Explore Anuradhapura in deep - Buddhism, Culture, History & Art
Description
As both a major center of Buddhism in the world & one of the oldest Kingdoms in the world, Anuradhapura is packed with its own unique Traditions, History & a mesmerizing Culture. So it's literally difficult to study this massive city alone. So we recommend hiring Lucky as your Interpreter who meticulously reveals the significance of each site who himself a Culture Buff having a profound knowledge of Archaeology, History, Anthropology, Architecture, Fine arts & Folklores and most especifically who has a fantastic reading on Pure Buddhist Teachings. —— will add insights to help you make the most of your visit & go beyond the guidebooks with all ground knowledge of a Personal Interpreter. And Don't hesitate to contact us for your Fully Customized Guided Day Tours, Half-Day Tours or Multi-Day Tours. Our Tours available at Mihintale, Ritigala, Aukana, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy etc. or maybe help you planning your whole Itinerary in Sri Lanka.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Welcome to Rajarata ! (The King’s County or The Land of Kings) We will commence our day from Vessagiriya Forest Monastery, which is one of the two oldest Buddhist Monks living dwellings in the island. At Vessagiriya, the guests will start to deep dive into the Ancient Sinhalese Civilization nourished with Buddhism, Agriculture, Fine Arts, Architecture, Trades, International Relations, and Spellbinding Engineering Marvels and there you get an idea of how Anuradhapura looked like in its golden era from its very beginning.
Hidden on the side of a boulder face at the Ran Masu Uyana (The Royal Goldfish Park) sandwiched between the Tissa Wewa and the Isurumuniya Rock Temple at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka is a unique artefact of Ancient Sri Lanka which is locally known as “Bawa Chakraya” or the “Sakwala Chakraya.
The Sri Maha Bodhi Tree or The Sacred Bodhi Tree ( A Fig or Pipal Tree scientifically known as the Ficus Religiosa) is regarded as the first of the eight sacred places in Anuradhapura. This is recorded to be the right wing branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya in India under which the Ascetic Siddhartha attained Enlightenment, and was sent by Emperor Ashoka through his beloved daughter, The Buddhist Nun Theri Sanghamitta, on request of Sinhalese King Devanampiyatissa in the 3rd century BCE. From this point onwards it came to be venerated by successive Kings, Monks, Nuns, and the Lay Buddhists since it is a living connection to the Gautama Buddha. Particularly, it is generally accepted that it would be the oldest human planted living tree in the world with the longest written records and at present nearly 2300 years old.
To the north or the Sacred Bodhi Tree, we can witness a huge collection of standing granite pillars which has been identified as the dilapidated building of the ancient Brazen palace which was once served as the administrative Center of the ancient Maha Vihara Monastery Complex constructed under the guidance of Great King Gamini Abhaya in 2nd Century BCE, a grand son of King Devanampiyatissa. It was a nine-storey building with 1000 different chambers. The name, Brazen Palce derives from the fact that its roof was thatched with copper tiles.
Ruwanveliseya stupa also known as the Ratnamali or as the Mahathupa ( Th Great Stupa) was constructed under the guidance of Great Kind Gamini Abhaya in the second century BC. The chronicles fantastically describes of the inauguration ceremony of this Stupa as great festival that was held in Anuradhapura with the participation of Invited Guests even from other countries as diplomats. However it was destroyed during Chola Invasion by 10th century AC and was restored the stupa to its original glory in the 12th century AC by King Parakkramabahu the greatest. Then anyhow what we see today is the most recent restored form which was completed by Ratnamali Stupa Development Society in 1940, what was firstly initiated by Ven. Naranvita Sumanasara Thero in 1873 as he wanted to restore it to its former glory.
This picturesque pair of Ponds built on the low ground are undoubtedly exquisite specimens of land scape architecture and of course a wonderful hydraulic system showing not only the talents but the aesthetic sense of these magnificent people.
