternately, you can rent a car with or without a private driver. I chose to hire a tuk-tuk driver who turned out to be very entertaining!
JAYA SRI HAMA BODHI TREE
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi isn't part of the ancient city that's why I suggest you go here first. Jaya Sri Hama Bodhi is one of the most sacred relics in Sri Lanka and is highly sacred in Buddhism. The story goes that Lord Buddha himself attained enlightenment under such a tree in Bodh Gaya, an important religious site in India.
Legend has it that Jaya Sri Hama Bodhi was propagated from the original bodhi tree in India. It's considered to be the oldest tree in the world planted by a human. Jaya Sri Hama Bodhi is worth visiting given its significant history.
Note that the entrance fee of 200 rupees is not included in the ticket price of $25 USD. My tuk-tuk driver said he would bring me to a "secret" gate to avoid paying the entrance fee. True to his word, I wasn't asked to pay anything. The only thing the guard asked me to do was to cover my shoulders. I saw a lot of locals entering through this gate so I'm not sure how "secret" it actually was.
As a reminder, women need to cover their shoulders for several of the sites so having a scarf is essential.
THUPARAMAYA DAGOBA
Thuparamaya Dagoba was built by King Devanampiyatissa during his reign in the 3rd century. It's said to have been the first Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka when Buddhism was introduced to the country. Although I've visited plenty of pagodas during my travels in South East Asia, it was my first time seeing a dagoba (or stupa). Although the names are similar, the two are completely different architecturally-speaking.
What’s the difference between a dagoba and a pagoda? A dagoba is a dome-shaped structure while a pagoda is a tiered tower. Dagobas are used as shrines to house relics of Buddhist monks or nuns. Devotees believe the right collar bone of Lord Buddha was kept in Thuparamaya Dagoba. Dagobas are also used as a place to practice meditation.
ABHAYAGIRI DAGOBA
Abhayagiri Dagoba was constructed during the reign of King Vattagamini Abaya in the 1st Century. At nearly 75 meters in height, Abhayagiri is the second tallest dagoba in Sri Lanka. Although the stupa has been refurbished over the years, the top portion is part of the original construction from thousands of years ago.
KUTTAM POKUNA (TWO PONDS)
Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds) were pools made of solid cut-granite slabs where monks used to bathe. These pools are considered the most significant hydrological achievement in engineering created by the ancient Sinhalese.
The water was transferred from underground ducts (some of which are visible throughout the site) and properly filtered before reaching the pools. It's fascinating how such ancient civilizations could achieve so much with so little. Nowadays, the mossy green ponds are mostly enjoyed by gold fish.
JETHAWANARAMAYA DAGOBA
Jethawanaramaya Stupa was constructed using bricks and is the tallest dagoba in ancient Anuradhapura. The most prominent feature of this dagoba is the vibrantly colorful reclining Buddha found inside. What's more, every inch of every wall, as well as the ceiling, is covered in elaborate paintings. Take the time to look at how detailed the paintings are - it's really impressive!
SAMADHI BUDDHA STATUE
The Samadhi statue depicts Buddha meditating in the posture he was in when he was first enlightened. It's thought the statue was built in the 3rd or 4th Century. Samadhi Buddha Statue is made of marble and stands at just a little over 7'.
My tuk-tuk driver told me it was okay to take pictures but, when I did, I was scolded by other visitors who were clearly Sinhalese Buddhists. I think my faux pas was that I had my back turned to Buddha which is a big no-no. I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone but take this as a word of caution.
ISURUMUNIYA TEMPLE
Once again, it was King Devannampiyatissa who founded Isurumuniya Temple during the 3rd Century. The rock temple is famous for its stone carvings. The carvings include a horseman, elephants (as seen in the picture below), the Royal Family and the Isurumuniya Lovers. Visitors can climb to the top of Isurumuniya Temple to take in the views of the sprawling grounds of the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura.
