The sleepy ruins of Mihintale are closely associated with the earliest introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. A ceremonial staircase climbs past pools, monastery ruins and rock inscriptions to reach two large dagobas. As the climb takes 25 minutes, you may wish to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the midday heat. Mihintale is not only a historical site to visit this a place where you can watch birds. Have good access and average walking/ climbing time. Must visit places are Mihintale Temple, Buddha statue, Cela Chaityaya and Aradhana Gal. Also Kaludiya Pokuna.

Sacred to many Buddhists all over the world, the Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa, is also considered a marvel for its architectural value. It was built by King Dutugemunu who was best known for his great victory over the Chola King, Elara. It is one of the world’s tallest monuments, standing at 300 feet (91 m) and with a circumference of 950 ft (290 m).

The sacred bodhi tree is central to Anuradhapura in both a spiritual and physical sense. It was grown from a cutting brought from Bodhgaya in India and is said to be the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world, tended by an uninterrupted succession of guardians for over 2000 years. Today thousands of devotees come to make offerings, particularly on poya (full moon) days and weekends. Sunset is a magical time to visit.

Dating back to the 1st century BC, this colossal dagoba was the ceremonial focus of the 5000-strong Abhayagiri Monastery. Originally over 100m high, it was one of the greatest structures in the ancient world, its scale only matched by the pyramids of Giza (and nearby Jetavanarama). Today, after several reconstructions, Abhayagiri Dagoba soars 75m above the forest floor. Visually, it's stunning, and your first glimpse of this brick monument through a gap in the surrounding forest is breathtaking.