Anuradhapura: Best things to Do
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Purna
Intro
Anuradhapura town is located about 205km from the capital Colombo in the north-central province of Sri Lanka. The main city area is divided into “New town centre” and “Old town”.
Let’s explore 10 best things to do in Anuradhapura along with its 8 sacred shrines which the numerous visitors have favourited during their visit to Anuradhapura UNESCO world heritage site.
Thousands of years old monuments, pillars and ponds can be found in the old archaeological town. In contrast, almost all local and tourist accommodations, restaurants and industrial buildings can be found in the new town centre.
The city of Anuradhapura acquires a great deal of attention in Sri Lankan ancient history due to various reasons.
This is a magical city with thousands of years old ruins and sacred masterpieces that depict an interesting and ancient history of the self-sufficient golden age of Sri Lanka.
Can be considered as one of the well-known monastic cities in the world where Theravada Buddhism was brought and established, Later became the longest-serving religious and political capital for 1300 years in Sri Lankan history.
Some of Anuradhapura’s famous monuments can be considered the world’s greatest architectural feats by the time they were built.Man-made vast reservoirs and tanks have led its inhabitants to perform their agricultural activities at their best.
Most journals advise visiting and exploring Anuradhapura in a couple of days but if you are fond of the ancient history and its wonders you can wander around these ruins even for weeks to find out what this place and the history of this place has to offer.
Due to its archaeological and architectural value and the cultural and historical significance the place has to offer, Anuradhapura was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
Tip : If you explore the city by foot or on a push bike be aware of aggressive stray street dogs that can be hostile when you enter their territory!
See also,
Bit of History
British sailor Robert Knox mentioned the desolated and ruined city of Anuradhapura by the time of the 17th century in his A Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies.
Statistics
Population: 55000 Approx
Area: 7179 km2
Province: North Central
District: Anuradhapura
Area: 7179 km2
Province: North Central
District: Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura also wasn’t made in a day!
The Anuradhapura era can be considered the golden age of Sri Lanka’s history. Anuradhapura was first established by the ancient Sinhalese king Pandukabhaya in the 4th century BC where he made the city architecture look like a true kingdom.
After Buddhism’s arrival in the 3rd century BC, Sri Lankan culture and the Sinhalese language started to revolutionize. One of the ancient civilizations in the world began to develop ever since.
Buddhism Arrivals
Anuradhapura where the ancient Sinhalese civilization initiated in the 3rd century BC after the Indian Maurya empire Ashoka sent his son Arhat Mahinda to introduce Buddhist practices to Sri Lanka.
After that, the King sent his daughter Sangamitta with the southern branch of the original Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained the enlightenment to plant and established Theravada Buddhism in Anuradhapura for the first time.
Also, the tribe called “Kapuwa” has been sent from India to Sri Lanka to take care of the Bodhi tree. The sacred Bodhi tree is considered the oldest human-planted tree today.
The never-ending sound of prayers and the constant pleasant incense of sandalwood constantly offer spiritual healing powers around the country!
However, this ancient political and religious capital was destroyed due to south Indian cholar invasions in the 9th century AD and Polonnaruwa became the kingdom from the 10th century until the 12th century AD.
Anuradhapura was deserted till the British colonial era in the 19th century. The never-ending sound of prayers and the constant pleasant incense of sandalwood constantly offer spiritual healing powers around the country!
10 best things to Do in Anuradhapura
1. Jaya Sri maha Bodhi Tree: Oldest living tree at present
This sacred Bodhi tree is the south branch of the original parent Bodhi tree in Nepal which under the lord Buddha has attained enlightenment.
The Bodhi tree was brought to Anuradhapura by Princess Sangamitta, the sister of Arhat Mahinda who brought Buddhist practices to Sri Lanka. Brought in 236 BC during the reign of a Sinhalese king Devanam piya tissa.
2. Ruwanweli maha seya: Most sacred Datoba for worshippers
Built in 137 BC under the supervision of King Dutugamunu of the Anuradhapura era he was one of the prominent Sinhalese Kings in Sri Lankan history.
King has said to build this giant Dagoba right after he came to power after defeating the south Indian migrant king Elara. King ruled the country for 24 years till a snake bit him. King asked his colleagues to show the final prototype of the Dagoba when he was significantly ill and lying on his deathbed.
