Six days in the sacred cities

A large Catholic church known for the painted ceiling inside, at the centre of the town.

The shrine of the Buddha's tooth relic, with drumming during the daily services and several museums included in the ticket.

The ruins of two vast monastery complexes, with the huge brick domes of Abhayagiri and Jetavanaramaya, guardstones, moonstones and bathing ponds such as the Twin Ponds.

The sacred fig tree grown from a cutting brought from India in the 3rd century BC, among the oldest documented trees in the world, surrounded by terraces and offerings.

A great white stupa built by King Dutugamunu in the 2nd century BC and ringed by a wall of carved elephants. Beautiful in the late afternoon light.

At 122 metres, the world's tallest stupa when it was built and still the tallest in Sri Lanka, standing in the ruins of the Jetavana monastery. One of the eight sacred places of Anuradhapura.

A large stupa that King Dutugamunu built after defeating King Elara, beside the Tissa Wewa tank. One of the eight sacred places of Anuradhapura.

The earliest documented Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, dating to the arrival of Mahinda Thera. A small bell-shaped stupa stands among the stone pillars of a later relic house. One of the eight sacred places of Anuradhapura.