Holy city of Anuradhapura. The Holy City of Anuradhapura - Free Ticket Tricks. How to get to Anuradhapura from Negombo

general information

The city of Anuradhapura was founded by Prince Anuradha in 500 BC. e. In the 3rd century, Shanghamitta planted a Buddha fig tree here - the “tree of enlightenment”. The city prospered until 993, when the capital was moved to Polonnaruwa.

The sights of the city hidden for many centuries in the jungle are Aukana Buddha and the Guardian Stone in Thuparam. The 13-meter granite Buddha, carved in the 5th century, is said to be made with such precision that drops of rainwater falling on the tip of his nose flow down to the ground exactly between the big toes. The guardian stone at Thuparam is said to contain one of the collarbones of the Buddha.

Of great interest is the place where Thero Mahinda, the son of the Indian emperor Ashoka, proclaimed Buddhism the main religion of Sri Lanka - it is marked with the revered Bo tree, as well as Ruvanveli Seiya, considered the largest stupa in the world, erected in the 2nd century BC. They say that this structure is shaped like an ideal bubble that forms on the water during rain.

Today Anuradhapura is, in essence, two cities: modern, well-planned, shady, cozy, and ancient, famous for its monuments. The distance between the monuments of Anuradhapura is much greater than in Polonnaruwa, so you will need a taxi or at least a bicycle to see them.

Modern Anuradhapura is surrounded by three ancient reservoirs: Tisa Veva and Basavakkulama Veva are located in the west, and Nuwara Veva is in the east. Of all the monuments of the past, they are the least affected by time. Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred Bo tree, grows in the center of the old city. Like the tooth of the Buddha kept in Kandy, this tree is one of the most revered Buddhist shrines. After adopting Buddhism, Devanampiya Tissa asked the Indian ruler Ashoka for a branch of the sacred tree under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment. Ashoka sent a branch, and a new tree was carefully grown from its cutting. Currently, the Bo tree in Anuradhapura is considered the oldest on earth: it is more than 22 centuries old. However, it still looks quite strong and healthy. A platform was built around the tree with a stone staircase leading to it, at the base of which there is a golden sculpture depicting the planting of a cutting. Believers first bow to her, and then go up to the platform to pray to the tree itself.

Nearby you will see one of the most mysterious places in Anuradhapura. Once there was the majestic palace of Loha Prasada, from which 1600 gray monolithic columns, set in 40 parallel rows, 40 columns each, have survived to this day. Some columns were barbarously destroyed or removed from their places during the restoration carried out at the beginning of the 20th century. The palace was built during the reign of Devanampiya Tissa (250-210 BC) to receive Indian messengers who brought a sacred branch from the Bo tree.

Dagobas in Anuradhapura are quite numerous, they are the best preserved evidence of the former greatness of the city. These structures are distinguished by their beauty and magnificent architecture, so it is not surprising that they are among the most significant Buddhist monuments not only in Sri Lanka, but throughout the world. The height of the Abhayagiri dagoba, or "Dagoba of the Mountain of Fearlessness", is 100 m.

It was built by the ruler Valagamabahu in 89 BC. e., just after the repulse of the Indian invasion. Even older is the massive white da-goba of Ruvanveliseya, which is not inferior to Abhayagiri in height. Its construction began under the monarch Duthagamani. (161-137 BC), and ended after his death, during the reign of his brother Saddhatissa (137-119 BC).

The oldest dagoba of Anuradhapura, and of the entire island, is Thuparama, located just north of the Ruvanveliseya dagoba. Its height is only 19 m, it is perhaps the smallest cult building in Anuradhapura, but it surpasses the rest in importance. Dagoba Thuparama was erected in 249 BC. Devanampiya Tissa to commemorate his conversion to Buddhism. It is believed that the right clavicle of the Buddha and the dish from which he ate were kept in the dagoba. These items are gifts to a convert from the Indian ruler Ashoka. It is not surprising that the Thuparam dagoba enjoys special reverence and is an object of pilgrimage. The Dagobah is shaped like a bell and surrounded by four rows of stone columns. Stairs lead to it, decorated with skillfully executed bas-reliefs and statues.

The Jetavana Dagoba, on the northern border of the old city, cannot be compared in holiness with the Thuparam Dagoba, it deserves attention because it is the largest in Sri Lanka: its height is 120 m and its diameter is 112 m. The construction of this dagoba dates back to the reign of Mahasena (274-301) .

South of the sacred Bo tree and slightly east of the Tissa Veva reservoir is the grandiose rock monastery of Issaramuniya Vihara. Several monastic premises are located outside the caves. A small museum at the entrance to the cave exhibits bas-reliefs that are considered the best in Anuradhapura. Some of them depict members of royal families who lived in different eras. The most famous bas-relief - "Lovers" (IV-V centuries). Presumably, it depicts either a warrior with his beloved, or a divine couple. The bas-relief is made in the Indian gupta style.

Although the dagobas erected by the rulers have survived to one degree or another to this day, we, unfortunately, cannot say the same about their residences. Only the remains of Mahasepa's palaces have survived. (301-328) and Vijayabahu I (1055-1110) . The magnificent moonstone, once located in front of Mahasena's palace, today attracts the attention of tourists, but almost nothing remains of the past luxury and grandeur of the palace. Entrance is paid or with a single ticket to the "Cultural Triangle".

Neighborhood of Anuradhapura

Mihintale

About 12 km east of Anuradhapura, near Highway 12 leading to Trincomalee, is the ancient temple of Mihintale, highly revered by the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. The temple was founded in 247 BC. when Mahinda converted the ruler of Anuradhapura to Buddhism.

Mihintale is located on top of a giant granite rock. Numerous stairs lead to the temple. To get to it, believers have to overcome 1840 steps, so the pilgrimage here can be compared to a mountain climb. On the way up, you will see the ruined hospital and the temple of Kantaka Chetiya, dating from about 240 BC. e. But the main monuments of Mihintale are at the top of the cliff: these are two dazzling white dagobas - Ambastale and Mahaseya - surrounded by coconut palms and rock ledges. From the top of the cliff, a fabulous view opens up. There is also a small museum here - with frescoes, fragments of ancient ceramics and bronze figures. Paid entrance.

Aukana Buddha

It is difficult to get here by car, but you can walk from the Aukana station, getting off the train from Colombo to Trincomalee. The main local attraction is the 12-meter statue of Aukan Buddha, dating back to the 5th century. The statue is carved from solid stone (it can be seen that the back is literally fused with the rock). This is perhaps the most elegant image of the Buddha of all existing in Sri Lanka. The Buddha is depicted in the ashiva mudra position, that is, blessing. The word "aucana" means "feeding on the sun", and indeed dawn is the best time to view and photograph the statue. If you have your own transport, then in Kekirava (Kekirawa) exit route 9 and follow the narrow country road through Kalaveva to Aukana (Kalawewa). You will have to drive about 11 km. Paid entrance.

Yapahuwa (Yapahuwa)

The ancient rock fortress of Yapahuwa resembles Sigiriya, but is inferior to it in size. The fortress was built in the 13th century. and served as the residence and main stronghold of the ruler of Bhuvanekabahu I, who more than once repelled invasions from South India. Currently, you can climb a steep, ornate staircase to the platform where the temple once stood. It was in it that the sacred tooth of the Buddha was originally placed, but then it was transferred to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. On the platform you can see some magnificent bas-reliefs, and the view from here is truly wonderful. Like Aukana, Yapahuvu is difficult to reach by private transport. The fortress is located 4 km from Maho station (maho) on the railway line Colombo - Anuradhapura. If you still decide to go by car, then choose highway 28, between Kurunegalla and Anuradhapura. Paid entrance.

The most revered city in Sri Lanka is without a doubt Anuradhapura. Although many of its religious sites are in ruins today, a huge part of the religious and historical heritage of this region has been preserved. Anuradhapura is the perfect destination for history-loving tourists who want to get to know the culture of this tiny country.

Ancient Anuradhapura is full of charm and mystery. Its sights will allow you to plunge into the mystical past of Sri Lanka and even take some unique photos there.

Not far from the Abhayagiri complex, tourists will find the ruins of the old monastery of Ratna Prasada, built in the 2nd century by order of King Kanitta Tissa for the monks of the Abhayagiri order. It was gigantic in size, as evidenced by the powerful, richly decorated columns that can be seen today. In the 8th century, the temple was reconstructed: several floors were added and a golden Buddha statue was installed.

One of the centers of Sinhalese civilization, Jetavana Pagoda has a diameter of 113 meters and reaches a height 75 meters. At one time, it was the tallest Buddhist building in South Asia. 93 million bricks were used for its construction. Today, next to the pagoda, there is a museum where you can learn the history of the attraction and exhibit an interesting collection of Buddhist statues.

One of Anuradhapura's most colorful structures, the Ruwanveliseya Pagoda is located next to the Ethnographic Museum. An interesting wall that surrounds the pagoda, decorated with images of hundreds of elephants. Seriously damaged by wars and natural disasters, today the landmark is only 55 meters high and is surrounded by a garden teeming with ruins.

Location: Abhayawewa Road.

An interesting tourist attraction in Anuradhapura is the Isurumuniya Monastery, which attracts attention with its stone sculptures that personify Prince Salia and his beloved, a representative of the Asokamala caste.

Legend has it that the prince gave up the crown in order to marry her. Perched on top of a cliff, the monastery is full of Buddhist relics brought from India in the early 4th century. At the entrance to the temple there is a beautiful lake adorned with imposing elephant statues.

Situated in a picturesque location on the river Tissa Veva, Mirisavetia is a pagoda of impressive proportions. Like all pagodas in Sri Lanka, it has its own legend, which says that King Dutugemunu, who decided to swim in the river, threw off his scepter and his royal insignia. After bathing, he wanted to pick up the scepter, which contained the relics of the Buddha, but could not. To protect them, the king ordered the construction of a pagoda.

