Buddha from Anuradhapura. Sights and interesting places of Anuradhapura. Ruins of the Mahapali complex (Mahapali Alms Hall)

Anuradhapura - famous city ancient monasteries located in northern central Sri Lanka. The ancient monuments of Anuradhapura were discovered in the 19th century, and later included in. This ancient city is called the most big city monasteries in the world. The capital, where 113 kings reigned and where Buddhists make pilgrimages, is home to some of Sri Lanka's greatest monuments, palaces and monasteries. Other famous cultural attractions of Sri Lanka are the majestic rock, cave temple and amazing temples.

Anuradhapura, ancient capital of Sri Lanka

The founding of the city of Anuradhapura practically coincided with the spread of Buddhism in Ceylon. According to legend, the Sinhala ruler Devanampiya Tissa (III century BC) and his entourage became acquainted with the new creed thanks to the son of the Indian king Ashoka - Mahinda. Soon Buddhism became the official religion of the Sinhalese, and the first stupa (dagoba) of Thuparama and Buddhist monastery Isurumuniya. During this era, the city experienced its heyday.

The ancient Sri Lankan chronicle “Mahavamsa” testifies: “The great and wise king ordered streets to be laid in this wonderful city, and thousands of houses of barely three floors were built on them. Everywhere in the city there were shops full of all kinds of goods. Elephants, horses and carriages passed without delay through the streets, which were every day swarming with people who took part in the solemn festivities. The entire strip of land off the coast was like one continuous workshop, continuously occupied with the construction of ships...”

Having existed for more than 1,200 years as the capital of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura was destroyed at the end of the 10th century when the troops of the South Indian state of the Cholas invaded northern part islands. The capital of the island was moved to Polonnaruwa, and Anuradhapura became a city of great past, revered as the sacred capital of the island.

Sights of Anuradhapura

The majestic ruins of Anuradhapura, occupying a circle with a diameter of more than 12 km, are located four hours' drive from the modern capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. This museum city cannot be walked around entirely and explored even in a few days. Meanwhile, perhaps the most significant cultural monuments of the “lion island” are concentrated here.

Ancient chronicles tell that Anuradhapura was once surrounded by high walls with gates facing the four cardinal directions. The city had many ponds and parks, and thousands of sweepers came out to clean the streets every day. The royal palace and numerous Buddhist monasteries (viharas) and stupas (dagobas) were grandiose structures made of stone and wood. In ancient times, there were more than 3 thousand monks alone.

At the same time, each ruler of Anuradhapura sought to build a dagobah, if possible superior in size and splendor to those erected by his predecessors. In particular, the Jetavana dagoba, which lay in ruins but was partially restored, reached 80 m in height - i.e. was taller than many Egyptian pyramids.

Typical and extremely characteristic of Ceylon examples of Buddhist art are the so-called “moon stones”. There are eight of them preserved in Anuradhapura. Usually they were placed in front of the entrance to the “House of Image”. “Moon stones” are semicircular granite slabs with ornamental images carved on them. In the outer semi-ring, various animals and birds were located in a clockwise direction.

The next half ring was a wreath of lotus leaves. The sun was depicted in the center. This symbolism is associated with ancient cosmogonic ideas, and penetrated the island from India along with Buddhism. The images themselves on the “moon stones,” however, are inspired by Hindu mythology, but they have new content. A lion, for example, is associated with Buddha, lotuses - with detachment from everything earthly.

Today from architectural structures The dagobas of ancient Anuradhapura are best preserved. The giant stone masses survived despite the ravages of time.

The largest among the dagobas of Anuradhapura is the Ruwanwelisaya dagoba - a masterpiece of Sri Lankan architecture. It is often called the “Great Stupa” - “Maha Thupa”. The round snow-white stone mass, 54 m high, rests on a square base, framed on all sides by reliefs depicting the heads of elephants. The spire soaring into the sky once sparkled with gold.

The Ruvanvelisaya stupa is about two thousand years old, and the history of its construction is described in detail in the ancient Ceylonese chronicle “Mahavamsa”. The construction of the dagoba was started by King Dutthagamini, one of the most glorious rulers who ruled in Anuradhapura. Having ascended the throne, he found a golden plate hidden in his palace with instructions to build a dagobah. Then the king summoned five hundred of the best architects, showed them the plate and asked what shape the dagobah should be built. One of the architects suggested a bowl turned upside down as a model.

Dagobah was built with extreme care. Even sand intended for construction was sifted many times and then rubbed between stones. The foundation was trampled down by elephants whose legs were wrapped in skins. The inner sanctuary of the dagobah was decorated with silver and gold. A model of the sacred bo tree made of gold and silver with pearls and gems was installed here. The statue of Buddha located here, cast from pure gold, was especially famous.

Shortly before the completion of construction, the king fell ill. Feeling his death approaching, he asked his brother Saddhatissa to see to it that the construction was completed. Saddhatissa promised to fulfill his request. It was he who ordered the dagoba to be painted white, which it retains to this day, although the color has to be regularly renewed: Subsequent kings also decorated the dagoba in all available ways.

In the middle of the 19th century. this building was threatened by the fate of many other buildings in Anuradhapura. The dilapidated dome resembled a natural hill, overgrown with trees and bushes, in which monkeys galloped and jackals hid. Restoration work took almost a hundred years. It was only during the Second World War that the Ruwanwelisaya Pagoda was finally restored.

One of the most ancient monuments of Buddhism in Ceylon is the Tuparama Dagoba, built in the 3rd century. BC. Devanapiya Tissa was the first Sinhalese ruler to accept Buddhism. According to legend, the collarbone of Buddha is walled up in this stupa, making Tuparama a particularly revered shrine. The height of this elegant, surprisingly proportional structure. resembling a bell, is about 17 m.

One can only marvel at the skill and artistic taste of the Sinhalese craftsmen who created this magnificent structure more than twenty-two centuries ago. Dagobah is surrounded by stone pillars that once served as supports for a tent over the heads of worshipers.

The spire of another dagobah, Abhayagiri, seems to rise from the depths of a huge mountain. This mountain is actually nothing more than a dome covered with grass (also restored in last years). The name “Abhayagiri” itself is sometimes translated as “Mountain where there is no fear.”

At the foot of the dagoba, a sculpture about two meters high has been preserved, depicting Buddha Samadhi immersed in nirvana (IV or V centuries). The figure is carved rather roughly, but the face with a distinctly absent expression is very expressively worked out.

However, much more has been preserved in Anuradhapura interesting statue Buddha, which is the oldest in Sri Lanka - it was erected 1800 years ago. The Chinese traveler Fa Xian, who visited Anuradhapura in 411, wrote: “Here... there is a hall of Buddha, decorated with gold, silver and precious stones, where there is his statue of green jade, more than fifty fugues high, sparkling with seven treasures, but in the pose serious and indescribable dignity. In the palm of my right hand lies a priceless stone.”

This statue, which has survived to this day, was actually carved not from jade, but from granite. Buddha is depicted in a meditation pose. sitting cross-legged. His face expresses serenity, the deepest peace of wisdom that has comprehended everything.

Another ancient monument of Anuradhapura, preserved from the time of King Devanampiya Tissa, is the Isurumuniya monastery, embedded in big rock. Later restorations significantly changed its original appearance. Several bas-reliefs carved into the rock monolith dating back to the time of Devanampiya Tissa have been preserved. Among them is a composition depicting a group of elephants, as well as the famous bas-relief “Lovers in Stone,” depicting a girl sitting on the lap of her warrior lover.

The construction of Lohapasada - the Bronze Palace, began in the middle of the 2nd century. BC. King Dutthagamani, the same one who built the grand dagoba of Ruwanwelisaya. His reign is associated with the liberation of the north of Sri Lanka and the capital of the island, Anuradhapura, from the rule of South Indian invaders. Uniting the entire island under his rule. Dutghagamani began extensive construction in his capital. His life was not enough for this, and the construction of the Bronze Palace was completed under his younger brother.

Stories about the new miracle of Anuradhapura spread far beyond the island. Legend has it that it was built "in the image of the sky." The palace had nine floors and a thousand rooms decorated with wood carvings. In the throne room there was an ivory throne, on which the sun, moon and stars, made of gold, silver and pearls, sparkled. The rooms of the palace were also decorated with pearls, gold and silver. The Mahavamsa states that “precious stones were set into the cornices... The ringing festoons were made of gold.” And the palace got its name - Bronze - because of the bronze sheets covering the roof.

The bronze palace died, as they say, “because of a penny candle”: one day a burning oil lamp fell on the floor, and the fire completely destroyed all this splendor. The building was partially restored, but subsequent wars and the desolation of Anuradhapura led to the fact that today all that remains of the legendary palace is a platform lined with a whole forest of granite columns - there are up to 1,600 of them here!

