Anuradhapura Sacred City

Once an ancient royal kingdom, Anuradhapura Sacred City is the earliest recorded capital city of Sri Lanka. The kingdom of Anuradhapura was the capital of Sri Lanka for close to a thousand years. Also a World Heritage site, its immense dagobas and elaborate stone sculptures, are essentially a physical ode to Buddhism and holds a treasure trove of sites waiting to be discovered.

Must See Places in Anuradhapura Sacred City

The oldest dagoba is the Ruwanweliseya, which dates back to the reign of King Dutugemunu in 2nd century BC and a must see place in Anuradhapura. Furthermore, standing 338-feet tall and 397-feet in diameter, Ruwanweliseya enshrines the relics of the Lord Buddha. The Jethawanaramaya, is believed to hold the sash of the Buddha. Not to mention, at 400-feet high, Jethavanaramaya is one of the biggest dagobas and also the largest brick structure in the world. Built in 3rd century AD, it’s expanse of 8-acres once housed 10,000 monks, who were instrumental in nurturing and spreading the faith in the region.

The Sacred Bo Tree

Within the grounds of the Mahamevuna Uyana lies the Sri Maha Bodhi or Sacred Bo Tree. Most important, planted from a sapling of the Bo tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, it is the oldest recorded sacred tree in Buddhist history. The Scared Bo Tree was brought to the country by Sanghamitta Theri, over 2,550 years ago, when Buddhism was first being propagated.

8 Important Sites of Veneration in Anuradhapura

In Anuradhapura, there are 8 sacred places of veneration, known as the Atamasthana. Lord Buddha during his three visits to Sri Lanka is known to have visited these places.

A visit to the archeological museum in Anuradhapura will provide a good understanding of the city’s monuments and their significance.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass