(Anuradhapura) is ancient city on the island of Ceylon, which was the first capital of Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese built the city of Anuradhapura in the 5th century BC! Much 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 definitely wanted to visit its ancient ruins, imbued with the spirit of ancient history!
Compared to the south of the country, in the center and 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 South-East Asia, and most high building made of bricks in the world! And we started our acquaintance with Sri Lanka right here, in Anuradhapura. Practical information and a lot of 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 "the city of Anuradha".
basic information
| Name | Anuradhapura |
| Where is | In the northern central part of the island of Sri Lanka, on the banks of the Aruvi River, at an altitude of 81 m above sea level |
| What is | The city of Anuradhapura is sacred to Buddhists and consists of the Old City ( historical part+ archaeological zone) and the New Town across the river (residential areas and tourist zone). Is an object World heritage UNESCO since 1982 |
| GPS coordinates | 8 ° 21 ′ 0 ″ N, 80 ° 23 ′ 7 ″ E 8.35, 80.385278 |
| Distance to Colombo | 206 km |
| How to get there | From Colombo - by bus, train or taxi; From Matara - by train; By bus from Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Kandy and Kurunegala |
| Date of foundation | 5th century BC |
| Square | 36 sq. km |
| Population | 65 thousand people |
| Climate | Subequatorial, there are two rainy seasons (April-May and October-January). The driest month is June |
| What to see | Main attractions: ancient Dagobas, the ruins of the palaces of the Sinhalese kings, the rocky monastery of Isurumniya, the sacred Bodhi tree |
View from the top of the monastery in Anuradhapura
Ancient city
Anuradhapura city- it is small modern city in the north of Sri Lanka, which is 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 explore 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 are very interested in its history. It turned out that the city was built in an area called Rajarat - that is, the "Land of the Kings." Another and more modern name for this region is the Cultural Triangle. Well, then there is definitely something to see here. 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 South Indian emperors of the Chola dynasty. There were strong trade ties with China. 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, that tourists come who want to learn about the ancient past of Sri Lanka and visit a UNESCO heritage site. Someone rides with organized tour or get out for a couple of days from the beaches on an excursion, and we traveled here on our own.
Anuradhapura Archaeological Park Map
Anuradhapura consists of the so-called "old city" (Old City), which houses the archaeological zone 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 the 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, it was very important for communication with the allies in the person of 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, the Khmers, who built under the influence of Chola, and Dvaravati, an ancient state in Thailand. Remember the largest stupa in Thailand - Chedi Phra Nakhom Pathom! And in this way, it was from Sri Lanka and Anuradhapura that Buddhism spread throughout the world.
Advice... During your sightseeing tour of Anuradhapura, do not forget about the sun and take care of your head and skin if you are easily sunburned. During hot days, it is better to drink more water.
Archaeological zone
Leaving the bus station, we immediately got into the so-called archaeological zone, which is visited by all tourists. The main tourist office of Anuradhapura is located on Sri Maha Bodhi Street, 200 meters from the old northern railway station and bus stations. Here we took a map and found out all the information we were interested in. We recommend that you definitely go to 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 24 hours from the date of purchase. The entrance to the Isurumuniya monastery and to the bodhi tree is paid separately - 200 rupees.
It's 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. Therefore, do not forget 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 brick buildings get very hot in the hot sun, and there is a risk of getting a burn on your feet, we advise you to wear special socks for examining the dagobas. And yet, clothes should also be modest: shoulders and knees should be covered.
How to get there
There are several options for getting to Anuradhapura that are suitable for tourists. For ourselves, we decided that the easiest way would be to come by bus from Colombo to Anuradhapura. Although one could buy a train ticket and travel through the railroad... Or take a taxi / minibus, but it will be profitable and convenient if you are traveling with a large company.
- By train: There are 6 trains per day from Colombo. There are carriages of three classes, 2 and 3 can be sleeping. The ticket price is from 100 to 520 rupees. Travel time is 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 get from Colombo to Anuradhapura, the ticket price is 100-200 rupees; from Kandy - 3 hours for 70-150 rupees; from Polonnaruwa the travel time is 3 hours, the ticket price is 50 rupees. You can also take a bus from Negombo (with a change in Kurunegala), 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 leaves, it always goes to the second one and picks up passengers. However, it may no longer be convenient places in the cabin, so it is better to take them right away at the point of departure. - By taxi: if you take a car from Colombo or Negombo, then the cost of the transfer will be $ 150. Services of a driver with a car throughout the Cultural Triangle will cost $ 170-200.
