In Sri Lanka, the Anuradhapura kingdom was the second major kingdom, and it was ruled by Sinhalese people. It was named after its capital city. This kingdom began in 437 BC and lasted for a long time. It faced many attacks from south India. King Dutthagamani, Valagamba, and Dhatusena defeated the attackers and reunited the country. Other kings, like Sena II, even fought back and won battles in South India.
The Anuradhapura Kingdom was famous for farming. Especially in dry areas, they built big lakes and canals to grow food. This made the country very self-sufficient. King Vasabha and Mahasena brought forward these water systems and made a huge network of canals and lakes.
The people of Anuradhapura were also great artists. They made statues of Buddha and built temples like Ruwanwelisaya. So, the Anuradhapura Kingdom was a time of great progress in both farming and art.
Isurumuniya Temple
This temple is famous for its beautiful carvings and “Isurumuniya Lovers.” It is a Buddhist temple near Tissa Wewa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. In this vihara, there are four carvings: Isurumiya Lovers, Elephant Pond, Horseman, and the Royal Family. These are the special interests. It was built as a monastery to accommodate 500 monks in Anuradhapura. Later, it was renovated by King Kasyapa.
Do you know the story about the “Isuruminiya Lovers”?
Isurumuniya Lovers
The place where Prince Salia met his future wife in the royal pleasure garden and also the place where the famous “Isuruminiya Lovers” carving was found. Some say it is the love story of Prince Salya and Ashokamala, and some believe it’s the Hindu gods Shiva and Parvathi.
Twin Ponds
One of the best-preserved old baths in Sri Lanka is the Kuttam Pokuna. This was built by the Sinhalese in the ancient Anuradhapura kingdom. These two ponds have been used by monks for bathing, and these two ponds belong to the Abhayagiri Aramaic complex.
Mihintale
People believe that this is where a Buddhist monk named Mahinda first taught Buddhism to the king. It was long ago, but now it is a holy place with old buildings and monuments. A large number of people visit to pray.
Wilpattu National Park
It is special because it is a big and old park in Sri Lanka. You can see lots of natural lakes filled up with rainwater called “willus.” This park is home to many animals, including leopards. Now only a few parts are open for people to visit because of the war; it was closed for a long time; in 2003 it was open again. The best time to visit Wilpattu Park is between February and October.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
In Anuradhapura, there is a very old and special tree called the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. The tree was cut from the original tree in India, where the Buddha was enlightened. Over 2,300 years ago, a Buddhist nun named Sangamitta brought a cutting of the sacred Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka. It is the oldest tree that was planted by humans. To show respect and honor Buddha, people come from all over the world to visit this tree and known planting dates and recorded history.
Ruwanwelisaya
It is shaped like a big, round dome structure called a stupa. Ruwanwelisaya is a very important Buddhist place in Sri Lanka. It was built by King Dutugemunu a long time ago. Inside the temple, there is the largest collection of Buddha’s relics in the whole world. This temple holds a special place in Buddhist hearts.
A very long time ago, the stupa was hidden in the jungle. Many people helped, and a monk worked hard for this and collected money to fix it. A wealthy man named Hendrick Appuhamy gave a huge amount of money and helped to build this stupa.
A special group was formed to take care of the repairs, called “The Ruwanweli Seya Restoration Society.” They finally finished in 1940 and completed more perfectly in 2019.
The beautiful stupa looks amazing today, because of the hard work of the people.
And many more historic places are waiting for you. It will take you back to ancient life.
Everyone should know the history of our country. It teaches good lessons. The legends’ lives show us that history is the light of a soul. So, visit Anuradhapura, which is filled with lots of mysterious secrets. Enjoy the historical vacation with the Anuradhapura Holidays.