But Kuttam, the “Double Bath,” built in the 9th century, is perfectly preserved. and having about 8 m in depth. At the edge of the bathhouse stands an elaborate sculpture of a cobra.

Anuradhapura has preserved many architectural monuments that deservedly enjoy worldwide fame. Perhaps no less famous is the thousand-year-old bo tree, growing not far from the Ruvanvelisaya dagoba. It was planted over 2,250 years ago by the first Buddhist king, Devanampiya Tissa, and is probably the oldest tree on earth today. It has survived almost the entire history of Sri Lanka, now captured in the ruins of Anuradhapura.

The tree seedling was brought from India, from holy city, and, according to legend. is a shoot from the same bo tree under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment. The branch, placed in a golden pot, was brought to Anuradhapura by the nun Sanghamitta, the daughter of Emperor Ashoka. With the greatest solemnity, the precious branch was planted in the park in front of the royal palace. Then it was predicted that the tree would bloom and green forever.

They say that seven days later a miraculous rain fell, and the branch immediately sent out eight shoots, which in turn were taken to other places on the island. Today, in almost any Sri Lankan Buddhist monastery you can see a bo tree, which is the “grandson”, “great-grandson” or even more distant descendant of “sri-maha-bodhi” - the “sacred great bo” from Anuradhapura.

The huge ancient tree is carefully surrounded by a cast-iron fence. Its thick branches, full of vital juices, indicate that this tree will not die soon. There is hardly a Buddhist in the whole country who has not made a pilgrimage to this tree at least once in his life. Students come here before exams, business people come before concluding important deals, ministers come before making political decisions. On the day that marks the anniversary of the Sinhalese's conversion to Buddhism (this holiday is called "poson"), thousands of pilgrims flock to Anuradhapura. Here they pray and light candles near the sacred tree.

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka: attractions, photos, weather

The city of Anuradhapura is located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, 194 km from the actual capital of the country Colombo and 168 km from international airport Colombo. Anuradhapura is the administrative center of the district of the same name. Sites of the ancient holy city of Anuradhapura included in the list World Heritage Sri Lanka.

Anuradhapura is one of the "corners" of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, which also includes the cities of Kandy and Polonnaruwa. The city was founded in the 6th century BC. on the Malwatu Oya River. In the Middle Ages, from the 4th to the 11th century, the city was the capital of the independent Sinhalese kingdom of the same name. The city has been a major religious Buddhist center for centuries.

Anuradhapura Map

Anuradhapura is also considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world along with Luxor, Alexandria (Egypt), Mexico City, Vera Cruz (Mexico), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Peshawar (Pakistan), etc. Today this ancient capital Sri Lanka is considered sacred to everything Buddhist world, the area of ​​the monasteries surrounding Anuradhapura is more than 40 sq km, the city is one of the main archaeological sites in the world.

According to the Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of Sri Lanka, the city of Anuradhapura was named after a minister named Anuradha, who originally founded a village settlement in the area. Anuradha was one of the ministers who accompanied the Indian prince Vijaya, who, according to legend, founded the Sinhalese race in Sri Lanka.

Photos of the city of Anuradhapura

Open Anuradhapura photo in a new tab.

How to get to Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura - Big City, including a railway station and a bus station. From major cities Sri Lanka You can get to Anuradhapura by train or bus.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Colombo

There are about 8 trains a day from Colombo to Anuradhapura. There is also a direct bus service between the cities of Colombo and Anuradhapura:

• No. 15-1-1 Colombo - Anuradhapura,
• No. 15-1 Colombo - Anuradhapura,
• No. 4-3 Colombo - Anuradhapura,
• No. 57 Colombo - Anuradhapura.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Negombo

Negombo is located on a railway line parallel to Anuradhapura and therefore, to get there by train you need to change trains in Ragama. There are 4 trains a day from Ragama to Anuradhapura. You can also travel to Anuradhapura from Negombo by bus. To do this, you need to take a passing bus from Colombo to Negombo, or go to Colombo and get on at the final station there.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Kandy

You can get to Anuradhapura from Kandy by train with a change at Polgahawela station. There are direct buses from Kandy to Anuradhapura:

• No. 42-2 Kandy - Anuradhapura
• No. 43 Kandy - Anuradhapura.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Galle/Matara

By railway get to Anuradhapura with southwest coast You can take a train with a change in Colombo. You can get to Anuradhapura by bus No. 2/4-3 Matara - Anuradhapura. And also with a transfer in Kalutara by bus No. 57/221/420 Kalutara - Anuradhapura.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Trincomalee

Theoretically, you can get to Anurahdhapura from Trincomalee by train with a change in Maho, however, due to the passage of the railway tracks on the map with a large detour to the south, it is much more time-efficient to take a bus. From Trincomalee to Anuradhapura you can take bus No. 835 Anuradhapura - Trincomalee.

How to get to Anuradhapura from Dambulla

Buses from Dambulla to Anuradhapura:

• No. 15-17 Kurunegala - Anuradhapura,
• No. 314/580/42 Anuradhapura - Badulla

How to get from Polonnaruwa to Anuradhapura

Buses pass through Polonnaruwa:

• No. 22/75/218 Anuradhapura - Ampara,
• No. 27/218/58 Anuradhapura - Wellawaya.

Sights of Anuradhapura

Sacred places of Anuradhapura

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree
(Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi)

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred fig tree located in Mahamewna Gardens. The right southern branch is believed to be a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya in India, the tree under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment.

Sri Maha Bodhi is one of the most revered Buddhist shrines not only in Sri Lanka, but also in the world. Believers believe that a pilgrimage to the sacred tree helps heal diseases, helps pregnant women avoid fetal malformations, protects peasant fields from natural disasters, etc.

The existing fence around Sri Maha Bodhi was built in the 18th century. by King Kirti Sri Rajasinha to protect the tree from the wild elephants that abounded in the area. The height of the wall is 3 m, thickness 1.5 m. The length of the fence from north to south is 118 m, from east to west 83 m. The first golden fence around the sacred tree was built in 1969 in the city of Kandy under the leadership of Yathiravan Narada Thero ( Yatirawana Narada Thero).

The traditional Buddha Image House houses two ancient statues. The stone statue of a cobra is a very rare image. In the South-West temple complex Sri Jaya Maha Bodhi contains the remains of the Dakkin Tupa dagobah.

Dagobah Ruwanwelisaya
(Ruwanwelisaya)

The Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, or Ratnamali as it is also known, was built by King Datugemunu in 161 BC. after defeating the Chola invaders from India. The king hired an architect who designed the dagobah, whose dome, according to the monarch, was shaped like a “milk bubble.” King Datugemunu himself did not live to see the completion of the construction, which took a total of more than 33 years, and the construction was completed by his brother King Saddhatissa.

The height of the Ruwanvelisaya stupa is 103 m and its diameter is 292 m, this stupa was truly a miracle of architectural skill of that time. Ancient chronicles describe in detail the materials used in the construction of the dagobah and its foundation. In addition to ordinary stones, gold, silver, pearls, corals and precious stones were used.

The original building was destroyed in the 19th century and then rebuilt in 1940. Near the dagobah there is a sanctuary containing 5 limestone statues of standing Buddha. Four of the statues date back to the 8th century and symbolize past incarnations of the Buddha, and the fifth statue symbolizes the future (Maitreya Buddha) with a tiara on his head and a lotus flower in his hands.

Dagobah Ruwanwelisaya is one of the 16 Buddhist places of worship in Sri Lanka designated as Solosmasthana. The stupa is believed to contain some of the ashes of Buddha. Dagobah was built in such a way as to correspond to the Buddha's Teachings: the dome symbolizes the vastness of the Teachings, the four sides above it represent the Four Noble Truths, the concentric rings indicate the Noble Eightfold Middle Path, and the large crystal at the top of the stupa represents the ultimate goal of enlightenment.

Dagoba Tuparama / Tuparamaya
(Thuparamaya)

The snow-white Tuparama dagoba was built in the shape of a bell, with a base diameter of 18 m and a height of 50 m. Previously, the Tuparama dagoba was much larger in size, but throughout its history it was completely destroyed several times. The last time the stupa was rebuilt was in 1862.

The base of the stupa is paved with granite slabs, and the dagoba is surrounded by 4 rows of stone pillars. The height of the stone pillars on which the massive roof previously rested decreases as you move from the outer circle to the inner. The domed roof over the stupa, which existed earlier but has not survived to this day, was supported by 176 columns.