Anuradhapura on the map
Where to spend the night
Despite the fact that the city is not very large, there is a fairly wide selection of hotels and guesthouses of different price categories. We decided not to settle 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:
Guesthouse French garden
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 nice prices (3000 rupees for an air-conditioned room and 2500 for a fan). The territory is very beautiful, it has a well-kept garden in accordance with the name. We were satisfied with the accommodation and service. The only thing I didn't like was 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 accommodation options, made an overview and recommend the most the best hotels in Anuradhapura(links are clickable):
- Rajarata Hotel- grade 7.6 (modern 4 * hotel with stylish rooms and a swimming pool)
- Gamodh Citadel Resort- grade 8.4 (resort hotel with garden and pool surrounded by ancient ruins)
- Diamond Lake Tourist Rest- grade 8.8 (clean and comfortable guesthouse with its own restaurant)
- Villu Villa- grade 8.3 (family villa with a garden near Lake Nuwara Veva)
- London Palace- grade 8.1 (stylish hotel in a city with good restaurant and garden)
All hotels in Anuradhapura see →
Read also:
We talked about practical issues related to traveling to Anuradhapura, and now we turn to the beauties founded by Prince Anuradha in the 5th century BC northern capital the islands of Ceylon! The old city is famous for the scattered 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.
How best to watch Anuradhapura
Keep in mind that the territory of the old city is huge, and the attractions 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 around the ruins on your own. The cost is 200 rupees per day.
We took a taxi with a driver. At first we thought of examining it on our own, but we were glad of the opportunity. However, the cost of his services ended up in the total amount we paid him for a trip across the entire cultural triangle of Sri Lanka.
Since we arrived in Anuradhapura rather tired after the flight and the hot bus, the driver came in handy. He took us to all the attractions and sometimes even told us something and kindly took photos for us. However, in general, we were not very lucky with the driver, and he later even tried to deceive us. You can see all the details.
We recommend taking a driver or guide for those who do not have a lot of time or who, like us at that moment, know little about Anuradhapura. However, if we went to the hotel right after the bus and slept first, and then prepared well for sightseeing, as we usually do, we would go to the archaeological park in the morning. And in this case, they would prefer to explore the sights of Anuradhapura on bicycles on their own.
Advice... It is best to start sightseeing in Anuradhapura with a visit to the sacred bodhi tree and the ruins next to it, and then go to the Isurumuni monastery located in the south. After that, starting from Dagoba Mirisaveti and Dagoba Ruvanveli, move north to the palace of Mahasena and the Moonstone. And you can finish the inspection 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 the annals, and the seed was brought from India. It comes from the very tree under which Buddha attained Enlightenment.
Dog at the holy stupa of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka
Please note that entrance to the tree is charged separately. It turned out that the main trunk of the Mahabodhi was destroyed in the 19th century by an English religious fanatic. However, his 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 is paid separately (200 rupees), and the funds raised are supposedly going to restore the object.
Entrance to Isurumuni Monastery
The monastery stands on the shores of Lake Tissa. 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 here by the monastery.
Relief "Sitting man"
The stones around which and on which the monastery was built seemed to us huge! These are not just megaliths, but supermegaliths, and although they were not processed by humans, but were simply used in construction, they still inspire respect! Steps to the observation deck have been cut right on the rock.
Pile of megaliths
If you go upstairs, then they open wonderful views to the surroundings. Here, apparently, it is good to meet the sunset and sunrise, as the panorama is 360 degrees. Unfortunately, we 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 dagoba, where we went straight from Isurumuni. In ancient times, its height reached 61 meters, but in the 10th century it was rebuilt. Mirisaveti was the first to be built in Anuradhapura, right after the city was founded. It is oriented to the cardinal points by 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 place where he laid down his royal regalia, in which the relics of Buddha were kept. The king went to swim, and on his return he could not take his things back. So he understood that it was in this place that the dagoba should be put. 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 Ruvanveli
Another interesting Dagoba Ruvanveli (Ruvanvelisaya dagoba) stands out from 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 II BC, and its height is 54 meters. The original name of the dagoba is Mahathupa, that is, the Great Stupa. This name is associated not with the height (it was the third among the stupas of Anuradhapura), but with the 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 gems to decorate the spire.
