The 1st historical capital of Sri Lanka from the 5th Century BC to 10th Century AD and was ruled by more than 100 Kings during this time. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Anuradhapura is the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. Approximately a 4.5 hours drive from the airport, Anuradhapura could be reached using three routs via Puttlam, Kurunegala or Kandy.
Anuradhapura is a very important pilgrimage site for the Buddhists. The city’s most renowned relic is the Sacred Bo Tree, which was grown from a sapling of the Bo Tree under which the Buddha gained Enlightenment. The Sacred Bo Tree in Anuradhapura was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world.
The city has also become a world famous place because of its main treasures, the Dagobas (Stupas), which are hemispherical shaped gigantic brick structures only second in size to the great pyramids in Egypt and are the tallest brick structures in the world. The first Dagoba in Anuradhapura is the Thuparama Dagoba, which is enshrined with the collarbone of the Buddha.
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Ruwanweli Maha Seya
Twin Pond
Western Monasteries
Ruwanweli Maha Seya
Abhayagiriya
Twin Pond
Elephant wall - Ruwanvali Seya
Ruwanvali Maha Seya
>Ruwanvali Maha Seya
Ranmasu Uyana
Man and the Horse Head - Isurumuniya
Isurumuniya
Isurumuniya
Archaeological Museum
Isurumuniya
Twin Pond
Jethavanaramaya Dagoba
Thuparamaya Dagoba
Sri Maha Bodhiya
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Jethawanaramaya, Ruwanveliseya and Abhayagiriya are the three largest Stupas in the city with the associated monasteries resided by more than 10 000 monk at one time. Thousands of building remains, bathing and drinking ponds, exquisitely created stone sculptures are found as evidence for the historic glory. 1600 stone columns of the seven storey Brazen Palace (Lovamahapaya) still remains erect for a proud expression.
What was exavated for last 100 years by the archaeologists, specially by UNESCO – Sri Lanka project of the Cultural Triangle area exhibited for visitors in the following museums.
Abhayagiriya Fa-Hsien Museum - which contains a very good collection of artifacts found at the sites excavated in the 500 acre Monastery Complex, which was occupied by 6000 monks in Abhayagiriya.
Jetavanaramaya Museum - has a great collection of items found at the 200-acre site including the largest and tallest Dagoba in Sri Lanka, at the Jethavanarama Monastry Complex, which was occupied by 5000 monks.
Archaeological Museum - contains a large number of statues, other sculptures and many more interesting objects of art, collected from the Anuradhapura District.
Folk Museum - located near the Archaeological Museum, it houses a collection of objects from the North Central Province, reflecting the rural life of the people
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