Location: Old Puttalam Road.

An attraction that is very popular in Anuradhapura is Tuparama Pagoda built by King Dawaman Pusa. It is considered the oldest in Sri Lanka, dating back to the 3rd century. Tuparama is located north of the Ruwanveliseya pagoda and has a diameter of 18 meters.

Location: Thuparama Mawatha.

The Abhayagiri monastery complex is the largest in Anuradhapura. Its main building, the Abhayagiri Pagoda, is tall 108 meters. The complex of buildings of the monastery covers an area of ​​200 hectares and includes several Buddhist temples. The main attraction of the complex is the Samadhi statue, which is considered one of the most beautiful images of the Buddha.

Built during the reign of King Vijayanahu in the 12th century from wood, stone and clay soil, the palace covered an area of ​​about 2.5 square kilometers. Its southern wing was given over to the pagoda (Maligawa), where the relics of the Buddha were kept. The wood used in the construction did not stand the test of time, but the stone part of the building can still be seen.

Once a magnificent structure covered with a bronze roof, Lohopasada Palace was built over 2,000 years ago for King Dutugemenu in the 13th century. Today you can see the ruins of 1600 columns that supported the building. They say that the grandiose building of the Middle Ages had 9 floors and could accommodate up to 1000 people at the same time.

money museum

In the Anuradhapura Money Museum, you can easily get acquainted with the history of Sri Lanka, starting from the most ancient times. Many of its exhibits are recognized as the oldest in the world. Founded in 1982, the museum is divided into 4 expositions:

• Ancient period.
• medieval period.
• colonial period.
• period of independence.

The oldest coins date back to the 3rd century and are made of silver. Exhibited in the museum are gold coins, as well as foreign ones that appeared here with the beginning of the development of trade.

Location: Stage 1, New Town.

In the temple of Sri Maha Bodhi grows, according to Buddhists, the oldest tree of Terra, planted in 249 BC, grows. According to Buddhist belief, Gautami Buddha attained enlightenment in front of a sacred tree in Buddhagaya, India, and the Sri Maha Bothi tree is an outgrowth of the southern branch of this tree. A trip to Anuradhapura will not be complete if you do not visit this holy place for all Buddhists.

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka: attractions, photo, weather

The city of Anuradhapura is located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, 194 km from the actual capital of the country Colombo (Colombo) and 168 km from Colombo International Airport. Anuradhapura is the administrative center of the district of the same name. The sites of the ancient holy city of Anuradhapura are included in the World Heritage List of Sri Lanka.

Anuradhapura is one of the "corners" of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, which also includes the cities of Kandy and Polonnaruwa. The city was founded in the 6th century BC. on the Malwatu Oya River. During the Middle Ages, from the 4th to the 11th century, the city was the capital of the independent Sinhala kingdom of the same name. The city has been a major religious Buddhist center for centuries.

Anuradhapura Map

Also, Anuradhapura is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world along with Luxor, Alexandria (Egypt), Mexico City, Vera Cruz (Mexico), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Peshawar (Pakistan), etc. Today, this ancient capital of Sri Lanka is considered sacred to everything Buddhist world, the area surrounding Anuradhapura monasteries is more than 40 square kilometers, the city is one of the main archaeological sites in the world.

According to the Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of Sri Lanka, the city of Anuradhapura was named after a minister named Anuradha who originally established a village settlement in the area. Anuradha was one of the ministers who accompanied the Indian prince Vijaya who, according to legend, founded the Sinhalese race in Sri Lanka.

Photos of Anuradhapura city

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How to get to Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is a large city, including a railway station and a bus station. From the major cities of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura can be reached by train or bus.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Colombo

There are about 8 trains a day from Colombo to Anuradhapura. There is also a direct bus service between the cities of Colombo and Anuradhapura:

• No. 15-1-1 Colombo - Anuradhapura,
• No. 15-1 Colombo - Anuradhapura,
• No. 4-3 Colombo (Colombo) - Anuradhapura (Anuradhapura),
• No. 57 Colombo - Anuradhapura.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Negombo

Negombo is located on a railway line parallel to Anuradhapura, and therefore, in order to get by train, you need to change at Ragama. There are 4 trains a day from Ragama to Anuradhapura. You can also get to Anuradhapura from Negombo by bus. To do this, you need to take a passing bus from Colombo to Negombo, or drive to Colombo and sit there at the final station.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Kandy

You can get to Anuradhapura from Kandy by train with a change at Polgahawela station. There are direct buses from Kandy to Anuradhapura:

• No. 42-2 Kandy (Kandy) - Anuradhapura (Anuradhapura)
• No. 43 Kandy (Kandy) - Anuradhapura (Anuradhapura).

How to get to Anuradhapura from Galle/Matara

By rail, you can get to Anuradhapura from the southwest coast by train with a change in Colombo. You can get to Anuradhapura by bus number 2 / 4-3 Matara (Matara) - Anuradhapura (Anuradhapura). And also with a transfer in Kalutara by bus No. 57/221/420 Kalutara (Kalutara) - Anuradhapura (Anuradhapura).

How to get to Anuradhapura from Trincomalee

Theoretically, you can get to Anurakhdhapura from Trincomalee by train with a change in Maho (Maho), however, due to the passage of the railway tracks on the map with a large detour to the south, it is much more economical in time to use the bus. From Trincomalee to Anuradhapura can be reached by bus number 835 Anuradhapura (Anuradhapura) - Trincomalee (Trincomalee).

How to get to Anuradhapura from Dambulla

Buses from Dambulla to Anuradhapura:

• No. 15-17 Kurunegala (Kurunegala) - Anuradhapura (Anuradhapura),
• №314/580/42 Anuradhapura - Badulla

How to get from Polonnaruwa to Anuradhapura

Buses passing through Polonnaruwa:

• No. 22/75/218 Anuradhapura - Ampara,
• No. 27/218/58 Anuradhapura - Wellawaya.

Sights of Anuradhapura

Sacred Sites of Anuradhapura

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree
(Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi)

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred fig tree located in Mahamewna Gardens. It is believed that the right southern branch is a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya (Buddha Gaya) in India, the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.

Sri Maha Bodhi is one of the most revered Buddhist shrines not only in Sri Lanka, but also in the world. Believers believe that a pilgrimage to the sacred tree helps to heal diseases, helps pregnant women avoid fetal malformations, protects peasant fields from natural disasters, etc.

The existing fence around Sri Maha Bodhi was built in the 18th century. by King Kirti Sri Rajasinha to protect the tree from wild elephants that abounded in the area. The height of the wall is 3 m, the thickness is 1.5 m. The length of the fence from north to south is 118 m, from east to west 83 m. The first golden fence around the sacred tree was built in 1969 in the city of Kandy under the leadership of Yatiravan Narada Tero ( Yatirawana Narada Thero).

The traditional Buddha Image House houses two ancient statues. The stone statue of a cobra is a very rare image. In the southwest of the Sri Jaya Maha Bodhi temple complex are the remains of the Dakkina Tupa dagoba.

Dagoba Ruwanvelisaya
(Ruwanwelisaya)

Ruvanvelisaya stupa, or as it is also called Ratnamali, was built by King Datugemunu in 161 BC. after defeating the Chola invaders from India. The king hired an architect who designed the dagoba, whose dome, according to the monarch, was shaped like a "bubble of milk". King Datugemunu himself did not live to see the completion of the construction, which took over 33 years in total, and the construction was completed by his brother King Saddhatissa.

With a height of 103m and a diameter of 292m, the Ruwanvelisaya Stupa was truly a marvel of architectural excellence of the time. Ancient chronicles describe in detail the materials used in the construction of the dagoba and its foundation. In addition to ordinary stones, gold, silver, pearls, corals and precious stones were used.

The original building was destroyed in the 19th century and then rebuilt in 1940. Near the dagoba there is a sanctuary in which there are 5 limestone statues of a standing Buddha. Four statues belong to the 8th century and symbolize the past incarnations of the Buddha, and the fifth statue symbolizes the future (Maitreya Buddha) with a tiara on his head and a lotus flower in his hands.

Dagoba Ruvanvelisaya is one of the 16 places of worship for Buddhists in Sri Lanka, denoted by the term Solosmasthana. It is believed that the stupa contains part of the ashes of the Buddha. The Dagobah was built in such a way as to be consistent with the Teachings of the Buddha: the dome symbolizes the infinity of the Teachings, the four sides above it represent the Four Noble Truths, the concentric rings indicate the Noble Eightfold Middle Path, and the large crystal at the top of the stupa represents the ultimate goal of enlightenment.

Dagoba Tuparama / Tuparamaya
(Thuparamaya)

The snow-white dagoba of Tuparam was erected in the shape of a bell, with a base diameter of 18 m, a height of 50 m. Previously, the Tuparam dagoba had a much larger size, but throughout its history it was repeatedly completely destroyed. The last time the stupa was rebuilt was in 1862.

The base of the stupa is paved with granite slabs, the dagoba is surrounded by 4 rows of stone pillars. The height of the stone pillars, on which the massive roof previously rested, decreases as you move from the outer circle to the inner one. The domed roof over the stupa, which existed earlier but has not survived to the present day, was supported by 176 columns.

Dagoba Tuparam was built in the 3rd century. BC. during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. The stupa was erected by the king at the request of Mahinda Thero, who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka, to enclose a relic - the right collarbone of the Buddha. The building has an original design: the vaulted temple of the watadage is, as it were, pushed under the dome of the dagoba.

In the 7th century, the Tuparamaya stupa was completely covered with gold. Including the watadage temple built into it, made of golden bricks, with golden doors. After an attack by South Indian Tamils ​​from the Pandyan kingdom, the stupa was looted and all the gold, jewels and treasures were taken away.