Dagoba Ruvanveli in Sri Lanka is surrounded by a formation of elephants
Walking along the wall with elephants at Dagoba Ruvanveli, 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 found ourselves near the smallest of the stupas of ancient Anuradhhapura - the Thuparama dagoba. Its height is only 19 meters - it was laid in the III century BC as a sign of the adoption of Buddhism. This means that this dagoba is the oldest in Sri Lanka. Inside is the Buddha's collarbone. This is a gift from Mahinda, the son of the Indian king Ashoka.
Dagoba Thuparama
When the Dagoba was rebuilt in the 13th century, a roof was built over it. The wooden structure rotted over time, but the stone columns remained. Such a building is called wat-dage. We found it interesting, we have never seen anything like this before.
Also built in the Wat Daghe 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. It's worth it.
Vijayabahu palace
The territory seemed very interesting to us former palace the local ruler. And although only columns remain from the Vijayabahu Palace itself, built in the 9th century, you can still see a huge pool and a refectory here. The sizes of the so-called rice and curry pans really impressed us!
The ruler's bath impressed us with its size
"Refectory" of the Vijayabahu Palace. At first I didn't believe that rice was being cooked here!
Mahasena Palace and Moonstone
We continued our inspection of the archaeological zone 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 the temporary victory of Mahayana Buddhism over Theravada Buddhism. The change in emphasis led to a change in construction - filigree stone carving became very popular. AND moon rock is the best and most famous cast of that time - VII-VIII centuries. We saw a similar moonstone later at Polonnaruwa.
Dagoba Abhayagiri
One more Dagoba Abhayagiri(Abhayagiri dagoba) was built in the 1st century BC and its height is 115 meters. However, now, after the restoration, the dagoba rushed up only 75 meters. There used to be one of the largest monasteries in the country next to it, in which about 5,000 monks lived. It is a pity that I did not have a chance to see him.
According to legend, the name Abhayagiri is associated with the flight of King Valagambahu from his enemies. Seeing him running, the monk Giri made fun of 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 woods. Apparently, an early reconstruction was awaiting her. We hope that you will be able to see how it became after the renovation.
And there is also Kuttam Pokuna basin, which was built specifically for the Abhayagiri monastery. We found it interesting that it consists of two parts connected to each other. It was not done for nothing!
In general, the ancient structures of Anuradhapura are very impressive. They don't 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 3rd century by King Mahasena, and its height was 122 meters in antiquity, and now it is only 70 meters. However, it was the largest (tallest) brick building in the world. During the heyday of the Sinhalese states, it was one of the tallest structures in the whole world, second only to the ancient Egyptian pyramids... It is interesting to know that now the tallest stupa in the world is the heiress of the Sri Lankan Dagobas - in Thailand.
The restoration of the dagoba continues to this day (it has been under way since 1981), so you can walk on its territory without taking off your shoes.
The height of this stupa is mesmerizing. We had to go far to fit it into the frame, and the people who were examining 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 distributor of 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 amazed at the evidence of monastic life under these Dagobahs! Just imagine how rice was cooked in these giant stone vats ?!
While exploring 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 a city located in a rather arid region.
We really enjoyed Anuradhapura and did not regret putting this ancient city at the top of our travel itinerary in Sri Lanka, which we continued after. This is how we started the history of the island from the very beginning. Although it would be a little more correct to first look at Mihintale, the place from where Buddhism spread throughout Lanka itself. But you can visit the shrine the next day, as we did.
Hello friends. We talked about the ancient first capital of Sri Lanka. But it's not enough to tell - you always want to know what is interesting to see and where to look in a new place. Into this - the old city, which is unusual place... On the one hand, this is an archaeological area, on the other, a place of pilgrimage for thousands of Buddhists. Numerous tourists keep up with the believers. What is here? All the main attractions of Anuradhapura. We will talk about them today.
I will say right away the territory of the old city is huge, if you want to see everything, you should take a tuk-tuk and move around on it. The drivers know where it is better to drive up to drop you off, where you can park without a fine, where to meet us. It's comfortable. We did just that. After a little bargaining (this must be done), we agreed, it seems, on 10 dollars and drove off.
As you can see, the main, fully restored objects of the old city are:
- Isuruminia rock monastery
- Bodhi temple and tree
- Museum
- Stupas
But of course, there are more interesting objects. Old Anuradhapura is a huge area of about 20 by 20 km. Walking is not to be avoided. But since the sights of Anuradhapura belong to the Sinhalese Buddhist culture, there is much that we do not understand. Well Dagoba and Dagoba, I saw one - you know everything. However, it was interesting for us, including observing people. For believers, everything here is full of meaning.
