About 205 km north of Colombo is Anuradhapura, the first capital of Sri Lanka established in the 4th century BC that  remained the Royal Capital for over ten centuries. Several magnificent dagobas, buildings, monasteries, ponds, irrigation tanks spanning one thousand five hundred years bear testimony to a glorious and technically advanced civilization. Ruvanveli , Jetavana , and Abhayagiri are huge dagobas that stand majestically having withstood the battering of elements for over fifteen centuries.

Foremost among the numerous historical monuments in Anuradhapura is the Sacred Bo Tree - Sri Maha Bodhi , grown from a branch of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. A mass of stone pillars close to the Sri Maha Bodhi identified as the Brazen Palace was once a nine storied building. Isurumuniya is famous for its beautiful stone carvings. Samadhi Buddha image is a masterpiece of sculpture. Among the extensive ruins covering the city of Anuradhapura are Buddha images, temples, palaces, bathing ponds, monasteries, hospitals, alms halls and beautiful stone carvings and irrigation tanks.