And again we are glad to see you on the pages. Today, having left the north of Sri Lanka, namely we went towards sacred Anuradhapura city with many ancient monuments cultural heritage, it is also called Old Town , from where in 1950 all residents were relocated to the new part of the city. And since we are not very rich travelers, we will share with you the story of how we managed to see all the sights for free.

Bus: Anuradhapura can be reached in 5 hours by bus (it arrives at the bus station in New Town).

• Option 1 - after the airport in Colombo we get to the airport bus station (on foot, “tuk-tuk”). Direct bus from this station there is no link to Anuradhapura, but from there you can get to Colombo itself and then change to direct bus No. 5.
• Option 2 is to get to the bus station in Negombo, change to a bus to Anuradhapura or to Kurunegala, where you can change to another bus again. Straight the bus is coming via Puttalam. You can also get a transfer through Kandy, Matale, Kurunegala.

Having decided to try public transport, we took a bus from Jaffna for 100 rupees (26 rubles).

Having reached the town of Kilinochi (from Kilinochi to Anuradhapura 144 km), we already hitchhiked, but you can use the train (280 rupees per person).

How to get to the holy city of Anuradhapura for free.

Since we got up early, we still had a lot of time to hitchhike to the desired point and see more sights. Basically everything interesting cities is located in one large area, where a single entrance ticket costs 3,200 rupees (800 rubles) or $25. We didn’t yet know how many passages there were attractions they cost, although I have heard, in some cases they are very overpriced. And the point is not at all that Sri Lanka has the most unique attractions in all of Asia, it’s just that the state policy here is too greedy for money.

Naturally, paying such crazy money for a couple of stupas is too “stupid,” so we walked around the territory a little to the side and climbed over a low fence. First stop was a 120 meter stupa Jetavanarama, located on the ruins of the Jetavana monastery.

Well, yes, a big, big stupa, of which we saw enough back in, differing from the rest only in that it is considered the largest in Sri Lanka. And necessarily, this is not even specified, it preserves a fragment of some “detail” of the Buddha. This time it's part of his belt.

In principle, it’s even a little impressive in size and for me personally it seemed the most interesting attraction of Anuradhapura than all the others archaeological sites old town.

To get to the second stupa, we had to overcome the secondary ticket control, which, of course, we were not aware of.

The security guard, seeing two large backpacks from afar, immediately jumped up and waved his hands at us. Andrey didn’t even look in his direction, walking further, I followed his example. The guard, taken aback by our impudence, abandoned his place and in three leaps appeared in front of us, blocking the path and shouting “Ticket! Ticket! I silently turned my gaze to Andrey, who looked at the guard with a stupid look and, in turn, also waved his hands at him, pretending to be deaf and dumb. The uniformed man's face slowly lengthened and froze for a few seconds. I almost ruined everything by wanting to laugh when I saw his confused look. Still in shock, he automatically pointed his finger in my direction, hoping that maybe I was “normal.” However, I repeated the same “concert,” smiling guiltily at the same time. This finally “finished off” the guard; with a wave of his hand, he let our smiling, grateful faces pass on.

Picnic at the Ruvanvalisaya stupa.

Having walked forward a few meters, we allowed ourselves to have fun from the heart. In order not to run into another employee of the holy city of Anuradhapura, we walked around the large white stupa Ruvanvalisaya on the side.

I would say that this is where it opened best view at her.

Another “masterpiece” of Sri Lankan architecture is also known under the names Mahathupa, Swarnamali and Ratnamali Dagaba.

Here we temporarily abandoned our backpacks to relax in the shade of the trees, swing on long springy branches like monkeys, and gaze at the birds.

By the way, there were plenty of monkeys here too, I can’t stand them since childhood.

They didn’t approach us and that’s okay.

Meeting at the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree.

After resting, the hike continued to the sacred tree of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a shoot of the same one under which Buddha’s insight descended. Got it on the way Lovamahapaya- a building formed in ancient times by 40 rows, each of which contains 40 stone columns, for a total of 1600 columns. The remains of the latter (and maybe a remake) can be seen right in front of the palace.

Suddenly a young foreigner stood in front of me, greeted me in good English and asked where I was from. What else could I answer if not the truth? The boy was from Germany, for the first time he got out of his country and somehow his choice fell on Sri Lanka. He asked where we were staying, noticing two backpacks next to me. He clearly needed company, perhaps he was hoping to join us. I said that we are hitchhikers and sleep in a tent or with locals. At first he was interested in this, and he even squatted down opposite me, but after several of my stories he realized that we were unlikely to be on our way, saying goodbye as quickly as he had appeared.

By that time, Andrei had finished examining the sacred plant behind the fence, and answered my questions briefly: “a tree is like a tree, nothing special. It’s only fenced off from particularly prying eyes and mischievous hands.”

