Sri Lanka also has a number of outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Anuradhapura is one of these places in Sri Lanka. It is also the capital of the North-Central Province. For Buddhists, Anuradhapura is a very important city because there are more places that are important with Buddhism is situated in Anuradhapura. The things to do in Anuradhapura is almost same for the all places that I’m going to mention below. Visiting and see is the simple thing and I you are interested in learning the ancient technologies, culture or whatever, you are able to observe and learn further more. So, I am going to give you a brief explanation about the places that you are able to visit easily if you visit to Anuradhapura.
Samadhi Statue
Mahamevnawa Park in Anuradhapura is home to the Samadhi Statue. This statue is made of dolomite marble and stands 7 feet 3 inches tall. The statue dates from the 4th to 6th centuries and is considered one of Sri Lanka’s greatest Buddha statues. The Buddha is shown in the Dhyana Mudra, which is the meditation posture associated with his first Enlightenment.
Mihintale
The famous Anuradhapura city is about 12 kilometers away from Mihintale. Mihintale is home to the sacred forest mountain Missaka Pabbatha, where King Devanampiya Tissa met Arhat Mahinda Thera and his followers. Lord Gautama Buddha had already visited this location, which was then known as Missaka Pabbatha, during his third visit. The jungle surrounds Mihintale, and there are rock boulders strewn about the hilly terrain. There are numerous caverns that were once used by monks for meditation in a peaceful setting distant from Anuradhapura’s main city.
Sri Maha Boodhi Temple
In the city of Anuradhapura, the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple is located in the Mahamewna park. It is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting both visitors and locals on a daily basis. The Bodhi Tree is placed within this temple and is surrounded on all sides by a golden colored fence. Another interesting information about the Boo Tree is that it is a 2,600-year-old Fig tree. Buddhists think that their wishes will be granted if they make them in front of this boo tree.
Moonstone or Sandakadapahana
Sandakada Pahana is a semi-circular slab which made by stone found at the bottom of historic religious buildings’ staircases, as well as in several ancient royal palaces in Sri Lanka. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece of ancient Sinhalese architecture. The Moonstone unearthed in Mahasena’s Palace is Sri Lanka’s finest and best-preserved Moonstone. Historians believe that the symbols and their arrangement have a deep religious significance.
Thuparama Dagaba
Thuparamaya is a Buddhist stupa in Mahamewna Park that is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest stupas. The Thuparamaya Stupa was established in the 3rd century by King Devanampiya Tissa and is the first dagoba built on the island after Buddhism was introduced. The dagoba had been destroyed by invading forces and natural weathering on multiple occasions. The most recent renovation in history took place in 1862.
Vessagiriya Ruins
This temple complex is built in and around three stunning bolder formations that span a considerable area in front of the Tissa Weva. Two of the rock formations have the remains of 23 caverns with drip ledges that the monks used. Many buildings had been discovered surrounding the site, including the remnants of an image house, a dagoba, and a refectory. The dagoba’s bricks had Sinhalese characters dating from the 10th and 11th centuries. There are also the remnants of a circular building without any statues or pedestals. During the excavation of this structure, researchers discovered seventy unique coins.
Ruwanwelisaya
The great king Dutugamunu, who ruled from Anuradhapura from 137 Before Christ to 119 Before Christ, built Ruwanweli Maha Seya. Ruwanweli Seya temple is the most revered Buddhist site in Anuradhapura, second only to Sri Maha Bodhi. The construction of Ruwanweli Seya has been given the most prominence in most ancient Sri Lankan literature after the defeat of Elara, the South Indian invader, and the unification of the kingdom under the authority of the renowned warrior king Dutugemunu.
Star Gate
In Ranmasu Uyana (Gold Fish Park), near Anuradhapura, there is an astonishing and mysterious artifact of an ancient Sri Lankan culture engraved on the rock. The majority of people believe this possesses a secret that is yet unknown to current science. It’s possible that it’s one of humanity’s most enigmatic secrets. There are other meanings for this, which will have to be explained in a separate article.
Jethawana Sthupa
The Jethawana Stupa is the world’s largest stupa, constructed entirely of bricks. This stupa was originally 122 meters (400 feet) tall. This stupa, however, was abandoned and damaged over time. The stupa’s height was reduced during renovations, and it is now just 71 meters tall. With a base size of 233,000 square meters, it is still the largest. The Lord Buddha’s belt was said to be buried inside the Jethawana Stupa, according to folklore.
Abhayagiriya Dagaba
An old dome-shaped stupa, the Abhayagiriya Dagaba. To the apex of the broken spire, Abayagiri Stupa stands at 74.98 meters. It is now the island’s second-largest stupa. The archeological department is currently putting up a major effort to restore this stupa to its former splendour while preserving its archaeological worth. The Abhayagiriya Viharaya was built during the reign of King Vattagamini Abaya, also known as King Valagamba, in the 1st Century B.C.
Twin Baths (Kuttam Pokuna)
Explore the Twin Baths (Kuttam Pokuna), a picturesque collection of bathing ponds erected by monks of Abhayagiri Monastery between the 6th and 8th centuries. Tourists are drawn to the pools not just because of their architectural beauty, but also because of their practicality. Examine the rotund features known as punkalasa, or “pots of plenty,” which are located at the top of the stairs leading to the waters. Clean water gushes out of the lion’s head at the end of the complex filtration system. Before jumping in, take a moment to cool off and admire this work of aesthetic engineering.
Nellikulama Temple
Nellikulama Siri Sambuddha Panchasathika Charikaramaya, also known as Pilima Pansala, is a temple in the isolated village of Nellikulama, close to Anuradhapura, that was completed in 2006. The temple, which spans ten acres of land, features 500 life-size statues of bhikkus who follow the Buddha. The statues, which are all unique, represent Buddha and 500 followers who are traveling across cities to spread Buddhism.
The temple, which began with 500 sculptures, has since grown to include regions reflecting Buddha’s life events. Despite the fact that this temple has little historical significance, pilgrims to Anuradhapura flock to it because of its novelty.
Tissa Wewa
King Devanampiya Tissa created Tissa Wewa, an ancient irrigation tank (250-210 Before Christ). Tissa Wewa’s embankment is 11,000 feet long and 25 feet high. This is around 550 acres in size. The historic canal of Jaya Ganga, which originates at Kala Wewa, supplies water to Tissa Wewa. The water is discharged into the Malwathu Oya river. The Tissa Wewa tank’s embankment is around 3 kilometers long. When you come here once, you can witness the antique technologies.
Apart from these places, there are more places that couldn’t be mentioned. I had a small try to give some idea to you about the places that you can visit if you visit Anuradhapura. I think you were able to have some idea about the importance of Anuradhapura and the ancient technologies. If you are interested in exploring further, it is possible if you visit Anuradhapura and stay few days there.
