sri lanka island tours of ancient cities world heritage sites ruins of ancient kingdoms, temples at Anuradhapura Sri Lanka

 

 

Anuradhapura - Ancient medevial capital of Sri Lanka
 

206 kms from Colombo is Anuradhapura; Sri Lanka's first capital. Anuradhapura founded in the 5th century B.C became the capital in 380 BC. For over 1000 years Sinhalese kings ruled from this great city. This ancient capital of Sri Lanka is a Sacred City today; a potent symbol of Sinhalese power, and the most extensive and important of Sri Lanka's ancient cities.Here one finds the remains of a flourishing ancient civilisation. This great past is reflected in the huge Dagobas, palaces and monuments. Its impressive remains were discovered in the early 19th century and have been in the process of restoration ever since. They lie to the west and north of the modern town of Anuradhapura.Here you will find the Sacred Bo-Tree - over 2,000 years old. The Sacred Bo-Tree is the city's holiest site, and was grown from the tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment - originally a sapling from the tree in North India.

The Isurumuniya Temple (3rd century B.C.) with its unique sculptures stands beside the breezy bund of the Tissawewa - a huge fresh water tank; while in the heart of the city stands the white-stone Ruwanveliseya Dagoba surrounded by a wall of carved elephant heads.

The Thuparama Dagoba, the oldest of many temples in Anuradhapura, is believed to contain the right collar-bone of Buddha. The Jetavanarama Dagoba is the largest remaining structure and may once have been over 100m (328ft) in height and housed an estimated 3000 Buddhist monks.

There are also museums that invite exploration, marvellously restored twin ponds which were used by monks as ritual baths, and immense tanks built to provide irrigation water for the growing of rice. Other Attractions worth seeing are:- The Brazen Palace, Samadhi Buddha, Kuttam Pokuna and Mirisavati Dagaba.