Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura was the political and religious capital of Ceylon for more than 1,300 years. The sacred city grew around a cutting from the Bodhi tree brought here in the 3rd century BCE. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage property of palaces, monasteries, monuments and great stupas.

Historic sites are spread across a wide area, so a visit involves travelling between several places. Allow a full day and plan transport in advance. Anuradhapura remains an active Buddhist pilgrimage centre; follow temple rules and staff guidance.

The Central Cultural Fund table checked on 25 September 2026 lists USD 30 for a foreign adult (LKR 10,020 that day) and USD 15 for a child aged 6–12 (LKR 5,010). Pay in LKR at the current daily exchange rate. CCF lists a 50% discount for SAARC citizens. Ticket counters operate daily 07:00–17:00; tickets allow one entry that day. Collect online orders at the site counter. Confirm which monuments are covered, as some sacred sites may have separate rules.

UNESCO: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/200/

Cover photo (archival photograph taken 11 October 2016): Nicolas Chadeville, Abhayagiri Dagoba in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, CC BY 4.0; optimized to WebP for this listing. Original: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abhayagiri_Dagoba_in_Anuradhapura,_Sri_Lanka.jpg License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/