This is really somthing like a modern steam bath, but this was not merely to enjoy steam bathing with warm water but of a well-developed sinhalese medication which performed in 4th century AC onwards. At there we can discuss how it was functioned and how Sick monks in Abhayagiriya University cured their skin deceases.
There we will again see a large granite trough in the shape of canoe stands with an amazing intaglio in the refectory premises of the Abhayagiriya Monastery. The Chinese monk Fa-hsien who was studying at the Abhayagiriya University in 5th Century AC recorded that there were 5000 Buddhist monks in the Monastery and this particular trough could hold sufficient rice for such a number.
This is one of the finest works of art in Sri Lanka dates back to about the 8th Century AC. And this masterpiece is preciously showcasing the aesthetic sense of the ancient craftsmen and how incredibly they have put their knowledge, ability, talents, feelings into practice.
This is popularly known as the Eth-Pokuna to the locals or the Elephant Pond in English, situated to south-west of the Refectory is perhaps the largest Man made pond in the Asia that was built in the 3rd century AC. It is said that this is three times bigger than a modern day Olympic swimming pool. The miracle here is not only its enormous size but the underground conduits which still functions and have been supplying water to the pond from nearby reservoirs and in the south west corner we can note a cistern sluice which suggests that water was distributed to other relatively smaller ponds in the vicinity depicting the superb hydraulic engineering skills of the ancient Sinhalese.
The moonstone is another most beautiful and breathtaking creation of the ancient sculptor. It serves as a doormat at the foot of a flight of steps to a Buddhist shrine, but the sculptor transforms it into a work of art far excellence.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(58)
I had the great pleasure of having Lucky as my guide, or rather interpreter, in Anuradhapura. Right from the start, he was extremely | welcoming, and even though I booked my tour only the day before, he arranged both the pickup from my hotel and the most wonderful tour around various sights. Lucky's in-depth understanding and insight into Sri Lanka's history and culture made this experience truly special - Lucky is a very unique person who genuinely embraces the Buddhist philosophy of life, and it was deeply inspiring to talk to him. I had the absolute best day, which exceeded all my expectations. And if that wasn't enough, he later sent me a detailed description of our day and all the sites we visited. A day with Lucky is not just a guided tour; it's a window into Sri Lanka's rich history and a genuine cultural exchange.
Dearest Kam 🙏❤️! How Kind & how wonderful character you are my friend 💖 came as a client and left as one more best friend..😘 I couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you very very much for this incredible and majestic praising on me. I am so honored to have this endless Stream of Words from you Álvaro ! I am really glad & just delighted to hear that you have had really enjoyed all our experiences and I have literally been able to feed you with what you were really expecting for. It was such an incredible & an enthusiastic experience in my life with you. what’s more! Hence, as always, I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful day which was full of fruitful discussions, Insightfull convos , unimaginable perspectives and honest smiles. So it was a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey in Sri Lanka and I feel very privileged to have enjoyed our experience together. Finally, as always I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for my dearest Mother Universe for bringing me that great chance to having you as my guest there in glorious Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
We had an amazing tour. Lucky had a lot of knowledge and explains everything with much passion.
Dear Kim & Mart! How nice of you my friends, couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you so much for this amazing praising on me. so I am honored to have this Stream of Words! I am Really glad & delighted to hear that you & Mart have had really enjoyed our experience and I had really been able to feed you with what you were really expecting for. It was such an enthusiastic day with you guys. what’s more! Hence, I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful day which was full of fun adorned by fruitful discussions, conversations, and honest smiles. And it was also a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey in Sri Lanka. Finally, I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for my Mother Universe for bringing me that wonderful opportunity to have you met as my guests there in glorious Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
Lucky it's not "just a guide", it's a knowledge transfer specialist, an interpreter. He truly believes and loves what he does, and he is able to make you feel it through his enthusiasm and positive attitude. Communication with him through the whole process, before, after and far beyond have been absolutely fluent and in timely manner. Lucky always made us part of the decision making process for the tour taking in count all our needs. Lucky is the type of person that is always happy to help and assist you with any of your needs, any time. Tours with him are not just a "pict & run" classic tour, they are a full Masterclass of knowledge transfer: history, architecture, science, art, religion, geo political implications on history, and so many others; our definition of tours? a time machine that brings you to imagine how things were back in the day. For all those reasons Lucky it's a person has become a memorable part of our journey through Sri Lanka.
