コロンボの聖都アヌラーダプラ

Consider your itinerary carefully. Going from Colombo to this location is physically possible but it is not ideal, it isn't a simple trip on the freeway, it navigates through lots and lots of towns and villages, it is around 8 hour return driving excluding your site visit. Also for some reason we didn't visit Isurumuniya Temple and Mihintale - so two major sites completely missed. I put complete trust in the person provided by the tour company, but maybe I should have checked each site off a list one at a time. If we did those sites as well then most likely would have got back to hotel at 8pm at night quite easily after starting at 6.30am in the morning. Then also consider the toll on the driver, this one had to travel 1/2 hours to get to the vehicle pick up location, then travel to get to me in Colombo, then travel another 8 hours driving in the day before having to return to his home. I don't think it is wise and not safe because the roads are chaotic and there is no long rest break. You are better to stay for 1 or 2 nights in the northern area to visit this location and also the other three ancient Kingdoms in the area. So learn from my mistake. Anuradhapura itself is huge, huge site that you either need a car, tuk tuk or bus tour to get around and see. Bicycle is also a good idea but be prepared for the heat. Lastly the tour company didn't warn me about not wearing shoes or a hat going into the temples, it meant I was burning my feet walking into them as the stone floors are very hot, especially in the middle of the day.

An incredible journey through Sri Lankan history and culture that exceeded all expectations. Allow plenty of time – there's far more to see than we anticipated! The Experience: Anuradhapura is genuinely awe-inspiring. The sheer scale of history, culture, and religious significance here is remarkable. We hadn't realized just how extensive the ancient capital was until we arrived. Our Guide: Nimal was exceptional – his passion for the history was contagious. When we mentioned being slightly rushed to return to Colombo, he expertly prioritized the must-see sites to ensure we didn't miss the most important monuments. His knowledge and enthusiasm truly enhanced the experience. The Sites: The grounds are vast but absolutely worth exploring. Despite the size, there's a profound sense of peace throughout the ancient city that makes walking between monuments a pleasure. Time Needed: Don't make our mistake of trying to rush this. You need at least a full day to properly appreciate Anuradhapura's treasures. Who Should Visit: Perfect for anyone interested in history, religion, culture, or simply wanting to be impressed by ancient civilizations. This is Sri Lankan heritage at its finest. Overall: A must-do experience that will leave you with deep appreciation for Sri Lanka's incredible past. Just make sure to allocate enough time! A quick shout out to our agent Hansika for coordinating everything, excellent job!

The drive there and back are fairly long, but the tour is great if you have limited time and want to visit the sacred city. My driver was also very kind and helped make the drive feel shorter.

We were warned it was a long drive from Colombo to Anuradhapura and an early start was needed, so we were in two minds whether to take this tour. But we are glad we did. Our driver was on time, the car was comfortable and we could catch up on sleep for some of the journey. The site is huge and we picked up a local guide and toured it by car, getting out at the main sites to look at them. The monumental stupas are impressive and the setting is beautiful. It was particularly interesting to see how the site is still an active place of worship with tourists in the minority.