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Anuradhapura

As the first capital of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura has an impressive array of ruins of palace complexes, temples, water reservoirs and many more archaeological remains dating back to the 4th century BC. Located at a distance of 206 kms from Colombo, the scale of the ruins is overwhelming in its magnitude and transports you back into a centuries-old civilisation that was once considered the seat of Buddhism. The Mahavihara is considered the oldest monastery and the Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred tree said to have been planted from a sapling from the tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. These are but several of a range of revered sites the visitor can stroll through when in Anuradhapura.

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Anuradhapura

The sacred city of Anuradhapura grew when a cutting from the 'tree of enlightenment' was brought there in the 3rd century B.C. by Sanghamitta, the founder of an order of Buddhist nuns. Anuradhapura, a Ceylonese political and religious capital that flourished for 1,300 years, was abandoned after an invasion in 993.

The Sri Maha Bodhiya

The Sri Maha Bodhi or the sacred Bo Tree is perhaps the most revered site for Buddhists, considered to be planted from a sapling from the tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.

Ruwanveliseya

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 ...

Thuparamaya

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 ...

Abhayagiri Dagaba

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 ...

Brazen Palace (Lovamahapaya)

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 ...

Isurumuniya Vihara

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 ...

Jetavanarama Dagoba

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.

Lankarama Dagoba

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 ...

Mirisaweti Dagoba

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 ...