🕌 Sacred City of Anuradhapura
Sri Lanka's ancient Buddhist capital and the mystery of the Sakwala Chakraaya
📋 Fast Facts
- Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 under criteria (ii), (iii) and (vi)
- Served as the political and religious capital of the Sinhalese kingdom for over 1,000 years
- Built around the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred fig tree planted in the 3rd century BCE from a cutting of the Buddha's enlightenment tree
- Contains major stupas including Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya and Abhayagiriya, along with monastic complexes and ancient hydraulic systems
Situated in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura stands as one of the oldest continuously inhabited ...