The last attraction of Anuradhapura is the Mirisaveti Stupa.

Before leaving the old part of the holy city of Anuradhapura, Andrei decided to turn to the next stupa Mirisaveti Stupa, built on the site of a scepter with relics of the same Buddha.

There was nothing else to do in the city, and we went in search of a bus to the nearest one, 16 km before which we paid 35 rupees (9 rubles). Where we had dinner and found shelter in one of the churches that accidentally remained open all night, but you will learn about these details a little later. Stay with us, subscribe to blog news and don’t forget to share your pleasant impressions of what you read with your friends through the social buttons below :).

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka: attractions, photos, 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 and 168 km from international airport Colombo. 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 "angles" Cultural triangle 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. In the Middle Ages, from the 4th to the 11th centuries, the city was the capital of the independent Sinhalese kingdom of the same name. The city has been a major religious Buddhist center for centuries.

Anuradhapura Map

Anuradhapura is also 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 of ​​the monasteries surrounding Anuradhapura is more than 40 sq km, 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 founded 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 the city of Anuradhapura

Open photo of Anuradhapura in a new tab.

How to get to Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is a large city including a railway station and a bus station. From major cities Sri Lanka You can get to Anuradhapura 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 - Anuradhapura,
• No. 57 Colombo - Anuradhapura.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Negombo

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

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 - Anuradhapura
• No. 43 Kandy - Anuradhapura.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Galle/Matara

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

How to get to Anuradhapura from Trincomalee

Theoretically, you can get to Anurahdhapura from Trincomalee by train with a change in Maho, however, due to the passage of the railway tracks on the map with a large detour to the south, it is much more time-efficient to take a bus. From Trincomalee to Anuradhapura you can take bus No. 835 Anuradhapura - Trincomalee.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Dambulla

Buses from Dambulla to Anuradhapura:

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

How to get from Polonnaruwa to Anuradhapura

Buses pass through Polonnaruwa:

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

Sights of Anuradhapura

Sacred places of Anuradhapura

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree
(Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi)

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred fig tree located in Mahamewna Gardens. The right southern branch is believed to be a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya in India, the tree under which the Buddha achieved 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 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 the wild elephants that abounded in the area. The height of the wall is 3 m, thickness 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 Yathiravan Narada Thero ( 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.

Dagobah Ruwanwelisaya
(Ruwanwelisaya)

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

The height of the Ruwanvelisaya stupa is 103 m, and the diameter is 292 m, this stupa was truly a miracle of architectural skill of that time. Ancient chronicles describe in detail the materials used in the construction of the dagobah 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 dagobah there is a sanctuary containing 5 limestone statues standing buddha. Four of the statues date back to the 8th century and symbolize 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.

Dagobah Ruwanwelisaya is one of the 16 Buddhist places of worship in Sri Lanka designated as Solosmasthana. The stupa is believed to contain some of the ashes of Buddha. Dagobah was built in such a way as to correspond to the Buddha's Teachings: the dome symbolizes the vastness 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 Tuparama dagoba was built in the shape of a bell, with a base diameter of 18 m and a height of 50 m. Previously, the Tuparama dagoba was much larger in size, but throughout its history it was completely destroyed several times. The stupa was last rebuilt in 1862.

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

Dagoba Tuparama 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 the relic of the right collarbone of the Buddha. The building has an original design: the vaulted vatadage temple is, as it were, pushed under the dome of the dagobah.

In the 7th century, the Thuparamaya stupa was completely covered with gold. Including the watadage temple built into it, made of golden bricks, with golden doors. After an attack by the 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 century. The Sinhalese king Mahinda IV restored the dagoba, lined it with gold and installed golden doors in it, but again at the end of the 10th century, the Tamil tribes from South India, the Chola (Chola), completely plundered the temple complex. The last restoration of the stupa was completed in the mid-19th century, however, during the restoration process, the ancient stupa completely lost its previous architectural features.

Bronze Palace Lovamahapaya
(Lovamahapaya/Lohaprasadaya)

Lovamahapaya Palace was founded in the 3rd century. 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 century. BC, King Datugemunu significantly expanded architectural complex to the scale of which traces can be observed today.

According to the Sinhalese chronicle Mahavamsa, the building of the Lovamahapaya Palace was a nine-story structure 47 m 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 and bronze plates. Apparently for this reason, Lovamahapaya Palace is also called Lohaprasadaya, which is translated from Sinhala as “Bronze Palace”. The upper floors of the building were made of wood and were destroyed in the 2nd century BC. in case of fire.

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

In the 4th century. 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 Pandya kingdom. At the end of the same 9th century. King Sena II rebuilt the palace, but in the 10th century. The Indian invaders of Cola invaded the kingdom and completely plundered and destroyed it. 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 Parakramabhu I, the stone pillars were raised and the building of the Lovamahapaya palace was partially restored. The palace building remains in this form to this day.

