Colombo Airport to Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura, the first great capital of the island and now a sacred city of ruins and stupas, is 175 km from the airport by Google’s route. Much of the way is on ordinary roads, so the drive takes about three and three quarter hours.

• 175 km by road from the airport
• about 3 h 45 min driving time (Google)
• from $99.88 one way, City car
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup

Fares to Anuradhapura

On this route the starting price covers the first 50 km and the vehicle’s rate per km applies to the other 125.

VehicleSeatsBagsOne wayReturn

City carSuzuki Wagon R or similar2 seats2 bags$99.88one way$199.76 returnBook Station wagonHonda Shuttle or similar3 seats5 bags$102.88one way$205.76 returnBook Economy carToyota Prius or similar3 seats3 bags$111.12one way$222.24 returnBook Standard carToyota Premio or similar3 seats3 bags$122.36one way$244.72 returnBook SUVSsangYong Kyron or similar4 seats6 bags$128.60one way$257.20 returnBook Luxury SUVToyota Prado or similar4 seats6 bags$280.94one way$561.88 returnBook Mini vanToyota Hiace or similar7 seats10 bags$134.84one way$269.68 returnBook Mini busToyota Hiace High Roof or similar14 seats14 bags$163.56one way$327.12 returnBook 20-seat coachToyota Coaster or similar20 seats20 bags$184.80one way$369.60 returnBook 37-seat coach37 seats37 bags$382.00one way$764.00 returnBook 45-seat coach45 seats45 bags$454.40one way$908.80 returnBook 51-seat coach51 seats51 bags$536.80one way$1,073.60 returnBook

Fares to the centre of Anuradhapura, 174.8 km by Google’s route, as the booking form works them out. Your hotel may be a little nearer or further: enter its address in the form for its own fare.

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The drive

The car joins the Central Expressway at Mirigama but leaves it again after about 17 km and crosses Kurunegala district on country roads, by Narammala and towards Wariyapola. At Padeniya it turns onto the A28, which runs some 80 km north through the dry zone, past paddy fields and village reservoirs, to Anuradhapura.

Arriving in Anuradhapura

The ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the island’s capital for more than a thousand years. Its great stupas, Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya and Abhayagiri, stand among parkland and old reservoirs, and pilgrims come every day to the Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred fig grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.

The sites are spread over several kilometres, so many visitors tour them by bicycle or by car. Clothes that cover shoulders and knees are expected at the temples, and white is customary. Mihintale, where Buddhism is said to have reached the island, is about 12 km east; Dambulla and Sigiriya lie to the south-east.

Other routes from the airport