In the middle of the 10th c. the Sinhala king Mahinda IV restored the dagoba, revetted with gold and installed golden doors in it, but again, at the end of the 10th century, Tamil tribes from South India Chola (Chola) completely plundered the temple complex. The last restoration of the stupa was completed in the middle of the 19th century, however, in the process of restoration, the ancient stupa completely lost its former architectural features.

Bronze Palace of Lovamahapaya
(Lovamahapaya / Lohaprasadaya)

Lovamahapaya Palace was founded in the 3rd century BC. BC. the first Buddhist king of Sri Lanka, Devanampyatissa, who, at the request of Mahinda Thero, who brought Buddhism to the island, built the first building on this site. A century later, in the 2nd c. BC, King Datugemunu significantly expanded the architectural complex to the scale, traces of which can be seen today.

According to the Sinhalese chronicle Mahavamsa, the building of the Lovamahapaya Palace was a nine-story building 47 meters high, its vaults were supported by 1600 stone columns. The palace was decorated with corals and precious stones, and the roof was covered with copper-bronze plates. Apparently for this reason, the Lovamahapaya Palace is also called Lohaprasadaya, which in Sinhala means "Bronze Palace". The upper floors of the building were made of wood and were destroyed in the 2nd century BC. in case of fire.

During the history of the palace building was rebuilt 7 times. At the beginning of the 3rd century, during the reign of King Sirinaga II (Sirinaga), the palace was rebuilt, but its height was already 5 floors. By the middle of the 3rd c. King Jettatissa added two more floors, making it seven stories high. Then, at the end of the 3rd century, King Mahasena (Mahasena) destroyed the palace, using materials for the construction of the Abhayagiri complex, which caused a sharp conflict with the monastic community of the Mahavihara.

In the 4th c. his son Sirimeghavanna restored the palace again. In this form, the building existed until the 9th century, until it was destroyed by the invasion of the South Indian kingdom of Pandya. At the end of the same 9th c. King Sena II (Sena II) rebuilt the palace, but in the 10th century. the territory of the kingdom was invaded by the Indian invaders of Kol and completely plundered and destroyed. Then the fall of Anuradhapura happened and the city ceased to be the capital of the kingdom and only in the 11th century, during the reign of King Parakramabahu I (Parakramabhu I), the stone pillars were raised, and the building of the Lovamahapaya Palace was partially restored. In this form, the building of the palace remains to this day.

Dagoba Jetavanaramaya
(Jetavanaramaya)

The red-brick dagoba, Jetavanaramaya, is the largest in Sri Lanka, originally 122 meters high, but over time has decreased to 71 meters.

The Jetavanaramaya Dagoba was built at the end of the 3rd century by King Mahasena (273 - 303) and later completed by his son, King Sirimegavanna I. 93 million bricks were used to build a giant stupa, it was built on a rock, on a foundation 8.5 meters deep. Each side of the base on which the stupa is built has a length of 176 meters, the length of the stairs leading to it is 9 meters.

It is believed that the Jetavanarama dagoba was erected on the site of the cremation of Mahinda Thero, the man who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka.

Like all other buildings in Anuradhapura, this too was destroyed by Indian invaders in the 9th and 10th centuries. After the fall of the Anuradhapura kingdom, the stupa was abandoned and quickly covered with jungle.

In the 12th century, during the reign of King Parakramabahu the Great, the stupa was restored from ruins, but its height was reduced to its current value.

Jetavanaramaya / Patimagara image houses
(Jethawanaramaya Image House/Patimaghara)

On the 48-hectare site of the Jetavana Monastery, west of the Jetavanaramaya Dagoba, is the vaulted building of the Jethawanaramaya Image House, also called Patimaghara.

It is believed that the building was built by King Sena I in the 9th century and then destroyed during the capture of the north of the island by the Indian kingdom of Chola in the 10th century. Subsequently, the House of the Image was restored by the Sinhalese kings already during the decline of the kingdom of Anuradhapura.

The house of the Jetavanaramaya image is the largest found in the ancient cities of Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa.

Previously, the entrance to the building was closed by a monolithic door supported by stone pillars 8 meters high, and in the House of the Buddha Image itself there was a massive limestone statue 11 meters high and 25 Buddhist relics. According to calculations, the height of the building was 15 meters. Subsequently, vaulted buildings (gedige) of Tuparam, Lankatilak and Tiwank were erected in Polonnaruwa in the likeness of the Jetavanaramaya House of the Image.

Dagoba Mirisavetiyya
(Mirisavetiya Stupa)

Mirisavetiyya Dagoba was built during the reign of King Datugemunu in the 2nd century BC, the building belongs to the Maha Vihara complex. The diameter of the base of the stupa is 43 meters and the height is 59 meters.

The name of the stupa is explained by a popular Sinhala legend: when King Datugemunu, after his coronation, was going to the water festival in Tissawewa, he left his scepter (Kunt) at this place, inside of which a sacred relic was laid. Then the king returned for the scepter, which seemed to be stuck and no one could move it.

Then the king remembered that he had previously broken the tradition by forgetting to offer the monks a chili stew (Miris) before tasting it himself. It was a common practice in those days to give a portion of all the food prepared in the palace to the priests before the king could taste it. Seeing the miracle and remembering his misdeed, the king ordered to build a stupa on this place and call it Mirisavetiyya (pepper stew stupa).

The Dagobah was rebuilt in the 1980s, but the entire structure collapsed in 1987, destroying one of the finest examples of Anuradhapura era "Vahalkada" architectural gables. Dagoba Mirisavetiyya, observed now, was completed in 1993, but in the process of restoration it lost all the historical features of the original.

Dagobah Lankarama
(Lankarama Stupa)

Lankarama Stupa (Lankaramaya) is located on the territory of the ancient city, south of the elephant pond. Dagoba Lankaramaya was built in the 1st century BC. King Walagamba. The diameter of the Lankarama stupa is 14 meters, and the diameter of the base is 406 m, the height of the base is 3 m.

The stupa is surrounded by the remains of 88 stone pillars that supported the roof of the building, which has not been preserved to this day. During its history, the stupa has undergone reconstruction, what was its form was previously unknown. The dagoba, built in Medirigiriya near Polonnaruwa, was built in the same architectural style as the Lankarama stupa.

Dagoba Lankarama is located 400 meters from Abhayagiri Monastery, its ancient name is Silasobha Kandaka Setiya (Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya).

The place is named so because after the defeat from the Tamil invaders in 103 BC. The Sinhalese king Valagamba hid from enemies in a place called "Silasobbha Khandaka". After defeating the Tamil invaders and liberating the country in the same year, having returned the throne, he built the Lankarama stupa on this site.

Dagoba Abhayagiri
(Abhayagiri Stupa)

The stupa was built in the 1st century BC. Sinhalese king Valagamba. The Abhayagiri Stupa is the second highest stupa in Sri Lanka.

According to the descriptions of the Chinese monk Fa-Xian in the fifth century, the height of the stupa was 122 meters, its outer surface was decorated with gold, silver and jewels. Also at this place was a statue of Buddha 6m high, made of green jade. The upper superstructure above the dome, called hatharas kotuwa, has been preserved since ancient times.

According to the annals, after King Walagambahu ascended the throne in 104 BC, just seven months later there was a Tamil invasion of ancient Sri Lanka through the port of Mantota. Port after port, city after city, the Tamils ​​took over. The Sinhalese army was defeated and forced to retreat quickly, while the Tamil king captured Walagambaha's wife and several relics and took them to India. King Walagambahu was forced to hide in the jungle where the Tamils ​​could not find him.

At that time, a Jain monk lived in the place where the Abhayagiri dagoba stands today. As the king was leaving the territory of Anuradhapura, passing through the gate, a Jain monk named Geri shouted insultingly: "Look how the great Sinhalese king fled!" The king ignored this comment, but when he returned to Anuradhapura, 14 years after defeating the invaders, he did not forget the incident.

The king completely destroyed this hermitage and erected a massive stupa and 12 buildings in its place and offered it to Mahathis Thero. The stupa was named Abhayagiri, after the two sides of the conflict - the names "Abhaya" (the name of the king) and "Geri" (Jain monk). Abhayagiri Vihara later became the rival of Mahavihara. The monks of the Mahavihara monastery were followers of Theravada Buddhism, and the monks at the same time, Abhayagiri followed the principles of the Theravada and Mahayana teachings.

Ratna Prasadaya Palace
(Rathna Prasadaya)

The Ratna Prasada / Prasadaya Palace was built in the 2nd century by the Sinhalese king Kanitta Tissa (167 - 186). The name Ratna Prasadaya is translated from Sinhalese as "Palace of Jewels".

Once the palace of Ratna Prasadaya was a multi-storey building, its size can be judged from the remains of the columns that supported the vaults of the building.

In the 8th century, King Mahinda II restored the several-story building and decorated it with many Buddha statues made of gold. However, all these treasures were plundered during the invasion of the South Indian Pandyan Empire during the reign of King Sena I (833-853).

Subsequently, the palace of jewels was again restored by King Seine II (853-887), who returned the treasures to it. The Ratna Prasadaya building was then restored by the Sinhalese king Mahinda IV in the 10th century.

The protective stone, designed to preserve the treasures of the palace, has survived to this day. It is located at the inner entrance of the building and is one of the finest examples of stone carving from the era of the Anuradhapura kingdom.

Kuttam Pokuna Pond
(Kuttam Pokuna)

The Kuttam Pokuna Ponds are an ancient engineering marvel. The real builders of the structure are unknown, it is assumed that the ponds were built during the reign of King Aggabodhi (Aggabodhi I) at the turn of the 6th and 7th centuries.

The ponds of Kuttam Pokuna were used by the monks of the Abhayagiri Monastery for bathing. The walls of the ponds are made of carved granite slabs.

Translated from the Sinhala language "Kuttam Pokuna" means "Twin Ponds". The northern pond (small) was built first, and over time a second larger pond was added to it.