Dagoba Jetavanaramaya
(Jetavanaramaya)

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

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

It is believed that the Jetavanarama Dagoba was built on the cremation site 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 by 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 height.

Houses of the Jetavanaramaya/Patimagara image
(Jethavanaramaya Image House/Patimaghara)

On the 48-hectare site of the Jetavana Monastery, to the west of the Jetavanaramaya dagoba, lies the vaulted building of the Jetavanaramaya Image House, also called Patimagara.

The building is believed to have been built by King Sena I in the 9th century and then destroyed when the Chola kingdom of India captured the north of the island in the 10th century. Subsequently, the House of Image was restored by the Sinhala kings during the decline of the Anuradhapura kingdom.

The Jetavanaramaya image house 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 the House of the Image of Buddha itself housed a massive limestone statue 11 meters high and 25 Buddhist relics. According to calculations, the height of the building was 15 meters. Subsequently, in Polonnaruwa, in the likeness of the House of the Image of Jetavanaramaya, the vaulted buildings (gedige) of Thuparama, Lankatilaka and Tivanka were erected.

Dagoba Mirisavetiya
(Mirisavetiya Stupa)

Dagoba Mirisavetiya 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 Sinhalese legend: when King Datugemunu, after his coronation, was going to the water festival in Tissavevu, he left his scepter (Kunt) at this place, inside which a sacred relic was laid. Then the king returned for the scepter, it seemed to be stuck and no one could move it.

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

Dagobah was restored in the 1980s, but the entire structure collapsed in 1987, destroying one of the finest examples of Anuradhapura-era "Vahalkada" architectural pediments. Dagobah Mirisavetiya, visible today, was completed in 1993, but during the restoration process it lost all the historical features of the original.

Dagoba Lankarama
(Lankarama Stupa)

Lankarama Stupa (Lankaramaya) is located on the territory ancient city, south of the elephant pond. Dagoba Lankaramaya was built in the 1st century BC. King Walagamba. The diameter of the Lankaram stupa is 14 meters, the diameter of the base is 406 m, and 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 until now. During its history, the stupa has undergone reconstruction; what its shape was was previously unknown. The Dagobah, built at Medirigiriya near Polonnaruwa, is built in the same architectural style as the Lankarama stupa.

Dagoba Lankarama is located 400 meters from the Abhayagiri Monastery, its ancient name is Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya.

The place is so named because after the defeat from the Tamil invaders in 103 BC. The Sinhalese king Walagamba hid from his enemies in a place called "Silasobbha Khandaka". After defeating the Tamil invaders and liberating the country in the same year, regaining the throne, he built the Lankaram stupa at the site.

Dagoba Abhayagiri
(Abhayagiri Stupa)

The stupa was built in the 1st century BC. Sinhala King Valagamba. Abhayagiri Stupa is the second tallest stupa in Sri Lanka.

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

According to the chronicles, after King Valagambahu 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 ​​seized territory. The Sinhala army was defeated and was forced to quickly retreat; the Tamil king, meanwhile, captured Valagambaha's wife and several relics and took them to India. King Valagambahu was forced to hide in the jungle where the Tamils ​​could not find him.

At this time, a Jain monk lived in the place where the Abhayagiri dagoba stands today. When the king left the territory of Anuradhapura, passing through the gate, a Jain monk named Geri shouted insultingly: “Look how the great Sinhala king runs away!” 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 in its place erected a massive stupa and 12 buildings and offered it to Mahathisa Thero. The stupa was named Abhayagiri, after the two parties to the conflict - the names "Abhaya" (the name of the king) and "Geri" (the Jain monk). Later Abhayagiri Vihara became the rival of Mahavihara. The monks of Mahavihara Monastery were followers of Theravada Buddhism, while the monks at Abhayagiri at the same time followed the principles of 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 Sinhala as “Palace of Jewels”.

The Ratna Prasadaya Palace was once a multi-story building; its size can be judged by the remains of columns that supported the vaults of the building.

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

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

The guard stone, designed to protect 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 best examples of stone carving from the Anuradhapura Kingdom era.

Kuttam Pokuna Pond
(Kuttam Pokuna)

Kuttam Pokuna ponds represent ancient engineering miracle. The actual builders of the structure are unknown; it is assumed that the ponds were built during the reign of King Aggabodhi I at the turn of the 6th and 7th centuries.

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

In Sinhala, "Kuttam Pokuna" means "Twin Ponds". The northern pond (small) was built first; over time, a second larger pond was added to it.

