Located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura stands as the island’s first ancient capital and one of the most sacred cities in Buddhist history. For many centuries, it served as the spiritual and political heart of Sri Lanka and remains a primary center of Theravada Buddhism.Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, Anuradhapura is a magnificent monastic city dating back to the 5th century BC. It flourished as a powerful kingdom until the 11th century AD, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of architecture, spirituality, and advanced engineering.

The city’s skyline is adorned with awe-inspiring dagobas such as the serene white Ruwanwelisaya, the massive Jetavanaramaya, Abhayagiri Dagoba, Mirisawetiya, Thuparamaya, and Lankarama. Each monument reflects the architectural brilliance and deep devotion of an ancient civilization.At the spiritual heart of the city stands the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a sapling of the Bodhi tree under which the Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. Planted in 236 BC, it is considered the oldest historically documented tree in the world.

Anuradhapura also showcases remarkable ancient irrigation systems, including Tissa Wewa, Basawakkulama, Kala Wewa, Minneriya Wewa, and Nuwara Wewa. These vast reservoirs reveal the advanced hydraulic engineering and visionary planning of the ancient kingdom.