The dimensions of the small northern pond Kuttam Pokuna are 28*15.5 meters, the depth is 4 meters. The dimensions of the southern (large) pond are 40*16 meters, the depth is 5.5 meters.

The water in the ponds was supplied through an underground plumbing and passed through four levels of filtration before entering the pond through a pipe stylized as a dragon's head. Further, the water from both ponds was merged into one channel and then used to irrigate the fields.

Statue of Buddha Samadhi
(Samadhi Statue)

The statue of Buddha in the state of Samadhi is located in the ancient park Mahamevnava (Mahamevnāwa Park). The statue of Samadhi is considered one of the best sculptures of the era of the Anuradhapura kingdom. It is believed that the statue of Samadhi was created during the 3rd or 4th century.

The statue of Buddha in the Dhyana mudra meditation position with crossed legs and open palms placed one on top of the other is made of dolomite marble. The ancient statue has a height of 2.2 meters.

In 1886, this statue was found in the same place where it is at the moment, having fallen, her nose was damaged. After that, the statue was re-installed, and the nose was reconstructed.

In 1914, the statue was again damaged by treasure hunters and restored again. The eyes of the statue are currently hollow, indicating that they were previously adorned with crystals or precious stones. It is not known whether this statue was brought from another monastery or whether it was originally located here.

It is believed that if you look at the statue from three different sides, then looking from the right and left sides, her face will express sadness, and if you look at the statue from the right, then her face smiles slightly.

Objects of the ancient city of Anuradhapura

Lake Tissa Veva
(Tissa Wewa)

The ancient man-made reservoir Tissa Veva was built by the Sinhalese king Devanampyatissa, who ruled the country in the 3rd century BC. The dimensions of the embankment erected to form the ancient reservoir are impressive: the length of the embankment is 3.4 km and the height is 7.5 meters.

The surface area of ​​the Tissa Veva reservoir is 2.2 sq. km. The purpose of creating such a voluminous reservoir, according to the ancient Sinhalese chronicle Mahavamsa, was to feed the gardens and parks located in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, as well as to irrigate the surrounding rice fields during the dry season.

The man-made lake Tissa Veva receives water through the ancient structure of Jaya Ganga, a canal that connects the reservoir and the Kala Veva River. Excess water from the reservoir is discharged into the Malvathu Oya River.

According to archaeologists, the ancient Tissa Veva reservoir was built so reliably that even after 1,200 years it can supply water to the now modern city of Anuradhapura.

Lake Nuwara Veva
(Nuwara Wewa)

The ancient reservoir of Nuwara Veva is the largest of the three man-made reservoirs of Anuradhapura. Nuwara Veva translates as "City Lake".

The exact time of construction of the reservoir is unknown. It is believed to have been built in the 1st century BC. e. King Vattagamini Abaya.

According to historians, the original structure of the embankment was made of bricks used in the construction of the Abhayagiri dagoba. The embankment was renovated in the 3rd and 5th centuries.

The Nuwara Veva reservoir has a surface area of ​​31.8 square kilometers and was filled using a dam and canal on the Malwathu Oya River. The dam lasted until 1873, when the construction of an automobile bridge across the river was started.

The depth of water in the channel connecting the lake and the river is 1.2 meters, the depth of the reservoir is 45 meters at the dam. Currently, the canal is used to divert excess water from Nuwara Veva back into the river during floods.

Isurumuniya Temple
(Isurumuniya)

The ancient Buddhist temple of Isurumuniya is located on the banks of the Tissa Wewa reservoir. The temple was founded by King Devanampiya Tissa at the end of the 4th century. BC. The temple was previously known as Megagiri Vihara. The temple is known for its unusual stone carvings, made in different architectural styles, depicting different subjects:

• carving Isurumuni Lovers

  The carving was probably created in the 6th century. in the Gupta style shows a man and a woman sitting on his lap, in one version personifying King Kuvera Vaisrawana and his Queen Kuni, in another version of the god Shiva and his wife Parvati, in the third the scene captured a prince, the son of King Datugemunu, who renounced the throne in order to marry a girl of the lower class.

• carving Royal family (Royal Family)

  The carving was probably created in the 8th century, the work was done in the architectural tradition of the Gupta Kala; the image carved on a granite slab includes 5 human figures, in the center of the composition, King Dutugamunu is supposedly depicted.

• carving Elephant Pond

  The carving was probably created in the 7th century, made in the Pallavian tradition. The image depicts elephants bathing, but what is remarkable: the images of elephants correspond to images in stone carvings in Mamallapuram (Mamallapuram) in southern India.

Isurumuniya Temple is the first place in Sri Lanka where the tooth of the Buddha was placed upon arrival on the island. The stupa near the temple and the statue of Buddha inside it are modern. part of the caves near the temple used to serve as a refuge for monks, but now many bats live there.

ransimalakaya temple
(Ransimalakaya)

Across the road from the bronze palace of Lovamahapaya are the ruins of Ransimalakaya. Between the sacred tree of Sri Maha Bodhi and the huge dagoba of Ruvanveliseya is a section of ruins with towering stone pillars.

The site was surveyed by archaeologists from the Royal Asiatic Society, who discovered the building's foundations there, first excavating in 1895.

The current ruins of the building indicate that it was an open building without walls, and its roof, which has not survived to this day, was previously supported by 8 rows of 10 granite pillars.

Few of these pillars can be observed today. The building can be entered through four entrances located on each side of the building.

According to the Department of Archeology of Sri Lanka, this building was used as a meeting room by the monks of Maha Vihara in the Middle Ages. The body of Maha Mahinda Thero was kept in the same building until cremation.

Ruins of the Toluwil complex
(Toluwila Ruins)

The ruins of the Buddhist complex of Toluvila are located near the railway station of Anuradhapura, outside the boundaries of the ancient city. The Toluvil complex was supposedly part of the Pabbatha Vihara.

The estimated time of construction of the monastery complex Toluvila - the period between the 7th and 9th centuries.

According to chronicles, in Toluville in the 3rd century BC. stopped by Mahinda Thero (the man who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka) during his pilgrimage from Chathiya Pabbatha to Maha Vihara.

In the house of the image of Toluvila, a statue of the Buddha sitting in the Samadhi posture was discovered and taken to the National Museum of Sri Lanka, located in Colombo, which is considered the most skillful such statue in Sri Lanka.

The house of the image of the Buddha, which was on a hill, is surrounded by a large number of remains of outbuildings made in a unique architectural style, and the Toluvila complex itself is surrounded by a moat.

Ruins of the Temple of the Tooth Relic Daladage
(Dalada Maligawa / Daladage)

To the northeast of the Vijayabahu royal palace are the ruins of the ancient Maha Pali complex, the Dalada Ge Temple of the Tooth Relic, and the two Gedige Domed Buddha Image Houses. All four buildings are located at a distance of 50 meters from each other.

The ruins of the building, known as Daladage, are believed to be the remains of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, built by the Sinhalese king Mahinda IV in the 10th century after the defeat of the Sinhalese army by the South Indian Chola Empire and the control of the northern part of the island.

The remains of the temple of the tooth of the Buddha Daladage stand on a tetrahedral body measuring 60x65 meters. The temple consists of a large building with wide compartments on three sides (out of four) and two small ancillary buildings that have almost disappeared to the northwest and northeast of the temple.

The main entrance to the Daladage building is in the center on the north side of the temple. The inscription above its entrance, made during the reign of Mahinda IV, allowed archaeologists to identify the purpose of the premises.

Elephant Pond at Pokuna
(Eth Pokuna)

Not far from the Lankaramaya stupa is an ancient irrigation miracle - a huge artificial pond Et Pokuna. The name of the pond from the Sinhalese language is translated as "Elephant Pond".

Et Pokuna Pond is the largest pond not only on the territory of Abhayagiri, but also on the territory of the ancient city of Anuradhapura.

The dimensions of the ancient pond Et Pokuna are very impressive: its length is 159 meters and its width is 52.7 meters. The Et Pokuna Pond is 9.5 meters deep and holds 75,000 cubic meters of water.

The water for the Et Pokuna Pond is supplied from the Periyamkulam Reservoir through a network of underground channels. Visitors can still see parts of the elements of the plumbing system that supplies the pond.

Water supply channels were made by ancient craftsmen from stone blocks. Previously, the pond was used by the monks of the Abhayagiri monastery for ablutions and other daily needs, their number at that time exceeded 5,000 people.

Ruins of the Mahapali complex
(Mahapali Alms Hall)

The Mahapali Mercy Hall was supposedly built by King Devanampyatissa in the 3rd century BC. and was subsequently expanded by other kings who ruled during the period of the Anuradhapura kingdom.

The ruins of the Mahapali complex are located north of the Vijayabahu I palace, their area is 0.5 hectares. To this day, massive granite columns have survived that previously supported the roof of the building of the Maha Pali Hall.

After the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, the island became one of the largest centers of Buddhism in the world.

In the cities of ancient Sri Lanka, thousands of monks lived, providing them with food was the responsibility of the king, so the halls of mercy (Alms hall) appeared - a place for monks supplied with food.

One of the main attractions of the place is a deep well that supplied water to the buildings of the Mahapali complex. The walls of the well are built of granite and brick, the steps located around the perimeter of the square well allow you to go down to the water.

Gedige Temple
(Gedige)

The temple with the once vaulted dome of Gedige is located on the territory of the Maha Pali complex. The Gedige Building (also known as the Gedi Ge) is a brick structure more or less similar in appearance to the house of the Buddha image.

Gedige is considered the sanctuary of the Mahayana tradition, which preached tantra, because of which they had a conflict with the followers of Theravada, which ended in a complete victory for the latter. The history of construction and the time of creation of this building are unknown.

Gedige and the Buddha Image House of the Maha Pali Complex are the only known Image Houses in Anuradhapura made entirely of masonry, with only the door and window frame being made of granite.

