All Historical Places in Anuradhapura District

Avukana Buddha Statue is a great masterpiece of sculpture which explain the competence of artist in ancient Sri Lanka. It is an over 40 feet high Buddha statue carved out of a great granite rock face built during the reign of King Dhatusena (455 – 473 AD). It is located in the vicinity of Kala Wewa in Anuradhapura district of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. In this is statue the Lord Buddha is depicted in Asisa Mudra which is a pose of blessing. Originally this statue had been placed inside an Image house and now you can see only the crumbling brick walls of it. Click here to find a list of accommodations around Kekirawa, Sri Lanka on Booking.com

Vijithapura Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple worshiped by Buddhist all around the country. The temple is located closer to the Kala Wewa in Anuradhapura district of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. You can access this temple through Kekirawa – Galewela road and only about 10km away from the Kekirawa temple. According to the historical sources (like Mahavamsa, Deepavamsa, Tupavamsa, and Saddharmalankaraya), the history of the Vijithapura area goes back to the reign of King Vijaya (543–505 BCE). The beginning of the Vijithapura Rajamaha Viharaya is not clearly identified. However, according to the legends, the history of the temple goes back to the reign of the King Dutugemunu (161 BC to 137 BC). The invader King Elara who conquered the Anuradhapura Kingdom during the 2nd century BC has established a strong fort at Vijithapura. Because of that, the Vijithapura battle between King Dutugemunu and invader king Elara was a decisive and major battle. And it is one of the most discussed battles in the history of Sri Lanka. However, King Dutugemunu has won that battle after a great effort. After winning the war, the King Dutugemunu has constructed a stupa at this location to commemorate the Vijithapura battle. Later the Vijithapura Rajamaha Viharaya was built around this stupa. And the temple has been rehabilitated later by a number of kings. During the adverse period started after the reign of King Parakramabau the great (Polonnaruwa kingdom) has been left behind like other places. And again this temple was renovated in the latter part of 19th century. You can see a stone believed to be a stone used to sharpen the sword, ancient guardstones,  and a small ancient stupa as historical evidence at this sacred place. Click here to find a list of accommodations around Kekirawa, Sri Lanka on Booking.com External Links 01. මැරුණත් සැපයි පස්‌ පාගා විජිත පුරේ

Eth Pokuna or Elephant Pond is a huge man made ancient pond located in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura District in North Central Province. It is 52.7 m in width and 159 m in length. The depth of the pond is about 9.5 m. Supplying of water to the pond has been done by underground channels from the Periyakulam Tank. This water supplying channels are still in working condition even after hundred of years. The pond is surrounded by number of ruins belongs to the Abhayagiri Monastery. Therefore this pond also may be built for the use of monks belongs to this monastery.

Sandakada Pahana (or Moonstone) is a semi-circular stone  slab usually seen at the bottom of staircases of ancient religious places as well as some ancient royal palaces in Sri Lanka. It is a unique creation of ancient Sinhalese architectures. The Moonstone located in the Mahasena’s Palace is the finest and best preserved Moonstone found in Sri Lanka. This palace is located in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. Sandakada Pahana (the Moonstone) at Mahasena’s Palace interpretation According to historians, the symbols and their arrangement represents a great religious meaning. The widely accepted interpretation was introduced by Prof. Senarath Paranavithana. According to his interpretation, The moonstone symbolizes the cycle of Saṃsāra. The liyavel symbolize worldly desires (Taṇhā) The lotus depicts the final achievement of Nirvana. The elephant, bull, lion and horse depict birth, decay, disease and death. The swans symbolize the distinction between good and bad. The moonstone found belongs to Polonnarwa period has removed the symbol of bull. During that period the Sri Lankan culture was heavily influenced by South Indian customs and traditions due to number of invasions. The bull is considered as venerated animal in Hinduism. As such historians believes that the removal of bull from moonstone in Polonnaruwa period occurred due to this influenced. External Links The Significance and Symbolical Aspect of Moonstone