In the 4th century BC. Buddhism came to the island. At the same time, a branch of the Bo tree appeared here.
Isurumuniya Vihara
English. Isurumuniya Vihara (Originally Meghagiri Vihara)
The territory of the old town begins here. In 1950, all residents from this territory were relocated to the New Town.
The rock palace was built in 307-267 BC. for 500 upper-class monk boys. Located in the rocks next to Lake Tissa. Transferred to the disposal of the community of monks. Isurumuniya Temple was one of the buildings of the largest monastery in Anuradhapura.
Here are:
- two temples - old and new
Buddha statues
- mortar
- Lake Tissa
- sculptures
- Museum
Bodhi tree
Full name: Mahabodhi tree (Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi)
One of the most famous Buddhist shrines around the world. The Bodhi Tree, or simply, the Bo Tree is very old, it is 2250 years old. It is grown from a branch of a tree (ficus) in the city of Bodh Gaya, under which Prince Gautami became a Buddha who attained enlightenment.
In the 19th century, the main trunk of the Mahabodhi tree in Anuradhapura was cut down by an English fanatic, but a small trunk remained, which is now revered and held by golden props.
The monks who care for the tree take young shoots and grow new trees. There are many Bodhi trees in the temple grounds.
Bronze Palace (Loja Pasada)
Another name is Lovamahapaya. The palace is next to the sacred tree. Built for monks.
This amazing structure is 2000 years old. It was built under the legendary ruler of Anuradhapura Dutugamuna.
Everyone writes that the temple has 9 floors, but I have no idea how high they should be if the height of the entire temple is 4 meters. The temple has over 1000 rooms. Now we are unlikely to see them. There are 1600 columns along the perimeter. Here it is - please. True, while the columns are concrete, they look strange, but it's impressive. Once upon a time, the columns were decorated with silver slabs.
The roof resembles a pyramid in shape, its vaults were decorated with copper tiles to make it shine in the sun.
Legend says that the exterior of the building is taken from the vision of the monks.
A group of monks saw the temple while meditating. They sketched what they saw with red arsenic and brought the drawing to the king.
The first temple was built of wood and burned down during one of the fires. Today only mentions of him and the columns remain.
Around the Bodhi tree is the historical territory of Anuradhapura. Long Alley - The ancient city street runs from the Bo tree temple.
Along it there are huge religious buildings, shaped like a bell. These are dagobas or stupas.
Dagoba or Stupa is a Buddhist architectural and sculptural monolithic monumental and cult structure with hemispherical outlines. Initially, the stupa was a reliquary, and then became a monument erected in honor of some event in Buddhism. Historically, it goes back to the burial mounds, built for the burial of kings or leaders. Wikipedia
Mirisaveti Dagoba
English. Mirisaweti Stupa
Legend says: King Dutugamunu with his harem went to Lake Tissa, where the Water Festival was held. He stuck his staff (scepter) into the soft earth, in which a relic was hidden (most likely a piece of Buddha's bone).
After a while, in preparation for returning to the palace, the king discovered that neither he himself nor anyone from his retinue could pull the staff out of the ground - it took root and grew into the ground. Dutugamunu regarded this as a sign from above - the relic should remain in this place, and decided to build a dagoba over the staff.
Mirisaveti
The construction of the facility took 3 years. In the 10th century, the stupa was rebuilt.
You already understood that inside each stupa there is a reliquary in which some kind of shrine is kept. It can be a piece of Buddha's bone, his alms bowl, belt, even a trace or. Dagoba can be a monument to the event.
English. Ruwanwelisaya stupa
To inspect the next stupa, you need to go to the Basavakkulam reservoir.
Ruvanveli Dagoba was built in the 2nd - 1st centuries A.D.
The most famous building of King Dutugemunu. It is also called the White Stupa or Mahatupa, which means "the great stupa."
A bowl of Buddha for alms is kept in a stupa.
The structure is huge. It covers an area of 120 hectares.
At present, its height is more than 90 meters, and its diameter at the base is 91 meters.
And this is how the stupa looks on a holiday:
We have watched the decoration take place. This can be seen in the photo report.
Ruvanveli Stupa pedestal
The foundation of the stupa is made of golden gravel. It is placed on a pedestal. It looks impressive, solemn and mysterious - there are 400 elephants on the pedestal. The symbolic and cosmogonic meaning is that the World stands on Elephants.