Previously, the building of the House of the Image of the Buddha was decorated with a vaulted dome, stone stairs led to the second floor, and a sanctuary was located inside. Gedige occupies an area of ​​10 square meters. meters, the House of the image of the Buddha 11 sq. meters.

Mayura Pirivena Training Center
(Mayura Pirivena)

This training center is one of the main training centers belonging to the Maha Viharaya complex during the era of the Anuradhapura kingdom. The Mayura Pirivena training center was built by King Buddhadasa in the 4th century.

To date, the Mayura Pirivena building has been completely destroyed, only the foundation with several pillars that previously supported the roof remained from the building.

The Mayura Pirivena Learning Center is believed to be the former location of Granthakara Pirivena, where the Indian Buddhist monk Buddhagosha Tera was engaged in compiling commentaries on Theravada sacred texts in the 5th century. While in India and finding a text for which the commentary on the Tripitaka had been lost, Buddhagosha went to Sri Lanka to study the Sinhalese commentary, which at that time was preserved in the Maha Vihara monastery in Anuradhapura. There Buddhagosha began to study the large body of commentaries that had been collected and preserved by the monks of the Maha Vihara.

The interpretations presented by the Buddhagosha generally constituted an orthodox understanding of Theravada sacred texts from at least the 12th century. Buddhagosha's writings have been recognized by Western scholars and Theravada monks as the most important Theravada commentaries. Buddhagosha described the center of Mayura Pirivena as "beautifully located, well-maintained, cool and with ample water supply".

Monastery of Vessagiriya
(Vessagiriya)

The ancient forest monastery is located on the territory of the ancient city of Anguradhapura, a couple of hundred meters south of the Isurumuniya temple, on the Anuradhapura-Kurunegala road. The place may also be called Issarasamanarama. The monastery is located among huge stone boulders.

The Buddhist monastery of Vessagiriya was founded in the 3rd century BC. and expanded in the 5th century during the reign of King Kasyapa (Kasyapa), up to 500 people lived on its territory.

At the moment, only the remains of 23 stone caves are observed in this area. Now the visitor can only see the stones, because. all other structural elements were made of fragile materials and have not been preserved.

In the natural stone shelters that served as a shelter for the monks, inscriptions were found in the Brahmi language, one of the oldest writing systems. Archaeologists also found the ruins of a building with a round foundation whose purpose is unknown; during excavations, 70 rare coins were found there. On the territory you can see the remains of the buildings of the refectory for the monks and several dagobas.

Royal Palace of Vijayabahu I
(Vijayabahu I Royal Palace)

The Royal Palace is located to the southwest, across the road from the Maha Pali complex. The palace was built by the Sinhala king Vijayabahu I (1055 - 1110) in the 11th century during the era of the Anuradhapura kingdom.

In 1070, the Sinhalese king overthrew the South Indian invaders from the Chola empire, who ruled the kingdom, and after a military campaign that lasted 18 years, united the country. After defeating the Cholas, the Sinhalese king recreated Buddhism, which had been practically destroyed during the reign of the Tamils, and restored ancient infrastructure and irrigation projects.

During the reign of the king, the capital was the city of Anuradhapura, but, having celebrated his dedication to the monarchs, the king moved the capital of the country to the city of Polonnaruwa.

It is believed that the building of the royal palace was used for official celebrations and ceremonies. The building is 39 meters wide and 66 meters long.

Two massive protective stones at the entrance to the building depict "Sankhanihi" and "Padmanidhi" - the servants of the god Kubera. On the walls of the palace, you can still observe the remains of ancient plaster.

Stupa Sangamitta
(Sangamittha Stupa)

The Sangamitta red brick stupa is located 150 meters east of the famous Tuparamaya Dagoba. The ancient stupa was supposedly named after the daughter of the Indian emperor Ashoka named Sangamitta Teri (Sangamiththa Theri).

The emperor's daughter arrived in Sri Lanka in 249 BC, bringing with her to the island a branch of the original sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree.

The princess made her way to the neighboring country with her brother Mahinda Thero, who is the man who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Arriving on the island, the son and daughter of Emperor Ashoka devoted their lives to spreading the Buddhist Teachings in the country and are still revered as the founders of Buddhism.

The ancient chronicles mention that the Sinhalese king Uttiya (Uttiya) laid the ashes of the arhat Sangamitta Teri in a small dagoba east of the Tuparam stupa. Archaeologists suggest that it was about the Sangamitta stupa.

Stupa Dakkina
(Dakkhina Tupa Stupa)

The ruins of an ancient temple, apparently unfinished, are located south of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple complex and the Mayura Pirivena training center.

The name of the place in Sinhalese means "Southern Monastery", it is considered the place of cremation of several Sinhalese kings.

This site was identified as the Dhakkhina Stupa by Professor Paranavitana in 1946. According to the ancient chronicles of Sri Lanka, at the place where the Sinhalese king Datugemunu, who ruled in the 2nd century BC, was cremated. Dakkina stupa was erected.

Initially, after the cremation of the king, the volume of the dagoba was much smaller, but during the course of history it was rebuilt several times and eventually reached its present size.

Next to the stupa are stone pillars with elegant carvings depicting Vaisravana and Kalpawruksha.

Nakha Vihara Temple
(Nakha Vihara)

The Nakha Temple belongs to a unique type of square brick building, being one of four such unusual buildings found in Sri Lanka.

The temple building was built presumably during the period of the Anuradhapura kingdom in the range of 7-10 centuries. and belongs to the Mahayana tradition.

The size of the base of the temple is 9x9 m, next to the Naka temple, the ruins of the House of the Buddha Image were found, but the object has not survived to our time.

Excavations carried out by archaeologists in the area of ​​the Naka temple revealed the presence of several layers of clay plaster, which presumably indicates that the building, before it was abandoned, was active and inhabited for a long time.

The Nakha temple is rarely visited by tourists, the most popular of the four being the Satmahal Prasada brick building in Polonnaruwa, the other two are in Anuradhapura on the grounds of Abhayagiri Monastery.

Ruins of the Dagoba Padalanchana / Strength of Chetiyya
(Padalanchana Chethiya / Sila Chethiya)

Fifty meters from the famous Tuparam stupa are the ruins of a small ancient dagoba Padalanchana Chetiya. The place is also called Sila Chethiya, Kujjatissa or Digha Stupa.

The stupa is an archaeological site with features from the late period of the Anuradhapura kingdom, likely indicating that it was rebuilt or restored.

The power of Chetiya is one of the 16 main places of worship in Sri Lanka, called Solosmasthana. The Dagobah was built at the beginning of the 2nd century. BC. King Lagnatissa.

According to the Sinhalese chronicles Mahavamsa, Dipavamsa and Mahabothivamsa, the Buddha left his mark on the site of the Padalanchana stupa during his third visit to Sri Lanka.

According to the Mahavamsa, it is also believed that this place is one of the four places where all the Buddhas (Kakusanndha, Konagamana, Kassapa and Gautama Buddha) came to the island at one time and left their footprints before leaving it.

Ruins of the pavilions of Padanagar
(Padanagara)

The two sites, called the Padanagara Pavilions, are located to the west of Abhayagiri Monastery, away from other ancient structures.

The granite base of the building was erected on a cliff.

The pavilions are located outside the ancient city of Anuradhapura and were used by the monks, presumably for meditation and retreat.

The structure of the pavilions surrounds the moat. The building, above the ruins of which rows of stone pillars rise, is devoid of any decorations and ornaments, with the exception of a small amount of them near the stone toilet building, located to the right of the pavilion.

The first pavilion of Padanagar is smaller than the second. Both pavilions are equipped with ancient plumbing, with aquifers running under the foundations of the ancient structure, and stone toilets.

Ranmasu Uiyana / Magul Uiyana Park
(Ranmasu / Magul Uyana)

Even before the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century. BC. parks were a common part of urban planning. The founder of the park, Ranmasu Uiyana, is unknown.

It is believed that the park was built as an alternative to the parks that existed earlier and given by King Devanampyatissa with the advent of Buddhism to the island, the monastic community (Sangha).

According to an inscription found in the ancient monastery of Vessagiriya, the water for the needs of the park came from the Tissa River and was then distributed over the fields in the area of ​​the Isurumuniya temple.

There are several small ponds in the park, where goldfish used to swim and lotuses bloomed. The stone framing of the ponds is decorated with traditional carvings depicting bathing elephants.

Ranmasu Uiyana Ancient Park is located on an area of ​​16 hectares. The park is an excellent example of ancient Sri Lankan park architecture of the pre-Christian era. On the territory of the park there are "star gate" Sakwala Chakraya.

Petroglyphs of Sakwala Chakraya
(Sakwala Chakraya)

In Ranmasu Uiyana Park, an ancient drawing called Sakwala Chakraya or Bawa Chakraya is depicted on a large boulder.

The creator, purpose and time of creation of the petroglyph are unknown.

One of the assumptions is that the image represents the oldest existing map of the world: the cosmographic graphs of the Universe or the "map of the worlds" described in ancient Buddhist texts.

According to another theory, the Sakwala Chakraya are some kind of star gates, similar to those found in Peru near Lake Titicaca and in the Abu Sir pyramid complex.

The kingdom of Anuradhapura existed from about 400 B.C. before the beginning of the second millennium, however, there is a version that the age of this artifact is at least 5000 years old, and refers to the period of the reign of King Ravana.

Weather in Anuradhapura

The best time to visit Anuradhapura is from January to September inclusive - at this time the least rainfall falls in the city, the weather is favorable for walking tours of the ancient city.

The high season to visit Anuradhapura is from June to September, the driest time of the year. The rainiest months, the rainy season in Anuradhapura, are October, November and December, influenced by the northeast monsoon.

During the year, the air temperature in the city is stable and varies slightly from season to season: night air temperatures fluctuate within +21 C +24 C; daily air temperatures range from +29 C to +34 C.

