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.

  1. Sri Maha Bodhi
  2. Ruwanweliseya
  3. Thuparamaya
  4. Lovamahapaya
  5. Abhayagiri Dagoba
  6. Jethawanaramaya Dagoba
  7. Mirisaweti Stupa
  8. Lankarama

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

Key Attractions at Anuradhapura Sacred City

Sri Maha Bodhiya

Sri Maha Bodhiya

Sri Maha Bodhiya is a sapling from the tree under which lord buddha attained enlightenment and is one of the most hallowed sites of pilgrimage in Sri Lanka.
Swarnamali vehara Ruwanweliseya Anuradhapura Sacred City

Swarnamali Vehara

The Swarnamali Vehara, now most often known as the Ruwanweliseya, lies in the sacred city of Anuradhapura and is the third largest stupa in the country.
Thuparama Vihara Anuradhapura Sacred City

Thuparama Vihara

Thuparama Vihara, located in Anuradhapura sacred city, is the oldest stupa in Sri Lanka. It was constructed by King Devanampiyatissa in the 3rd century BC.
lovamahapaya anuradhapura sacred city

Lovamahapaya

Nothing but a mass of tall stone columns remains of Lovamahapaya, what was one of the greatest monuments in Anuradhapura from the early 1st Century BC.
Abhayagiri Vihara Anuradhapura Sacred City

Abhayagiri Vihara

The Abhayagiri Vihara is an monastic complex dating back to 2nd century BC. It housed a fraternity of Buddhist monks who maintained strict way of life.
Temple trails of Anuradhapura Jethawanaramaya

Jethawanarama Dagoba

Built in 3rd centurary AD, Jethawanarama Dagoba is a brick built stupa standing 400-feet tall believed to be the tallest of its kind anywhere in the world.
Mirisawatiya Vihara Anuradhapura Sacred City

Mirisawetiya Vihara

Built by King Dutugemunu in the second century BC, the Mirisawetiya Vihara, lies on the shores of the Tissa Wewa, within the sacred city of Anuradhapura.
Lankaramaya Dagoba Anuradhapura Sacred City

Lankaramaya

Commissioned by King Valagamba of Anuradhapura in 1st Century BC, the Lankaramaya monastic complex includes a very well-renovated stupa among other things.
Isurumuniya Temple Anuradhapura Sacred City

Isurumuniya

Isurumuniya, build in 2nd century AD, is famed for its unique artworks and the hydraulic engineering of some of the main landmarks of this complex.
Twin Ponds Anuradhapura Sacred City

Twin Ponds

The Twin Ponds or Kuttam Pokuna site is part of the extensive Abhayagiri monastic complex of Anuradhapura’s middle years, during the 6th Century AD.
Samadhi Buddha Statue Rock carvings Anuradhapura Sacred City

Samadhi Buddha Statue

The Samadhi Buddha Statue at Anuradhapura is among the best-preserved statues in the country. The statue shows three expressions from three angles.
drip-ledge cave Brahami inscriptions vessagiriya

Vessagiriya

In the past Vessagiriya & Meghagiriya have both been called “Isurumuniya”. It was a monastery, set in a network of natural caves with extending drip ledges.
Eth Pokuna Anuradhapura

Eth Pokuna

Literally translated as the “Elephant Pond”, Eth Pokuna is a massive pond in Anuradhapura, which demonstrates hydraulic ngineering skills of the period.
Mahasen Palace Anuradhapura

Mahasen Palace

Mahasen palace has a well preserved the moonstone and is a good example of a 3rd century AD scuplture, having all the features of a piece of its kind.
Biso Maligawa moonstone

Biso Maligawa

The Biso Maligawa is well-known for the incredible preservation of its moonstone. The rest of the ruins don't look much in their present state.
Ratna Prasada Guard Stone

Ratna Prasada

The Ratna Prasada dates back to the 1st Century AD and was specifically built to cater to the Abhayagiri monks. Ratna Prasada’s claim to fame is its best-preserved guardian stone.
Family Educational Experience at Abhayagiri Monastery Dhana Sala

Abhayagiri Monastery

Abhayagiri Monastery preserves the greatest number of ruined buildings in the Anuradhapura era. Covering an area of over 500acres & was built over 500years.
Ancient Stone Bridge Gal Palama Anuradhapura

Ancient Stone Bridge

There are two ancient stone bridge in Anuradhapura, one over the canal and the other over the Malwathu Oya, the main river that feeds the area.