Dagoba Tuparama was built in the 3rd century. BC. during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. The stupa was erected by the king at the request of Mahinda Thero, who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka, to enclose the relic of the right collarbone of the Buddha. The building has an original design: the vaulted vatadage temple is, as it were, pushed under the dome of the dagobah.

In the 7th century, the Thuparamaya stupa was completely covered with gold. Including the watadage temple built into it, made of golden bricks, with golden doors. After an attack by the South Indian Tamils ​​from the Pandyan kingdom, the stupa was looted and all the gold, jewels and treasures were taken away.

In the middle of the 10th century. The Sinhalese king Mahinda IV restored the dagoba, lined it with gold and installed golden doors in it, but again at the end of the 10th century, the Tamil tribes from South India, the Chola, completely plundered the temple complex. The last restoration of the stupa was completed in the mid-19th century, however, during the restoration process, the ancient stupa completely lost its previous architectural features.

Bronze Palace Lovamahapaya
(Lovamahapaya/Lohaprasadaya)

Lovamahapaya Palace was founded in the 3rd century. BC. the first Buddhist king of Sri Lanka, Devanampyatissa, who, at the request of Mahinda Thero, who brought Buddhism to the island, built the first building on this site. A century later, in the 2nd century. BC, King Datugemunu significantly expanded architectural complex to the scale of which traces can be observed today.

According to the Sinhalese chronicle Mahavamsa, the building of the Lovamahapaya Palace was a nine-story structure 47 m high, its vaults were supported by 1600 stone columns. The palace was decorated with corals and precious stones, and the roof was covered with copper and bronze plates. Apparently for this reason, Lovamahapaya Palace is also called Lohaprasadaya, which is translated from Sinhala as “Bronze Palace”. The upper floors of the building were made of wood and were destroyed in the 2nd century BC. in case of fire.

Over the course of history, the palace building was rebuilt 7 times. At the beginning of the 3rd century, during the reign of King Sirinaga II, the palace was rebuilt, but its height was already 5 floors. By the middle of the 3rd century. King Jettatissa added two more floors, making it seven floors. Then, at the end of the 3rd century, King Mahasena destroyed the palace, using the materials to build the Abhayagiri complex, which caused a sharp conflict with the monastic community of Mahavihara.

In the 4th century. his son Sirimeghavanna restored the palace again. In this form, the building existed until the 9th century, until it was destroyed by the invasion of the South Indian Pandya kingdom. At the end of the same 9th century. King Sena II rebuilt the palace, but in the 10th century. The Indian invaders of Cola invaded the kingdom and completely plundered and destroyed it. Then the fall of Anuradhapura happened and the city ceased to be the capital of the kingdom, and only in the 11th century, during the reign of King Parakramabhu I, the stone pillars were raised and the building of the Lovamahapaya palace was partially restored. The palace building remains in this form to this day.

Dagoba Jetavanaramaya
(Jetavanaramaya)

The red brick Dagobah, Jetavanaramaya, is the largest in Sri Lanka, originally 122 meters high, but over time it has decreased to 71 meters.

Dagoba Jetavanaramaya was built in the late 3rd century by King Mahasena (273 - 303) and later completed by his son, King Sirimeghavanna I. 93 million bricks were used to build the giant stupa, and it is built on a rock, on a foundation 8.5 meters deep. Each side of the base on which the stupa is built is 176 meters long, the length of the stairs leading to it is 9 meters.

It is believed that the Jetavanarama Dagoba was built on the cremation site of Mahinda Thero, the man who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka.

Like all other buildings in Anuradhapura, this too was destroyed by Indian invaders in the 9th and 10th centuries. After the fall of the Anuradhapura kingdom, the stupa was abandoned and quickly covered by jungle.

In the 12th century, during the reign of King Parakramabahu the Great, the stupa was restored from ruins, but its height was reduced to its current height.

Houses of the Jetavanaramaya/Patimagara image
(Jethavanaramaya Image House/Patimaghara)

On the 48-hectare Jetavana Monastery grounds, to the west of the Jetavanaramaya dagoba, lies the vaulted building of the Jetavanaramaya Image House, also called Patimagahara.

The building is believed to have been built by King Sena I in the 9th century and then destroyed when the Chola kingdom of India captured the north of the island in the 10th century. Subsequently, the House of Image was restored by the Sinhala kings during the decline of the Anuradhapura kingdom.

The Jetavanaramaya image house is the largest found in the ancient cities of Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa.

Previously, the entrance to the building was closed by a monolithic door supported by stone pillars 8 meters high, and the House of the Image of Buddha itself housed a massive limestone statue 11 meters high and 25 Buddhist relics. According to calculations, the height of the building was 15 meters. Subsequently, in Polonnaruwa, in the likeness of the House of the Image of Jetavanaramaya, the vaulted buildings (gedige) of Thuparama, Lankatilaka and Tiwanka were erected.

Dagoba Mirisavetiya
(Mirisavetiya Stupa)

Dagoba Mirisavetiya was built during the reign of King Datugemunu in the 2nd century BC, the building belongs to the Maha Vihara complex. The diameter of the base of the stupa is 43 meters and the height is 59 meters.

The name of the stupa is explained by a popular Sinhalese legend: when King Datugemunu, after his coronation, was going to the water festival in Tissavevu, he left his scepter (Kunt) at this place, inside which a sacred relic was laid. Then the king returned for the scepter, it seemed to be stuck and no one could move it.

Then the king remembered that he had previously broken tradition by forgetting to offer the monks chili pepper soup (Miris) before tasting it himself. It was a common practice in those days to give a portion of all the food that was prepared in the palace to the priests before the king could taste it. Seeing the miracle and remembering his misdeed, the king ordered the construction of a stupa at this place and called it Mirisavetiya (pepper soup stupa).

Dagobah was restored in the 1980s, but the entire structure collapsed in 1987, destroying one of the finest examples of Anuradhapura-era "Vahalkada" architectural pediments. Dagobah Mirisavetiya, visible today, was completed in 1993, but during the restoration process it lost all the historical features of the original.

Dagoba Lankarama
(Lankarama Stupa)

Lankarama Stupa (Lankaramaya) is located on the territory ancient city, south of the elephant pond. Dagoba Lankaramaya was built in the 1st century BC. King Walagamba. The diameter of the Lankaram stupa is 14 meters, the diameter of the base is 406 m, and the height of the base is 3 m.

The stupa is surrounded by the remains of 88 stone pillars that supported the roof of the building, which has not been preserved until now. During its history, the stupa has undergone reconstruction; what its shape was was previously unknown. The Dagobah, built at Medirigiriya near Polonnaruwa, is built in the same architectural style as the Lankarama stupa.

Dagoba Lankarama is located 400 meters from the Abhayagiri Monastery, its ancient name is Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya.

The place is so named because after the defeat from the Tamil invaders in 103 BC. The Sinhalese king Walagamba hid from his enemies in a place called "Silasobbha Khandaka". After defeating the Tamil invaders and liberating the country in the same year, regaining the throne, he built the Lankaram stupa at the site.

Dagoba Abhayagiri
(Abhayagiri Stupa)

The stupa was built in the 1st century BC. Sinhala King Valagamba. Abhayagiri Stupa is the second tallest stupa in Sri Lanka.

According to descriptions by the Chinese monk Fa-Hsien in the fifth century, the height of the stupa was 122 meters, its outer surface was decorated with gold, silver and jewelry. Also at this place there was a 6m tall Buddha statue made of green jade. The upper superstructure over the dome, called hatharas kotuwa, has been preserved since ancient times.

According to the chronicles, after King Valagambahu ascended the throne in 104 BC, just seven months later there was a Tamil invasion of ancient Sri Lanka through the port of Mantota. Port after port, city after city, the Tamils ​​seized territory. The Sinhala army was defeated and was forced to quickly retreat; the Tamil king, meanwhile, captured Valagambaha's wife and several relics and took them to India. King Valagambahu was forced to hide in the jungle where the Tamils ​​could not find him.

At this time, a Jain monk lived in the place where the Abhayagiri dagoba stands today. When the king left the territory of Anuradhapura, passing through the gate, a Jain monk named Geri shouted insultingly: “Look how the great Sinhala king runs away!” The king ignored this comment, but when he returned to Anuradhapura, 14 years after defeating the invaders, he did not forget the incident.

The king completely destroyed this hermitage and in its place erected a massive stupa and 12 buildings and offered it to Mahathisa Thero. The stupa was named Abhayagiri, after the two parties to the conflict - the names "Abhaya" (the name of the king) and "Geri" (the Jain monk). Later, Abhayagiri Vihara became the rival of Mahavihara. The monks of Mahavihara Monastery were followers of Theravada Buddhism, and the monks at the same time Abhayagiri followed the principles of Theravada and Mahayana teachings.