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

The water in the ponds was supplied through an underground water supply and went through four levels of filtration before entering the pond through a pipe stylized as a dragon's head. Next, the water from both ponds was drained into one canal and then used to irrigate the fields.

Samadhi Buddha Statue
(Samadhi Statue)

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

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

In 1886, this statue was found in the same place where it is currently located, having fallen, its nose was damaged. After this, the statue was reinstalled 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 decorated with crystals or precious stones. It is unknown whether this statue was brought from another monastery or whether it was here originally.

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

Objects of the ancient city of Anuradhapura

Lake Tissa Veva
(Tissa Wewa)

The ancient man-made reservoir Tissa Wewa 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 Wewa reservoir is 2.2 sq. km. The purpose of creating such a large 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 ancient building Jaya Ganga is a canal connecting the reservoir and the Kala Veva river. Excess water from the reservoir is released into the Malwathu Oya River.

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

Lake Nuwara Wewa
(Nuwara Wewa)

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

The exact time of construction of the reservoir is unknown. Presumably it was 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 Wewa Reservoir has a surface area of ​​31.8 sq. km and is filled by a dam and canal on the Malwathu Oya River. The dam existed until 1873, when construction of a road bridge across the river began.

The depth of water in the canal 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 drain excess water from Nuwara Wewa back into the river during floods.

Isurumuniya Temple
(Isurumuniya)

Ancient Buddhist temple 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 Meghagiri Vihara. The temple is known for its unusual stone carvings, made in different architectural styles, depicting different subjects:

• carving Lovers from Isurumuni Lovers

  The carving was created presumably 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 the god Shiva and his wife Parvati, in the third the scene depicts a prince, the son of King Datugemunu, who abandoned the throne to marry a lower-class girl.

• carving Royal Family

  The carving was presumably created in the 8th century, the work was carried out in the Gupta Kala architectural tradition; The image carved on a granite slab includes 5 human figures, in the center of the composition presumably is King Datugamunu.

• carving Elephant Pond

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

The Isurumuniya Temple is the first place in Sri Lanka where the Buddha's tooth was placed upon his arrival on the island. The stupa near the temple and the Buddha statue located inside it are modern. Some 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 Lovamahapaya Palace are the ruins of Ransimalakaya. Between the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree and the huge Ruwanweliseya dagobah is a site of ruins with towering stone pillars.

The site was examined by archaeologists from the Royal Asiatic Society, who discovered the foundations of a building there when they first excavated it 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 the present day, was previously supported by 8 rows of 10 granite pillars.

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

Ruins of the Toluwila complex
(Toluwila Ruins)

The ruins of the Toluwila Buddhist complex are located next to railway station Anuradhapura, outside the boundaries of the ancient city. The Toluwila complex was supposedly part of Pabbatha Vihara.

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

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

In the house, the image of Toluwila was discovered and taken to National Museum Sri Lanka, located in Colombo, a statue of Buddha sitting in the Samadhi pose, considered the most elaborate such statue in Sri Lanka.

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

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

Northeast of royal palace Vijayabahu is home to the ruins of the ancient Maha Pali complex, the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Dalada Ge and the two domed Gedige 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 structure, built by the Sinhala King Mahinda IV in the 10th century after the Sinhalese army was defeated by the South Indian Chola Empire and the northern part of the island came under their control.

The remains of the Daladage Buddha Tooth Temple stand on a tetrahedral body measuring 60x65 meters. The temple consists of a large building with wide bays on three sides (out of four) and two small auxiliary buildings, which have almost disappeared, to the northwest and northeast of the temple.

The main entrance to the Daladage building is centrally located on the north side of the temple. An inscription above its entrance, made during the reign of Mahinda IV, has allowed archaeologists to identify the purpose of the room.

Elephant Pond at Pokuna
(Eth Pokuna)

Not far from the Lankaramaya stupa there is an ancient irrigation miracle - the huge artificial pond of Et Pokuna. The name of the pond is translated from Sinhala as “Elephant Pond”.

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

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

The water in this pokuna pond is supplied from the Periyamkulam reservoir through a network of underground canals. Visitors to this day can still see parts of the water supply system that supplies the pond.

The channels supplying water 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 Hall of Mercy was supposedly built by King Devanampyatissa in the 3rd century BC. and was subsequently expanded by other kings who reigned during the Anuradhapura kingdom.

The ruins of the Mahapali complex are located north of the Vijayabahu I palace and cover an area of ​​0.5 hectares. The massive granite columns that previously supported the roof of the Maha Pali Hall building have survived to this day.

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.

Thousands of monks lived in the cities of ancient Sri Lanka, providing them with food was the responsibility of the king, so the Alms hall appeared - a place for monks supplied with food.

One of the main attractions of the place is the deep well that supplied water to the buildings of the Mahapali complex. The walls of the well are built of granite and brick; 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 (may also be called 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 the complete victory of 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 brick masonry: only the door and window frame were made of granite.