Elephants participated in the construction of the Ruvanveli Dagoba. Each leg of the elephant was tied with a leather cloth.
The king personally supervised the work. He watched as the relic chamber for the Buddha's bowl was created and watched as the bowl was hidden inside.
During construction, delegations from various parts of India came to the stupa, 30,000 monks from Alexandria (in the Caucasus), led by the Indo-Greek monk Mahadharmaraksita.
In 1839, the Dagoba was rebuilt.
Sanctuary
Near Ruvanveli there is a sanctuary with 5 statues telling about the Buddha's incarnations. Pay special attention to one of them. This is a statue of a meditating Buddha. She is believed to be the portrait of King Dutugamunu. (I talked about Datugumunu quite a lot in the previous article).
Nearby is a miniature copy of the entire sanctuary.
Legend of the mortar and death of Dutugamunu
King Dutugamunu did not see the completion of the work - the complex was completed after his death by the son of the king. But the Sri Lankans tell touching story O last hours life to Dutugamun.
Ruvanveli Stupa is the king's favorite child. He dreamed of seeing the building completed, but his health was getting worse and the king held out with the last bit of strength. Feeling an imminent death, he hurried his brother, who was now in charge of the construction. And my brother said that there was not much left, although unexpected difficulties delayed the completion of the construction.
Seeing that the king was dying, and wishing to make him happy, the brother told the good news that the stupa was ready. The king was so inspired that strength returned to him for a while and he decided to see the creation before his death.
The palanquin with the king moved to the dagoba, on the way the king met his old friend, who now became a monk. They talked about the mortality of elderly men and the fact that the rulers immediately after death are reborn in the celestial sphere of Tushita.
The king died happy, never knowing that his brother Tissa was cheating: knowing that the king's vision had become very weak, his brother pulled the purest white cloth over the frame. Dutugamunu was sure that the stupa was completed.
In fact, it was only half completed.
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Jetavana Dagoba
English. Jethawanaramaya dagoba
If you leave the complex and go through the Jetavanarama monastery, you will see another huge stupa.
This is Jetavana Dagoba - the tallest stupa in Sri Lanka. Built in the 3rd century BC. in the place where the gardens of Nandana were. Here for seven days the son of King Ashoka - prince Arahat Mahinda, who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka, read a sermon.
Jetavana is the modified Indian word for Jyotivana. It translates as "the place where the rays of liberation shone."
Each stupa contains some kind of shrine. Inside this stupa is the belt of the Buddha.
Jetavana Dagoba is the tallest brick building in the world. Of the ancient structures, only two pyramids at Giza are higher than it.
The stupa was completely destroyed. Restoration work began only in 1981. Since then, the Dagoba has been open to pilgrims, and divine services have been held here.
If we consider the main historical document of the Sinhalese kingdom - the chronicles of Mahavasma, then we learn the details of the construction and features of this dagoba.
At the base it is a perfect circle with a diameter of 122 meters, which is difficult to do without special measuring tools.
It is known that the construction of this dagoba took about 90 million bricks.
Stupa thuparama
Angle. Thuparama dagoba
The oldest dagoba of Anuradhapura. Built in the 3rd century BC
Located next to Jetavana Dagoba. The oldest dagoba is Tuparama.
The first stupa signified that the king of Sri Lanka converted to Buddhism.
In the 19th century, it was faced with marble.
Abhayagiri Dagoba
English. Abayagiri Dagoba. It is also called Abyagiri Dagoba.
In the north of the complex are the ruins of the Abhayagiri monastery. It was built specifically for the monks who were expelled from the main monastery.
The monks were declared heretics, but in fact they created the Mahayana Buddhist movement, more liberal than the main one.
Abyagiri Dagoba is the center of this movement.
This is what Abhayagiri Dagaba looked like recently.
There is another interesting dagoba inside the monastery.
At the time of its foundation (XII century), it was the second tallest in the Capital.
Tradition says that it was built right above the place where Buddha's foot touched the ground.
Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Pools)
There is a unique building on the territory of the Abyagiri monastery. These are twin pools, built by the craftsmen of the ancient capital.
The name should not confuse you, the pools are not identical. The length of one is 40 meters, the other is only 28 meters. But, this is not the main thing: the local water purification system is much more interesting, because the water in the pools is clear and clean.
The pools are considered an example of significant achievements in the field of hydro-engineering and architectural-artistic creations of the ancient Sinhalese.
Before entering the reservoirs, water passes through a series of narrow underground channels, filtered by sand and earth, getting into the pool completely cleaned of dirt and debris.