Ratna Prasadaya Palace
(Rathna Prasadaya)

The Ratna Prasada/Prasadaya Palace was built in the 2nd century by the Sinhalese king Kanitta Tissa (167 - 186). The name Ratna Prasadaya is translated from Sinhala as “Palace of Jewels”.

The Ratna Prasadaya Palace was once a multi-story building; its size can be judged by the remains of columns that supported the vaults of the building.

In the 8th century, King Mahinda II restored the building to several floors and decorated it with many Buddha statues made of gold. However, all these treasures were looted during the invasion of the South Indian Pandyan Empire during the reign of King Sena I (833-853).

Subsequently, the palace of jewels was restored again by King Sena II (853-887), who returned the treasures to it. The Ratna Prasadaya building was then restored by the Sinhala King Mahinda IV in the 10th century.

The guard stone, designed to protect the treasures of the palace, has survived to this day. It is located at the inner entrance of the building and is one of the best examples of stone carving from the Anuradhapura Kingdom era.

Kuttam Pokuna Pond
(Kuttam Pokuna)

The Kuttam Pokuna ponds are an ancient engineering marvel. The actual builders of the structure are unknown; it is assumed that the ponds were built during the reign of King Aggabodhi I at the turn of the 6th and 7th centuries.

The Kuttam Pokuna ponds were used by the monks of Abhayagiri Monastery for bathing. The walls of the ponds are made of carved granite slabs.

In Sinhala, "Kuttam Pokuna" means "Twin Ponds". The northern pond (small) was built first; over time, a second larger pond was added to it.

Sizes small northern pond Kuttam Pokuna is 28*15.5 meters, depth 4 meters. The dimensions of the southern (large) pond are 40*16 meters, depth 5.5 meters.

The water in the ponds was supplied through an underground water supply and went through four levels of filtration before entering the pond through a pipe stylized as a dragon's head. Next, the water from both ponds was drained into one canal and then used to irrigate the fields.

Samadhi Buddha Statue
(Samadhi Statue)

The statue of Buddha in the state of Samadhi is located in the ancient Mahamevnāwa Park. The Samadhi statue is considered one of the best sculptures from the era of the Anuradhapura kingdom. It is believed that the Samadhi statue was created during the 3rd or 4th century.

The statue of Buddha in the Dhyana mudra meditation pose with crossed legs and open palms placed one on top of the other is made of dolomite marble. Ancient statue has a height of 2.2 meters.

In 1886, this statue was found in the same place where it is currently located, having fallen, its nose was damaged. After this, the statue was reinstalled and the nose was reconstructed.

In 1914, the statue was again damaged by treasure hunters and restored again. The eyes of the statue are currently hollow, indicating that they were previously decorated with crystals or precious stones. It is unknown whether this statue was brought from another monastery or whether it was here originally.

It is believed that if you look at the statue from three different sides, then looking at the right and left sides, its face will express sadness, and if you look at the statue from the right, then its face will smile slightly.

Objects of the ancient city of Anuradhapura

Lake Tissa Veva
(Tissa Wewa)

The ancient man-made reservoir Tissa Wewa was built by the Sinhalese king Devanampyatissa, who ruled the country in the 3rd century BC. The dimensions of the embankment erected to form the ancient reservoir are impressive: the length of the embankment is 3.4 km and the height is 7.5 meters.

The surface area of ​​the Tissa Weva reservoir is 2.2 sq. km. The purpose of creating such a large reservoir, according to the ancient Sinhalese chronicle Mahavamsa, was to feed the gardens and parks located in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, as well as to irrigate the surrounding rice fields during the dry season.

The man-made lake Tissa Veva receives water through ancient building Jaya Ganga is a canal connecting the reservoir and the Kala Veva river. Excess water from the reservoir is released into the Malwathu Oya River.

According to archaeologists, the ancient reservoir of Tissa Weva was built so reliably that even after 1,200 years it can supply water to already modern city Anuradhapura.

Lake Nuwara Wewa
(Nuwara Wewa)

The ancient Nuwara Wewa reservoir is the largest of the three man-made reservoirs of Anuradhapura. Nuwara Wewa translates to "City Lake".

The exact time of construction of the reservoir is unknown. Presumably it was built in the 1st century BC. e. King Vattagamini Abaya.

According to historians, the original structure of the embankment was made of bricks used in the construction of the Abhayagiri dagoba. The embankment was renovated in the 3rd and 5th centuries.

The Nuwara Wewa Reservoir has a surface area of ​​31.8 sq. km and is filled by a dam and canal on the Malwathu Oya River. The dam existed until 1873, when construction of a road bridge across the river began.

The depth of water in the canal connecting the lake and the river is 1.2 meters, the depth of the reservoir is 45 meters at the dam. Currently, the canal is used to drain excess water from Nuwara Wewa back into the river during floods.

Isurumuniya Temple
(Isurumuniya)

The ancient Buddhist temple of Isurumuniya is located on the banks of the Tissa Wewa reservoir. The temple was founded by King Devanampiya Tissa at the end of the 4th century. BC. The temple was previously known as Meghagiri Vihara. The temple is known for its unusual stone carvings, made in different architectural styles, depicting different subjects:

• carving Lovers from Isurumuni Lovers

  The carving was created presumably in the 6th century. in the Gupta style shows a man and a woman sitting on his lap, in one version personifying King Kuvera Vaisrawana and his queen Kuni, in another the god Shiva and his wife Parvati, in the third the scene captures a prince, the son of King Datugemunu, who abandoned the throne to marry a lower-class girl.

• carving Royal Family

  The carving was presumably created in the 8th century, the work was carried out in the Gupta Kala architectural tradition; The image carved on a granite slab includes 5 human figures, in the center of the composition presumably is King Datugamunu.

• carving Elephant Pond

  The carving was supposedly created in the 7th century, made in the Pallavian tradition. The image depicts elephants bathing, but what is remarkable is that the images of elephants correspond to images in stone carvings at Mamallapuram in southern India.

The Isurumuniya Temple is the first place in Sri Lanka where the Buddha's tooth was placed upon his arrival on the island. The stupa near the temple and the Buddha statue located inside it are modern. Some of the caves near the temple used to serve as a refuge for monks, but now many bats live there.

Ransimalakaya Temple
(Ransimalakaya)

Across the road from the bronze Lovamahapaya Palace are the ruins of Ransimalakaya. Between the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree and the huge Ruwanweliseya dagobah is a site of ruins with towering stone pillars.

The site was examined by archaeologists from the Royal Asiatic Society, who discovered the foundations of a building there when they first excavated it in 1895.

The current ruins of the building indicate that it was an open building without walls, and its roof, which has not survived to the present day, was previously supported by 8 rows of 10 granite pillars.

Only a few of these pillars can be observed today. The building can be entered through four entrances located on each side of the building.

According to the Sri Lanka Department of Archaeology, this building was used as a meeting hall by the monks of the Maha Vihara in the Middle Ages. The body of Maha Mahinda Thero was kept in the same building until cremation.

Ruins of the Toluwila complex
(Toluwila Ruins)

The ruins of the Toluwila Buddhist complex are located next to the Anuradhapura railway station, outside the boundaries of the ancient city. The Toluwila complex was supposedly part of Pabbatha Vihara.

The estimated time of construction of the monastery of the Toluwila complex is the period between the 7th and 9th centuries.

According to the chronicles, in Toluville in the 3rd century BC. Mahinda Thero (the man who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka) stayed during his pilgrimage from Chathiya Pabbatha to Maha Vihara.

In the house, the image of Toluwila was discovered and taken to National Museum Sri Lanka, located in Colombo, a statue of Buddha sitting in the Samadhi pose, considered the most elaborate such statue in Sri Lanka.

The Buddha Image House, located on a hill, is surrounded by a large number of remains of outbuildings, made in a unique architectural style, and the Toluwila complex itself is surrounded by a moat.

Ruins of the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Buddha Daladage
(Dalada Maligawa/Daladage)

Northeast of royal palace Vijayabahu ruins are located ancient complex Maha Pali, the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Buddha Dalada Ge and the two Buddha Image Houses with the domed roof of Gedige. All four buildings are located at a distance of 50 meters from each other.

The ruins of the building, known as Daladage, are believed to be the remains of the Temple of the Tooth Relic structure, built by the Sinhala King Mahinda IV in the 10th century after the Sinhalese army was defeated by the South Indian Chola Empire and the northern part of the island came under their control.

The remains of the temple of the tooth of Buddha Daladage stand on a tetrahedral body measuring 60x65 meters. The temple consists of a large building with wide bays on three sides (out of four) and two small auxiliary buildings, which have almost disappeared, to the northwest and northeast of the temple.