My Dearest Álvaro & Veró 🙏❤️! How Kind, & how wonderful of you my friends💖 Who came as clients and left as eternal Siblings...😘 I couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you very very much for this incredible and majestic praising on me. I am so honored to have this endless Stream of Words from you Álvaro ! I am really glad & just delighted to hear that you & Veró have had really enjoyed all our experiences and I have really been able to feed you with what you were really expecting for. It was such an incredible & an enthusiastic experience in my life with you guys. what’s more! Hence, again I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful Tour which was full of fruitful discussions, Insightfull conversations, unimaginable perspectives and honest smiles. So it was a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey in Sri Lanka and I feel very privileged to have enjoyed our experience together. Finally, as always I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for my dearest Mother Universe for bringing me that great chance to having you as my guests there in glorious Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
I’ve travelled a lot and had many guides over the years, but Lucky was truly one of the best. Genuine, warm, insightful, incredibly knowledgeable, and deeply passionate and proud about Anuradhapura and its history. Lucky made the entire experience feel personal, meaningful, and unforgettable. Friendly, easy to spend the day with, and absolutely worth his weight in gold. We left feeling not only informed, but genuinely connected to the place because of him. Highly, highly recommended.
Dear Andrew! 🙏❤️ How humble of you my friend, couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you so much for this amazing praising on me. I am so honored to have this Stream of Words! and I am really glad & delighted to hear that you & Vass have had really enjoyed our experience and I have really been able to feed you with what you were really expecting for. It was such an incredible & an enthusiastic day with you guys. what’s more! Hence, I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful day which was full of fruitful discussions, conversations, insights and honest smiles. And it was also a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey in Sri Lanka. Finally, as always I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for my beloved Mother Universe for bringing me that great chance to having you as my guests there in glorious Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
Lucky is a very pasionate guide who will tell you everything you want to know about budhism and Sri Lanka culture. It was a great experience, thank you again!!
Dear Vesse! How nice of you my friend, couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you so much for this amazing praising on me. so I am honored to have this Stream of Words! I am Really glad & delighted to hear that you & Daniel have had really enjoyed our experience and I have really been able to feed you with what you were really expecting for. It was such an incredible & an enthusiastic day with you guys. what’s more! Hence, I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful day which was full of fruitful discussions, conversations, insights and honest smiles. And it was also a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey in Sri Lanka. Finally, I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for my Mother Universe for bringing me that great chance to having you as my guests there in glorious Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
Lucky took us through the most interesting monastries and ruïnes and told passionatly about budhism and it’s history. Lucky had been a guide since 12 years and knows a lot about Budhism. Overall is was a very fun experience and I learned a lot from Lucky!
