ANURADHAPURA KINGDOM
Anuradhapura (Sinhalese: අනුරාධපුරය ; )
is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is
the capital city of North Central Province, Sri Lanka and the capital of Anuradhapura District.
Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka,
famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Sri Lankan civilization.
The city, the center of TheravadaBuddhism for many centuries. The city lies
205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on
the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. It is
one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.
It is believed that from the
fourth century BC until the beginning of the 11th century AD it was the capital
of the Sinhalese.
During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of
political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered
sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an
area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).
Country
|
Sri Lanka
|
Province
|
North Central Province
|
District
|
Anuradhapura
|
Established
|
4th century BC
|
Government
|
|
• Type
|
Municipal
Council
|
Area
|
|
• City
|
7,179 km2 (2,772 sq mi)
|
• Urban
|
36 km2 (14 sq mi)
|
Elevation
|
81 m (266 ft)
|
Population
|
|
• City
|
50,595
|
• Density
|
2,314/km2 (5,990/sq mi)
|
Atamasthana
·
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
·
Ruwanwelisaya
·
Thuparamaya
·
Lovamahapaya
·
Abhayagiri Dagaba
·
Jetavanarama
·
Mirisaveti Stupa
·
Lankarama
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is
said to be the right-wing branch (southern branch) from the historical Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi at BuddhaGaya in India under
which Lord Buddhaattained Enlightenment. It was planted in 249 BC,and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the
world with a known planting date. Today it is one of the most sacred relics
of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all
over the world.
The other fig trees that
surround the sacred tree protect it from stormsand
animals such as monkeys, bats, etc.
 |
Ruwanwelisaya
The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa in Sri Lanka,
considered a marvel for its architectural qualities and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world. It was built by King
Dutugemunu, who became lord of all Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola KingElara, was
defeated. It is also known as Mahathupa, Swarnamali Chaitya,Suvarnamali
Mahaceti and Rathnamali Dagaba. Also King
Dutugemunu didn’t live to see its completion of dagoba but his final sight as
he lay on his deathbed could be a false bamboo-and-cloth finish was placed
around the dagoba to show his ‘completed’ masterpiece.
Today, after incurring much
damage from invading Indian forces, it rises 55m, considerably less than its
original height; nor is its form the same as the earlier ‘bubble’ shape. A
limestone statue south of the great dagoba is popularly thought to be of King
Dutugemunu.
 |
