It’s A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Anuradhapura is listed among the country’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, that is hardly surprising. The city is regarded as among the oldest, continuously inhabited, cities in the world. Archaeological findings trace its origins completely back to the 10th century BCE.

It Was A Proud Ancient Capital
Today, Anuradhapura is among Sri Lanka’s major cities inside the North Central Province. In the distant past, it turned out an even more important city within the island. Anuradhapura enjoyed the honour for being the capital with the Kingdom of Rajarata. In fact, the town is believed to own served to be a capital relating to the 4th century BCE along with the 11th century CE.

It’s Home To An Ancient Fig Tree
One in the main Anuradhapura attractions is surely an ancient fig tree. It’s known as the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. This tree is claimed to be relevant to the legendary fig tree of Buddha Gaya in India.

Lord Buddha is said to own attained enlightenment inside shade on the original Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Buddha Gaya. Sri Lankans assume that the one in Anuradhapura sprouted at a cutting from the original tree planted in 288 BCE. This makes the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi around 2,000 years.

It Has Two Ingeniously Designed Ponds
Located inside the gardens in the Abhayagiri Monastery will be the 1,500-year-old Twin Ponds or Kuttam Pokuna. The irrigation system constantly in place for the ponds is very progressive. It’s often touted to be one of several most advanced degrees of hydraulic engineering that existed at that time.

King Aggabodhi commissioned the making of these bathing pools inside the 6th century CE to the monastery’s monks. The two ponds measure approximately 130 feet and 90 feet in size, and therefore are fashioned from stone.

It Possesses An Ancient Moonstone
Also resident for the Abhayagiri Monastery may be the Sandakada Pahana, a historical moonstone whittled from stone. Just what is usually a moonstone i hear you ask? It’s a slab of stone that’s cut into your shape of a semi-circle and bears intricate carvings. Moonstones usually are placed for the entrance of Buddhist temples. This particular one dates right back to the very first century BCE.

Take a close-up look the lotus blossom depicted inside centre. Surrounding it are lots of tiers of animals which might be carved onto its face. Each of these creatures symbolises some other worldly concept for example birth, ageing disease and death. The lotus, around the other hand, represents Nirvana. And so, the moonstone is considered to symbolise the overcoming of karma, temptations and also the cycle of life and death. In Buddhism, this signifies the direction to enlightenment.

Interested from the city and its particular many historical wonders? Make amount of time in your itinerary to invest a few days there. Anuradhapura accommodation is straightforward to find and also be in town has no to cost much. If you’re attempting to stick to a humble budget, look at these guest houses in Anuradhapura. They provide every one of the necessities that form part from the Yoho Promise. Namely, stuff like WiFi, AC, TV and breakfast.