Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura stands as Sri Lanka's most sacred and historically significant city, serving as the island's first capital from the 4th century BCE to 1017 CE for over 1,500 years, making it one of the longest continuously inhabited cities in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site represents the cradle of Sinhalese Buddhist civilization and houses some of South Asia's most evocative and magnificent ancient monuments, including colossal dagobas that rival the pyramids of Egypt in scale and spiritual significance.

Anuradhapura holds unparalleled religious importance as the site where Buddhism was first established in Sri Lanka in 247 BCE by Arhant Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka of India. The sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, grown from a sapling of the original Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment, has been continuously venerated for over 2,300 years, making it the oldest historically authenticated living tree in the world and the most sacred object of worship for Buddhists globally.

The city's skyline is dominated by massive bell-shaped dagobas (stupas) that showcase the extraordinary engineering capabilities of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. The Ruwanwelisaya, built by King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century BCE, stands 103 meters high and represents one of the finest examples of ancient Sinhalese architecture. The Abhayagiri Dagoba, once among the tallest structures in the ancient world at 115 meters, and the massive Jetavanarama, which was the world's third tallest monument at 122 meters, demonstrate the city's former glory as a major center of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.

The heart of Anuradhapura's spiritual significance lies in the Atamasthana - eight sacred places that form the core of Buddhist pilgrimage. These include the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya (the first dagoba in Sri Lanka), Lovamahapaya (the magnificent nine-story bronze palace), Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanarama, Mirisaveti Stupa, and Lankarama - each representing crucial milestones in the establishment and flourishing of Buddhism on the island.

Anuradhapura's sprawling archaeological park encompasses over 40 square kilometers of ancient ruins, including magnificent palace complexes like the Lovamahapaya with its 1,600 stone pillars, ancient hospitals with sophisticated medical facilities, universities, monasteries that housed up to 10,000 monks, and the remarkable Kuttam Pokuna (twin ponds) that demonstrate advanced hydraulic engineering. The sophisticated irrigation systems, featuring massive tanks (reservoirs) like Tissa Wewa and Abhaya Wewa with intricate canal networks, supported a population of several hundred thousand people and continue to function today, showcasing the advanced technological achievements of ancient Sri Lankan civilization.