The main entrance to the Daladage building is centrally located on the north side of the temple. An inscription above its entrance, made during the reign of Mahinda IV, has allowed archaeologists to identify the purpose of the room.

Elephant Pond at Pokuna
(Eth Pokuna)

Not far from the Lankaramaya stupa there is an ancient irrigation miracle - the huge artificial pond of Et Pokuna. The name of the pond is translated from Sinhala as “Elephant Pond”.

Et Pokuna Pond is the largest pond not only in the territory of Abhayagiri, but also in the territory of the ancient city of Anuradhapura.

The dimensions of the ancient pond at Et Pokuna are quite impressive: its length is 159 meters and its width is 52.7 meters. The Pond at Pokuna is 9.5 meters deep and holds 75,000 cubic meters of water.

The water in this pokuna pond is supplied from the Periyamkulam reservoir through a network of underground canals. Visitors to this day can still see parts of the water supply system that supplies the pond.

The channels supplying water were made by ancient craftsmen from stone blocks. Previously, the pond was used by the monks of the Abhayagiri Monastery for bathing and other daily needs, their number at that time exceeded 5,000 people.

Ruins of the Mahapali complex
(Mahapali Alms Hall)

The Mahapali Hall of Mercy was supposedly built by King Devanampyatissa in the 3rd century BC. and was subsequently expanded by other kings who reigned during the Anuradhapura kingdom.

The ruins of the Mahapali complex are located north of the Vijayabahu I palace and cover an area of ​​0.5 hectares. The massive granite columns that previously supported the roof of the Maha Pali Hall building have survived to this day.

After the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, the island became one of largest centers Buddhism in the world.

Thousands of monks lived in the cities of ancient Sri Lanka, providing them with food was the responsibility of the king, so the Alms hall appeared - a place for monks supplied with food.

One of the main attractions of the place is the deep well that supplied water to the buildings of the Mahapali complex. The walls of the well are built of granite and brick; steps located around the perimeter of the square well allow you to go down to the water.

Gedige Temple
(Gedige)

The temple with the once vaulted dome of Gedige is located on the territory of the Maha Pali complex. The Gedige building (may also be called Gedi Ge) is a brick structure, more or less similar in appearance to the house of the Buddha image.

Gedige is considered the sanctuary of the Mahayana tradition, which preached tantra, because of which they had a conflict with the followers of Theravada, which ended in the complete victory of the latter. The history of construction and the time of creation of this building are unknown.

Gedige and the Buddha Image House of the Maha Pali complex are the only known Image Houses in Anuradhapura made entirely of brick masonry: only the door and window frame were made of granite.

Previously, the building of the House of the Image of Buddha was decorated with a vaulted dome, stone stairs led to the second floor, and a sanctuary was located inside. Gedige covers an area of ​​10 square meters. meters, House of Buddha Image 11 sq. meters.

Mayura Pirivena Training Center
(Mayura Pirivena)

This training center is one of the main training centers belonging to the Maha Viharaya complex during the Anuradhapura kingdom era. The Mayura Pirivena training center was built by King Buddhadasa in the 4th century.

Today, the Mayura Pirivena building is completely destroyed; all that remains of the building is the foundation with several pillars that previously supported the roof.

The Mayura Pirivena training center is believed to be the site of the former Granthakara Pirivena, where the Indian Buddhist monk Buddhagosha Thera composed commentaries on the Theravada sacred texts in the 5th century. While in India and having found a text for which the commentary on the Tripitaka was lost, Buddhaghosa went to Sri Lanka to study the Sinhalese commentary, which at that time was preserved in the Maha Vihara monastery in Anuradhapura. There Buddhaghosa began studying the large volume of commentaries that had been collected and preserved by the monks of the Maha Vihara.

The interpretations presented by Buddhaghosa have generally constituted the orthodox understanding of the Theravada sacred texts since at least the 12th century. Buddhaghosa's works have been recognized by Western scholars and Theravada monks as the most important Theravada commentaries. Buddhaghosa described the center of Mayura Pirivena as "located in beautiful place, well-maintained, cool and with sufficient water supply."

Vessagiriya Monastery
(Vessagiriya)

The ancient forest monastery is located on the territory of the ancient city of Anguradhapura, a couple of hundred meters south of the Isurumuniya temple, on the Anuradhapura-Kurunegala road. The place may also be called Issarasamanarama. The monastery is located among huge stone boulders.

The Buddhist monastery of Vessagiriya was founded in the 3rd century BC. and expanded in the 5th century during the reign of King Kasyapa, up to 500 people lived on its territory.

Currently, only the remains of 23 are observed in this area stone caves. Now the visitor can only see the stones, because... all other structural elements were made of fragile materials and were not preserved.

Inscriptions in the Brahmi language, one of the oldest writing systems, have been found in natural stone shelters that served as shelter for monks. Archaeologists also found the ruins of a building with a round foundation, the purpose of which is unknown; during excavations, 70 rare coins were discovered there. On the territory you can see the remains of buildings of a refectory for monks and several dagobas.

Royal Palace of Vijayabahu I
(Vijayabahu I Royal Palace)

The Royal Palace is located to the southwest, across the road from the Maha Pali complex. The palace was built by the Sinhala king Vijayabahu I (1055 - 1110) in the 11th century during the Anuradhapura kingdom.

In 1070, a Sinhalese king overthrew the South Indian Chola invaders who had ruled the kingdom and, after an 18-year military campaign, unified the country. After defeating the Chola, the Sinhalese king recreated Buddhism, which had been virtually destroyed during Tamil rule, and restored ancient infrastructure and irrigation projects.

During the reign of the king, the capital was the city of Anuradhapura, but, celebrating his consecration as a monarch, the king moved the capital of the country to the city of Polonnaruwa.

It is believed that the royal palace building was used for official celebrations and ceremonies. The width of the building is 39 meters, length 66 meters.

Two massive guard stones at the entrance to the building depict "Sankhanihi" and "Padmanidhi" - servants of the god Kubera. Remnants of ancient plaster can still be seen on the walls of the palace.

Sangamitta Stupa
(Sangamittha Stupa)

The red brick Sangamitta stupa is located 150 meters east of the famous Thuparamaya dagoba. The ancient stupa was presumably named after the daughter of the Indian Emperor Ashoka, named Sangamittha Theri.

The emperor's daughter arrived in Sri Lanka in 249 BC, bringing with her a branch of the original sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree to the island.

The princess made her way to neighboring country along with his brother Mahinda Thero, who is the man who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Arriving on the island, the son and daughter of Emperor Ashoka dedicated their lives to the spread of Buddhist Teachings in the country and are still revered as the founders of Buddhism.

Ancient chronicles mention that the Sinhalese king Uttiya placed the ashes of the arhat Sangamitta Teri in a small dagoba east of the Thuparama stupa. Archaeologists suggest that this was the Sangamitta stupa.

Dakkin Stupa
(Dakkhina Tupa Stupa)

Ruin ancient temple, apparently unfinished, are located south of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple complex and the Mayura Pirivena training center.

The name of the place means "Southern Monastery" in Sinhala and is believed to be the cremation site of several Sinhala kings.

This site was identified as the Dhakkhina stupa by Professor Paranavitana in 1946. According to the ancient chronicles of Sri Lanka, the cremation of the Sinhalese king Datugemunu, who ruled in the 2nd century BC, took place at the site. The Dakkin Stupa was erected.

Initially, after the cremation of the king, the volume of the dagobah was much smaller, but throughout history it was rebuilt several times and over time reached its modern size.

Next to the stupa are stone pillars with exquisite carvings depicting Vaisravana and Kalpawruksha.

Nakha Vihara Temple
(Nakha Vihara)

The Nakha Temple belongs to a unique type of square brick structure, being one of only four such unusual buildings found in Sri Lanka.

The temple building was supposedly built during the Anuradhapura kingdom in the 7th to 10th centuries. and belongs to the Mahayana tradition.

The size of the base of the temple is 9x9 m. The ruins of the House of the Buddha Image were found near the Naka Temple, but the object has not survived to this day.

Excavations carried out by archaeologists in the area of ​​the Naka Temple revealed the presence of several layers of clay plaster, which presumably indicates that the building was active and inhabited for a long time before it was abandoned.

The Nakha Temple is rarely visited by tourists, the most popular of the four is the brick building of Satmahal Prasad in Polonnaruwa, the other two are located in Anuradhapura on the territory of the Abhayagiri Monastery.

Ruins of the Padalanchana Dagobah/Chetiya Power
(Padalanchana Chethiya/Sila Chethiya)

Fifty meters from the famous Tuparama stupa are the ruins of a small ancient dagoba, Padalanchana Chetiya. The place is also called Sila Chethiya, Kujjatissa or Digha Stupa.

