Anuradhapura

Located in the north-west of the island, Anuradhapura was the capital of Sri Lanka for 1,400 years. It is silghtly more than 200 kilometres from colombo and a drive of 6 hours. Anuradhapura gained much greater prominence with the advent of Buddhism on the island, after which many significant buildings and monasteries were constructed.

The three greatest monasteries of Sri Lanka, the mahavihara, the Abhayagiri and the Jetavana, were all located in Anuradhapura. Visitors will see mainly the ruins of these monasteries and other structures associated with them. All the other buildings have long since disappeared.

Due to its vulnerability to attaces from South Indian raiders, Anuradhapura gradually lost its importance by the 9th century, and the political seat of the island shifted south-east to Polonnaruwa. It was abandoned by the 11th century and swallowed by the jungle, lost for almost a thousand years. The city and its important ruins were rediscovered only in the early 19th century with the help of the British.

Ruvanvalisaya

Simply known also as the Great Stupa, the Ruvanvalisaya was constructed by Duttagamini after he became king in 161 BCE. This was his most ambitious project and it is said that one of the architects designed the dome to resemble a bubble of milk. Sadly, the king did not live to see the completion of the stupa.

When it was finally completed, it was one of the wonders of the ancient world, with a diameter of 90 metres at the base and a height of 91 metres. The compound of the stupa is surrounded by four walls with elephant figures made into them. It is believed that relics of the Buddha are enshrined within the stupa.

The Ruvanvalisaya was also designed with the teachings of the Buddha in mind. Its domesignifies the vestness of the doctrine, the four facets above it represent the Four Noble Truths, the concentric indicate the Noble Eightfold Path, and the larg crystal at the pinnacle represents the ultimate Buddhist goal of enlightenment.

Sri Maha Bodhi 

When a number of women wanted to become nuns shortly after the conversion of king Devanampiya Tissa and the royal family, Sanghamitta, the sister of Ven. Mahinda came to the island to start the Order of bhikkhunis. She brought with her a branch of the sacred Bodhi Tree from India, under which the Buddha meditated and attained enlightenment.
This branch was planted in 288 BCE in Sri Maha Bodhi, or the Mahabodhi Temple, and the tree is believed to be the oldest living planted tree in the world. It is one of the most sacred and venerated relics in Sri Lanka.

The Brazen Palace

The Brazen Palace, or Lovamahapaya, was first built by king Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BCE. It was latter redesigned as a capter house, or sima hall, by king Duttagamani for the Mahavihara. One side of the building was 120 meters long and it had a thousands rooms in its nine stories.

It is called the Brazen Palace because its roof was once covered with sheets of gilt bronze. Made primarily of wood, it burned down several times and was rebuilt for the last time by king Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. A totle of 1600 stone pillars supported the structure, most of which can still be seen today.

The Thuparama 

This was the first such stupa constructed following the introduction of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Built by king Devanampiya Tissa, it belived to enshrine the coller-bone of the Buddhi. The stupa was destroyed several times and although originally constructed in the shape of a heap of rice, it was rebuilt in 1862 in the shape of a bell. The octagonal pillars around the Thuparama once supported a dome over it.