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.

The Lankaramaya Stupa is one of the Eight Sacred places known as “Atamasthana”. The stupa was built during the 1st century B.C. by King Walagamba (89 B.C. – 77 B.C.). It is located in Anuradhapura District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. According to chronicales, this place was also known by names Silasobbakandaka and Galhebakada.  Initially, this stupa was known as Somarama Stupa in commemoration of Queen Soma who saved the life of the king. There are three rows of stone pillars can be seen around the stupa and it is evidence that there had been a house built encircling the stupa (called “Vatadage” in Sinhala) to protect it.

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

Abhayagiri Stupa is the second highest stupa in the country and it is located in Anuradhapura District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is one also of the Eight Sacred places known as “Atamasthana”. The stupa was built by King Valagamba was also known as Vattagamani Abhaya and Valagambahu in 1st century BC. According to legends, the king has built this stupa to commemorate some incident happened while he escaping from one fight with Tamil invaders.  According to this legend, a Jain monk called Giri has shouted at the king saying “the great black Sinhalese is fleeing”  while he was passing at this location during his escape. However, the king Valagamba regained the throne by defeating the invaders after fourteen years and build this giant stupa at the same location. The name Abhayagiri has formed by combining the two names “Abhaya” (name of the king) and “Giri” (the name of the Jain monk). Abhayagiri Stupa External Links Abhayagiriya: The conservation of an archaeological edifice King Walagamba

Samadhi Buddha Statue is a sitting Buddha’s statue and it is considered as one of the best sculpture created during the Anuradhapura era. It is located in Anuradhapura district of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The statue with the height of 7 feet and 3 inches has made with dolomite marble. In this statue, the Buddha is depicted in the position of the Dhyana Mudra, the posture of meditation associated with his first Enlightenment. Some scholars say Samadhi statue belongs to 3rd century BC and others say it belongs to 2nd or 3rd century AD.   External Links Iconographic Feature of the Buddha’s Image in Sri Lanka

“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.

Thuparamaya is considered to be the first Stupa built in Anuradhapura, after the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. It is also one of the “Atamasthana” (8 most sacred places of Buddhist in Sri Lanka). The stupa was built during the reign of King Devanampiyathissa (307 BC to 267 BC). It is believed that the stupa enshrine the right collarbone Relic of the Lord Buddha. Thuparamaya

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.