Even though, the construction of this Dagoba was finished after the King’s death has been damaged due to south Indian invasions from time to time and has been renovated accordingly.
Stands still and proud today, Ruwanweli Maha Sea is considered one of the cultural and spiritual icons among the Sri Lankan community said to be spreading its spiritual healing powers around the island.
3. Thuparama Dagoba: Visit the oldest Stupa in the Island
Thuparama Dagoba is considered the oldest stupa that was constructed in Sri Lanka and was made during the reign of King Dewanam Piya Tissa (250-210BC) whose era was famous for establishing Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Constructed to the bell shape, Thuparama dagoba is said to have enshrined the collarbone of the Buddha.
4. Jethawanaramaya Dagoba: Visit the tallest structure in the ancient Kingdom
Jethawanarama Dagoba was built in the 2nd century by King Mahasen of the Anuradhapura era who was also well known for constructing the largest number of reservoirs in Sri Lanka. He made 16 tanks altogether.
Jethawanarama Dagoba was considered the tallest structure by the time it was built, which was surpassed only by the pyramids of Egypt.
5. Lovamahapaya: Ancient Story House
Lovamahapaya place was initially built as a chapter house by King Devam Piya Tissa to host Buddhist monks then converted to a massive nine-story building by the time of King Dutugamunu’s reign in the 2nd century BC.
Since the roof was made up of copper-bronze tiles, it also used to be called Brazen Palace. Geographically located between the sacred Bodhi tree and Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Lovamahapaya premises consist of 1600 stone pillars that should’ve covered to 1st story of the building.
6. Lankarama Dagoba: Discover King "Valagamba's" famous myth
This stupa was built by King Valagamba in the 1st century BC. 50 feet 50-foot-tall stupa built in the shape of a Bell is considered the smallest stupa in the Anuradhapura archaeological site.
There’s a mythology behind the construction of Lakarama Dagoba. As soon as the King gained the throne of the country he had to face an invasion from south Indian Tamil rebels and he was overthrown and had to run away to survive in his chariot with his queen Soma Devi, however, when the insurgents were following them the chariot was heavy and the journey became slower.
Soma Devi got down to lighten the chariot so the King could escape.when the king regained his throne after 14 years of defeating Tamil rebels, he constructed Lankarama Dagoba as a memorandum to his queen Soma Devi in the place where he was kept invisible in the Anuradhapura area.
Lankarama Daboga is said to have contained some relics of lord Buddha and consumables of queen soma Devi.
7. Visit Mirisavatiya Dagoba
Mirisavatiya Dagoba was built by King Dutugamunu in the 2nd century BC after he defeated the Tamil migrant king Elara to take the throne of the country. There’s a story behind the construction of Mirisavatiya Dagoba.
“The story goes that Dutugemunu went to bathe in the tank, leaving his ornate sceptre implanted in the bank. When he emerged he found his sceptre, which contained a relic of the Buddha, impossible to pull out.
Taking this as an auspicious sign, he had the dagoba built” – Lonely Planet
8. Visit Abhayagiriya Dagoba
Abhayagiriya Dagoba almost the same as Jethawanarama Dagoba by its looks. 75m tall Abhayagiriya dagoba was built in the 1st century BC by King Valagamba who was a king of the Anuradhapura era.
By its size, Abhayagiriya Dagoba was matched only with the pyramids of Giza, Egypt and its nearby Jethawanarama Dagoba.
In ancient times, Abhayagiriya dagoba was well associated with the Abhayagiriya monastery that used to host Buddhist monks who brought Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist practices.
9. Visit Isurumuniya temple: The ancient loving couple
Isurumuniya rock temple is said to have been first built by the Sinhalese king ‘Devanam Piya Tissa’ in the 3rd century BC, whose reign was famous for Buddhist arrivals to Sri Lanka.
The fact is that this temple is famous mostly due to the ‘Isurumuniya Lovers (Pem Yuwala) ’ statue which was brought later and placed in this temple. Made up of rock carvings this statue is considered a masterpiece of all time that tells the true love story of centuries of years apart.
10. Trip to Mihintale: The tale of Buddhism
Mihintale is a rock pillar situated about 13km to the east of Anuradhapura’s old town centre. Minintale acquired a greater importance in history due to one fact.
Minintale is the place where Theravada Buddhism was first brought by Arhat Mahinda in the 3rd century BC, where he met the king of the country at that time, “Devanam Piya Tissa”.
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