The hill where Buddhism is said to have first been introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, its worn stone stairway climbing past shrines and meditation caves to a stupa-topped summit with wide views across the surrounding dry-zone plains. It’s a quieter, more contemplative counterpart to Anuradhapura’s grander scale, usually visited as an afternoon extension after the sacred city rather than as a standalone stop. The climb is gentle enough for most fitness levels and rewards an unhurried pace more than a rushed itinerary would allow. Its historical significance, as the founding site of Sri Lankan Buddhism, gives real context to everything seen at Anuradhapura the same day.