Previously, the building of the House of the Image of Buddha was decorated with a vaulted dome, stone stairs led to the second floor, and a sanctuary was located inside. Gedige covers an area of ​​10 square meters. meters, House of Buddha Image 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 Anuradhapura kingdom era. The Mayura Pirivena training center was built by King Buddhadasa in the 4th century.

Today, the Mayura Pirivena building is completely destroyed; all that remains of the building is the foundation with several pillars that previously supported the roof.

The Mayura Pirivena training center is believed to be the site of the former Granthakara Pirivena, where the Indian Buddhist monk Buddhagosha Thera composed commentaries on the sacred Theravada texts in the 5th century. While in India and having found a text for which the commentary on the Tripitaka had been lost, Buddhaghosa went to Sri Lanka to study the Sinhala commentary, which at that time was preserved in the Maha Vihara monastery in Anuradhapura. There Buddhaghosa began studying the large volume of commentaries that had been collected and preserved by the monks of the Maha Vihara.

The interpretations presented by Buddhaghosa have generally constituted the orthodox understanding of the Theravada sacred texts since at least the 12th century. Buddhaghosa's works have been recognized by Western scholars and Theravada monks as the most important Theravada commentaries. Buddhaghosa described the center of Mayura Pirivena as "situated in a beautiful place, well-maintained, cool and with sufficient water supply."

Vessagiriya Monastery
(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, up to 500 people lived on its territory.

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

Inscriptions in the Brahmi language, one of the oldest writing systems, have been found in natural stone shelters that served as shelter for monks. Archaeologists also found the ruins of a building with a round foundation, the purpose of which is unknown; during excavations, 70 rare coins were discovered there. On the territory you can see the remains of buildings of a refectory for 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 Sinhalese king Vijayabahu I (1055 - 1110) in the 11th century during the Anuradhapura kingdom.

In 1070, a Sinhalese king overthrew the South Indian Chola invaders who had ruled the kingdom and, after an 18-year military campaign, unified the country. After defeating the Chola, the Sinhala king recreated Buddhism, which had been virtually destroyed during Tamil rule, and restored ancient infrastructure and irrigation projects.

During the reign of the king, the capital was the city of Anuradhapura, but, celebrating his consecration as a monarch, the king moved the capital of the country to the city of Polonnaruwa.

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

Two massive guard stones at the entrance to the building depict "Sankhanihi" and "Padmanidhi" - servants of the god Kubera. Remnants of ancient plaster can still be seen on the walls of the palace.

Sangamitta Stupa
(Sangamittha Stupa)

The red brick Sangamitta stupa is located 150 meters east of the famous Thuparamaya dagoba. The ancient stupa was presumably named after the daughter of the Indian Emperor Ashoka, named Sangamittha Theri.

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

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

Ancient chronicles mention that the Sinhalese king Uttiya placed the ashes of the arhat Sangamitta Teri in a small dagoba east of the Thuparama stupa. Archaeologists suggest that this was the Sangamitta stupa.

Dakkin Stupa
(Dakkhina Tupa Stupa)

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

The name of the place means "Southern Monastery" in Sinhala and is believed to be the cremation site of several Sinhala kings.

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

Initially, after the cremation of the king, the volume of the dagobah was much smaller, but throughout history it was rebuilt several times and over time reached its modern size.

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

Nakha Vihara Temple
(Nakha Vihara)

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

The temple building is believed to have been built during the Anuradhapura Kingdom in the 7th to 10th centuries. and belongs to the Mahayana tradition.

The size of the base of the temple is 9x9 m. The ruins of the House of the Buddha Image were found near the Naka Temple, but the object has not survived to this day.

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 was active and inhabited for a long time before it was abandoned.

The Nakha Temple is rarely visited by tourists, the most popular of the four is the brick building of Satmahal Prasad in Polonnaruwa, the other two are located in Anuradhapura on the territory of the Abhayagiri Monastery.

Ruins of the Padalanchana Dagobah/Chetiya Power
(Padalanchana Chethiya/Sila Chethiya)

Fifty meters from the famous Tuparama 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 Anuradhapura kingdom, which probably indicates that it was rebuilt or restored.

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

According to the Sinhala chronicles Mahavamsa, Dipavamsa and Mahabodhivamsa, 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 where all the Buddhas (Kakusanndha, Konagamana, Kassapa and Gauthama Buddha) at one time came to the island and left their footprints before leaving it.

Ruins of the Padanagar pavilions
(Padanagara)

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

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

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

The pavilion structure is surrounded by a moat. The building, over the ruins of which rise rows of stone pillars, is devoid of any decorations or ornaments, with the exception of a small number of them at the stone toilet building located to the right of the pavilion.