(Anuradhapura) is an ancient city on the island of Ceylon, which was the first capital of Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese built the city of Anuradhapura already in the 5th century BC! A lot of time has passed since then, but the remains of this interesting Sinhalese city can be seen in the north of Sri Lanka, having arrived there from Colombo by bus. We wanted to definitely visit its ancient ruins, saturated with the spirit of ancient history!

Compared to the south of the country, in the center and in the north of Sri Lanka, the main cultural attractions have been preserved - the so-called "Golden Triangle". Anuradhapura is part of it. Here are the famous stupas or dagobas, which have spread as an architectural norm throughout Southeast Asia, and the tallest brick building in the world! And we started our acquaintance with Sri Lanka right here in Anuradhapura. A lot of practical information and experience has accumulated, and now we will tell you about everything in detail.

- This is the first capital of the Sinhalese state and was founded in the 5th century BC by the Indian prince Anuradha. It is located within the boundaries of the modern city of the same name in Sri Lanka. Its name literally translates as "city of Anuradha".

basic information

View from the top of the monastery in Anuradhapura

Ancient city

Anuradhapura city is a small modern city in the north of Sri Lanka, which is located next to the impressive ancient ruins of the first capital of the Sinhalese. We arrived here in the afternoon. Our bus stopped at the bus station, and all the passengers got off. Then we got our luggage and went to get acquainted with the new city. At that moment, we really did not know anything about Anuradhapura except that there is an ancient city and outstanding sights of Sri Lanka.

Reading information about Anuradhapura on the Internet, we became very interested in its history. It turned out that the city was built in an area called Rajarata - that is, the "Land of the Kings." Another and more modern name for this region is the Cultural Triangle. Well, it means that there is definitely something to see for independent travelers and tourists!

The city of Anuradhapura is also called the most important of the ancient cities, as it was the center for a long period of time - for almost a thousand years it held the capital status of the Sinhalese kings and the South Indian emperors of the Chola dynasty. There were strong trade ties with China. And it was also an important center of Buddhism not only for its neighbors, but the fame of its power even reached the Mediterranean. Ambassadors from Anuradhapura met in Rome with Emperor Claudius.

Observation deck on a huge megalith

What to see

They are located on a large territory and are of great interest among numerous tourists. The ruins of palaces and ancient dagobas, as well as the sacred Bodhi tree, are all definitely worth seeing.

It is here, in the eponymous modern city of Anuradhapura, which arose only at the beginning of the 20th century, tourists come who want to learn about the ancient past of Sri Lanka and visit a UNESCO heritage site. Someone travels with an organized tour or gets out for a couple of days from the beaches on an excursion, and we traveled here on our own.

Map of Anuradhapura Archaeological Park

Anuradhapura consists of the so-called "Old City" (Old City), which houses the archaeological area and the main attractions of the ancient capital, and the "new city" with a tourist area, cafes, shops, hotels and guesthouses, separated from the old city by a river.

Here is an overview video about Anuradhapura:

From the very beginning, it becomes clear that the city of Anuradhapura is not just standing on the river that connected it with the northern coast (near the island of Mannar). Previously, this was very important for communication with allies represented by the Chola dynasty, which extended its influence not only to its closest neighbors, but also to other states and empires of Southeast Asia.

For example, on the Khmers, who built under the influence of the Cholas, and on Dvaravati, an ancient state in Thailand. Remember the largest stupa in Thailand - Chedi Phra Nakhom Pathom! And thus it was from Sri Lanka and Anuradhapura that Buddhism spread throughout the world.

Advice. During the tour of the city of Anuradhapura, you should not forget about the sun and take care of your head and skin if you are easily prone to sunburn. During hot days it is better to drink more water.

archaeological zone

Leaving the bus station, we immediately found ourselves in the so-called archaeological zone, which is visited by all tourists. The main tourist office of Anuradhapura is located on Sri Maha Bodhi, 200 meters from the old northern railway station and bus station. Here we took a map and found out all the information we were interested in. We definitely recommend visiting this useful place.

• Tourist office opening hours: 9.00 - 16.45 on weekdays and 9.00 - 13.00 on weekends.
• Ticket office opening hours: 7.00 - 19.00 daily. And the ruins are open around the clock.
• Ticket costs $25, valid within a day from the date of purchase. Entrance to the Isurumuniya monastery and to the bodhi tree is paid separately - 200 rupees.

It is important to know! In Sri Lanka, it is customary to take off your shoes when you enter holy places. And the dagobas of Anuradhapura certainly belong to them. So be sure to leave your sandals before entering Buddhist shrines. If you do not plan to return to the same place where you entered, or are afraid that your shoes will be stolen, then carry your shoes with you in a bag or put them in a backpack. Since the brick buildings get very hot in the hot sun, and there is a risk of getting a foot burn, we advise you to bring special socks for examining the dagobas. And yet, clothing should also be modest: shoulders and knees should be covered.

How to get there

There are several options for getting to Anuradhapura, which are suitable for tourists. For ourselves, we decided that the easiest way would be to come by bus from Colombo to Anuradhapura. Although it would be possible to buy a train ticket and travel by rail without any problems. Or take a taxi / minibus, but it will be beneficial and convenient if you are traveling with a large group.

• By train: There are 6 trains per day from Colombo. There are three classes of carriages, 2 and 3 can be sleeping. Ticket price - from 100 to 520 rupees. Travel time - 5 hours. The stations are located next to the New Bus Station and 2 km north of the city.
• By bus: there are several options. It takes 5 hours to go from Colombo to Anuradhapura, the ticket price is 100-200 rupees; from Kandy - 3 hours for 70-150 rupees; from Polonnaruwa, the journey time is 3 hours, the ticket price is 50 rupees. You can also take a bus from Negombo (with a change in Kurunegale), the journey will take 6-7 hours and you will have to pay 120-200 rupees.
  Important! All buses coming from the North and East directions stop at the New Bus Station, and from the South - at the Old North Bus Station. It should be borne in mind that no matter which bus station the bus departs from, it will definitely go to the second one and pick up passengers. However, there may no longer be comfortable seats in the cabin, so it is better to take them immediately at the point of departure.
• By taxi A: If you take a car from Colombo or Negombo, then the cost of the transfer will be $150. Driver services with a car throughout the Cultural Triangle will cost $170-200.

Anuradhapura on the map

Where to sleep

Despite the fact that the city is not very big, there is a fairly wide selection of hotels and guesthouses of different price categories. We decided not to stay here in an expensive hotel, because we only needed to spend the night and move on. You can book a room at the Anuradhapura hotel here:

French Garden Guesthouse

In Anuradhapura we stayed in a very decent guesthouse french garden located near the center. We arrived there on the recommendation of the driver. However, the place turned out to be very good and with pleasant prices (3000 rupees for a room with air conditioning and 2500 for a room with a fan). The territory is very beautiful, it has a well-groomed garden in accordance with the name. We were satisfied with the accommodation and service. The only thing I didn’t like is that the guesthouse has a rather expensive restaurant (for example, fried rice costs about 400 rupees), but the food there is delicious. Here you can also rent bicycles to explore the archaeological park and book tours and a guide.

Good hotels in Anuradhapura

To make it easier for you to deal with the search for a hotel, we have studied in detail all the accommodation options, made an overview and We recommend the best hotels in Anuradhapura(links are clickable):

• Rajarata Hotel- grade 7.6 (modern 4* hotel with stylish rooms and swimming pool)
• Gamodh Citadel Resort- grade 8.4 (resort with garden and swimming pool surrounded by ancient ruins)
• Diamond Lake Tourist Rest- grade 8.8 (clean and comfortable guesthouse with its own restaurant)
• Villa Villa- grade 8.3 (family villa with garden close to Lake Nuwara Veva)
• London Palace- grade 8.1 (stylish hotel in town with good restaurant and garden)

All hotels in Anuradhapura see →

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We have talked about the practical issues associated with traveling to Anuradhapura, and now we turn to the beauties of the northern capital of Ceylon, founded by Prince Anuradha in the 5th century BC! The old city is famous for the dagobas, or bell-shaped stupas, scattered throughout the territory. All of them played some role in different periods of the history of the Sinhalese state of Lanka.

The best way to watch Anuradhapura

Keep in mind that the territory of the old city is simply huge, and the sights are scattered quite far from each other. It will be quite problematic to inspect them on foot in the heat, so you should think about transport. There are several options for how to travel between the sights of Anuradhapura:

• By taxi: the driver will take you to all the sights of the old city for $20;
• On a tuk tuk: cost - 100 rupees per hour;
• By bike: in any hotel or guesthouse you can rent a bike and ride through the ruins on your own. The cost is 200 rupees per day.

We took a taxi with a driver. At first we thought to inspect on our own, but we were glad of the opportunity. However, the cost of his services eventually entered into the total amount we paid him for a trip around the entire cultural triangle of Sri Lanka.

Since we arrived in Anuradhapura quite tired after the flight and the hot bus, the driver came in handy. He took us to all the sights and sometimes even told something and kindly took photos for us. However, in general, we were not very lucky with the driver, and he even tried to deceive us afterwards. You can see all the details.

We recommend taking a driver or guide for those who do not have much time or who, like us at that moment, do not know much about Anuradhapura. However, if we had gone to the hotel immediately after the bus and had a good night's sleep first, and then well prepared for sightseeing, as we usually do, we would have gone to the archaeological park in the morning. And would prefer in this case to see the sights of Anuradhapura on bicycles on their own.

Advice. It is most convenient to start sightseeing in Anuradhapura with a visit to the sacred bodhi tree and the ruins next to it, and then go to Isurumuni Monastery, located in the south. After that, starting from the dagoba of Mirisaveti and the dagoba of Ruvanveli, move north to the palace of Mahasena and the Moonstone. And you can finish the tour at the highest dagoba - Jetavanarama.

