Taxi from Anuradhapura to Puttalam
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West on open dry-zone roads to the coast, joining the A3 at the lagoon.
What it costs
| Vehicle | Seats | Typically | Prices from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini / Small Car | 3–4 | Alto, Wagon R | Rs 16,600 |
| Economy / Medium Car | 3–4 | Aqua, Fit | Rs 18,670 |
| Sedan | 3–4 | Axio, Premio | Rs 19,840 |
| Mini Van | 5–7 | Every, Noah, Voxy | Rs 21,310 |
| SUV | 4–5 | Vezel, CR-V | Rs 21,610 |
| Van | 8–14 | Toyota KDH | Rs 22,490 |
| Luxury Car | 3–4 | Camry, Mercedes, Audi | Rs 27,780 |
| Mini Bus | 15–30 | Coaster, Rosa | Rs 28,660 |
| Bus | 30–50 | Passenger Bus | Rs 38,070 |
Drivers and fleets set their own rates, so these are typical prices from our system, not a guarantee — your actual quote can differ. Quoted by the same engine that prices your booking, for the distance shown; your exact pickup and drop-off, the time of day and any waiting time all affect it too. Last priced on 27-10-2026.
The Anuradhapura to Puttalam journey at a glance
The road distance from Anuradhapura to Puttalam is about 75.4 kilometres, and a private car covers it in around 1 hour 29 minutes. That works out at roughly 51 kilometres an hour end to end, which is the number worth holding on to: it is well below what the distance alone suggests, and it is the reason journeys here are planned in hours rather than in kilometres.
West on open dry-zone roads to the coast, joining the A3 at the lagoon.
What the drive from Anuradhapura to Puttalam is actually like
Leaving Anuradhapura
The road north is flat, straight and quick once clear of Colombo, running through the dry zone the whole way. It is a long journey but an undemanding one, and it is common to break it at Dambulla or to take in the ancient cities on the same trip rather than treating each as a separate outing.
Arriving in Puttalam
The coast road running north out of Negombo stays flat and mostly straight through Chilaw before opening out along the edge of Puttalam's own lagoon — an ordinary two-lane road rather than an expressway, so the distance on a map does not shrink the way it would further south. The lagoon pushes the road inland in places, and salt pans line long stretches of the final approach. This is also where the roads split: one way out to the peninsula, the other inland toward the dry-zone parks and the old cities.
Where the driver meets you in Anuradhapura
The ancient city covers a very large area and the sites within it are much too far apart to walk between, so most visitors keep the car for the day rather than being dropped and collected. The modern town where the hotels are is separate from the ruins, which surprises people who have booked expecting to be within walking distance.
Arriving in Puttalam
The town centres on the harbour and the older lagoon-side streets rather than one high street, so a hotel or landmark name carries more than a street address would. Most journeys through here are a stop on the way somewhere else rather than an end in themselves, and drivers treat it that way by default.
Worth stopping for on the way
- Anuradhapura Sacred City — The first capital, and a living pilgrimage site — the Sri Maha Bodhi is said to be the oldest planted tree on record. Allow half a day, and an entry ticket is required. It is far larger than it looks on a map. Keep the car with you rather than trying to walk between the stupas.
- Wilpattu National Park — The largest national park in Sri Lanka, named for the natural sand-rimmed lakes across it. Quieter than Yala, with leopard sightings that feel earned rather than queued for. Allow a full day, and an entry ticket is required. Fewer jeeps than Yala, and a bigger park — sightings take patience. Go in for the morning drive and take breakfast with you.
Where people go next from Puttalam
The journeys most often booked onward from Puttalam:
- Puttalam to Colombo — about 133.6 km, around 3 hours 16 minutes.
- Puttalam to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) — about 106.2 km, around 2 hours 47 minutes.
- Puttalam to Negombo — about 98.9 km, around 2 hours 32 minutes.
See every fare, distance and route in and out of Puttalam on its own page.
Where the driver meets you
Give the pickup address in Anuradhapura when you book — a hotel name, a street address or a landmark all work. The driver calls or messages shortly before arriving, and waits 15 minutes at no charge.
How a private transfer works
Choosing a vehicle
The choice is about luggage and legroom, not speed — no class arrives sooner, because the road decides that. Two adults with two large cases fit a sedan, but they will be sitting with a bag between them. Four people or more, or anyone carrying sports or camera equipment, wants a van.
Taxi, train or bus?
The bus is cheapest and runs often, but it stops constantly, luggage is what you can hold, and the timetable is a suggestion. The train is the most comfortable public option and on the hill lines it is a reason people come to Sri Lanka at all — but it goes where the rails go, seats sell out ahead in season, and it will not take you to a hotel door. A private car carries luggage, leaves when you decide, stops where you ask, and ends at an address.
Luggage
Book by the bags rather than by the people. Four passengers with hand luggage and four at the end of a long trip are different vehicles. Surfboards, golf clubs, tripods and pushchairs need saying in advance, because they change the class rather than merely filling it.
Travelling with children
A long drive is best broken rather than hurried, and a private car lets you stop when a child needs to rather than when a timetable allows. Child seats are requested when you book — ask in advance and confirm it, because an unconfirmed request is not a seat.
Addresses
Give the full property name and the road it stands on. Sri Lankan addresses are often descriptive rather than numbered, several main roads change name along their length, and guesthouses on one lane can share most of a name. A precise drop-off is worth more than a precise pickup: a wrong turn at the end costs everybody the most patience.
Booking and the price
The quote above is what you pay. It is fixed at booking rather than metered, so traffic on the day is the driver's problem rather than yours — which on a journey through towns is the difference that matters most. The same route in reverse is the same distance but not the same day: traffic peaks in opposite directions.
Questions about this route
How much is a taxi from Anuradhapura to Puttalam?
Rs 16,600 in a Mini / Small Car, up to Rs 38,070 for the largest vehicle. The price is fixed before you book — there is no meter and no surcharge on arrival.
How long does the drive from Anuradhapura to Puttalam take?
About 1 hr 29 min for the 75.4 km. West on open dry-zone roads to the coast, joining the A3 at the lagoon.
Is the price fixed, or does it change during the journey?
Fixed. You are quoted before you book and that is what you pay. Waiting time and any tolls are shown separately in the quote.
Coming back
Puttalam → Anuradhapura — 75.4 km · 1 hr 28 min