Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura es una ciudad en el distrito de Anuradhapura de la provincia centro-norte de Sri Lanka. Esta ciudad sagrada se estableció alrededor de un corte del «árbol de la iluminación», la higuera de Buda, traído allí en el siglo III a. C. por Sanghamitta, la fundadora de una orden de monjas budistas. Anuradhapura, una capital política y religiosa de Ceilán que floreció durante 1300 años, fue abandonada tras una invasión en 993. Escondido en una densa selva durante muchos años, el espléndido sitio, con sus palacios, monasterios y monumentos, ahora es accesible una vez más.

Acerca del distrito de Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura pertenece a la provincia centro-norte de Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura es una de las antiguas capitales de Sri Lanka, famosa por sus ruinas bien conservadas de la antigua civilización lankesa. La ciudad, ahora declarada Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO, se encuentra a 205 km al norte de la actual capital, Colombo, en Sri Lanka.

En la ciudad sagrada de Anuradhapura y en sus alrededores hay una gran cantidad de ruinas. Las ruinas constan de tres clases de edificios: dagobas, edificios monásticos y pokuna (estanques). La ciudad tenía algunos de los sistemas de riego más complejos del mundo antiguo. Situada en la zona seca del país, la administración construyó muchos tanques para regar la tierra. La mayoría de los civiles son cingaleses, mientras que los tamiles y los moros de Sri Lanka viven en el distrito.

Lugares especiales en Anuradhapura:

  • Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred bo tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.

    Sri Maha Bodhiya 
  • The Ruwanweli Maha Seya, also known as the Mahathupa (the Great Thupa) is a stupa (a hemispherical structure containing relics) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Two quarts or one Dona of the Buddha's relics are enshrined in the stupa, making it the largest collection of his relics anywhere. It was built by Sinhalese King Dutugemunu in c. 140 B.C., who became king of Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elāra (Ellalan) was defeated.

    Ruwanweliseya 
  • Thuparamaya is the first Buddhist temple that was constructed, after the arrival of mahinda thero(mahindagamanaya) in Sri Lanka. Located in the sacred area of Mahamewna park, the Thuparamaya Stupa is the earliest Dagoba to be constructed in the island, dating back to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (247-207 BC). The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.

    Thuparamaya 
  • Lovamahapaya is a building situated between Ruwanweliseya and Sri Mahabodiya in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is also known as the Brazen Palace or Lohaprasadaya because the roof was covered with bronze tiles. In ancient times, the building included the refectory and the uposathagara (Uposatha house).

    Lovamahapaya 
  • Abhayagiri Vihāra was a major monastery site of Mahayana, Theravada and Vajrayana Buddhism that was situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most extensive ruins in the world and one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage cities in the nation.

    Abhayagiri Dagoba 
  • The Jetavanarama stupa or Jetavanaramaya is a stupa, or Buddhist reliquary monument, located in the ruins of Jetavana monastery in the UNESCO world heritage city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. At 122 metres (400 ft), it was the world's tallest stupa, and the third tallest structure in the world when it was built by King Mahasena of Anuradhapura (273–301).

    Jetavanaramaya 
  • The Mirisaweti Stupa is a memorial building, a stupa, situated in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. King Dutugamunu (161 BC to 137 BC) built the Mirisaveti Stupa after defeating King Elara. After placing the Buddha relics in the sceptre, he had gone to Tissa Wewa for a bath leaving the sceptre.

    Mirisaveti Stupa 
  • Lankarama is a stupa built by King Valagamba, in an ancient place at Galhebakada in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Nothing is known about the ancient form of the stupa, and later this was renovated. The ruins show that there are rows of stone pillars and it is no doubt that there has been a house built encircling the stupa (vatadage) to cover it.

    Lankarama 
  • Isurumuniya is a Buddhist temple situated near to the Tissa Wewa (Tisa tank) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. There are four carvings of special interest in this Vihara. They are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family. The ancient Meghagiri Vihara or Meygiri Vihara is presently identified as the Isurumuni Vihara.

    Isurumuniya