On the territory of the old city, it is especially worth noting the sacred for Buddhists bo tree(Sri Maha Bodhi or Mahabodhi), which has been growing here for over 2000 years. Its planting is documented in chronicles, and the seed was brought from India. It comes from the same tree under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment.

Dog at the holy stupa of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka

Keep in mind that the entrance to the tree is paid separately. It turned out that the main trunk of Mahabodhi was destroyed in the 19th century by an English religious fanatic. However, its small trunk remained, which is supported by numerous props.

Next to the Bodhi tree is bronze palace- the pyramidal structure of King Dutthagamani. Only 1600 granite columns have survived.

Then we went to explore the ruins of the archaeological zone of Anuradhapura. First of all, we arrived at the Isurumuni Monastery (Isurumuni Raja Maha Viharaya), the entrance here is paid separately (200 rupees), and the collected funds allegedly go to restore the object.

Entrance to Isurumuni Monastery

The monastery stands on the shore of Lake Tisza. It is famous for ancient stone reliefs - Lovers, Seated Man and Horse Head. Most of the sculptures and reliefs were transferred to the museum, which is located right next to the monastery.

Relief "Seated Man"

The stones around which and on which the monastery was built seemed huge to us! These are not just megaliths, but super-megaliths, and although they are not processed by man, but simply used in construction, they still inspire respect! Steps to the observation deck are carved right on the rock.

Heap of megaliths

If you go upstairs, you will have great views of the surroundings. Here, apparently, it is good to meet sunset and sunrise, as the panorama is 360 degrees. We, unfortunately, did not manage to see this beauty, and we still regret it.

The monastery has a stone pool

Also not far from the lake is the Mirisavatiya dagoba, where we went straight from Isurumuni. In ancient times, its height reached 61 meters, but in the X century it was rebuilt. Mirisaveti was built the very first in Anuradhapura, immediately after the founding of the city. It is oriented to the cardinal points with four gates. We walked around her, carefully examining the details that seemed interesting to us.

According to legend, King Dutthagamani ordered to build this dagoba on the spot where he laid down his royal regalia, in which the relics of the Buddha were kept. The king went to swim, but on his return he could not take his things back. So he realized that it was on this place that the dagoba should be placed. After all, a stupa (or chedi), according to Buddhists, is a burial mound, and the holy relics of the Buddha should be kept inside.

Among the ruins you can sometimes find such unexpected surprises.

Dagoba Ruwanveli

Another interesting Ruvanveli Dagoba (Ruvanvelisaya dagoba) stands out among other attractions of Anuradhapura in that it is surrounded by a wall of 400 elephants. The construction of this dagoba was also started by King Dutthagamani in the II BC, and its height is 54 meters. The original name of the dagoba is Mahathupa, that is, the Great Stupa. Such a name is not associated with height (it was the third among the stupas of Anuradhapura), but with a meaning - a golden bodhi tree is hidden inside.

Interesting fact: when the reconstruction of the shrine began in the 19th century, Buddhists from Burma donated precious stones to decorate the spire.

Ruwanweli Dagoba in Sri Lanka surrounded by elephants

Walking along the wall with elephants at the Ruvanveli Dagoba, we involuntarily remembered and compared the Sri Lankan shrine with. And although the material and style are completely different, there are similar features - the same veneration of elephants in Sri Lanka and in. Elephants in the first capital of the Sinhalese are drawn with almost biological accuracy, but among the Khmers they are more like a conventional image of a beloved animal.

Dagoba Thuparama

And then we ended up near the smallest of the stupas of ancient Anuradhhapura - the Thuparama dagoba (Thuparama dagoba). Its height is only 19 meters - it was founded in the III century BC as a sign of the adoption of Buddhism. And this means that this dagoba is the oldest in Sri Lanka. The clavicle of the Buddha is kept inside. This is a gift from Mahinda, the son of the Indian king Ashok.

Dagoba Thuparama

When the dagoba was rebuilt in the 13th century, a roof was built over it. The wooden building rotted away over time, but the stone columns remained. Such a building is called wat-dage. It seemed interesting to us, we have never seen anything like this before.

Also built in Wat Dage style, the Lankarama dagoba is not a very large stupa. It was erected in the 1st century, and fully corresponds to the canon, which was popular in Anuradhapura, and later will not disappear in the second capital of the Sinhalese - in Polonnaruwa. We looked at her from the side, but if we had more time, we would definitely come closer. She's worth it.

Vijayabahu Palace

The territory of the former palace of the local ruler seemed very interesting to us. And although only columns remained from the Vijayabahu palace itself, built in the 9th century, you can still see a huge pool and a refectory here. The dimensions of the so-called rice and curry pans really impressed us!

The bath of the ruler amazed us with its size

"Refectory" of Vijayabahu Palace. At first I did not believe that rice was cooked here!

Mahasena Palace and Moonstone

We continued to explore the archaeological area on the territory of another popular palace. Compared to other attractions in Anuradhapura, Mahasena's palace famous for its moonstone. And the era of this king was marked by a temporary victory of Mahayana Buddhism over Theravada Buddhism. The change in emphasis led to a change in construction - filigree stone carving became quite popular. And the moonstone is the best and most famous cast of that time - the 7th-8th centuries. We saw a similar moon rock later in Polonnaruwa.

Dagoba Abhayagiri

Another one Dagoba Abhayagiri(Abhayagiri dagoba) was built in the 1st century BC and is 115 meters high. However, now, after restoration, the dagoba rushed up only 75 meters. Next to it used to be one of the largest monasteries in the country, in which about 5,000 monks lived. Too bad I didn't get to see him.

According to legend, the name Abhayagiri is associated with the flight of King Valagambahu from enemies. Seeing him running, the monk Giri ridiculed the king. And he promised to return and ... take revenge. After 14 years, the king really returned to his capital, found the monk Giri and executed him. And at the place of execution he built a stupa, naming it in honor of his mocker.

We saw one of the highest dagobas standing in the forests. Apparently, she was expecting an ambulance reconstruction. We hope that you will be able to see what it has become after the repair.

And there is also Kuttam Pokuna Basin, which was built specifically for the Abhayagiri monastery. It seemed interesting to us that it consists of two parts connected with each other. No wonder it was done!

In general, the ancient buildings of Anuradhapura are very impressive. They do not look like they were built for monks, but rather for kings.

But the most important thing to see in the ancient city is the brick Dagaba Jetavanarama(Jetavanarama dagoba). This is one of the few stupas in Anuradhapura not covered in white paint. The dagoba was built in the III century by King Mahasena, and its height was 122 meters in antiquity, and now it is only 70 meters. Nevertheless, it was the largest (tall) brick building in the world. During the heyday of the Sinhalese states, it was one of the tallest structures in the world, second only to the ancient Egyptian pyramids. It is interesting to know that now the highest stupa in the world is the heiress of the Sri Lankan dagobas - in Thailand.

The restoration of the dagoba is still going on (since 1981), so you can walk on its territory without taking off your shoes.

The height of this stupa is mesmerizing. We had to move far away to fit it into the frame, and the people who were inspecting the Buddhist shrine at that moment and walking along the foundation seemed very small.

Did you immediately notice the people below?

Our impressions of Anuradhapura

Despite the fact that we spent only half a day in Anuradhapura, we can definitely say that this is a grandiose place that is worth visiting for everyone interested in Buddhism, its history and the countries of Southeast Asia. After all, Anuradhapura is not only the first capital of Lanka, but also a missionary who spread Buddhism to other countries.

We were especially impressed by the ancient dagobas, which at first glance seem similar to each other, but nevertheless set interesting records - the oldest, the highest! Each of them has its own legend. We were also struck by the evidence of monastic life under these dagobas! Just imagine how rice was cooked in these giant stone vats?!

While visiting the city of Anuradhapura, we were especially interested in the practical hydraulic system, consisting of artificial pools and irrigation canals. Previously, she supported the successful life of the city, located in a rather arid area.

We really enjoyed Anuradhapura and did not regret putting this ancient city in first place in our Sri Lanka travel itinerary, which we continued after. So we started the history of the island from the very beginning. Although it would be a little more correct to first look at Mihintal, the place where Buddhism spread throughout Lanka itself. But you can visit the shrine the next day, as we did.

The history of the founding of the city is lost for centuries. According to one version, after the South Indian prince Vijaya came to the island, among the seven hundred of his associates there was a man named Anuradha, who founded a small village. The village was named after him, and over time, the small settlement turned into a large one. According to another legend, the city was named after a star in the constellation of Scorpio - Anuradha. Which of the theories to choose, everyone can decide for himself, but one thing will remain unchanged. Anuradhapura is a holy city and the ancient capital of Sri Lanka for 1500 years. Every year, thousands of believers make a pilgrimage to holy places.

The period when Anuradhapura directly became the capital of the kingdom began with King Pandukabai, who approved the city as the capital in 380 BC. e. To the west of the city, he built the Basava Kulam reservoir to supply water to the growing population of the city, established a sewerage system, laid out parks, and built palaces.

Judging by the ancient chronicles and surviving monuments, Anuradhapura was built according to a certain plan. Four city gates were oriented to the cardinal points, and the defensive walls surrounding the city were already in the 1st century BC. BC. reached a height of about 2 meters. In the II century. BC. the walls of Anuradhapura were built on and supplemented with watchtowers. Ancient Anuradhapura consisted of the inner city, which formed the royal palace and the most important religious buildings, and the outer city that grew later. A park adjoined the inner city, which King Devanampiyatissa donated to the Buddhist community. It should be noted that during the heyday, the territory of Anuradhapura exceeded 12 km. in diameter, and more than 300,000 people lived in it.

Due to its location, Anuradhapura was a very vulnerable city to foreign invaders. She was constantly attacked and periodically under the influence of the kings of the Indian dynasties. One such Indian ruler was the Tamil prince Elara, who came from South India in 205 B.C. He managed to hold power on the island for 44 years until a little prince named Dutugamun grew up, who decided to expel the Indian invaders from Sri Lanka. About 15 years lasted his confrontation with Prince Elara, however, in 161 BC. the victory went to Duthugamunu.