The first pavilion of Padanagar is smaller in size than the second. Both pavilions are equipped with ancient water supply, with water-carrying channels passing under the foundation ancient building, and stone toilets.

Ranmasu Uyana / Magul Uyana 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 Uyana, is unknown.

It is believed that the park was built as an alternative to the previously existing parks, which were given to the monastic community (Sangha) by King Devanampyatissa with the arrival of Buddhism on the island.

According to an inscription found in ancient monastery Vessagiria, water for the park came from the Tissa River and was then distributed to 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 edging of the ponds is decorated with traditional carvings of bathing elephants.

Ranmasu Uyana 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. The “star gate” Sakwala Chakraya is located on the territory of the park.

Petroglyphs of Sakwala Chakraya
(Sakwala Chakraya)

In Ranmasu Uyana Park, a large boulder depicts an ancient design called the Sakwala Chakraya or Bawa Chakraya.

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

One suggestion is that the image represents the oldest map of the world in existence: the cosmographic charts of the universe, or “map of the worlds,” described in ancient Buddhist texts.

According to another theory, Sakvala Chakraya is a kind of star gate, similar to those found in Peru near Lake Titicaca and in the Abu Sir pyramid complex.

The Kingdom of Anuradhapura existed from about 400 BC. before the beginning of the second millennium, but there is a version that the age of this artifact is at least 5000 years old, and dates back to the reign of King Ravana.

Weather in Anuradhapura

The best time to visit Anuradhapura is from January to September inclusive - at this time the city receives the least amount of rainfall and the weather is favorable for walking tours through the ancient city.

The high season for visiting Anuradhapura is from June to September - the driest time of the year. The rainiest months, the monsoon season in Anuradhapura, are October, November and December under the influence of the northeast monsoon.

Throughout the year, the air temperature in the city is stable and varies slightly with the seasons: night air temperatures fluctuate between +21 C +24 C; Daytime air temperatures range from +29 C to +34 C.

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 flourished until 993, when the capital was moved to Polonnaruwa.

Hidden for centuries in the jungle, attractions include the Aukana Buddha and the Guardian Stone at Thuparama. The 13-metre tall granite Buddha, carved in the 5th century, is said to be crafted with such precision that drops of rainwater falling on the tip of his nose flow down to the ground exactly between his big toes. The guardian stone at Thuparama is said to enshrine one of the Buddha's collarbones.

Of great interest is the site where Thero Mahinda, son of the Indian Emperor Ashoka, proclaimed Buddhism as the main religion of Sri Lanka - it is marked by the revered Bo tree, as well as Ruwanweli Seya, considered the world's largest stupa, erected in the 2nd century BC. They say that this structure is shaped like a perfect bubble that forms on water when it rains.

Today Anuradhapura is, in essence, two cities: a modern, well-planned, shady, cozy one, and an ancient one, famous for its monuments. The distance between the monuments in 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 Wewa and Basavakkulama Wewa are located in the west, and Nuwara Wewa is in the east. Of all the monuments of the past, they have been the least affected by time. In the center of the old city there grows Sri Maha Bodhi - the sacred Bo tree. Like the Buddha tooth enshrined in Kandy, this tree is one of the most revered Buddhist shrines. After accepting Buddhism, Devanampiya Tissa asked the Indian ruler Ashoka for a branch of the sacred tree under which Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment. Ashoka sent a branch, and from its cutting a new tree was carefully grown. 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 has been built around the tree with a stone staircase leading up 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 climb onto the platform to pray on the tree itself.

Nearby you will see one of the most mysterious places in Anuradhapura. Was once here majestic palace Loha Prasada, from whom 1,600 gray monolithic columns, arranged in 40 parallel rows, 40 columns each, have survived to this day. Some columns were barbarically destroyed or removed from their places during 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 envoys who brought a sacred branch from the Bo tree.

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

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

The oldest dagobah of Anuradhapura, and indeed the entire island, is Thuparama, located just north of the dagobah of Ruwanveliseya. Its height is only 19 m, it is perhaps the smallest religious building in Anuradhapura, but it surpasses the others in importance. Dagoba Thuparama was built in 249 BC. Devanampiya Tissa to commemorate his conversion to Buddhism. It is believed that the dagobah contained Buddha's right collarbone and the dish from which he ate. These items are gifts to the convert from the Indian ruler Ashoka. It is not surprising that Dagoba Thuparama enjoys special veneration and is an object of pilgrimage. Dagobah is bell-shaped and surrounded by four rows of stone columns. Stairs lead to it, decorated with skillfully made bas-reliefs and statues.