The stupa is an archaeological site with features from the late Anuradhapura kingdom, which probably indicates that it was rebuilt or restored.

Sila Chetiya is one of the 16 main places of worship in Sri Lanka called Solosmasthana. Dagobah was built at the beginning of the 2nd century. BC. King Lagnatissa.

According to the Sinhala chronicles Mahavamsa, Dipavamsa and Mahabodhivamsa, the Buddha left his mark on the site of the Padalanchana stupa during his third visit to Sri Lanka.

According to the Mahavamsa it is also believed that this place is one of the four where all the Buddhas (Kakusanndha, Konagamana, Kassapa and Gauthama Buddha) at one time came to the island and left their footprints before leaving it.

Ruins of the Padanagar pavilions
(Padanagara)

The two sites, called the Padanagar pavilions, are located to the west of the Abhayagiri Monastery, away from other ancient structures.

The granite base of the building was erected on a hillock.

The pavilions are located outside the ancient city of Anuradhapura and were used by monks, presumably for meditation and retreats.

The pavilion structure is surrounded by a moat. The building, over the ruins of which rise rows of stone pillars, is devoid of any decorations or ornaments, with the exception of a small number of them at the stone toilet building located to the right of the pavilion.

The first pavilion of Padanagar is smaller in size than the second. Both pavilions are equipped with ancient water supply, with water-carrying channels running under the foundation of the ancient structure, and stone toilets.

Ranmasu Uyana / Magul Uyana Park
(Ranmasu / Magul Uyana)

Even before the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century. BC. parks were a common part of urban planning. The founder of the park, Ranmasu Uyana, is unknown.

It is believed that the park was built as an alternative to the previously existing parks, which were given to the monastic community (Sangha) by King Devanampyatissa with the arrival of Buddhism on the island.

According to an inscription found in the ancient Vessagiriya monastery, water for the park came from the Tissa River and was then distributed to the fields in the area of ​​the Isurumuniya Temple.

There are several small ponds in the park where goldfish used to swim and lotuses bloomed. The stone edging of the ponds is decorated with traditional carvings of bathing elephants.

Ranmasu Uyana Ancient Park is located on an area of ​​16 hectares. The park is an excellent example of ancient Sri Lankan park architecture of the pre-Christian era. The “star gate” Sakwala Chakraya is located on the territory of the park.

Petroglyphs of Sakwala Chakraya
(Sakwala Chakraya)

In Ranmasu Uyana Park, a large boulder depicts an ancient design called the Sakwala Chakraya or Bawa Chakraya.

The creator, purpose and time of creation of the petroglyph are unknown.

One suggestion is that the image represents the oldest map of the world in existence: the cosmographic charts of the universe, or “map of the worlds,” described in ancient Buddhist texts.

According to another theory, Sakvala Chakraya is a kind of star gate, similar to those found in Peru near Lake Titicaca and in the Abu Sir pyramid complex.

The Kingdom of Anuradhapura existed from about 400 BC. before the beginning of the second millennium, however, there is a version that the age of this artifact is at least 5000 years old, and dates back to the reign of King Ravana.

Weather in Anuradhapura

The best time to visit Anuradhapura is from January to September inclusive - at this time the city receives the least amount of rainfall and the weather is favorable for walking tours through the ancient city.

The high season for visiting Anuradhapura is from June to September - the driest time of the year. The rainiest months, the monsoon season in Anuradhapura, are October, November and December under the influence of the northeast monsoon.

Throughout the year, the air temperature in the city is stable and varies slightly with the seasons: night air temperatures fluctuate between +21 C +24 C; Daytime air temperatures range from +29 C to +34 C.

We already went to Anuradhapura by bus as usual. The ride takes 3 hours, the cost of 2 tickets is 300 rupees. And, as usual, we were dropped off not at the station, but somewhere in the city. First of all, we wanted to go to the railway station. Until now, we traveled around Lanka by buses. However, now we decided to use the services of Sri Lankan railways. The fact is that the next destination on our trip was Unawatuna. located almost in the very south of the island. By email, the owner of the villa we booked in Unawatuna asked what time we would arrive. We informed that we were already in Sri Lanka and on the appointed day we would arrive from Anuradhapura in the evening. Having learned that we were planning to travel by bus, the hostess expressed great doubts about the success of our idea.

The Anuradhapura-Colombo-Unawatuna distance is not very long by Russian standards, and, in our opinion, is quite surmountable in daylight. But buses in Lanka are really not in a hurry, and the owner of the house, although she was a New Zealander, had lived here for a long time. There is no direct train connection from here to Unawatuna; you need to go through Colombo. We read that in order to get tickets for 1st or 2nd class (some horror stories were written about 3rd class), you need to buy tickets in advance. That’s why we had to go to the station first. We started looking around, trying to get our bearings. A tukker quickly noticed us and offered to take us to the railway station for 100 rupees. We knew that there were two train stations in Anuradhapura, but we didn’t know which one we needed. 100 rupees (40 rubles) is a small amount and, having specified that we needed a station from which we could go to Colombo, we went. At the station we went to the window with the inscription “1st, 2nd class” and asked for two tickets for the day after tomorrow to Colombo in first class. We were told that there are no first class carriages on any train on this route. And not only for the day we need, but in general. I had to take 2 second class tickets departing the day after tomorrow at 9 am. The cashier took 1,800 rupees from us and gave us a piece of paper perforated along the edges in half A4 format, where the date, time, carriage class and seat numbers C7, C8 were indicated. We checked with the cashier whether this sign actually meant our seat numbers, and received an affirmative answer. Our mood has improved: it means we won’t have to stand in the aisle and fight for seats.

At the exit from the station, an overweight man in a shirt, sarong and sandals on his bare feet approached us. "Taxi, sir?" - he turned to his husband. Taxi?! Are there really taxis here?! Not a tuk-tuk, but a normal car with a trunk and even air conditioning?! Driving a Tuk in any country is not fun for us. Driving in the heat, inhaling exhaust fumes from passing cars, dust, being frozen by the driver’s pirouettes, and then figuring out why the price was higher than agreed upon is not the most pleasant experience. Taking a taxi is always easier and more comfortable. But so far we have not been able to see a taxi in Sri Lanka, except at the airport. Joyful, we threw our things into the trunk and plunged into the air-conditioned coolness of the car interior. Our hotel was located in a strip between urban development and expanses of rice fields. It was even called Heaven Upon Rice Fields - “Heaven over the rice fields.” That’s why I chose it, I liked it based on the description and reviews. Our driver knew the property we had booked. On the way, he asked about our plans. We replied that today we would like to visit Mihintale and would be happy to do it by car. He literally jumped up on the seat and clapped his hands - he was ready to take us. After unloading our suitcases at the hotel and paying 200 rupees, we asked the driver the price of a trip to Mihintale by car. He quoted the price as 2500 rupees. As we knew from the Internet, the trip should have cost no more than 1,500. In the end, we negotiated until 1,700, agreed on the departure time, we wanted to take a shower and have a snack before leaving the road.

A palm squirrel jumped into our room through the open doors of the balcony.

We wanted to treat her, but she turned out to be so frightened that, after running around the curtain rod and curtains for a minute, she quickly jumped out. From the windows there really is a view of the rice fields and Mount Mihintale, where we planned to go today.

1

At the appointed time, a minibus drove into the yard. A completely different person came out and asked if we were going to Mikhintale. We replied that we were indeed going to Mihintale, but had already agreed with another driver. In response, he told us that Abi (the name that the previous driver wrote to us) is his brother, and that he is currently busy. We approached the minibus and saw a guy and a girl inside. In response to our question, the driver said that they were also going to Mihintale. But we didn’t agree that way! We were going to travel on our own, and not in the company of strangers, and we did not want to either adapt to someone ourselves or force someone to adapt to us. We resolutely turned back. The driver trotted behind us, assuring us that we would not interfere with each other at all. Then he said that he would give a discount of up to 1,500 rupees - “only for you.” It was 16 o'clock, the hotel owner said that he could, if necessary, organize a tuk-tuk for us. But a tuk-tuk, not a car. Time was more valuable now, and I didn’t want to waste it looking for another car. We agreed.

The couple in the minibus turned out to be from the Czech Republic. When asked which language they prefer to communicate in - English or Russian - they confidently chose Russian. The guy was from Karlovy Vary (probably the most “Russian” Czech city), understood Russian tolerably and, although choosing his words slowly and carefully, spoke quite well. He said that they had come from Colombo, where they had been for two days, and that Colombo was a boring and uninteresting city with absolutely nothing to do. We shared our impressions.

