Hidden gems: Historical landmarks in Anuradhapura District

Discover the city's hidden treasures—remarkable spots that are relatively undiscovered but offer exceptional experiences. Our selection criteria? A rating of 4.5 or higher with fewer than 150 reviews. Explore these lesser-known yet outstanding places that promise a delightful visit in Anuradhapura District.

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Swarnamali Stupa [රුවන්වැලි සෑය] image
1
Swarnamali Stupa [රුවන්වැලි සෑය]
Historical landmark
👍👍 The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa and a hemispherical structure containing relics, in Sri Lanka.It's also known as "Sawarnamali chaitya"... NAMO BUDAHAYA! 🌼🌻
5.00 (45 reviews)
Sigiritrip Tours image
2
Sigiritrip Tours
Travel agency
👍👍 Our Driver was professional, perfect /driving experince, shehan is a very good guy. highly recommend!
5.00 (16 reviews)
Mihintale Rock Steps image
3
Mihintale Rock Steps
Historical landmark
👍👍 The place where king Devanampiyathissa embraces the buddhism from Arahat Mihindu. You can climb three rocks in order to worship the buddha’s statue, the stupa and the Mihintala Rock. The rock is hard to climb under the scotching sun but I guarantee the breathtaking view after the struggle.
4.90 (194 reviews)
Stupa - Vijayaramaya image
4
Stupa - Vijayaramaya
Historical landmark
4.90 (25 reviews)
Elephant Pond ඇත් පොකුණ image
5
Elephant Pond ඇත් පොකුණ
Historical landmark
👍👍 This gigantic man-made pond is situated close to Lankaramaya. This is 159 meters in length 52.7 meters across and 9.5 meters in-depth with the holding capacity of 75,000 cubic meters of water. Roughly 1,700 years old, it was a place for monks to bathe and engage in ablutions. It is made of granite a...
4.80 (177 reviews)
Dalada Maligawa Anuradhapura - අනුරාධපුර පුරාණ දළදා මාලිගාව image
6
Dalada Maligawa Anuradhapura - අනුරාධපුර පුරාණ දළදා මාලිගාව
Historical landmark
👍👍 A past Temple of Tooth Relic in the Anuradhapura sacred city. Not many people visit but a place you must visit to see its glory still.
4.80 (142 reviews)
Mahakanadarawa Stone Bridge image
7
Mahakanadarawa Stone Bridge
Historical landmark
👍👍 One of the well preserved stone bridge in sri lanka. Another can find at thiriyaya girihadu seya premises. Googal route is wrong. Ask from villagers when you in 500m radius.
4.80 (46 reviews)
Samadhi Statue 3 සමාධි පිළිමය 3 image
8
Samadhi Statue 3 සමාධි පිළිමය 3
Historical landmark
👍👍 This Samadhi Buddha statue is one of the most sacred and high quality works of art created during the Anuradhapura period and can be seen on the Wata Vandana Road in the grounds of the Abhayagiri Vihara in Anuradhapura. The sculptor has made a tremendous effort to portray the great personality as w...
4.80 (20 reviews)
King Dutugemunu Pillar දුටුගැමුණු ශිලා ස්ථම්භය image
9
King Dutugemunu Pillar දුටුගැමුණු ශිලා ස්ථම්භය
Historical landmark
👍👍 Our proud of history. Thats one created king Dewanampiyathissa.
4.80 (19 reviews)
Katu Seya - කටු සෑය - මිහින්තලය image
10
Katu Seya - කටු සෑය - මිහින්තලය
Historical landmark
👍👍 Katu Seya Mihintale, located in Mihintale, Sri Lanka, is a significant historical and religious site that deserves a visit for anyone interested in the country's rich cultural heritage. As I explored this sacred place, I was captivated by its serene ambiance and awe-inspiring architecture. Katu Sey...