“Kuttam Pokuna” or “Twin Ponds” is a unique creation of ancient architecture and considered as one of the significant achievement in hydrological engineering in ancient Sri Lanka. The pond is located in Sacred City of Anuradhapura in North Central Province, Sri Lanka.  As the name suggests, there are two ponds in this creation. It has been identified that these ponds were used to collect water for the Abhayagiri Vihara monks to bath. The two ponds are not identical and also one seems to be older than the other. The width of the ponds are same and it is 51 feet. The bigger pond is 132 feet long and the other is 91 feet long. There are a number of staircases to get down to the ponds and one pond have two staircases while the other one having three staircases. The beginning of staircases is decorated with the “Punkalas” or pots (the symbol of prosperity in ancient buildings) increasing the aesthetic beauty of this creation. There are evidence that the water in the ponds has been supplied using underground pipes and after going through a number of filters. The water first enters the northern pond through another special design called “Makara Kata” (mouth of a dragon). Then the water flows from to the other via a duct at the ground level. The water from both ponds is drained out from a small outlet located at the bottom of the small pond. Many creations including this, suggest us that there would have been an advance irrigation technology existed during the Anuradhapura kingdom.

Isurumuniya is a Buddhist temple located in Anuradhapura District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The history of this temple dates back to reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (307 BC to 267 BC). Later this has been renovated by the King Kasyapa I (473-491 AD). Isurumuniya is most famous for stone carvings, especially the “Isurumuni Lovers” carving. In addition to that there are many other stone carvings can be seen in this temple. Isurumuni Lovers Stone carvings and sculptures

Ritigala is a mountain range located in Anuradhapura District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The mountain contains ruins of ancient Buddhist monastery. The history of the monastery is date back to 1st century BC.   Ritigala

Ranmasu uyana is pleasure garden of the ancient royals of Sri Lanka. It is located in between Thissa Wewa and Isurumuniya temple in Anuradhapura district of North Central Province. The garden is spreaded over 40 acres. This is a good example of ancient Sri Lankan garden architecture. Establishment of this “Ran Masu Uyana” has been carried out to full fill the essential necessity of a royal park and this was built on the right side of the Maha Vihara premises. Inscription of Vessagiriya, established by King Mihindu IV in the 10th century A.D., has identified this as the “Ranmasu Uyana”. Meaning of the name explains that it was a habitat of gold fish and was built by King Devanam Piya Tissa in the 3rd century B.C. Vessagiriya slab inscription of King Mihindu IV, reveals many details of the unique constructional techniques if the “Ranmasu Uyana”, which is considered to be a marvel of the ancient water management in Sri Lanka. According to the epigraphic disclosure, water through the main sluice gate is first taken to the gold fish park (“Ranmasu Uyana”) and then it was diverted to the play house (“Kadali Gruha”) and then to the garden pond and the water lily pond. Finally it was released to the paddy fields in the surrounding area of the Isurumuniya Viharaya. Highly advanced building construction technology has been adopted in maintaining the natural beauty of the surrounding by joining the rocky out crops with ston slabs and the construction of lovely ponds and bathing spots and other essential components needed for a park. This park has been in the extent of over 40 acres of land and this has been covered by the jungle when it was discovered by Mr. H.C.P. Bell in the year 1901 and the renovation work has been completed in 1940. This is declared a protected archaeological site. Ranmasu Uyana History ~Department of Archaeology~ Ranmasu Uyana – Stargate Ranmasu Uyana Ranmasu Uyana Ranmasu Uyana    

The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa in Anuradhapura District in North Central Province of Sri Lanka, considered a marvel for its architectural qualities and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world. This is one of the Solosmasthana and Atamasthana. This was built by King Dutugemunu in 140 B.C. The stupa is also known as Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Swarnamali Chaitya, Rathnamali Dagaba and Mahathupa.

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Bo-Tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura District, North Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is said to be the southern branch of the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi was brought to Sri Lanka by the Theri Sangamitta, daughter of Emperor Asoka and was planted in the Mahamewna Gardens in Anuradhapura in 288 BC by King Devanampiyatissa. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. Today it is one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world. External Links Srimahabodhi.org Oldest sacred symbol – Sunday Times Solosmasthana – Wikipedia Sacred City of Anuradhapura – UNESCO Atamasthana – Wikipedia List of oldest trees – Wikipedia