Information
City: AnuradhapuraCountry: Sri Lanka
Continent: Asia
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, Asia
Overview
Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, is often called the cradle of the island’s ancient civilization-a place where stone stupas rise against the sky and history runs deep in its sacred streets.As Sri Lanka’s first ancient capital, it thrived as the island’s heart of politics and culture for more than 1,300 years, its stone temples still catching the early sun.Famed for its ancient ruins, sacred Buddhist shrines, and shimmering reservoirs, it ranks among Sri Lanka’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.About 205 kilometers north of Colombo lies Anuradhapura, where flat plains stretch beneath a tropical dry-zone sky, dotted with ancient reservoirs, white domed stupas, and bright green groves.Founded in the 5th century BCE by King Pandukabhaya, it rose to become Sri Lanka’s first capital, later transformed in spirit when King Devanampiya Tissa embraced Buddhism after meeting Mahinda Thero, a monk sent by Emperor Ashoka.The planting of the Sri Maha Bodhi-a sapling from the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment-marked a profound shift in the island’s history.Successive kings ushered in a golden age of culture, architecture, and religion until South Indian invasions in the 10th century CE forced the capital’s move to Polonnaruwa.Today, the city draws pilgrims to revered sites like the Sri Maha Bodhi, the gleaming Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya’s relic-filled dagoba, and the massive Jetavanaramaya and Abhayagiriya stupas.Isurumuniya’s rock carvings, the grand ruins of King Vijayabahu’s palace, the perfectly carved Twin Ponds, and the serene Samadhi Buddha reveal the artistry of its past, while vast reservoirs such as Tissa Wewa and Basawakkulama stand as feats of ancient engineering.Still one of Theravada Buddhism’s most sacred centers, Anuradhapura comes alive during festivals like Poson Poya, when lanterns glow softly against the night.Visitors wander on bicycles or tuk-tuks, join pilgrimages, cycle among ruins, watch traditional rituals, or seek wildlife in nearby Wilpattu.Spicy rice and curry, coconut-flecked pol sambol, and creamy kiribath fill the air with the scent of warm spices.Despite challenges like preservation and heat, the city remains a living link to more than two millennia of faith, ingenuity, and history.
Landmarks in anuradhapura