FEATURES UNIQUE TO ANURADHAPURA ANCIENT CITY
SANDAKADA PAHANA
As I wandered around Anuradhapura, I noticed many of these half-moon, sculpted elements at the foot of stairs. This feature is unique to Sinhalese culture and architecture. Sandakada pahanas are made from locally-sourced moonstone which is then carved into elaborate depictions of animals. The one pictured below is, apparently. the most elaborate and well-preserved in Sri Lanka.
GUARD STONES
Another common feature often used in ancient Anuradhapura was guard stones placed at entrances. Some represent pot-bellied dwarfs and others depict graceful nagarajas - a mythical cobra/human species. As the name suggests, guard stones were believed to guard sacred sites against evil beings.
PRAYER FLAGS
Prayer flags aren't unique to the ancient city of Anuradhapura but you'll see them everywhere. Prayer flags originated in Tibetan Buddhism and since Sri Lanka is predominantly Buddhist, the use of prayer flags is common.
Contrary to common belief, the prayer flags aren't used to carry prayers to gods or other deities. Rather, prayer flags are used to carry wishes pertaining to peace, wisdom, luck, happiness, compassion, prosperity, health and longevity which are then blown by the wind and put forth into the universe.
As a final note, expect to see stray dogs, cattle and chickens wandering around the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura!
READ MORE ON SRI LANKA:
- Climbing Pidurangala Rock in Sri Lanka
- A Guide to Climbing Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka
- The Prettiest Train Rides in Sri Lanka
TRAVEL RESOURCES:
- Verify visa requirements for Sri Lanka on the official website
- Book flights to Sri Lanka via Skyscanner
- Compare hotel prices in Sri Lanka on Booking.com & Agoda
- Check hostel prices on HostelWorld
- Reserve train tickets on Sri Lanka Railways official site or 12GoAsia
- Stay connected using an Airalo E-sim for Sri Lanka
- Search for tours & excursions in Sri Lanka
- Shop for affordable travel insurance with SafetyWing
- Save on conversion fees while traveling with Wise
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I’m the founder and creator of Life Untraveled. I quit my corporate job, sold everything I owned and have been traveling full-time since 2018. I hope to inspire you to travel differently on a budget.
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Ami Bhat
It is amazing how the tree from Bodh Gaya which is miles away, got transferred here. A lot of these traditions are quite similar to India and can so well identify with them. How far is this from Colombo?
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
Hi Ami! Yes it’s quite fascinating how Buddhism traveled so far with the simple seed of a tree! We took the train from Colombo and it took just under 4 hours.
Sally from Passport & Plates
How unfortunate that it wasn’t worth the price! I’ve definitely felt that way about some tourist destinations. Have to admit that the bride and groom look amazing though! It’s always interesting to see different global wedding traditions.
Sarah Kim, Tales From a Fork
Wow $25? It seems worth the price though. I like that non-Buddhists can’t go into the dagoba. It seems to maintain some integrity to the religion.
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
That’s true – it does render it much more serious and genuine. Hopefully they won’t be influenced by mass tourism to change their ways.
Nisha
Looks like you had a gala time in Sri Lanka.It looks more like Cambodia/Thailand than India. 🙂
When I was traveling slow in Cambodia, I also got to see some local weddings and was part of a few local activities..
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
That’s because Buddhism is the most practiced religion in Sri Lanka just like Cambodia & Thailand. I always enjoy seeing local weddings and the different traditions!
Shane Prather
Looks like an enlightening cultural experience! The bride and groom have such ornate outfits – so neat they let you take a picture with them. I would love to visit this beautiful country one day!
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
The bride and groom were so kind although I felt like I was cramming their style…lol! Sri Lanka is a wonderful country – hope you get to visit one day!
Anne Slater-Brooks
Wow the bride and groom look incredible. I always thought they wore red for weddings in this part of the world so it shows how little I know. $25 does seem pretty steep though
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
I saw another bride in Galle Fort (Sri Lanka) and she was wearing a red dress. Unfortunately, most popular sites in Sri Lanka are expensive.