Dagoba Jetavana on the northern border of the old city cannot be compared in sanctity with Dagoba Thuparama; 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 just east of the Tissa Wewa reservoir is the grandiose rock monastery of Issaramuniya Vihara. Several monastic premises are located outside the caves. A small museum opened at the entrance to the cave displays bas-reliefs considered to be the best in Anuradhapura. Some of them depict members of royal families who lived in different eras. The most famous bas-relief is “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 practically nothing remains of the former luxury and grandeur of the palace. Admission is paid or by single ticket in "Cultural Triangle".

Neighborhoods of Anuradhapura

Mihintale

About 12 km east of Anuradhapura, off Highway 12 leading to Trincomalee, is ancient temple Mihintale, highly revered by Buddhists in Sri Lanka. The temple was founded in 247 BC. e., 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 reach it, believers have to overcome 1840 steps, so the pilgrimage here can be compared to mountain climbing. On the way up you will see a ruined hospital and the Kantaka Chetiya temple, dating back to around 240 BC. e. But the main monuments of Mihintale are on the top of the rock: these are two dazzling white dagobas - Ambastale and Mahasea - surrounded by coconut palms and rocky outcrops. The view from the top of the rock is fabulous. There is also a small museum here - with frescoes, fragments of ancient ceramics and bronze figurines. Paid entrance.

Aukana Buddha

It is difficult to reach by car, but can be reached on foot from 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 (you can see that the back is literally fused with the rock). This is perhaps the most elegant image of Buddha that exists in Sri Lanka. Buddha is depicted in the pose of Ashiva Mudra, that is, blessing. The word "aucana" means "sun-eating", and indeed the dawn is best time for viewing and photographing the statue. If you have personal transport, then in Kekirav (Kekirawa) Leave Route 9 and follow the narrow country road through Kalaveva to Aucana (Kalawewa). You will have to drive about 11 km. Paid entrance.

Yapahuwa

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

The history of the founding of the city is lost in the centuries. According to one version, after the South Indian prince Vijaya came to the island, among his seven hundred companions there was a man named Anuradha, who founded a small village. The village was named in his honor, 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 Scorpio - Anuradha. Everyone can decide for themselves which theory to choose, but one thing will remain unchanged. Anuradhapura is the holy city and ancient capital of Sri Lanka for 1500 years. Every year thousands of believers make pilgrimages to holy places.

The period in which Anuradhapura directly became the capital of the kingdom began with King Pandukabai establishing 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 ancient chronicles and surviving monuments, Anuradhapura was built according to a specific plan. The four city gates were oriented to the cardinal directions, and the defensive walls surrounding the city already in the 1st century. 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 an inner city, which was formed by the royal palace and the most important religious buildings, and an outer city that grew later. Adjacent to the inner city was a park, which King Devanampiyatissa donated to the Buddhist community. It should be noted that during its 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 influenced by the kings of the Indian dynasties. One such Indian ruler was the Tamil prince Elara, who came from South India in 205 BC. He managed to maintain power on the island for 44 years until he grew up a little prince named Dutugamunu, who decided to expel the Indian invaders from Sri Lanka. His confrontation with Prince Elara lasted for about 15 years, however, in 161 BC. the victory remained with Dutugamunu.

The Indian Chola army, led by Prince Rajaraya the Great, which arrived at the end of the 10th century, destroyed Anurahdapura, but after their overthrow in 1070, the city was rebuilt. The capital of the island, moved 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 included the ruins of Anuradhapura on the list world heritage, a comprehensive restoration of the ruins of the first ancient capital Sri Lanka.

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 Buddhist believers 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 Tissawewa reservoir created by King Devanampiyatissa, the temple was part of the oldest monastic complex, founded in the 3rd century. BC, which includes a Buddhist temple in the rock, with a statue of a reclining Buddha, a pond and bas-reliefs of elephants 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 the lap of her beloved warrior. The work dates back to the 5th century. According to the locals, it depicts King Dutugamunu's son, Salia, and his lover Asokamala, a girl from the lower caste of "untouchables" for whom Salia gave up the throne.

On the shore of Lake Tissa is Mirisaveti Dagoba, built of red brick with a broken point on top. This stupa was built under King Dutugamunu. 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 bathing, the king, with all his strength, could not pull the yoke out of the ground and, taking this as a sign, ordered a dagobah to be laid in this place. The work took about 3 years, and the height of the stupa reached 60 meters, but was rebuilt in the 10th century.

To the right of the oldest reservoir is Basavakkulam, built during the reign of King Pandukabai in the 4th century. BC, with an area of ​​about 120 hectares, one can see one of the most ancient and revered stupas of Sri Lanka - Ruvanvalisaya, founded, according to legend, by King Dutagamunu in the 2nd century BC in honor of his victory over the Indian prince Elara. However, unfortunately the king did not live to see the completion of construction. Ruvanvelisaya is otherwise called the White Stupa or Mahatupa, which means Great Stupa in Sinhala, 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 meaning of these elephants is explained in two ways. On the one hand, the elephants support the platform on which the dagobah 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 great workers. Unfortunately, after repeated restorations began in 1893, the stupa lost its original shape.

