Anuradhapura

Overview

• Anuradhapura is an ancient capital and the first kingdom of Sri Lanka. It has been declared a World Heritage by UNESCO based on its special cultural values. It is the main city of the North Central Province.

• This place is 295 feet above sea level, and 205 km away from Colombo.
  From the 4th century BC to the 11th century AD, Anuradhapura had the most stable and powerful political regimes in South Asia.

• It was also a great civilization with a very rich and incomparable culture. The city is surrounded by many temples and sacred places in Buddhist Sri Lanka, covering an area of ​​about 40 square kilometers.

• This ancient city is known as one of the most archaeological sites in Sri Lanka.The tallest brick buildings, called “Stupas,” have been constructed all over the city, including great arts and crafts with the arrival of Buddhism.

• “Thuparamaya” was the first brick building made in that era. Since then, a large number of temples have been built, and some places such as Mirisa Vatiya, Ruwanweli Maa Seya, Abhayagiriya, Lowamahapaya, and Jetavanaramayan have attracted many tourists to this day.

• Not only are there buildings, but also a huge irrigation system. The first of these is the “Abhayavapi” reservoir built by King Pandukabhaya. Today, it is known as Basavankulama. A very organized road system with sturdy bridges could be seen in the ancient city of Anuradhapura.

• Although it has now grown as a modern city, it has still preserved its historical charm. With its cultural value, natural beauty, and current urban development, a large number of tourists do not forget to visit the city of Anuradhapura.

• Anuradhapura is known among tourists as one of the most important Buddhist cities in the world today.