For the pools, granite slabs were carved to include the bottom and sides of the pool. A wall has been built around the pool, which encloses and secures the connection.
The entrance to the pool is decorated with a lion's head and an image of a snake, on the walls of the bowl of abundance.
In the pools themselves, real live turtles are splashing.
Finally, we want to give you some useful tips:
Show respect for someone else's religion. A famous scandal broke out in Anuradhapura a few years ago when our tourist was imprisoned. She wanted to take a commemorative photo in front of the sacred ancient statue of Buddha. They say she turned her back, but I think there was something more serious.
This is the sculpture of Buddha.
- Dagoba needs to be bypassed in a certain direction - clockwise. This is a ritual circumambulation in keeping with the culture of Buddhism.
By the way, in Hinduism it is customary to make a detour also - clockwise. It is believed that witches and sorcerers, for the sake of their black deeds, go counterclockwise.
- To visit any religious places in Sri Lanka, we recommend dressing modestly, in accordance with Buddhist requirements: legs are covered (not shorts), shoulders are covered (not a shirt).
- Take off your shoes in front of the temple and leave them in a designated place, or put them in a bag and carry them with you.
- Enter the temple barefoot. If the stoves are very cold or vice versa - hot in the sun, walk in socks, but no shoes.
- When sightseeing far from noise and roads, be careful: there may be snakes and monitor lizards in the grass.
general information
The city of Anuradhapura was founded by Prince Anuradha in 500 BC. e. In the 3rd century, Shanghamitta planted the fig tree of the Buddha here - the "tree of enlightenment." The city flourished until 993 when the capital was moved to Polonnaruwa.
Aukana Buddha and the Guardian Stone in Thuparam are attractions of the city hidden for centuries in the jungle. The 13-meter granite Buddha, carved in the 5th century, is said to have been crafted with such precision that drops of rainwater falling on the tip of his nose trickle down to the ground exactly between his toes. The guard stone at Thuparam is said to hold one of the Buddha's collarbones.
Of great interest is the place where Thero Mahinda, the son of the Indian Emperor Ashoka, proclaimed Buddhism to be the main religion of Sri Lanka - it is marked by 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 has the shape of a perfect bubble that forms on the water when it rains.
Today Anuradhapura is essentially 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 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 - in the east. Of all the monuments of the past, they were the least affected by time. Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred Bo tree, grows in the center of the old city. Like the Buddha's tooth stored 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 a sacred tree, under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment. Ashoka sent a branch and a new tree was carefully grown from its cuttings. Currently, the Bo tree in Anuradhapura is considered the oldest on earth: it is more than 22 centuries old. Nevertheless, 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 was a golden sculpture depicting the planting of a cutting. Believers bow to her first, and then go up to the platform to pray on the tree itself.
Nearby you will see one of the most mysterious places in Anuradhapura. Once there was the majestic palace of Loha Prasad, from which 1,600 gray monolithic columns have survived to this day, placed in 40 parallel rows, 40 columns in each. Some of the 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 Devanampiy Tissa (250-210 BC) to receive Indian messengers who brought a sacred branch from the Bo tree.
The 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 considered to be among the most significant Buddhist monuments not only in Sri Lanka, but throughout the world. The height of the Abhayagiri dagoba, or "the dagoba of Mount Fearlessness", is 100 m.
It was built by the ruler of Valagamabahu in 89 BC. e., immediately after repelling the Indian invasion. Even more ancient is the massive white da-goba 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 dagoba of Anuradhapura, and of the entire island, is Thuparama, located just north of the Ruvanvelisey dagoba. Its height is only 19 m, it is perhaps the smallest religious building in Anuradhapura, but in importance it surpasses the rest. Dagoba Thuparama was built in 249 BC. Devanampiya Tissoy to commemorate his conversion to Buddhism. It is believed that the right collarbone of the Buddha and the dish from which he ate were kept in the dagoba. These items are gifts to the convert from the Indian ruler Ashoka. It is not surprising that Dagoba Thuparama enjoys special reverence and is the object of pilgrimage. Dagoba is bell-shaped and surrounded by four rows of stone columns. It is accessed by stairs adorned with elaborate reliefs and statues.
Dagoba Jetavana on the northern border of the old city cannot be compared with the Dagoba Thuparama in its holiness, 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 belongs to the period of Mahasena's rule (274-301) .
South of the sacred tree Bo and just east of the Tissa Veva reservoir is the grandiose rock monastery of Issaramuniya Vihara. Several monastery premises are located outside the caves. A small museum at the entrance to the cave displays bas-reliefs considered to be the finest 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 a lover, 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 the Mahasena palace, today attracts the attention of tourists, but almost nothing remains of the former luxury and grandeur of the palace. Admission is paid or with a single ticket to the "Cultural Triangle".
Surroundings of Anuradhapura
Mikhintale
About 12 km east of Anuradhapura, near Route 12 to Trincomalee, is ancient temple Mihintale, highly revered by the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. The temple was founded in 247 BC. BC, when Mahinda converted the ruler of Anuradhapura to Buddhism.
Mihintale is located on the top of a giant granite rock. Numerous staircases lead to the temple. To get to it, believers have to climb 1,840 steps, so a pilgrimage here can be compared to a mountain climbing. On the way up you will see a ruined hospital and the Kantaka Chetia temple, dating from about 240 BC. e. But the main monuments of Mikhintale are on the top of the cliff: these are two dazzling white dagobas - Ambastale and Mahaseya - surrounded by coconut palms and rocky outcrops. From the top of the cliff, a view of fabulous beauty opens up. There is also a small museum with frescoes, fragments of ancient ceramics and bronze figurines. Paid entrance.
Aukana Buddha
It is difficult to get here by car, but you can walk from the Aukana train 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 hewn from a solid stone (it can be seen that the back literally fused with the rock)... This is perhaps the most exquisite Buddha image that exists in Sri Lanka. Buddha is depicted in the pose of ashiva mudra, that is, blessing. Aukana means “eating the sun,” and indeed dawn is the best time to view and photograph the statue. If you have personal transport, then in Kekirava (Kekirawa) exit Route 9 and follow a narrow country road to Aukana via Kalaveva (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 to it. The fortress was built in the XIII century. and served as the residence and the main stronghold of the ruler Bhuvanekabahu I, who more than once repelled the invasions from South India. Nowadays, you can climb the steep, ornate stairs 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 several magnificent bas-reliefs, and the view from here is truly wonderful. As in Aukana, Yapahuvu is difficult to reach by private transport. The fortress is located 4 km from the Maho station (Maho) on the Colombo - Anuradhapura railway line. If you decide to go by car, then take Route 28, between Kurunegalla and Anuradhapura. Paid entrance.
And again we are glad to see you on the pages. Today, leaving the north of Sri Lanka, namely we went to the side sacred city of Anuradhapura with many ancient monuments cultural heritage, it is also called Old town, from where in 1950 all residents were resettled to the new part of the city. And since we are not too 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 by bus in 5 hours (it comes to the bus station in the New City).
- Option 1 - after the airport in Colombo we get to bus station airport (on foot, "tuk-tuk"). There is no direct bus from this station to Anuradhapura, but from there you can get to Colombo itself and there you can change to direct bus number 5.
- Option 2 - go to the bus station in Negombo, change to a bus to Anuradhapura or to Kurunegala, where you can change to another bus. Straight the bus is coming through Puttalam. You can also get there with a transfer via Kandy, Matale, Kurunegala.
Deciding to try public transport, we went by bus from Jaffna for 100 rupees (26 rubles).
Having reached the town of Kilinochi (144 km from Kilinochi to Anuradhapura), we already hitchhiked, but you can use the train (280 rupees per person).
How to get to the sacred 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 the sights. In principle, all the most interesting cities is located on one large territory, where a single entrance ticket costs 3200 rupees (800 rubles) or $ 25. We didn’t know yet how many passages there were. Attraction are, although I heard, in some cases, very overpriced. And the point is not at all that Sri Lanka has the most unique sights of all of Asia, it's just that the state's 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 from the side and climbed over a low fence. The first stop was a 120 meter stupa Jetavanarama, located on the ruins of the Jetavana monastery.
Well, yes, a large, large stupa, of which we have seen enough back in, which differs from the rest only in that it is considered the largest in Sri Lanka. And it is obligatory, it is not even stipulated, that it keeps a fragment of some "detail" of the Buddha. This time it's part of his belt.
In principle, it is even a little impressive in size and for me personally it seemed the most interesting attraction of Anuradhapura than all the other archaeological sites of the old city.
To reach the second stupa, we had to overcome the secondary ticket control, which we, of course, did not suspect.
The guard, seeing from afar two large backpacks, immediately jumped up and waved his hands at us. Andrei did not even look in his direction, passing further, I followed his example. The guard, taken aback by our impudence, threw his seat and in three leaps appeared in front of us, blocking the path and shouting “Ticket! Ticket! " I silently looked at Andrei, who looked at the guard with a stupid look and, in turn, also waved my hands at him, pretending to be a deaf-mute. The uniformed man's face slowly stretched out and froze for a few seconds. I almost ruined everything with the desire to burst out laughing when I saw his confused look. Still in shock, he automatically poked 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, waving his hand, he passed our smiling grateful faces further.
Picnic at the Ruvanvalisaya stupa.
Walking 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 a large white stupa Ruvanvalisaya from the side.
I would say that it was from here that the best view of her was opened.
Another "masterpiece" of Sri Lankan architecture is also known under the names of Mahatupa, Svarnamali and Ratnamali Dagaba.
Here we temporarily dropped our backpacks to rest in the shade of trees, swing on long springy branches like monkeys, and gaze at birds.
By the way, there were enough monkeys here too, I can't stand them since childhood.
They didn’t come up to us, and okay.
Acquaintance at the sacred tree Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
After resting, the hike continued to the sacred tree Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from the offshoot of the very one under which the Buddha was enlightened. I got caught 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 appeared in front of me, who 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 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 lacked the company, perhaps he hoped to join us. I said that we are hitchhikers and sleep in a tent or at the locals. At first he was interested in this, and he even squatted in front of me, but after several of my stories, he realized that it was unlikely that we were on the way, as quickly saying goodbye 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. The fence is only fenced off from especially prying eyes and mischievous hands. "
The last attraction of Anuradhapura is the Mirisaveti stupa.
Before you leave old part the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Andrei still 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, which accidentally remained open all night, but you will learn about these details a little later. Stay with us, subscribe to the blog news and do not forget to share your pleasant impressions of what you read with your friends through the social buttons below :).
The most revered city in Sri Lanka is without a doubt Anuradhapura. Although many of its places of worship are in ruins today, a huge part of the region's iconic and historical heritage has been preserved. Anuradhapura is the ideal travel destination for tourists in love with history, for those who want to get to know the culture of this miniature country.
Ancient Anuradhapura is full of charm and mystery. Its attractions will allow you to plunge into the mystical past of Sri Lanka and even take some unique photographs there.
Not far from the Abhayagiri complex, tourists will find the ruins of the old Ratna Prasad monastery, built in the 2nd century by order of King Kanitt Tissa for the monks of the Abhayagiri order. He had giant size, as evidenced by the powerful, ornate columns that can still be seen today. In the 8th century, the temple was reconstructed: several floors were added and a golden statue of Buddha was installed.
One of the centers of the Sinhalese civilization, the Jetavana Pagoda has a diameter 113 meters away and reaches in 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 site and an interesting collection of Buddhist statues is exhibited.
One of the most colorful structures in Anuradhapura, the Ruvanvelisseya 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 war and natural disasters, the landmark today 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, which 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 atop 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 beautiful lake decorated with impressive statues of elephants.
Located in scenic location on the Tissa Veva River, 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 containing the relics of the Buddha, but he 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 the Tuparama Pagoda, built by King Dawaman Pusa. It is considered the oldest in Sri Lanka, dating back to the 3rd century. Tuparama is located to the north of the Ruvanvelisseya pagoda and has a diameter of 18 meters.
Location: Thuparama Mawatha.
The Abhayagiri complex of monasteries is the largest in Anuradhapura. Its main building, Abhayagiri Pagoda, is 108 meters away... 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 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 under 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 is still possible to contemplate.
Once a magnificent structure topped with a bronze roof, Lohoopasada Palace was erected over 2,000 years ago for King Dutugemenu in the 13th century. Today, here you can see the ruins of 1600 columns that supported the building. They say that the grandiose structure of the Middle Ages had 9 floors and could accommodate up to 1000 people at a time.
Money museum
In the Anuradhapura Money Museum, you can accessible form get to know the history of Sri Lanka, starting from the earliest 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.
- The period of independence.
The oldest coins date from the 3rd century and are made of silver. Exhibited in the museum and 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, according to Buddhists, the oldest Terra tree grows, planted in 249 BC. According to Buddhist belief, Gautami Buddha attained enlightenment before a sacred tree in Buddhagaya, India, and the Sri Maha Bothi tree is an offshoot of the southern branch of this tree. The journey to Anuradhapura will not be complete if you do not visit this sacred place for all Buddhists.