The Indian army of the Cholas, who arrived at the end of the 10th century, led by Prince Rajaray the Great, destroyed Anurakhdapura, but after their overthrow in 1070, the city was restored. The capital of the island, transferred by the Cholas to Polonnaruwa, was left there. People slowly left Anuradhapura, which over time was abandoned and swallowed up by the jungle, until 1980, when, under the patronage of the world organization UNESCO, which recorded the ruins of Anuradhapura on the World Heritage List, a comprehensive restoration of the ruins of the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka was started.

Anuradhapura is undoubtedly one of the most attractive places for both pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. Like many centuries ago, monks and believing Buddhists come here. Students and schoolchildren often come to the ancient capital to once again remember their great history and better understand the present.

Built around two huge boulders below the Tissaveva reservoir, created by King Devanampiyatissa, the temple was part of the oldest monastic complex, founded in the 3rd century BC. BC, which includes a Buddhist temple in the rock, with a statue of the reclining Buddha, a pond and elephant bas-reliefs carved into the rock, preserved in their original form. Some of the sculptures remained in their places, but some of them were moved to a specially created museum nearby.

One of these famous bas-reliefs is the image of a girl on her knees with her beloved warrior. The work dates back to the 5th century. According to the locals, it depicts the son of King Duthugamunu, Salia, and his beloved Asokamala, a girl from the lower caste of the “untouchables”, for whom Salia relinquished the throne.

On the shore of Lake Tisza is Mirisaveti Dagoba, built of red brick with a broken point on top. This stupa was built under King Duthugamunu. According to legend, the ruler went for a swim, sticking a symbol of power into the ground - a royal yoke with the relics of Buddha. At the end of the bath, the king, with all his strength, could not pull the yoke out of the ground and, regarding this as a sign, ordered to lay a dagoba in this place. The work was carried out for about 3 years, and the height of the stupa reached 60 meters, but it was rebuilt in the 10th century.

To the right of the oldest reservoir, Basavakkulam, built during the reign of King Pandukabay in the 4th century. BC, with an area of ​​​​about 120 hectares, one of the most ancient and revered stupas of Sri Lanka, Ruvanvalisaya, laid, according to legend, by King Dutagamunu in the 2nd century BC, in honor of his victory over the Indian prince Elara, opens up. However, unfortunately the king did not live to see the completion of construction. Ruvanvelisaya is otherwise called the White Stupa or Mahatupa, which in Sinhalese means the Great Stupa, although it is only the third largest of all the stupas of ancient Anuradhapura and soars 55 meters in height.

The stupa was built on a foundation of golden gravel and is located, as it were, on a pedestal, on the outer wall of which 400 elephants standing shoulder to shoulder are carved. The significance of these elephants is explained in two ways. On the one hand, the elephants support the platform on which the dagoba stands, as if supporting the earth in accordance with Buddhist cosmology. On the other hand, they say that the elephants simply helped in the construction of the stupa and this is a tribute to the memory of the majestic workers. Unfortunately, after multiple restorations started in 1893, the stupa lost its original shape.

If you follow Ruvanvelisai clockwise around Ruvanvelisai, you will see a modern shrine with five statues of a standing Buddha. Four of them, made of limestone, date back to the 8th century and symbolize the four incarnations of the Buddha on earth, and the fifth modern statue symbolizes the future Buddha and is crowned with a tiara, and holds a lotus flower in her hand. Continuing around Ruvanvelisai, you will see a statue facing the dagoba. According to legend, this is the figure of King Datugamun himself, built by his son Siddatissa, who completed the construction of his father's stupa and placed his statue so that he could enjoy his majestic creation. Nearby you can see a small model of the original Ruvanvelisai stupa.

One of the shrines revered by Buddhists around the world, the Bo tree or bodhi. It is reputed to be the oldest plant on earth, and its age is about 2250 years. The tree grew from a seedling taken from the Buddha tree in India, under which, according to legend, Prince Gautama attained enlightenment. The seedling was brought to the island by Princess Sangamitta, daughter of the Indian emperor Ashoka and sister of Prince Mahinda, who brought the idea of ​​Buddhism to Sri Lanka. The original tree has not survived, but the sacred shoot in Anuradhapura still grows to this day, despite the fact that the city was regularly attacked and conquered by Indian invaders who destroyed the ancient capital. Numerous offshoots of this Bo tree have been planted throughout Sri Lanka, as well as in many countries of Southeast Asia. Now the mighty branches of the tree growing at the top of the terrace support special gilded iron props that can be seen all around. When approaching the tree, all visitors should take off their hats and shoes in accordance with the customs of Buddhism, meaning respect for shrines.

To the right of the sacred Bodhi tree, you can see the Lohapasada Palace or "Bronze Palace", which is a strange and wonderful structure built by King Duthugamunu over 2000 years ago. The palace is a 9-storey building with 1000 rooms, the roof of which is supported by 1600 columns, about 4 meters high. In ancient times, all columns were decorated with silver plates, and the roof of the palace building, resembling a pyramid, was covered with bronze copper sheets, which gave it its name "bronze". Since the palace was built of wood, it was destroyed several times as a result of fires and restored first to the 7th floor, and after another fire in the 4th century, only up to the 5th. When Anuradhapura was captured by the Indian Chola army, the Bronze Palace was finally destroyed. The columns that have survived to this day were assembled from the remains of more ancient buildings by King Parakramabahu the Great in the 12th century.

At the exit from the Mahavihara monastery complex, consisting of the Bodhi tree, the Bronze Palace and Ruvanveli Dagobda, on the right is the Jetavanarama Monastery, on the central platform of which rises a gigantic stupa, about 120 meters high. On June 4, 2009, Jetavan Dagoba was inaugurated for visiting and conducting Buddhist ceremonies. Work on the restoration of the Dagoba began in 1981 and continued for about 28 years. Dagobah is equipped with a special lighting system of lights that allows you to highlight the stupa during religious holidays.

According to the main Sri Lankan chronicle Mahavamsa, King Mahasena built this huge Dagoba, 112 meters in diameter, from red brick in the 3rd century BC. About 90 million bricks and a quarter of a century were spent on the construction. The stupa is a perfect circle. It is known that in ancient times, on the site where the stupa was built, there were Nandana Gardens, where Arahat Mahinda, the son of King Ashoka, who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka, read a sermon for seven days. Since then, the name Jetavana (changed from Jotivan) has gone, literally meaning "the place where the rays of liberation shone." In ancient records of the 13th century, it is said that a fragment of a sash was immured in the mortar, which was used to gird the Buddha.

The original height of the stupa was about 160 meters, which made it the third tallest building in the world after the famous pyramids in Giza. During the conservation and restoration work, it was found that the foundation of the stupa went more than 8.5 meters into the ground rock and now the height of Jetavan Dagoba is 71 meters. However, it remains the largest stupa in the world built entirely of brick.

To the west of the stupa is the house of the image of the Buddha. Judging by the preserved doorway 8 meters high, it was an impressive building.

Returning to the road leading past the Bassavakkulam reservoir, you can see the oldest dagoba of Anuradhapura - Tuparama, which literally means "stupa". The Tuparama Stupa is the first religious building in Anuradhapura and the first stupa built in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. King Devanampiyatissa as a token of his acceptance of Buddhism. Its height is only about 19 meters, and inside is a particle of the right collarbone of the Buddha. In the 6th and 13th centuries, the stupa was completed and even covered with a wooden roof, from which only numerous columns remained that supported it. The stupa that you can see today was restored and faced with white marble in 1862.

In the northern part of Anuradhapura is the monastery of Abyagiri, which covers an area of ​​about 235 hectares. The monastery was built in the 1st century. BC. King Valagambahu for a group of monks expelled for heresy from the Mahavihara monastery, who created a new trend of Mahayana Buddhism, which was more liberal, in contrast to the traditional strict teachings of Theravada. In the center of the monastery is the Abyagiri Stupa, built by King Gajabahu. In the 12th century, King Parakramabahu completed the dagoba to a height of 115 meters, which made it the second highest dagoba of the ancient capital, but today the height of the stupa does not exceed 75 meters. According to legend, the stupa was built over the footprint of the Buddha.

Statue of Samadhi Buddha in meditation posture. The statue was carved from limestone in the 4th century and, according to legend, the eyes of the statue were made from natural stones. Those who wish to come closer must take off their shoes and hats.

The unique building of the Abyagiri monastery is the Twins pools, built in the 8th century by monks. In fact, the pools cannot be considered twins because one of them is 28 meters long and the other 40. The uniqueness of the pools lies in the water purification system, which, before entering the pool, passes through a series of small depressions to the right of the structure, where the dirt settles to the bottom, and pure water enters a smaller pool through an opening surmounted by a dilapidated lion's head. A stone statue of a snake next to it symbolizes good luck. The two basins are interconnected by a small diameter pipeline.

Traveler

Entrance fee: 25/12.5 $ or 4500/2250 adult/child.

The ticket is valid only during the day! But many Anuradhapura can be visited for free, so if you plan to visit it for more than one day, then it makes sense to visit paid places on one day - Abyagiri, the Citadel, Jetavanarama, museums and the main Architectural Museum, and on other days to see the rest. The ticket office is located near the Architectural Museum. Tuk tukers can offer to take you around the complex without buying tickets by paying them personally, but the amount is less than the cost of tickets.

The sights of Anuradhapura can also be seen in the evening when the lights turn on and the Sri Lankans come to religious sites for ceremonies. After 18:00, the box office is closed and you can walk around all the sights for free.

It is forbidden to use quadrocopters in Anuradhapura.

around the clock

4500/2250 rupees adult/child

Time for inspection - 4 hours