Anuradhapura was Sri Lanka 's first capital city. It was established in 380BC by King Pandukabhaya. The city was ruled by many of Sri Lanka 's illustrious kings – such as King Devanampiyatissa, during whose reign Buddhism was introduced to the Island , and King Dutugemmunu, who built many of the stunning dagobas that dot the city. Anuradhapura was known for its prosperity and was coveted by invading Indian armies – yet remained a bastion of Sinhala rule for over 1000 years.

Today Anuradhapura is a quiet and beautiful tree-lined town, with many of the temples (or dagobas) and reservoirs that were constructed by the ancient kings still standing as reminders of their past glory. Anuradhapura has several attractions that provide a glimpse into Sri Lanka 's history. The Sacred Bo Tree is a sapling of the original tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The sapling was brought to Sri Lanka by the Indian king Asoka's daughter over 2000 years ago. The Brazen Palace was once a nine-storied palace that was believed to have housed monks – but today only 1600 columns remain. The dagobas – Ruwanweliseya, Jetawanaramaya, Thuparamaya and Abhaygiri, are engineering marvels.