Now about Mihintal. It is located just 12 kilometers from Anuradhapura. A very atmospheric place, we recommend it as a must see. There have been statements that Mihintale is even more interesting than Anuradhapura itself. It's hard to compare, but we really liked this place. It is famous for the fact that it was from here that Buddhism began to spread across the island; the first Buddhist teacher in Sri Lanka, Mahinda, preached here. The complex includes three hills: Mango Plateau (Ambastala), Royal Hill (Rajagiri), Elephant Mountain (Anaikutti). The climb to Mount Mihintale is quite difficult: the height of the mountain is 305 meters and to get to the top you need to overcome 1840 steps.

But by transport you can drive up to the upper parking area, which will shorten the journey by half, although a couple of, as we read, less interesting sights will remain unexamined. But practically next to the parking lot there are 68 caves, the ruins of Medamaluva, and the Mango Plateau.

After getting out of the car, we parted with our fellow travelers, without agreeing on when we would return to the car. We intended to take our time and examine everything we had planned.

It’s better to go up here early in the morning, before it’s too hot, or after the midday heat, as we did. Be sure to stock up on water and take socks with you (you will have to walk around the entire complex, as always in Lanka, without shoes). We did not try to explore all the ruins here. Apart from the Mango Plateau (tickets for two - 1000 rupees), the rest of the attractions of Mihintale are accessible for free, but are located quite far from each other.

Directly from the upper parking area, a narrow staircase leads to the right to the Kantaka Chetya Stupa (2nd century BC), which is one of the oldest structures in Lanka.

To the southwest of Kantak Chetya are piles of huge boulders, followed by a ridge of 68 caves.

A little higher up the stairs and to the side is Cobra Pond, a natural reservoir filled with rainwater. The edges of the Pond are lined with stones, and an image of a five-headed cobra with an open hood is carved on the rock. According to legend, Mahinda bathed here. But its main value was as a source for the irrigation system of the entire Mihintale complex.

1 of 2

The mango plateau is the place where the main attractions of Mihintale are concentrated. It is a platform in the center of which the Ambasthala Dagoba Stupa is installed; the columns around previously supported the now unpreserved roof of the vata-da-ge (in Sinhala - “round house of relics”)

1 of 4

monkeys feast on lotuses on the altar.

Next to the stupa there is a rounded piece of rough stone embedded in a platform - the place where King Devanampiya Tissa first met Mahinda. The stone is protected by a fence and roof and strewn with money donated by believers.

behind rises the main hill of Mihintale - Aradhana Gala, from which Mahinda read his sermons

1 of 2

you need to climb up the carved steps and then up the iron ladder. From there they open beautiful views

1 of 2

on the left is a statue of Buddha (Buddha Statue), which is of no historical value, but adds appropriate color to the surrounding environment

on the right is the white stupa of Maha Seya (Mahaseya Dagoba) - the largest in Mihintala, its construction belongs to King Mahadathika Mahanaga (early 1st century). According to legend, Buddha's hair is immured in it.

view from the platform next to the stupa

bodhi tree

Sri Lanka's endemic birds feast on candle wicks without any reverence

pond with fish and turtles

1

Mahindu Stupa (Mihindu Seya) (on the map), where the ashes of Mahindu himself are kept.

If you follow the path between Ambastala Stupa and Aradhana Gala, you can go to Mahinda's Cave, where he lived and meditated. There you can see the so-called Mahinda bed - a flat rock slab.

Mihintale is imbued with some kind of goodness and peace. Is this somehow connected with Buddhism (in the middle between the stupas there is a small functioning temple) or is it simply natural place strength - I don’t know. But from the visit I was left with a feeling of mental strength and health. We were very pleased with our visit.

It took us about two hours to leisurely explore everything, but again, we did not explore the numerous ruins below the parking area. In general, we are of the opinion that you should not get too tired and make extra efforts when sightseeing. A museum or an archaeological complex - after 3 hours fatigue and dullness of perception sets in, and then the effect and impressions are not at all the same. It's always better to have too little than too much, in my opinion.

When we returned to the minibus, it turned out that the Czechs were already there. Their bored look said that they had obviously been waiting for us for more than five minutes. It turned out to be half an hour. We were a little uncomfortable, but we couldn’t refuse to watch everything we wanted in a way that was comfortable for us... This is the result of a joint trip of different people. True, then the guy, apologizing, asked us to allow the driver to first take them to where they could buy beer, and only then to the hotel. We gladly agreed, compensating them for their waiting time.

We had dinner booked at our hotel, because judging by the reviews, it’s better not to take risks and eat at your hotel. Moreover, it cost 600 rupees per person, everything was very tasty (curry with another variety of sauces). In general, we really liked the hotel and the owners (a young family). I have a review on my booking account

In the evening, we asked the hotel owner to call our friend Abi and order a car for us to explore Anuradhapura. The objects are located far from each other, and the best way to explore the complex, especially in the heat, is by transport.

In the morning, at the appointed time, a minibus drove into the courtyard of our hotel - again different - not the same as yesterday. The driver was different. Young guy. From a conversation with him, it turned out that he had come for us, and Abi was his uncle. In general, a family clan. This time there were no fellow travelers, we could comfortably inspect everything that was interesting to us, each time cooling off in the saving air-conditioned atmosphere of the car after the next object under the scorching sun.

We had a printout of the Anuradhapura tourist attractions map. At the beginning of the trip, we considered the Abhayagiri monastery complex as an object to visit (one ticket costs 30 dollars). But they have already decided to refrain from examining it for now, or, in any case, to leave it for last. The driver, when asked whether it was worth going to Abhayagiri, shrugged his shoulders doubtfully and said that “Abhayagiri is not very important.” In addition, the following opinion was found on the Internet: “Many tourists refuse to buy a ticket at all, go around the sights on their own, without entering the territory of Abhayagiri, visiting only free ones. Paid and free dagobas are generally monotonous, and you will most likely get bored after the third or fourth.”

Anuradhapura is the first ancient capital of the Sinhalese kingdom. Main tourist sites in the city these are stupas. Some of them are simply gigantic. One of them is brick Jetavana. It is really just huge, visible from afar. It is the tallest dagoba in the world, built of brick (originally 122 m, 3rd century). Buddha's belt is supposedly walled inside.

The remaining stupas are also quite interesting and completely free. I especially liked it Ruwanwelisia. The most revered of all other stupas, because it contains the most relics.

1 of 6

The stupa is located on a platform decorated with bas-reliefs of more than a hundred elephants (elephants participated in the construction of the dagobah).

Around the stupa there are: a sanctuary with 5 Buddha statues and frescoes,

4 mini-dagobas, a dagobah model in a glass cube and a sculpture of King Dutugemunu.

The height of the stupa is 92 m, diameter 90. Almost nothing remains of the original appearance. We even saw regular restoration work, in which both monks and the local population participated.

Thuparama Stupa(Thuparama Dagoba) is the very first stupa in Sri Lanka, dedicated to the emergence of Buddhism.

1 of 7

Buddha's collarbone is walled up in the Stupa, and there are remains of destroyed buildings of the old city around.

The most revered city in Sri Lanka, without a doubt, is Anuradhapura. Although many of its places of worship are now in ruins, a huge part of the region's religious and historical heritage has been preserved. Anuradhapura is an ideal tourist destination for tourists in love with history, for those who want to get to know the culture of this miniature country.

Ancient Anuradhapura is full of charm and mystery. Its attractions will allow you to plunge into the mystical past of Sri Lanka and even take some unique photographs there.

Not far from the Abhayagiri complex, tourists will find the ruins of the old Ratna Prasada monastery, built in the 2nd century by order of King Kanitta Tissa for the monks of the Abhayagiri order. He had gigantic size, as evidenced by the powerful, richly decorated columns that can still be seen today. In the 8th century, the temple was reconstructed: several floors were added and a golden statue of Buddha was installed.

One of the centers of Sinhala civilization, the Jetavana Pagoda has a diameter of 113 meters and reaches a height 75 meters. At one time it was the tallest Buddhist building in South Asia. 93 million bricks were used for its construction. Today, next to the pagoda there is a museum where you can learn the history of the attraction and display an interesting collection of Buddhist statues.

One of the most colorful structures of Anuradhapura, the Ruwanvelisseya Pagoda is located next to ethnographic museum. An interesting wall that surrounds the pagoda is decorated with images of hundreds of elephants. Seriously damaged by wars and natural disasters, the landmark today is only 55 meters high and is surrounded by a garden replete with ruins.

Location: Abhayawewa Road.

An interesting tourist attraction in Anuradhapura is the Isurumuniya Monastery, which attracts attention with its stone sculptures that personify Prince Saliya and his beloved, a representative of the Asokamala caste.