TheSoulofSeoul
Only SLIGHTLY underdressed to stand with that bride and groom! hahaha That first paragraph had me feeling bad that you took the time to go there, but the stupas look pretty impressive even if they were all spread out. I’d probably like to have a nice slow day walking those grounds. ^^
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
I’m only missing a bit of glitter! 😉
Megan Indoe
This seems like such a great place to go and learn more about the local culture and history. I hate when you find out that taking photos is frowned upon AFTER already taking them! It wasn’t your fault at least since the driver, who is also a local told you it was okay!
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
It was an interesting place, I just thought the entrance fee was really steep! I felt so bad when I heard them scolding us but I think they were just a little too sensitive as there weren’t any signs advising otherwise. Oh well!
Fairytale Studios
This is really nice. Photos are very good. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy James
Looks like an amazing place with all the animals and history. The admission fee is quite steep but you have shown that it is worth it. Thank you for sharing a great post.
raghavmodi
Even though we have a lot of temples in India and our own history, i’m always fascinated by different countries and their past, especially in the form of how religion and art merge together. Sri Lanka is obviously a lot similar to what we have in South India, but still there are minor differences that make it unique. As for the steep entrance price, I can understand your issue with that because in India too they have different pricing for foreigners and locals. Thank you for a wonderful post and something to look forward to when I do visit Sri Lanka.
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
I thought Sri Lanka would be a lot like India but it’s actually quite different in many ways notwithstanding the fact that it’s primarily a Buddhist country. I admit I sometimes do get a little pissed off when as foreigners we pay about 1000% (just a quick guesstimate) more than locals. I understand why this is so but the difference in prices is often ridiculous.
Neha Verma
I can invision you on your private tuk-tuk enjoying the ride 🙂 The price does look on the higher side. Is there a hard bargaining to be done? That oldest tree, the architecture and all other snaps are pretty cool though
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
No bargaining on entrance fees as they’re all official sites but we bargained on the tuk-tuk ride! 😉
Katie @ CreativeTravelGuide
I love visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites! There is something so charming about places steeped in so much history. This palace looks fascinating (although it does sound pricey!) Have pinned this to read again before our Sri Lanka trip!
Probearoundthe Globe
I love the prayer flags story. I know many people misunderstood the meaning of it but I’ve always loved the idea. Still very happy with the prayer flags I bought on my travels.
Hair to There
I kind of felt this way about Sri Lanka as a whole. I’m having a difficult time working through my blog post recaps of our visit there, because I’m unsure how to articulate my feeling for the place. I know a lot of countries depend on tourism as an industry, but there is a right way and a wrong way to capitalize on it. Almost every day in Sri Lanka presented us with another unexpected expense. I’m glad I spent time in Sri Lanka, but it is not a place I ever plan to return to.
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
Actually, Sri Lanka is one of my favorite countries and I wouldn’t hesitate to return. Of course, the second time around I wouldn’t pay to see all these sites again which were way overpriced. 🙂
Jennifer Morrow
I love seeing the wide variety of architecture. The monkeys and other animals are pretty cool, too. I am not sure it would be worth the price, either, but it does look interesting.
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
It was interesting and riding around in a private tuk-tuk was fun but our wallets didn’t appreciate it as much…lol!
Ashley @ My Wanderlusty Life
This looks a like a really cool site, but you’re right–$25 is a bit pricey, especially in that part of the world. BUT it is what it is and you got to see some neat things. I love the statues you posed with and the story about the tree–how it’s the oldest ever planted by a human. And geez, it looks like you visited a zoo!
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
Unfortunately, all the sites in Sri Lanka are pretty expensive. I enjoy learning about a country’s history but sometimes the price just isn’t justified. :
I was excited to see some monkeys though! 🙂
Ashley @ My Wanderlusty Life
Yeah! There were monkeys at Tikal in Guatemala while I was there earlier this year and I was obsessed with them!
Lydia@Lifeuntraveled.com
Monkeys are the best! 🙂