Anuradhapura is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and Sri Lanka’s first capital â governing the island for over 1,300 years from approximately the 4th century BCE. The sacred precinct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains dagobas (stupas) among the tallest ancient structures ever built. The Sri Maha Bodhi â a Sacred Fig tree grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment â was planted in 288 BCE and is recognised as the oldest documented tree in the world with a known planting date.
Key monuments include the Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba (2nd century BCE), the Thuparamaya (the first stupa built in Sri Lanka, 3rd century BCE), the massive Jetavanarama stupa (once the third-tallest structure in the ancient world), the Isurumuniya Rock Temple, and the Abhayagiri Monastery complex. Anuradhapura remains an active Buddhist pilgrimage site, and a heritage tour explores both the archaeological significance of each monument and its continuing religious importance. Visitors should dress modestly; the sacred precincts require bare feet.
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