About 205 km
north of Colombo is Anuradhapura, the first
capital of Sri Lanka established in the 4th
century BC that remained the Royal Capital
for over ten centuries. Several magnificent
dagobas, buildings, monasteries, ponds,
irrigation tanks spanning one thousand five
hundred years bear testimony to a glorious and
technically advanced civilization. Ruvanveli,
Jetavana, and Abhayagiri are huge dagobas that
stand majestically having withstood the
battering of elements for over fifteen
centuries.
Foremost among
the numerous historical monuments in
Anuradhapura is the Sacred Bo Tree - Sri Maha
Bodhi, grown from a branch of the Bodhi tree
under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.
A mass of stone pillars close to the Sri Maha
Bodhi identified as the Brazen Palace was once
a nine storied building. Isurumuniya is famous
for its beautiful stone carvings. Samadhi
Buddha image is a masterpiece of sculpture.
Among the extensive ruins covering the city of
Anuradhapura are Buddha images, temples,
palaces, bathing ponds, monasteries,
hospitals, alms halls and beautiful stone
carvings and irrigation tanks.
Thuparama
Thuparama is the
first dagoba to be built in Anuradhapura during
the reign of King Devanmpiyatissa (3rd century BC)
enshrining the right collarbone of the Buddha, His
alms bowl and other relics. The original dagoba,
which was much smaller in size, was renovated and
rebuilt several times and the last restoration had
been in 1862 in it its present form. The
concentric rows of stone columns around the dagoba
had at one time held a wooden roof in position
over it.
Ruvanveli Dagoba
built by King Dutugemunu who ruled the country in
the 2nd century BC is a huge dagoba measuring 103
metres in height with a circumference of 287
metres. The dagoba was in a state of disrepair
when discovered in the early 20th century and was
restored in its present form according to earlier
dimensions.
Jetavana dagoba is
an enormous brick structure standing in the centre
of a large monastic complex, built in the 3rd
century AD by King Mahasena. The dagoba stands on
a square platform measuring 3.2 hectares in extent
and is rated as the largest and tallest brick
built monument in the world. In its original form
it would have been 120 metres high, shorter than
only two Pyramids of Egypt. It has been declared a
World Heritage Site. The super structure of the
dagoba is currently being restored under the
UNESCO Cultural Project.
This colossal dagoba
is the centrepiece of a monastic complex founded
by King Valagamba in the 1st century BC that
subsequently developed into an international
institution attracting scholars from many
countries. The Chinese monk Fa-hien came here in
the 5th century in search of Buddhist manuscripts
and spent two years. In its original form the
dagoba was 115 metres high but now it is only 75
metres high with a circumference of 667 metres. It
was at the Abhayagiri complex that the sacred
Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka was
first housed.
The right branch of
the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) in Buddha Gaya in
India under which the Buddha attained
enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd
century BC by Arahat Theri Sanghamitta, the
daughter of Emperor Asoka. It was planted in
Anuradhapura and is venerated to this day by the
Buddhists from many countries of the world. This
is the oldest recorded tree in the world of which
the exact age is known.
The Loha Pasada or
the Brazen Palace was founded in the 2nd century
BC as a chapter house. In its original glory it
had been nine stories high with a roof of copper
tiles, hence the name Brazen Palace. The original
building was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and
renovated several times by different kings. What
now remains is a mass of 1,600 stone pillars
standing close to each other.
This picturesque
rock temple dates back to the 3rd century BC. The
beautiful stone sculptures seen at the temple are
considered the most beautiful works of art in
Anuradhapura. The Isurumuniya Lovers, bathing
elephants in bas-relief, man seated in relaxed
form are yet unidentified but beautiful to look
at. A small dagoba on top of the rock and a pond
at the base add beauty to the place.
‘Samadhi’ means in
deep meditation. This serene image of the Buddha
in the meditation posture is the work of an
anonymous master-sculptor of the Anuradhapura
period who has breathed life into a solid rock.
The former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
was so enthralled by this image that he is said to
have kept a photograph of the statue in his prison
cell from which he drew inspiration while serving
a prison sentence during the British Raj.
Thirteen kilometers
from Anuradhapura is Mihintale, the site of
introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the year
247 BC. The King of Sri Lanka having embraced
Buddhism established the world's first fauna and
flora sanctuary at Mihintale in the 3rd century
BC. Monasteries, an ancient hospital, dagobas,
ponds, caves in which Buddhist monks lived are
among the many places of interest that the visitor
should see.
The huge granite
statue of the Buddha at Awkana, 51 km. southeast
of Anuradhapura, hewn out of solid rock in the
standing posture on a lotus pedestal is the work
of an unknown sculptor during the reign of King
Dhatusena in the 5th century AD. It stands 12
metres tall and remains undamaged sans probably
the plastering that would have covered the statue.
The flawless unbroken pleats of the robe, the
perfectly erect posture and the indentation at the
waist bear testimony to the skills of the sculptor
who executed this masterpiece of rock carving.
Kuttam Pokuna: Kuttam Pokuna or the Twin
Ponds are two breathtakingly beautiful bathing
ponds aligned lengthwise exemplifying the artistic
achievements in the field of hydraulic engineering
in ancient Sri Lanka. These date back to around 8
- 10th centuries AD.
Elephant Pond: The Elephant Pond so named
because of its gigantic size is equal in area to
six modern Olympic swimming pools joined together.
The pond may have been built to store water for
the large congregation of Buddhist monks at the
monastic complex of Abhayagiri.
Vessagiri: Remains of Vessagiri monastery
founded during the rein of King Devanampiyatissa
(3rd century BC) are seen near the Isurumuni
temple. It is an interesting example of landscaped
architecture with natural caves converted into
residential quarters for Buddhist monks.
Guard Stone: Guard stones are vertical
stone slabs with the figure of a celestial being
carved in semi relief erected at the entrance to
religious buildings. The best example of a Guard
Stone is seen at the Abhayagiri complex.
Moon Stone: Moonstones are half-moon
shaped stone slabs with beautiful stone carvings
of animals and creepers in semi-circular rows
placed at the bottom of the flight of steps
leading to an image house. It is seen at its best
once again at the Abhayagiri complex.
Tissa Wewa: A large man made irrigation
tank built in the 3rd century BC by King
Devanampiyatissa covering an area of 210 hectares
and fed from another giant tank at Kalawewa 90 km.
away via a channel.
