Anuradhapura was the capital of the island until the 10th Century and remains the most sacred city in the country. Stay there for at least two days (a charming rest house lies on the grounds of the ancient city) to appreciate the treasures of the site that archeologists are still searching (the simplest means is by hiring a bycicle). Worth seeing: The temple housing the sacred tree, 'Bo', a descendant of the Ficus religiosa under which the Buddha received illumination, the sculptures of the Isurumuniya temple and the immense 'dagobas' that raise their domes above the paddy fields.