Legend has it that the prince gave up his crown to marry her. Situated on the top of a cliff, the monastery is full of Buddhist relics brought from India in the early 4th century. At the entrance to the temple there is beautiful lake, decorated with impressive elephant statues.

Situated in a picturesque location on the Tissa Wewa River, Mirisavetiya is a pagoda of impressive proportions. Like all pagodas in Sri Lanka, it has its own legend, which says that King Dutugemunu, who decided to take a bath in the river, threw off his scepter and his royal insignia. After bathing, he wanted to pick up the scepter, which contained the relics of Buddha, but was unable to. To protect them, the king ordered the construction of a pagoda.

Location: Old Puttalam Road.

An attraction that is very popular in Anuradhapura is the Thuparama Pagoda, built by King Dawaman Pusa. It is considered to be the oldest in Sri Lanka, dating back to the 3rd century. Tuparama is located north of the Ruwanwelisseya Pagoda and has a diameter of 18 meters.

Location: Thuparama Mawatha.

The Abhayagiri monastery complex is the largest in Anuradhapura. Its main building, the Abhayagiri Pagoda, is 108 meters. The complex of monastery buildings covers an area of ​​200 hectares and includes several Buddhist temples. The main attraction of the complex is the statue of Samadhi, which is considered one of the most beautiful images Buddha.

Built during the reign of King Vijayanahu in the 12th century from wood, stone and clay soil, the palace covered an area of ​​about 2.5 square kilometers. Its southern wing was given over to a pagoda (Maligawa), where the relics of Buddha were kept. The wood used in the construction has not stood the test of time, but the stone part of the building can still be seen.

Once a magnificent structure covered with a bronze roof, Lohopasada Palace was built over 2,000 years ago for King Dutugemenu in the 13th century. Today you can see the ruins of 1,600 columns that supported the building. They say that the grandiose medieval building had 9 floors and could accommodate up to 1000 people at a time.

Money Museum

At the Anuradhapura Money Museum you can get acquainted with the history of Sri Lanka, starting from ancient times, in an accessible form. Many of its exhibits are recognized as the oldest in the world. Founded in 1982, the museum is divided into 4 exhibitions:

• Ancient period.
• Medieval period.
• Colonial period.
• Period of independence.

The oldest coins date back to the 3rd century and are made of silver. The museum also exhibits gold coins, as well as foreign ones that appeared here with the beginning of the development of trade.

Location: Stage 1, New Town.

The Sri Maha Bodhi Temple is home to what Buddhists believe is the oldest tree on Terra, planted in 249 BC. According to Buddhist belief, Gautami Buddha attained enlightenment in front of a sacred tree at Buddhagaya, in India, and the Sri Maha Bothi tree is a branch of the southern branch of this tree. A trip to Anuradhapura would not be complete without visiting this sacred place for all Buddhists.

Tiny Mihintale is considered the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was here in the 3rd century BC. The first Buddhist monastery appeared and Mahinda's missionary work began - in honor of him, Mount Mihintale is also called Mount Mahinda.

Over time, the monastery grew in size and influence, and until the 13th century it was the third largest monastic complex in Sri Lanka. Stupas have been built here for centuries (there were more than 60 of them), and some were quite large.

Nowadays, Mihintale is rightly considered sacred and is visited by pilgrims. This is a working temple: a calm and majestic place, numerous stupas and other ancient buildings are discreetly, but perfectly integrated into the landscape. One of the oldest stupas contains the remains of Mahinda, and there is also a large Buddha statue on the mountain.

Coordinates: 8.35027500,80.51811200

Bo tree

The Bo tree (or ficus sacred) is one of the oldest trees in the world. It is difficult to imagine its age - 23 centuries. The centuries-old giant grew from a sapling taken from a tree in Nepal's Budha Goya, under which Buddha gained enlightenment. For this reason, of course, the tree is a kind of shrine for all followers of Buddhism.

The scion was brought from Nepal to the island in the 3rd century BC by the nun Sangamitta, daughter of the Indian emperor Ashoka, and found its place in royal park Anuradhapura.

It would seem that such an old tree should be very large. But the sacred Bo itself is small; its venerable old age is supported by special supports. But the nearby protective tree is impressively huge.

As befits a shrine, the Bo tree, surrounded by a golden fence, is carefully guarded. You can't just approach him like that. But after passing through the protective cordons, you can stand in awe near the tree and, if you’re lucky, pick up a fallen leaf as a souvenir of the pilgrimage.

Coordinates: 8.34433100,80.39734800

What attractions of Anuradhapura did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Jetavanarama stupa

"Jetavanarama" is a unique monastic complex created by King Mahasena in 276-303. At the dawn of the monastery, about 3,000 monks were located on its territory, which occupied an area of ​​48 hectares. On the central platform of the complex is the Jetavana Stupa, which rises 120 m and is the tallest brick structure ever built by man. In the 4th century AD, during the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Jetavanarama stupa was the third largest structure in the world, second only to the pyramids of Khafre and Cheops at Giza. The structure has massive brickwork that extends to a depth of 14 meters, so that the weight of the monument rests entirely on the bedrock.

Another unique thing about the stupa is that it is a perfect circle and contains particles of the physical remains of the Buddha. The place where the structure stands was known in ancient times as the Nandana Gardens. It was here that Arahat Mahinda preached a sermon to 7,000 people for 7 days. The Jetavanarama Stupa was built over the footprint of Buddha, and 93,300,000 bricks were used for its construction.

Coordinates: 8.35176200,80.40372100

The Museum of Money at the Central Bank with its collections can compete with historical museum, because it was in the coins of their kingdoms that the history of Sri Lanka was reflected. Here you can trace all stages of the country’s development from colonial times, when the territory was under the rule of first Portugal, and then Holland and Britain, to the present day. The exhibits in the collections of the Money Museum are recognized as the oldest in the region.

The museum was created in April 1982 to house the country's complete numismatic collection. But over time, the exhibits became more and more numerous, they covered wider time periods and the collection was divided into four thematic exhibitions: “Ancient Period”, “Medieval Period”, “Colonial Period” and “Period of Independence since the establishment of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka "

In the first two you can find the oldest coins that were in circulation in Sri Lanka. They were called Kahapana and date back to the 3rd century BC. They were the most various shapes and were made mainly of silver. Kahavanu gold coins appeared on the island only four centuries later. The first foreign coins appeared with the development of navigation and trade. Many coins of Greek, Indo-Greek, Roman, Chinese and Arabic origin have been found in Sri Lanka.

Coordinates: 6.93427600,79.84226900

Kutam Pokuna Twin Pools

Kutam Pokuna pools (twin pools) are ancient pools of the Ancient world, representing enormous hydrological, engineering, architectural and artistic value. The pools were intended for bathing Buddhist monks.

The pools were built in the 8th century in the kingdom of Andradhapura. In fact, the pools are not twins, because the first reaches a length of 28 meters, and the second - 40 meters.

The pools are carved from granite slabs that cover the bottom and walls. There are also stepped walls in the form of shelves leading to them, on which the monks placed pots for ablution and other objects when bathing.

The pools are distinguished by a unique water purification system: before entering the pool, water passes through a series of depressions next to the structure, and all dirt settles at the bottom. The pools are connected to each other using a pipeline.

Coordinates: 8.37110200,80.40159700

Abhayagiri Stupa

The Anuradhapura Stupa is the second tallest building in the ancient world, built in the 1st century BC by King Vatta Gamini Abhaya. The height of the stupa exceeds 112 meters.

In front of the entrance to the stupa there are two stone statues, which are considered to be the guardians of the god Kuvera. The name of the stupa consists of two names - the name of King Abhay and the name of Jain, known as Giri. The stupa houses an interesting library of the Ancient World, which even foreign scholars interested in studying Buddhism tend to visit.

The stupa is believed to be decorated with gold, silver and precious stones.

A monastery of the same name was built next to the stupa, which was once home to 5,000 monks. They worshiped an image of Buddha made of green jade.

Coordinates: 8.37101700,80.39550300

The most popular attractions in Anuradhapura with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places to visit famous places of Anuradhapura on our website.

 

It might be useful to read:

• How to get on an excursion to Antarctica?;
• Czech Republic Troy Castle. Troja Castle in Prague. Ancient winery and museum;
• Böcklin and his “island of the dead” A cultural phenomenon of its time;
• Air tickets to Crimea Air tickets to Crimea will become cheaper;
• What you can and cannot take with you;
• Open left menu Heviz How to get from Budapest to Lake Heviz;
• Cable car in Nha Trang (Vinpearl) The longest cable car in the world Vietnam;
• Kamenets-Podolsk fortress - a historical monument of Ukraine Life outside the walls of the Kamenets-Podolsk fortress;