Anuradhapura is a major city located in the north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central Province and the capital of Anuradhapura District.
Recorded as the first capital of Sri Lanka in the 4th century BC it remained as the majestic capital and royal seat until the 11th century AD. Anuradhapura is located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka and is approximately 205 kilometers North of Colombo.
The city was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1982 under the name of Sacred City of Anuradhapura due to the many monastic sites which are still revered by Buddhists all over the world. Anuradhapura is considered the cradle of Buddhism as it houses many ancient, massive Buddhist stupas, monasteries, palaces, bathing ponds carved out of stone built for the use of the kings and queens all of which are architectural marvels. The most sacred of all is the Bo tree, recorded as the oldest living tree in the world. The Bo sapling of the main tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment was gifted by Emperor Asoka of India, in the 3rd Century BC and planted in Anuradhapura by King Devanampiyatissa with royal patronage.
King Pandukhabaya the first King to reign the city designed it meticulously with a main town and several suburbs based on a complex plan. The main city housed the king and its ministers who conducted commercia activities. The reservoirs built for irrigation purposes are also considered engineering marvels.
The Thuparama Dagaba located in the Mahamewena gardens in Anuradhapura is considered the oldest Buddhist stupa in the country dating back to the 3rd Century BC. Built by King Devanampiya Tissa it enshrines the Buddha’s collar bone relic. The original design of the stupa resembled the shape of a “paddy heap. However, the stupa was destroyed due to the many invasions from India and it was restored in the 19th century in a “bell” shape. The remains of the monolithic pillars surrounding the dagaba indicate that a circular roof once covered and protected the stupa.
Built by King Devanampiyatissa the first Buddhist king of Sri Lanka and subsequently expanded and redesigned by King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century BC the palace is said to have been built on 1600 stone pillars supporting a nine stories structure with over 1000 rooms which was a colossal fete in the ancient times.
The Brazen palace was bult to house over 1000 monks. The walls of the palace was adorned with coral and special stones while the roof was covered with bronze tiles giving it the name Bronze palace of “ Lova Maha Paya”. One could also see a 45-foot rice boat cut out of stone which was used to prepare alms for the resident monks.
A structure has been built resembling what the structure would have resembled and a true testament to the grandeur of the years gone by.
Built in the year 140 BC by King Dutugemunu the Ruwanvelisaya ( Pagoda of Golden dust) also referred to as the Swarnamali Maha Chaitya or Ratnamali Seya is one of the major Buddhist monuments, revered by Buddhists all over the world due to the many relics of the Buddha enshrined in the dagaba.
The structure is considered an architectural marvel with a height of 388 feet and a diameter of 90 meters at the base and was built by King Dutugemunu to revive Buddhism in the country. The base of the stupa consists of a parade of Elephants and all aspects of the entire stupa signifies various aspects of Buddhism. For example, the dome signifies the vastness of the doctrine while the four facets represent the four noble truths and the crystal pinnacle the Enlightenment of the Buddha.
Considered the oldest recorded tree in the world to have been planted by a human rather than by natural seeding is the 2300-year-old Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi located in the Mahamewna Gardens in Anuradhapura. The Bo (Ficus Religiosa) sapling was brought to Sri Lanka by the daughter of Emperor Asoka of India Sagamitta Theri in the year 288 BC. King Devanampiyatissa the first Buddhist king of Sri Lanka accepted the Bo sapling and today it is revered by Buddhists all over the world. The Bo sapling was from the tree under which the Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment and is the closest living link to the Buddha.
This colossal dagoba with its beautiful shimmering glow is considered the second largest brick monument in the world built by King Vattagamini Abaya (aka King Valagambahu) after his victory over the Indian Chola invasion . Built in the 1st century BC. the original height of Abhayagiri Dagoba was 100 meters. However after reconstruction and preservation following several invasions the height of the dagoba was at 75 meters’. The stupa was built over the footprint of Gautama Buddha. This stupa attracted many foreign visitors including the Chinese monk Fa -Hien who lived here for almost 5 years.
The ancient Buddhist Monastery of Ritigala is located in the Ritigala Mountain range between the old city of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa (approximately 42 km from Anuradhapura). The inscriptions indicate that the Monastery was built in the 1st century BC. The monastery is named after the several Ritigala trees that are found in the jungle which has a breathtaking bio diversity.
Ritigala mountain range is ideal for trekking with the journey taking the visitors through a rough stone stairway that borders the steam with dense forest on either side. The gardens and courtyards with beautiful landscaping ancient stone bathing pools, bridges lead visitors to the temple.
Legend also has it that Hanuman and Sita trekked though these forests on their way to Sri Lanka.
The Buddhist monks at Ritigal live a detached life from the rest of the world to fulfill their quest for enlightenment.
This is a highly recommended tour for those visiting Anuradhapura, especially for those interested in nature
Located approximately an hour from the City of Anuradhapura Wilpattu National Park is considered the largest and oldest National Park in the country. It is home to a large number of wildlife found in Sri Lanka such as the elephants, sloth bears, spotted and barking deer, wild boar, sambur , water buffalo and the elusive majestic Sri Lankan Leopard which is an endemic sub species. Wilpattu is considered to have the highest concentration of Leopards and they can be spotted both during dawn and dusk prowling around or basking by the numerous natural lakes in the jungle.
Wilpattu is a haven for bird lovers since many endemic species Jungle Fowl, large populations Painted Stork, Owl, Terns, Gulls, Eagle and Heron and migratory species who make their home in Sri Lanka during winter can be spotted.
Several reptiles such as mugger crocodiles, monitor lizards, Indian pythons Cobra, rat snake and the star tortoise and soft-shelled turtle and several species of butterflies are also common sight.
Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka which is considered the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka . It is believed that during the 3rd century BC, monk Arahath Mahinda son of Emperor Asoka of India met King Devanampiyatissa and preached Buddhism to the King who accepted the doctrine and was willing to spread the Dhamma among his subjects . Mihintale is now a pilgrimage site, and several devotees visit the mountain especially during the full moon day in the month of June.
There are several majestic religious monuments including a 40-foot stupa which dates back to the 1st Century BC.
Mihinatale is more suitable for those seeking a religious pilgrimage than a tourist attraction
Situated adjacent to the Tissa Wewa or tank, Isurumuniya is a famous Buddhist temple built by King Devanampiya Tissa who ruled from Anuradhapura the country’s capital. During his reign he ordained 500 children and it is believed that Mihintale was built to house these monks.
The temple is famous for its stone carvings. The four main carvings are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Horseman, Elephant Pond and the Royal family. Of the four the most famous is the carvings of the Lovers.
Isurumuniya is also more of a pilgrimage site that a tourist site.
The Samadhi Buddha statue located in Mahamewna Park in Anurdhapura depicts the Buddha in the position of Dhayana, which is the position of meditation associated with his enlightenment. The statue carved out of marble took 13 years to complete and is considered the greatest work of sculptural art during this period. The statue which is 7 feet 3 inches in height is carved out of a single rock
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