Sangamiththa Stupa of Ancient Anuradhapura

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(6 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

About 130 meters to the east of Thuparama Dagoba stands a small stupa identified as the Sanghamitta Stupa.

Theri Sanghamitta (also spelled Sanghamiththa or Sanghamittha) was the daughter of Emperor Asoka of India. She arrived in Sri Lanka in 249 BCE, bringing with her the southern branch of the original Sri Maha Bodhi from India—a sacred gift that would forever shape the island’s Buddhist heritage.

Together with her brother, the great Mahinda Thero, Sanghamitta Theri devoted her life to spreading and strengthening the Buddha’s teachings in Sri Lanka. According to the Mahavamsa, she lived to the age of 59, passing away at the Hatthalhaka Nunnery in the ninth year of King Uttiya’s reign. King Uttiya, the brother of King Devanampiyatissa, accorded her the same honors given to Mahinda Thero upon his death. Her body was laid in state for a week and cremated near Cittasala, east of Thuparama, within sight of the sacred Bodhi tree on land she herself had chosen. On this very spot, King Uttiya built a stupa enshrining her ashes. Archaeologists today believe that the stupa now known as the Sanghamitta Stupa is indeed the one described in the chronicles.

When the ruins of Thuparama were first studied, British archaeologists in the late 19th century mistakenly identified the Padalanchana Chethiya as the stupa built over Sanghamitta Theri’s remains. This confusion stemmed from the descriptions in the Mahavamsa, which only noted its location as being east of Thuparama and visible from the Bodhi tree. Modern archaeological research has since resolved the matter, and the true Sanghamitta Stupa has been identified about 130 meters east of Thuparama Dagoba.

However H.E. Weerasooriya in his 1939 publication states, “On the east of the dagaba is the so-called Sanghamitta Thupa, very probably the real Sela Cheitiya Dagaba. According to the Mahavamsa the Theri was cremated on the spot between the Thuparama and the bo tree which was one of the eight original shoots of the sacred Bo tree. The ashes were collected and a daqaba built on the spot where she was cremated. Thus, this spot must be on the west of the Thuparama. No sign of it now remains.”

Important Information for Foreign Tourists Visiting Sites at Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Most of the more popular sites in Anuradhapura strictly check for tickets from tourists, while the less-visited sites tend to be more relaxed due to the lack of staff. However, tourists should be cautious, as some unscrupulous tuk-tuk drivers may attempt to exploit this situation.

They sometimes offer to take foreign tourists along routes where ticket checks are less common or even try to collect the entrance fee themselves, claiming they will purchase the tickets on the tourists’ behalf. Tourists are strongly advised not to fall for such scams, as this can lead to unnecessary complications with site security or the police.

Information on the Anuradhapura Cultural Heritage Ticket and where and how to purchase can be found here

References

Mahanama, Geiger, W., & Bode, M. H. (1912). The Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger. For the Pali Text Society by Henry Frowde.
Seneviratna, A., (1994). Ancient Anuradhapura. 1st ed. Colombo: Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka.
H.E. Weerasooriya, (1939). Historical guide to Anuradhapura’s ruins. Colombo: W.E. Bastian.
Smither, J. and Wikramagamage, C., 1993. Architectural Remains, Anurádhapura, Ceylon; comprising the dágabas and certain other ancient ruined structures. Measured, drawn and described by J.G. Smither. 2nd ed. (revised) Colombo: Academy of Sri Lankan Culture, pp.1-18.

Also See

Anuradhapura – The city of the God Kings
Solosmasthana – The Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites Hallowed by Buddha
Atamasthana – The Eight Sacred Sites in Anuradhapura

Map of Sangamiththa Stupa

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Driving Directions to Anuradhapura (Sangamiththa Stupa)

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Bus

Anuradhapura can be conveniently reached by bus, train, or private transport. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses operate from the Colombo Fort Main Bus Station. In addition, luxury buses departing from various locations in Colombo travel via Anuradhapura to Vavuniya and Jaffna; these require advance online booking and generally operate overnight, arriving at their final destinations early in the morning.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Train

Five daily trains operate from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Anuradhapura. Typically, the first train departs at 9.40 a.m. and the last at 8.30 p.m. The journey takes approximately four to five hours, depending on the number of stops made by the particular service.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Car or Van

Anuradhapura can be accessed from Colombo via several routes, with the two primary corridors running through Puttalam and Kurunegala. The Puttalam route passes the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main approaches: the more commonly used route via Dambulla and an alternative route via Galgamuwa. Among all options, the Kurunegala–Dambulla route (Route 2) is the most frequently used.

Route 01 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route 02 from Colombo to Anuradhapura
Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.
Route 03 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route from Kandy to Anuradhapura
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Narammala – Wariyapola – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance from Colombo: 203 km Travel Time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 136 km Travel Time: 3.5 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps