Anuradhapura
The Sacred Ancient Capital of Sri Lanka

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. Several magnificent dagobas, buildings, monasteries, ponds, irrigation tanks spanning one thousand five hundred years bear testimony to a glorious and technically advanced civilization. Ruvanveli, Jetavana, and Abhayagiri are huge dagobas that stand majestically having withstood the battering of elements for over fifteen centuries

Foremost among the numerous historical monuments in Anuradhapura is the Sacred Bo Tree – Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a branch of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. A mass of stone pillars close to the Sri Maha Bodhi identified as the Brazen Palace was once a nine storied building. Isurumuniya is famous for its beautiful stone carvings. Samadhi Buddha image is a masterpiece of sculpture. 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 meters in height with a circumference of 287 meters. 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. Lord Buddha’s relics are enshrined in the stupa,

Jetavana Dagoba ( largest brick structed Stupa in the world )

Jetavana dagoba is an enormous brick structure standing in the center 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 meters 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  & monastic complex

This colossal dagoba is the centerpiece 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 Meters  high but now it is only 75 meters high with a circumference of 667 meters. It was at the Abhayagiri complex that the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka was first housed.

Sri Maha Bodhi ( Sapling of the world oldest tree) 

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 Maha 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 it is denoted as  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

Mihinthale  (the cradle of Buddhism)

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 witness.
 
Mihintale’s medical heritage stretched even further back. The hospital King Sena II built was believed to stand on the grounds of an earlier healing institution, part of a remarkable tradition dating to the 4th century BCE when King Pandukabhaya established lying-in homes and hospitals throughout his kingdom after fortifying Anuradhapura as his capital.
 
 
 
 
 

Samadhi Buddha (4 th to 06th century )

‘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 Regime 

Kuttam Pokuna

Kuttam Pokuna or the Twin Ponds are two breathtakingly beautiful bathing ponds aligned lengthwise exemplifying the artistic achievements in the field of hydraulic engineering in ancient Sri Lanka. These date back to around 8 – 10th centuries AD.

Elephant Pond

The Elephant Pond so named because of its gigantic size is equal in area to six modern Olympic swimming pools joined together. The pond may have been built to store water for the large congregation of Buddhist monks at the monastic complex of Abhayagiri

Vessagiri

Remains of Vessagiri monastery founded during the rein of King Devanampiyatissa (3rd century BC) are seen near the Isurumuni temple. It is an interesting example of landscaped architecture with natural caves converted into residential quarters for Buddhist monk

Guard Stone

Guard stones are vertical stone slabs with the figure of a celestial being carved in semi relief erected at the entrance to religious buildings. The best example of a Guard Stone is seen at the Abhayagiri complex

Moon Stone

Moonstones are half-moon shaped stone slabs with beautiful stone carvings of animals and creepers in semi-circular rows placed at the bottom of the flight of steps leading to an image house. It is seen at its best once again at the Abhayagiri complex. It explained the human life.   There is difference in detail in Anuradhapura moon stone and Polonnaruwa moon stone because of the Hindu influence 
 
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