4.70 (184 reviews)
Thisa Wewa [තිසා වැව] image
11
Thisa Wewa [තිසා වැව]
Historical landmark
👍👍 Tissa Wewa, an artificial reservoir, was built by Devanampiya Tissa in order to increase the water supply to his capital city of Anuradhapura. Only Panda Wewa and Abhaya Wewa are older. The embankment of Tissa Wewa is 2 miles long and 25 feet high.
4.70 (117 reviews)
Rathna Prasadaya | මුරගල image
12
Rathna Prasadaya | මුරගල
Historical landmark
👍👍 Guard stone Ancient ruins of Sri Lanka
4.70 (64 reviews)
The Alms Hall (දානශාලාව) image
13
The Alms Hall (දානශාලාව)
Historical landmark
👍 Another historical site that is located near the Moonstone and Guardstone. The layout is still intact, but most of the history is gone. However, you can still see the unique features of the build but wished there was proper maintenance for these historical architectures for the future generation to...
4.70 (22 reviews)
Maha Vihara Alms Hall ‌‌ඓතිහාසික මහා විහාර දාන ශාලාව image
14
Maha Vihara Alms Hall ‌‌ඓතිහාසික මහා විහාර දාන ශාලාව
Historical landmark
👍👍 Situated between lovamahapaya and ruwenweli maha stupa. Can't go inside as the gate is locked. Brief history as follows. The creator of this Dana Salawa is not found yet. According to reports of the monk, Fa-Hien who lived here in 411 – 413 A.D. there were about 5000 monks in Abhayagiri monastery....
4.70 (20 reviews)
Nakha Vehera image
15
Nakha Vehera
Historical landmark
👍👍 The Nakha Vehera belongs to the Mahayana tradition and constructed during 7-10th centuries (late late Anuradhapura era). The square shape Sthupa is one of the four square shaped dagoba in Sri Lanka and would have been similar to the Satmahal Prasadaya in Polonnaruwa. Ruins of several other building...
4.60 (43 reviews)
Image House of Jethawanaramaya - ජේතවනාරාම පිළිම ගෙය image
16
Image House of Jethawanaramaya - ජේතවනාරාම පිළිම ගෙය
Historical landmark
👍👍 Part of the Jethawanaramaya Stupa area. For foreigners they need the ticket, not specailly for this place, but the Main ticket for visiting the other sacred places in the area is enough. For locals, no tickets are required.
4.60 (28 reviews)
Main Refectory of Abayagiri Monastery - අභයගිරි ප්‍රධාන දාන ශාලාව image
17
Main Refectory of Abayagiri Monastery - අභයගිරි ප්‍රධාන දාන ශාලාව
Historical landmark
👍👍 Great ancient Sri Lankan architecture that had capacity to feed about 5k monks that time. A great place to visit. You can witness a very well preserved ancient clock as well
4.60 (25 reviews)
Lion's Pond (සිංහ පොකුණ) image
18
Lion's Pond (සිංහ පොකුණ)
Historical landmark
👍 Tradito dalla cartina non sono arrivato alla fontana del leone, l'acqua fluisce dal Pokuna Naga attraverso un tunnel. Complesso abbastanza interessante.
4.60 (18 reviews)
Harambathenna Resort image
19
Harambathenna Resort
Resort hotel
👍👍 Amazing hospitality by the staff. Great Location. Rooms were clean and tidy. Closer to the historical places of Anuradhapura. Easy access. Highly recommend
4.50 (67 reviews)
Tholuvila Monastery ‌තොලුවිල ‌බෞද්ධ විහාරාරාම සංකීර්ණය image
20
Tholuvila Monastery ‌තොලුවිල ‌බෞද්ධ විහාරාරාම සංකීර්ණය
Historical landmark
👍👍 ["\ud83c\udf31Tholuwila Archeological Reserve\ud83c\udf31\nThis site is recognized as the place where Thera Mahinda and his entourage in 3 c. B.C. took shelter on their way from Chetiya Pabbata to the Mahavihara. The structure at the site dates to the period between 7-9 c. C.E. and has been identifi...
4.50 (35 reviews)
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