Sri Maha Bodhi (The Sacred Bo-Tree)

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Entrance to the Bo Tree Enclosure as in 1896 from The ruined cities of Ceylon by Henry W. Cave

Stand before the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura—the world’s oldest living tree with a recorded history of over 2,300 years. Grown from a sapling of the original Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment, this is one of the two most sacred sites of the Buddhist world.

The Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, revered as the only living sapling of the original Bodhi tree in India under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment, is one of the two most sacred pilgrimage sites for Buddhists across the world. The other is also found in Sri Lanka—the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, which enshrines the Buddha’s left canine tooth, preserved after his cremation.

After the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Mahinda Thero in 307 BCE, Emperor Asoka in India sent his daughter Theri Sanghamitta to the island with a branch of the Sacred Bodhi obtained from the main stem of the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, under which Buddha attained enlightenment. King Devanampiyatissa received this sapling and planted it at the present site in Mahameghavana Garden in 306 BCE. Taking this information into account today (in 2026), the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree is exactly 2332 years old. Thus, this tree is considered the oldest living tree in the world in recorded history.

According to the Mahavamsa, on the Buddha’s 3rd visit to the island, he finally went to Anuradhapura, where the Meghawana would be established, and alighted on the spot where the Sacred Bo Tree would be planted later and enjoyed the bliss of Samadhi meditation with his 500 disciples. Thus, this site lies in the 9th position of Solosmasthana, the sixteen Buddhist sacred sites hallowed by Buddha, and is also one of Atamasthana, one of the eight most sacred holy sites of Anuradhapura.

In 1860, Tennent writes;

“But that which renders the fallen city illustrious even in ruins, is the possession of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodin-Wahanse, “the Victorious, Illustrious, Supreme Lord, the Sacred Bo-Tree,” the planting of which forms the grandest episode in the sacred annals of Ceylon. The Bo-tree of Anarajapoora is, in all probability, the oldest historical tree in the world. It was planted 288 years before Christ, and hence it is now 2147 years old. Ages varying from one to five thousand years have been assigned to the baobabs of Senegal, the eucalyptus of Tas-mania, the dragon-tree of Orotava, the Wellingtonia of California, and the chestnut of Mount Etna. But all these estimates are matters of conjecture, and such calculations, however ingenious, must be purely inferential ; whereas the age of the Bo-tree is matter of record^ its conservancy has been an object of solicitude to successive dynasties. and the Story of its Vicissitudes has been presented in a series of continuous chronicles amongst the most authentic that live been handed down by mankind.

Compared with it the Oak of Ellerslie is but a sapling; and the Conqueror’s Oak in Windsor Forest, barely numbers half its years. The yew-trees of Fountains Abbey are believed to have flourished there twelve hundred years ago; the olives in the Garden of Gethsemane were full grown when the Saracens were expelled from Jerusalem; and the cypress of Soma, in Lombardy, is said to have been a tree in the time of Julius Caesar; yet, the Bo-tree is older than the oldest of these by a century, and would almost seem to verify the prophecy pronounced when it was planted, that it would “flourish and be green forever.”

Even after Anuradhapura was deserted as the capital of the country and encroached upon by the jungle, pious people nevertheless tended to the tree willingly. The villagers lit bonfires to frighten off wild elephants. As time went on, the villagers made it a habit to collect firewood for the whole year on one single day. This possession was called “Daramiti Perahara” (Firewood Procession), which continues up to this day.”

There are special guards who look after the Bodhi Tree. This again is an age-old custom continued to date by people who live in the neighborhood whose ancestors have received the land for their services. This may be probably one of the oldest surviving religious professions in the world.

Attack in 1929

The Bodhi tree was subjected to a vandalized act by a madman who tried to cut down the tree in 1929. He did manage to cut off a branch of the tree.

LTTE Terrorists’ Massacre of Devotees in 1985

Then again in 1985, this holy ground faced a ruthless attack by the Tamil terrorists (LTTE) who stormed into the premises, brutally massacring 229 innocent civilians, including 17 monks, 21 nuns, 52 children, 41 women and 98 men, while 385 got wounded.

Today you can see this 2260+ year-old tree, which is supported by a few brass pillars and accompanied by 41 “parivara” (companion) trees.

Ticket Prices / Entrance Fees to Sri Maha Bodhi for Tourists

The Anuradhapura Cultural Heritage Ticket does not include entry to certain sites within the sacred city. These places require a separate, inexpensive ticket that must be purchased at the entrance of each site. Tickets can be bought independently of the heritage ticket, and payments are only accepted in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR) in cash.

Locals do not need to purchase any tickets.

Sites in Anuradhapura that require a separate ticket		Price per Head
Sri Maha Bodhi (All foreign including SAARC —all above 6 years of age)	counter opened from 6 AM to 9 PM	LKR 200
Isurumuniya (All foreign including SAARC —all above 10 years of age)	counter opened from 7 AM to 8 PM	LKR 500

Photos before restorations from www.imagesofceylon.com

References

B.W. Harischandra, 1908. The Sacred City of Anuradhapura. With Forty-six Illustrations. 1st ed. Colombo: Brahmachari Walisingha Harischandra.
Seneviratna, A., 1994. Ancient Anuradhapura. 1st ed. Colombo: Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka.
Tennent, J., 1860. Ceylon : Volume II (An account of the Island Physical, Historical, Topographical with Notices of Its Natural History, Antiquities and Products. 1st ed. London: Longman, Green, Longman and Roberts, pp.613-614.

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 Sri Maha Bodhi

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Driving Directions to Sri Maha Bodhi (Anuradhapura)

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