Ulagalla Resort, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Ulagalla Resort occupies a serene position close to Anuradhapura, the very first capital of ancient Sri Lanka and one of the most revered heritage cities in Asia. For travellers seeking both comfort and cultural depth, the resort offers a quiet base from which to explore a landscape shaped by more than two thousand years of history.

Anuradhapura lies in the North Central Province, approximately 206 km from Colombo. It is accessible by the Colombo–Kurunegala–Anuradhapura main motor road as well as by the Colombo–Anuradhapura railway line, making the journey straightforward from the capital.

A City Born in the Third Century BC

Founded in 380 BC by a minister of King Pandukabhaya named Anuradha, on the banks of the River Malwatu Oya, Anuradhapura is said to have once been the greatest monastic city in the world. Despite recurrent invasions from Southern India, the capital endured for nearly a millennium and a half — from the 3rd century BC to the 10th century AD — before the establishment of Polonnaruwa brought its reign to a close. Today it holds UNESCO World Heritage status and remains the most adored living heritage city among Sinhalese Buddhists.

A City of Two Halves

The River Malwatu Oya neatly bisects Anuradhapura into two distinct regions. The old city occupies the western bank, irrigated by the ancient rainwater reservoirs of Bassawakkulama and Tissa Wewa. The modern town spreads across the eastern bank, sustained by the Nuwara Wewa reservoir. Remarkably, these rehabilitated ancient reservoirs continue to supply water for the irrigation of the surrounding agricultural district, just as they did during the city's most glorious era.

The Old City: A Living Heritage

The old city is far from a silent ruin. Many of its Sinhalese Buddhist cultural sites are active pilgrimage destinations, animated by living monuments of considerable scale. So vast is the area that explorers are advised to orient themselves around the three great monasteries that flourished during Anuradhapura's golden age: Mahavihara, Jetavana, and Abhayagiri.

Principal Attractions

Among the most celebrated sites are the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, the Brazen Palace, the Ruvanvalisaya dagoba stupa, the Thuparama stupa, the Archaeological Museum, the Folk Museum, the Jetavana dagoba stupa, the Jetavana Museum, the Citadel, the Abhayagiri dagoba stupa, the Samadhi Buddha statue, the Kuttam Pokuna twin ponds, and the Isuruminiya Vihara temple.

The Modern Town

On the eastern bank, the modern town of Anuradhapura presents a pleasant, well-planned environment. Hotels and guesthouses here are sheltered by wooded gardens, offering a tranquil contrast to the grandeur of the ancient monuments nearby.