Daladage Ruins of Ancient Anuradhapura

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

To the northeast of the Royal Palace of King Vijayabahu I lies a fascinating cluster of ruins, often overlooked by visitors. These can be reached via a by-road branching off Watawandana Road or Sangamitta Road.

Identified Structures

Only a few of the ruins in this central palace area have been identified so far. Among them are:

Maha Pali Alms Hall – one of the refectories of the Abhayagiri Monastery
Dalada-Ge (House of the Tooth Relic) – Generally believed to be a ancient temple of tooth relic
Gedi-Ge – an image house with a semi-domical roof
Building “A” – another image house similar to Gedi-Ge

All four structures are located within 50 meters of each other.

The ruins known as Dalada Maligawa or Dalada-Ge are believed to be a Temple of the Tooth Relic, constructed after the defeat of the Cholas by King Mahinda IV (956–972 CE)—the last great builder of the Anuradhapura era.

Debates on Identification

The identification of this site as the Temple of the Tooth Relic has been the subject of much scholarly debate. Today, a building near the Maha Pali Alms Hall is widely accepted as the Dalada-Ge, thanks to an inscription discovered near a circular pond. This inscription, dating to the reign of King Mahinda IV, provides administrative details about villages and lands, specifying the share of income allocated for the temple’s upkeep.

However, some scholars question whether this structure was indeed the Dalada-Ge or possibly the entrance to King Mahinda IV’s palace, suggesting that the relic may have been enshrined in the nearby Gedi-Ge structure or another adjacent shrine.

Architectural Layout

The remains of the Dalada-Ge stand within a quadrangular enclosure measuring 200 x 214 feet. Inside, the main edifice features wide bays on three sides, accompanied by two smaller subsidiary buildings on the northwest and northeast corners—one of which has almost disappeared. The main entrance lies at the center of the northern wall, near which the crucial inscription confirming the site’s identity was found.

Important Information for Foreign Tourists Visiting Sites at Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Most of the more popular sites in Anuradhapura strictly check for tickets from tourists, while the less-visited sites tend to be more relaxed due to the lack of staff. However, tourists should be cautious, as some unscrupulous tuk-tuk drivers may attempt to exploit this situation.

They sometimes offer to take foreign tourists along routes where ticket checks are less common or even try to collect the entrance fee themselves, claiming they will purchase the tickets on the tourists’ behalf. Tourists are strongly advised not to fall for such scams, as this can lead to unnecessary complications with site security or the police.

Information on the Anuradhapura Cultural Heritage Ticket and where and how to purchase can be found here

Daladage Ruins at Ancient Anuradhapura - අනුරාධපුර දළදාගේ නටබුන්

References

Bandaranayake, S. (1974) Sinhalese Monastic Architecture: The Vihāras of Anurādhapura. Leiden, Netherlands: E. J. Brill.
Senevirathne, A. (1994) Ancient Anuradhapura: The Monastic City. Colombo: Archaeological Survey Department.

Also See

Anuradhapura – The city of the God Kings
Solosmasthana – The Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites Hallowed by Buddha
Atamasthana – The Eight Sacred Sites in Anuradhapura

Map of Dalada Maligawa (Dalada-Ge) Ruins

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Driving Directions to Anuradhapura (Dalada-Ge Ruins)

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Bus

Anuradhapura can be conveniently reached by bus, train, or private transport. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses operate from the Colombo Fort Main Bus Station. In addition, luxury buses departing from various locations in Colombo travel via Anuradhapura to Vavuniya and Jaffna; these require advance online booking and generally operate overnight, arriving at their final destinations early in the morning.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Train

Five daily trains operate from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Anuradhapura. Typically, the first train departs at 9.40 a.m. and the last at 8.30 p.m. The journey takes approximately four to five hours, depending on the number of stops made by the particular service.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Car or Van

Anuradhapura can be accessed from Colombo via several routes, with the two primary corridors running through Puttalam and Kurunegala. The Puttalam route passes the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main approaches: the more commonly used route via Dambulla and an alternative route via Galgamuwa. Among all options, the Kurunegala–Dambulla route (Route 2) is the most frequently used.

Route 01 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route 02 from Colombo to Anuradhapura
Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.
Route 03 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route from Kandy to Anuradhapura
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Narammala – Wariyapola – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance from Colombo: 203 km Travel Time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 136 km Travel Time: 3.5 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps