Holy city of Anuradhapura - free ticket tricks. Open left menu Anuradhapura Holy city of Anuradhapura
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 watchtowers. Ancient Anuradhapura consisted of an inner city, which was formed by royal palace and the most important religious buildings, and the 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 a little prince named Dutugamunu grew up and 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 recorded the ruins of Anuradhapura on the list world heritage, a comprehensive restoration of the ruins of the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka began.
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 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 of the most ancient and revered stupas of Sri Lanka opens up - 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. Ruwanvelisaya 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 Jetavana 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, A pure water enters the smaller pool through a hole topped with a dilapidated lion's head. A 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 nearby Architectural Museum. Tuk tukers can offer to take you around the complex without buying tickets by paying them personally, but the amount is less than the cost of 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
Anuradhapura. Photo credit: Joseph Clerici, Flick
Modern Anuradhapura consists of two parts - the Old Town and New town. The old city is essentially a huge historical park with ancient ruins of the city's palaces, gardens, Buddhist temples, monasteries and dagobas and stupas. Hotels, guest houses, shops and restaurants are located mostly in the new city.
Allow at least one full day to explore Anuradhapura Old Town
why go
Don't miss it in Anuradhapura
- Rent a bike to explore the magnificent Old Town of Anuradhapura.
- Watch the beautiful ceremonies near the ancient sacred Bodhi tree, around which the second most sacred temple in Sri Lanka, the Bodhi Tree Temple, is built.
- Don't miss the magnificent dagobas (Buddhist stupas): Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya and Jetawanarama.
- Wander the grounds of the ancient Abhayagiri Monastery, located in the northern part of the city, and admire the royal gardens and the original architecture of the rock-cut Isurumuniya Temple in the south of the city.
- Take a day to visit Mihintala, one of the most sacred sites in Sri Lanka.
Bodhi tree
The Bodhi Tree is perhaps one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism. According to legend, Buddha meditated and achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in the Indian town of Bodg Haya, which is why Bodhi trees are cultivated in many Buddhist monasteries. The original tree was destroyed. But, again, according to legend, the Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura was grown from a sprout of the original tree brought from India. Years later, in place of the original felled tree at Bodg Haya, a new one was grown from the sprout of an Anuradhapura tree.
Given the legends and stories, it is not surprising that the temple built around the Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura is one of the holiest places for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. It is always crowded with many pilgrims who regularly perform beautiful ceremonies.
Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura. Photo credit: Mario Feierstein, Flickr
Pilgrims to the Bodhi tree. Photo credit: David & Bonnie, Flickr
Dagobahs of Anuradhapura
Dagobas are ancient Buddhist stupas of an original form inherent in ancient Sri Lankan architecture. At the base, the dagobas have the shape of a huge dome, erected on a massive platform, which is crowned with a small pointed tower.
The four most important dagobas of Anuradhapura are: Jetawanarama - the largest dagobah in Sri Lanka, Thuparamaya - the most sacred dagobah of the island, Ruwanwelisaya - a magnificent white dagobah, which is considered the most beautiful dagobah of the island and the most atmospheric dagobah of the island - Abhayagiri, located on the territory of the monastery of the same name.
Dagobah Abhayagiri. Photo credit: Chandana Witharanage, Flickr
Rays of sun after heavy rain - Dagobah Thuparamaya. Photo credit: lesterlester1, Flickr
Visit the old town of Anuradhapura
The cost of visiting the Old Town and all attractions is about $25, calculated in local currency. Tickets are sold at the Archaeological Museum. Anuradhapura does not have one main entrance at which tickets are purchased and/or presented, nor is there a wall between the old and new cities. In fact, you can walk around the old city and not see anyone checking tickets, but we would still recommend not giving in to the temptation of “free cheese” and still purchasing tickets).
Inspect Old city best by bike. An alternative is to walk or rent a tuk-tuk. You can rent a bicycle or tuk-tuk and get a map at any guest house in the city. Set aside a whole day to explore local attractions. Wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes where you take off your own shoes. local residents. There are stalls throughout the park where you can buy food and drinks.
Keep an eye on your things - local monkeys are thieves, they can easily steal a bag, glasses, a camera and, in general, anything that doesn’t sit well or hangs on a person)
Little inhabitants of Anuradhapura. Photo credit: Nadun Wanniarachchi, Flickr
Anuradhapura. Photo credit: lesterlester1, Flickr
Mihintale
The tiny town of Mihintale, located 12 km from Anuradhapura, is considered the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. According to legend, here, on the top of the mountain, a fateful meeting took place between the Indian monk Mahinda, the son of the Indian emperor Ashoka, and King Devanampiyatissa, from whose reign the spread of Buddhism on the island began.
To climb to the top of Mihintale to the spectacular white dagobah and white Buddha statue, you need to overcome 1840 steps. The ascent consists of several levels, along the way you can examine the relics and stupas of the first Buddhist monastery of the island.
You can get to Mihintale from Anuradhapura by tuk-tuk, bicycle, train or regularly running minibuses. Set aside a day for the trip.
Buddha statue in Anuradhapura. Photo credit: Daniel Kosla, Flickr
Climbing to the top of Mihintale. Photo credit: k.dexter fernando kariyakarawanage, Flickr
Tiny Mihintale is considered the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was here in the 3rd century BC. appeared first Buddhist monastery and the missionary work of Mahinda began - in honor of him, Mount Mihintale is also called Mount Mahinda.
Over time, the monastery grew in size and influence, and until the 13th century it was the third largest monastic complex in Sri Lanka. Stupas have been erected here for centuries (there were more than 60 of them), and some were quite large.
Nowadays, Mihintale is rightly considered sacred and is visited by pilgrims. This - active temple: a calm and majestic place, numerous stupas and other ancient structures are discreetly but perfectly integrated into the landscape. One of the oldest stupas contains the remains of Mahinda, and there is also a large Buddha statue on the mountain.
Coordinates: 8.35027500,80.51811200
Bo tree
The Bo tree (or ficus sacred) is one of the oldest trees in the world. It is difficult to imagine its age - 23 centuries. The centuries-old giant grew from a sapling taken from a tree in Nepal's Budha Goya, under which Buddha gained enlightenment. For this reason, of course, the tree is a kind of shrine for all followers of Buddhism.
The scion was brought from Nepal to the island in the 3rd century BC by the nun Sangamitta, daughter of the Indian emperor Ashoka, and found its place in the royal park of Anuradhapura.
It would seem that such an old tree should be very large. But the sacred Bo itself is small; its venerable old age is supported by special supports. But the nearby protective tree is impressively huge.
As befits a shrine, the Bo tree, surrounded by a golden fence, is carefully guarded. You can't just approach him like that. But after passing through the protective cordons, you can stand in awe near the tree and, if you’re lucky, pick up a fallen leaf as a souvenir of the pilgrimage.
Coordinates: 8.34433100,80.39734800
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Jetavanarama stupa
"Jetavanarama" is a unique monastic complex created by King Mahasena in 276-303. At the dawn of the monastery, about 3,000 monks were located on its territory, which occupied an area of 48 hectares. On the central platform of the complex is the Jetavana Stupa, which rises 120 m and is the tallest brick structure ever built by man. In the 4th century AD, during the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Jetavanarama stupa was the third largest structure in the world, second only to the pyramids of Khafre and Cheops at Giza. The structure has massive brickwork that extends 14 meters deep, so that the weight of the monument rests entirely on the bedrock.
Another unique thing about the stupa is that it is a perfect circle and contains particles of the physical remains of the Buddha. The place where the structure stands was known in ancient times as the Nandana Gardens. It was here that Arahat Mahinda preached a sermon to 7,000 people for 7 days. The Jetavanarama Stupa was built over the footprint of Buddha, and 93,300,000 bricks were used for its construction.
Coordinates: 8.35176200,80.40372100
The Museum of Money at the Central Bank with its collections can compete with historical museum, because it was in the coins of their kingdoms that the history of Sri Lanka was reflected. Here you can trace all stages of the country’s development from colonial times, when the territory was under the rule of first Portugal, and then Holland and Britain, to the present day. The exhibits in the collections of the Money Museum are recognized as the oldest in the region.
The museum was created in April 1982 to house the country's complete numismatic collection. But over time, the exhibits became more and more numerous, they covered wider time periods and the collection was divided into four thematic exhibitions: “Ancient Period”, “Medieval Period”, “Colonial Period” and “Period of Independence since the establishment of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka "
In the first two you can find the oldest coins that were in circulation in Sri Lanka. They were called Kahapana and date back to the 3rd century BC. They came in a wide variety of shapes and were made mainly of silver. Kahavanu gold coins appeared on the island only four centuries later. The first foreign coins appeared with the development of navigation and trade. Many coins of Greek, Indo-Greek, Roman, Chinese and Arabic origin have been found in Sri Lanka.
Coordinates: 6.93427600,79.84226900
Kutam Pokuna Twin Pools
Kutam Pokuna Pools (twin pools) – ancient pools Ancient world, representing enormous hydrological, engineering, architectural and artistic value. The pools were intended for bathing Buddhist monks.
The pools were built in the 8th century in the kingdom of Andradhapura. In fact, the pools are not twins, because the first reaches a length of 28 meters, and the second - 40 meters.
The pools are carved from granite slabs that cover the bottom and walls. There are also stepped walls in the form of shelves leading to them, on which the monks placed pots for ablution and other objects when bathing.
The pools are distinguished by a unique water purification system: before entering the pool, the water passes through a series of depressions next to the structure, and all dirt settles at the bottom. The pools are connected to each other using a pipeline.
Coordinates: 8.37110200,80.40159700
Abhayagiri Stupa
The Anuradhapura Stupa is the second tallest building in the ancient world, built in the 1st century BC by King Vatta Gamini Abhaya. The height of the stupa exceeds 112 meters.
In front of the entrance to the stupa there are two stone sculptures, who are considered the guardians of the god Kuvera. The name of the stupa consists of two names - the name of King Abhay and the name of Jain, known as Giri. The stupa houses an interesting library of the Ancient World, which even foreign scholars interested in studying Buddhism tend to visit.
The stupa is believed to be decorated with gold, silver and precious stones.
A monastery of the same name was built next to the stupa, which was once home to 5,000 monks. They worshiped an image of Buddha made of green jade.
Coordinates: 8.37101700,80.39550300
The most popular attractions in Anuradhapura with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places for visiting famous places Anuradhapura on our website.
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 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 Indian ruler Ashoka 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. Once upon a time there was the majestic palace of Loha Prasad, from which 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 Walagamabahu in 89 BC. e., immediately after repelling the Indian invasion. Even more ancient is the massive white da-goba of Ruvanveliseya, which is 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 coconut trees and rocky ledges. From the top of the cliff opens fabulous beauty view. Is here and small museum- 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 railway line Colombo - Anuradhapura. If you still decide to go by car, then choose route 28, between Kurunegalla and Anuradhapura. Paid entrance.