Dear Vesse! How nice of you my friend, couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you so much for this amazing praising on me. so I am honored to have this Stream of Words! I am Really glad & delighted to hear that you & Daniel have had really enjoyed our experience and I have really been able to feed you with what you were really expecting for. It was such an incredible & an enthusiastic day with you guys. what’s more! Hence, I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful day which was full of fruitful discussions, conversations, insights and honest smiles. And it was also a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey in Sri Lanka. Finally, I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for my Mother Universe for bringing me that great chance to having you as my guests there in glorious Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
We thoroughly enjoyed our guided tour of the old city of Anuradhapura with Lucky, he is s great guide with very deep knowledge of the area and its rich history. He provides extensive answers to any question, even outside the scope of the tour itself. He is very flexible, so will take into account any personal preferences
Dearest Remco! How humble of you ❤️, how could I honestly thank enough for this? couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you so much for this fantabulous praising on me. Each of your words has something adorable, so I am honored to have this Stream of Words! Really really glad & delighted to hear that you have had really enjoyed our experience and I have really been able to feed you with what you were really searching and expecting for. It was such an incredible & an enthusiastic day with you. what’s more! Hence, I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful day which was full of fruitful discussions, conversations, insights and honest smiles. And it was also a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey in Sri Lanka. Finally, I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for my Mother Universe for giving me that great chance to having you as my guests there in Ancient Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
I had an outstanding guided tour in Anuradhapura and can highly recommend it. Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the history of the ancient city. His understanding of archaeology, architecture, and Buddhist philosophy was impressive, and he explained everything in a structured, engaging way. He didn’t just show us the sites, he made them come alive with context and insight. Thanks to him, the places we visited felt far more meaningful than just impressive ruins. Professional, intelligent, and deeply informed. Highly recommended.
Dearest Elias! How generous of you ❤️, how could I honestly thank enough for this? couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you so much for this fantabulous praising on me. Each of your words has something adorable, so I am honored to have this Stream of Words! Really really glad & delighted to hear that you have had really enjoyed our experience and I have really been able to feed you with what you were really searching and expecting for. It was such an incredible & an enthusiastic day with you. what’s more! Hence, I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful day which was full of fruitful discussions, conversations, and honest smiles. And it was also a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey by A Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka. Finally, I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to my Mother Universe for giving me that great chance to having you as my guests there in Ancient Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
I had a wonderful experience with Lucky in Anuradhapura. Over the course of the 7-hour tour, he provided a very detailed and engaging introduction to the ancient monasteries and sacred sites, explaining not only the historical background but also the cultural and spiritual significance behind them. If you are looking for a guide who truly understands Anuradhapura’s heritage and can explain it with clarity and passion, I highly recommend him.
My friend Dear Cheng! This is so lovely, how could I really thank enough for this? couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you so much for this fantabulous praising on me. Each of your words has something meaningful to me, so I am honored to have this Stream of Words! Really really glad & delighted to hear that you have had really enjoyed our experience and I have really been able to feed you with what you were really searching and expecting for. It was such an incredible & an enthusiastic day with you. what’s more! Hence, I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful day which was full of fruitful discussions, conversations, and honest smiles. And it was also a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey in Sri Lanka. Finally, I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to my Mother Universe for giving me that great chance to having you as one of my guests there in Ancient Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
Lucky was an amazing guide. He has deep knowledge of Buddhism, history and archaeology and brought the stones and sights to life. His English is excellent and he tells lots of stories. The day started with an overview of the life of Buddha and his teachings- and, importantly, how they relate to Buddhism as practiced today. As we explored the amazing sights, Lucky would point out interesting details and relate them to the bigger picture that he was building. We also visited Mihinthale to finish the day which was a great add on. I highly recommend Lucky as a guide.
Dearest Mike! This is so impressive, how could I really thank enough for this? couldn’t ask for more better, Thank you so much for this fantabulous praising on me. Each of your words has something adorable, so I am honored to have this Stream of Words! Really really glad & delighted to hear that you have had really enjoyed our experience and I have really been able to feed you with what you were really searching and expecting for. It was such an incredible & an enthusiastic day with you. what’s more! Hence, I'm gonna admit my honest impression for being able to be your interpreter & friend of that wonderful day which was full of fruitful discussions, conversations, and honest smiles. And it was also a great pleasure for me to being a part of your remarkable journey (By Bikes) in Sri Lanka. Finally, I would take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to my Mother Universe for giving me that great chance to having you as my guests there in Ancient Anuradhapura. Thanks, All the good luck & All the power to you, Warmest Regards, 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞
