Sri Lanka, a coastal country in South Asia, has a rich cultural history. Since ancient times, it has been a nation of importance for trade and territory. Today, we will cover 7 places to visit in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura was the ancient capital of Sri Lanka. It has served as the country’s capital for around 1500 years. This makes it one of the longest-serving capitals. It is popular for its cultural and spiritual aspects. It is a world-heritage site as well. The city has preserved the ancient remains of Sinhala civilization.
The city of Anuradhapura is a witness to several historical periods. It has seen the iron age, too. The city was destroyed by the invasions of Chola rulers from India. The British and colonial eras were also part of Anuradhapura.
So, when you visit Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, you will experience the cultural and religious diversity of this place. Experience the religious and spiritual side of Sri Lanka in Anuradhapura.
1. Sri Maha Bodhi
Sri Lanka is one of the Southeast Asian countries that is popular for Buddhism. Since ancient times, Buddhism has found prominent importance here. The early phase of Theravada Buddhism actually began in Anuradhapura.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is considered one of the holy places in Sri Lanka. A fig tree here is more than 2000 years old. It is believed that the sapling of the tree belongs to the original Bodhi tree. This Bodhi tree is none other than the one under which Gautam Buddha got enlightenment.
This one is on the premises of Mahamewuna Garden. Locals call it Maha Megha Vana Royal Park. Sri Maha Bodhi is like a Buddhist pilgrimage site. It opens everyday at 6:15 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. To visit Sri Maha Bodhi, you can either take a tuktuk or book a private vehicle.
Entry fees here are LKR 200 per person. The best time to visit here is during its festivals. There are 4 festivals and other sermon sessions. Along with sight-seeing, you will get to be a part of the religious functions.
2. Ruwanweli Maha Seya
Closer to Sri Maha Bodhi is Ruwanweli Maha Seya. It is a stupa. Locals call it Swarnamali Maha Stupa. It is said to be one of the most marvelous stupas in Sri Lanka. The construction of this great stupa was begun by King Dutugemunu back in 140 BCE.
Unfortunately, the king died before the completion of the stupa. The construction was further carried forward by King Parakramabahu I.
It carries the relics of Gautama Buddha. The largest collection of Buddha’s relics is here. This stupa has its name on the list of the tallest ancient monuments in the world. Mahavamsa, a Buddhist historical chronicle, talks about this stupa.
The Ruwanweliseya stupa is one of 16 and 8 places of veneration in Buddhism. 16 places of veneration is called Solosmasthana, and the latter is Atamasthana. One of the pagodas in Myanmar derives its structure from this stupa.
The visiting hours of this site are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. The entry is free for everyone. It will take you around 50 minutes to explore the site.
3. Jetavanaramaya Monastery
This is another stupa or religious site in Anuradhapura. It has the tag of being the tallest brick structure of ancient times. It dates back to 3rd century and holds a lot of historical significance. It is huge and shows the detailed engineering knowledge of the Sri Lankan people.
Historically, the stupa is a witness to the differences between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. If you want to see how ancient monks lived their lives, this is a great place for that. Pancavasa is a dedicated place for this.
There is a chapter house where monks perform their daily religious rituals. They read the ancient holy texts and meditate.
You will find a museum inside the monastery that has a collection of artifacts. It includes ancient coins from Indians and Romans. There are stone paintings and beads of various materials, like clay and ivory.
The timings of the monastery are between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you belong to a SAARC nation, you need to pay $12 for the entry fees. Other foreigners will have to pay $25 for entry.
4. Isurumuniya Temple
Isurumuniya is another Buddhist temple in Anuradhapura. Two carvings belonging to the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. have been found here. If you are a history buff, you will find this place very interesting. The temple is believed to have been built by the king of Anuradhapura, Devanampiya Tissa.
Originally it was built as a place for children elected as priests. Carious kings have renovated the temple. There is a cave, a cliff, and a stupa, along with a Viharaya. Viharaya or Vihar is a resting place for Buddhist monks.
The temple is famous for Isurumuniya lovers. The sculpture or the carving belongs to 6th century. It shows the love story that belongs to ancient times. The rock cave near Isurumuniya temple has other carved structures as well.
It opens at 7:30 a.m. everyday and closes at 6:30 p.m. The entry ticket is LKR 500 per person. It will take you around 2 hours to explore Isurumuniya temple. We advise you wear fully covered clothes as a mark of respect to the religious site.
The best time to visit here would be in June for the Poson festival. This festival marks the beginning of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is a joyous affair in the whole Sri Lanka and thus, you should not miss it.
5. Archaeological Museum
If you want to experience the history of Anuradhapura and ancient Sri Lanka in a short span, visit Archaeological Museum. The museum is curated extensively. You will find artifacts and sculptures here. Anuradhapura Museum is situated very close to Ruwanweliseya.
The building of the museum is elegant and beautiful. The museum is in the old administrative building. This is why the building follows the structure of the colonial era. This is the oldest museum in Sri Lanka. And also, it is the largest one.
There are various Buddhist relics, artifacts, puppets, beads, and even coins. You will find some model structures of stupas in Sri Lanka. There are models of the Abhayagiri Stupa and Jantagara.
Please note that the museum is closed on Tuesdays. On other week days, the visiting hours are between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Usually, it will take you an hour to see the museum. The ticket price is LKR 100 but may vary depending on the country you belong to.
6. Tissa Weva
The Tissa Weva is a huge artificial water reservoir. It belongs to the 3rd century BC and shows the irrigation advancement of ancient Sri Lankans. King Devanampiya Tissa built the reservoir to increase water supply to the ancient city of Anuradhapura.
Tissa Weva is often referred to as the world’s first oblique dam. It is an area of high pressure that occurs in the middle of two depressions.
The reservoir also irrigated the royal gardens of the king. Legend has it that this reservoir, being in the center, was used to irrigate Isuruminiya Vihara and other nearby stupas.
If you are a bird watcher, this place is the best to spot some unique birds. If you are planning a picnic or a good walk, you should visit Tissa Weva. You can also take a boat ride here. It is a peaceful place, and you can relax here after roaming around the bustling city.
We suggest you visit here during the evening. You can catch the beautiful sunset here and the chirping of the birds, too.
7. Thanthirimale
The old village of Thanthirimale has an ancient Buddhist temple. It is around 40 kms away from Anuradhapuraa. The temple is Thanthirimale Raja Maha Vihara. Here you will get to see a statue of Buddha in Samadhi pose.
It has a connection with Sri Maha Bodhi. When the sapling was brought from India to Sri Lanka, it was kept here for a night. This might be during the monk’s halt. The next day, the sapling was sown in the Sri Maha Bodhi area.
This village has its own history of rulers and Buddhism. Therefore, it is historically important. You can visit the village between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.You will have to dedicate a day to this village. It will take you 2-3 hours to roam around the village. You can book a private car, as it is an hour away from Anuradhapura.
Sri Lanka has a lot to offer its visitors. The stupas, and the museums speak about its culture and spirituality. Being on the coast of the Indian Ocean, you will get serene views here. Each city in this nation has unique places and sites.
But Anuradhapura in itself is unique. The complete city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is because of its historical importance. The stupas here are big and extensively carved. The museums hear screams about the cultural vibe of the country.
Editorial Staff at Ceylon Empire Travels are Specialist in Sri Lanka Travel.
