With some awesome road trip options available in the surrounding area, renting a car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much more difficult to experience everything that Polonnaruwa, 45 miles away, has to offer. Gal Pota should be high up on your list here. Gal Viharaya and Shiva Devalaya are awesome attractions too. Locals are also likely to point you toward Nuwaragam Palatha Central, 60 miles away. If you only have time for one thing here, let it be Sri Maha Bodhi. (But we’re also huge fans of Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum and Mahasena’s Palace.)