Anuradhapura Ancient City

About 205 km north of Colombo is Anuradhapura, the first capital of Sri Lanka established in the 4th century BC that remained the Royal Capital for over ten centuries. The sacred Bo Tree otherwise called The Sri Mahabodhi Tree grown from a branch of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment is situated in this city. In its vicinity are the remains of Brazen Palace, the towering Ruwanveliseya Dagaba, The Thuparama Dagaba, The Seated Buddha, The Kuttam Pokuna, Temples, Palaces and Parks - all of which bear testimony to a proud and imaginative people. Among the extensive ruins covering the city of Anuradhapura are Buddha images, temples, palaces, bathing ponds, monasteries, hospitals, alms halls and beautiful stone carvings and irrigation tanks.


Thuparama
Thuparama is the first dagoba to be built in Anuradhapura during the reign of King Devanmpiyatissa (3rd century BC) enshrining the right collarbone of the Buddha, His alms bowl and other relics. The original dagoba, which was much smaller in size, was renovated and rebuilt several times and the last restoration had been in 1862 in it its present form. The concentric rows of stone columns around the dagoba had at one time held a wooden roof in position over it.

Ruvanveli Dagoba
Ruvanveli Dagoba built by King Dutugemunu who ruled the country in the 2nd century BC is a huge dagoba measuring 103 metres in height with a circumference of 287 metres. The dagoba was in a state of disrepair when discovered in the early 20th century and was restored in its present form according to earlier dimensions.

Jetavana Dagoba
Jetavana dagoba is an enormous brick structure standing in the centre of a large monastic complex, built in the 3rd century AD by King Mahasena. The dagoba stands on a square platform measuring 3.2 hectares in extent and is rated as the largest and tallest brick built monument in the world. In its original form it would have been 120 metres high, shorter than only two Pyramids of Egypt. It has been declared a World Heritage Site. The super structure of the dagoba is currently being restored under the UNESCO Cultural Project.

Abhayagiri Dagoba
This colossal dagoba is the centrepiece of a monastic complex founded by King Valagamba in the 1st century BC that subsequently developed into an international institution attracting scholars from many countries. The Chinese monk Fa-hien came here in the 5th century in search of Buddhist manuscripts and spent two years. In its original form the dagoba was 115 metres high but now it is only 75 metres high with a circumference of 667 metres. It was at the Abhayagiri complex that the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka was first housed.

Sri Maha Bodhi
The right branch of the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) in Buddha Gaya in India under which the Buddha attained enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC by Arahat Theri Sanghamitta, the daughter of Emperor Asoka. It was planted in Anuradhapura and is venerated to this day by the Buddhists from many countries of the world. This is the oldest recorded tree in the world of which the exact age is known.

The Brazen Palace
The Loha Pasada or the Brazen Palace was founded in the 2nd century BC as a chapter house. In its original glory it had been nine stories high with a roof of copper tiles, hence the name Brazen Palace. The original building was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and renovated several times by different kings. What now remains is a mass of 1,600 stone pillars standing close to each other.

The Brazen Palace
The Loha Pasada or the Brazen Palace was founded in the 2nd century BC as a chapter house. In its original glory it had been nine stories high with a roof of copper tiles, hence the name Brazen Palace. The original building was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and renovated several times by different kings. What now remains is a mass of 1,600 stone pillars standing close to each other.

Isurumuniya
This picturesque rock temple dates back to the 3rd century BC. The beautiful stone sculptures seen at the temple are considered the most beautiful works of art in Anuradhapura. The Isurumuniya Lovers, bathing elephants in bas-relief, man seated in relaxed form are yet unidentified but beautiful to look at. A small dagoba on top of the rock and a pond at the base add beauty to the place.

Samadhi Buddha
?Samadhi? means in deep meditation. This serene image of the Buddha in the meditation posture is the work of an anonymous master-sculptor of the Anuradhapura period who has breathed life into a solid rock. The former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was so enthralled by this image that he is said to have kept a photograph of the statue in his prison cell from which he drew inspiration while serving a prison sentence during the British Raj.

Mihintale
Thirteen kilometers from Anuradhapura is Mihintale, the site of introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the year 247 BC. The King of Sri Lanka having embraced Buddhism established the world's first fauna and flora sanctuary at Mihintale in the 3rd century BC. Monasteries, an ancient hospital, dagobas, ponds, caves in which Buddhist monks lived are among the many places of interest that the visitor should see.

Awkana
The huge granite statue of the Buddha at Awkana, 51 km. southeast of Anuradhapura, hewn out of solid rock in the standing posture on a lotus pedestal is the work of an unknown sculptor during the reign of King Dhatusena in the 5th century AD. It stands 12 metres tall and remains undamaged sans probably the plastering that would have covered the statue. The flawless unbroken pleats of the robe, the perfectly erect posture and the indentation at the waist bear testimony to the skills of the sculptor who executed this masterpiece of rock carving.