The Kuttam Pokuna, mistakenly known as the “Twin Ponds,” which dates from the 3rd century AD, has been completely restored. These magnificent rectangular ponds, set end on end, were probably used for bathing purposes by the monks of a monastic establishment, perhaps of the nearby ruin called the Kaparama.

The Samadhi Buddha Statue, which probably dates from the 4th century AD, is a magnificent image of the Buddha in Samadhi, a Buddhist term for deep meditation, or more literally, concentration. Samadhi is used in connection with the practice of meditation and refers to the fixing of the attention on a single object, thus ...

The Mirisaweti Dagoba was constructed by Dutugemenu between 161-158 BC after his defeat of the Tamil invader Elara. Dutugemenu, it is said, had the Mirisaweti Dagoba built in an excess of piety after remembering that he had eaten a whole red pepper (miris) as a relish with his meal without any thought to the share he should ...

The Lankarama Dagoba was founded in the 1st century BC by King Vattagamini Abhaya at the place where he took refuge during a Tamil invasion. Now restored, the dagoba was originally the centre of the Lankarama monastery, an auxiliary of the Abhayagiri monastery, which was also built by Vattagamini Abhaya. Three concentric ...

The Jetavanarama Dagoba, which was the pet project of King Mahasena (274-301 AD), is the largest building at Anuradhapura. Originally it was no less than 122 metres high, making it the third tallest structure on earth after the pyramids at Dharshur and Gizeh in Egypt.

The Isurumuniya Vihara was built in the 3rd century BC as part of a monastic complex called Issiramana, which received its name from the 500 nobles (issara, ‘those of the first rank’), who sought ordination as monks there. It is probably the best situated and most tranquil shrine in Anuradhapura, as it occupies a ...

The Brazen Palace or Loha Prasada - in reality the monks’ quarters - gets its curious name from the fact that it originally had a copper-tiled roof. It must have been a magnificent building when it was originally built by King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century BC adjacent to the Sri Maha Bodhi. All that is left today of ...

The Abhayagiri Dagoba was built in 88 BC by King Vattagamini Abhaya, also known as Valagambahu. Abhayagiri means “fearless Giri,” which, legend says, refers to a Jain monk whose hermitage stood on this spot in the 1st century BC. The It was originally 135 metres high, but it fell into disrepair and was later ...

The Thuparama Dagoba, located close to the Ruwanveli Seya, is believed to contain the collarbone relic of the Buddha.Thuparamaya belongs to main five Aawasas of Anuradhapura. It is known as the first ancient stupa of Sri Lanka. Known as the‘Sangaramaya’ because it was a stupa and later called ...

The Ruwanveli Seya in Anuradhapura is regarded as the greatest of dagobas in the country and commissioned by King Dutugemunu.The architect ingeniously combined the Buddhist philosophy in the architectural conception. He conceived this as a bubble of milk: representing life, which will burst in no time just like the fragility ...