If you walk clockwise around Ruwanwelisaya, you will see a modern sanctuary containing five standing Buddha statues. Four of them, made of limestone, date back to the 8th century and symbolize the four incarnations of Buddha on earth, and the fifth modern statue symbolizes the future Buddha and is crowned with a tiara and holds a lotus flower in his hand. As you continue around Ruwanwelisai, you will see a statue facing the dagobah. According to legend, this is the figure of King Datugamunu himself, built by his son Siddatissa, who completed the construction of his father’s stupa and erected his statue so that he could enjoy his majestic creation. Nearby you can see a small model of the original Ruwanwelisaya stupa.

One of the shrines revered by Buddhists all over the world is the Bo or Bodhi tree. It is reputed to be the oldest plant on earth, and its age is about 2250 years. The tree grew from a sapling taken from the Buddha tree in India, under which, according to legend, Prince Gautama achieved enlightenment. The sapling 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 grows to this day, despite the fact that the city was regularly attacked and conquered by Indian invaders who destroyed the ancient capital. Numerous shoots of this Bo tree have been planted throughout Sri Lanka and in many countries. South-East Asia. Now the mighty branches of the tree growing on top of the terrace support special gilded iron supports that can be seen around. All visitors, when approaching the tree, should remove their hats and shoes in accordance with the customs of Buddhism, meaning respect for shrines.

To the right of the sacred Bodhi tree can be seen the Lohapasada Palace or "Bronze Palace", which is a strange and wonderful structure built by King Dutugamunu over 2000 years ago. The palace is a 9-story building with 1000 rooms, the roof of which is supported by 1600 columns, about 4 meters high. In ancient times, all the columns were decorated with silver plates, and the roof of the palace building, reminiscent of 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 was restored first to the 7th floor, and after another fire in the 4th century only to the 5th. When Anuradhapura was captured by the Indian Chola army, the Bronze Palace was completely 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 stands a gigantic stupa, about 120 meters high. On June 4, 2009, the grand opening of Jetavan Dagobah took place for visiting and holding Buddhist ceremonies. Work to restore Dagobah began in 1981 and lasted about 28 years. Dagoba is equipped with a special lighting system that allows the stupa to be illuminated during religious holidays.

According to the main Sri Lankan chronicle, the Mahavamsa, King Mahasena built this huge Dagobah, 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 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, preached for seven days. From then on, the name Jetavana (modified from Jotivan) came about, literally meaning “the place where the rays of liberation shone.” Ancient records from the 13th century say that a fragment of the sash with which Buddha was girded was walled up in the mortar.

The original height of the stupa was about 160 meters, which made it possible to call it the third tallest structure in the world after famous pyramids in Giza. During conservation and restoration work, it was discovered that the foundation of the stupa went more than 8.5 meters into the ground rock and now the height of Jetavan Dagobah 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 Buddha image. Judging by the surviving doorway, 8 meters high, it was an impressive building.

Returning to the road leading past the Bassavakkulam reservoir, you can see the oldest dagobah of Anuradhapura - Thuparama, which literally means “stupa”. Thuparama Stupa is the first religious structure of Anuradhapura and the first stupa built in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. by King Devanampiyatissa as a sign that he had accepted Buddhism. Its height is only about 19 meters, and inside is a piece of the Buddha’s right collarbone. In the 6th and 13th centuries, the stupa was completed and even covered with a wooden roof, from which only numerous columns supporting it remained. The stupa you can see today was restored and covered with white marble in 1862.

In the northern part of Anuradhapura is the Abyagiri Monastery, 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 movement of Mahayana Buddhism, which was more liberal, in contrast to the traditional strict Theravada teachings. At the center of the monastery is the Abyagiri Stupa, built by King Gajabahu. In the 12th century, King Parakramabahu built the dagobah to a height of 115 meters, which made it the second tallest dagobah 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 Buddha.

Statue of Samadhi Buddha in a meditation pose. The statue was carved from limestone in the 4th century and according to legend the eyes of the statue were made of natural stones. Those who want to get closer must remove their shoes and hats.

The unique structure of the Abyagiri Monastery is the Twin 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 dirt settles to the bottom, and clean water enters the smaller pool through an opening surmounted by a dilapidated lion's head. The stone sculpture of a snake nearby symbolizes good luck. The two pools are connected by a small diameter pipeline.

For the traveler

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

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

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

Quadcopters are prohibited in Anuradhapura.

Around the clock

4500/2250 rupees adult/child

Time for inspection - 4 hours