Lankaramaya in Anuradhapura Kingdom (අනුරාධපුර රාජධානියේ ලංකාරාමය)
The Lankaramaya stupa was built on the 1st century BC by King Vattagamini Abaya (Walagamba). The ancient name of this temple is “Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya”
Kingdom of Anuradhapura
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Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds) of Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර කූට්ටම් පොකුණ)
Kuttam Pokuna or the twin ponds are another hydrologic engineering marvels of the ancient Sri Lanka. These two ponds belong to the Abayagiri aramic complex and probably been used by the monks for bathing. The origins of these ponds are not known but it is thought to have been built during the reign of King Aggabodhi I (575-608).
Eth Pokuna / Elephant Pond (ඇත් පොකුණ)
The gigantic man-made pond, Eth Pokuna is situated close to Lankaramaya. This is 159 meters in length 52.7 meters across and 9.5 meters in-depth with the holding capacity of 85,000 cubic meters of water.
Sri Maha Bodhi :The sacred Bo-Tree of Buddhist World (ශ්‍රී මහා බෝධිය)
After bringing Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Mahinda Thero in 250 BC king Tissa received the Sri Maha Bodhi tree sapling and planted it at the present site in 249 BC making this tree 2272 year old (as in 2022).
Ruins of Kiribath Vehera of Ancient Anuradhapura
Kiribath Vehera is situated in the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura between the Vijayarama Ruins and the stone bridge over the Malwathu Oya. The remains of this dilapidated stupa partially restored by the archaeology department and rarely visited by the pilgrim is 30 feet in height and the circumference is 425 feet.
Dalada-Ge Ruins at Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර දළදාගේ නටබුන්)
The ruins of the building known as Daladage is believed to be the Temple of Tooth built after the defeat of Colas by king Mahinda IV (956-972 AC) who was the last great builder in the Anuradhapura era.
Gedi-Ge Ruins at Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර ගෙඩිගේ නටබුන්)
To the north east of royal palace of of king Vijayabahu I, lies Gedige, between some other ruins rarely visited by pilgrims. Although the history of this structure is not known, the building has been built entirely from bricks, a rarity in Anuradhapura.
Sangamiththa Stupa of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර සංඝමිත්තා ස්ථුපය)
About one hundred thirty meters to the east of Thuparama Dagoba lies a small stupa identified as the Sangamiththa Stupa. It is said in ancient chronicles that the king Uttiya enshrined the ashes of Arhath Sangamitta Theri to the east of the Thuparama stupa. Archaeologists believe that this is the stupa mentioned in the chronicles.
Mayura Pirivena of Anuradhapura Kingdom (අනුරාධපුර මහා විහාරීය මයුර පිරිවෙණ)
Mayura Pirivena in Anuradhapura is one of the primary learning centers belonging to the Maha Viharaya Aramic Complex during the Anuradhapura era. This Pirivena has been built by king Buddhadasa (340-368) according to ancient records.
Padhanaghara of Western Monastery “F” in Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර පධානඝරය F)
Padanagara are built on a unique architectural style with a moat surrounding them. Quite often these structures were built as twin structures on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the moat.
Padhanaghara of Western Monastery I of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර පධානඝරය I)
Padhanaghara are built on a unique architectural style with a moat surrounding them. Quite often these structures were built as twin structures on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the moat.
Padalanchana Chethiya of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර පාදලාඤ්ජන චේතිය)
According the Great Chronicle Mahavamsa, Buddha has placed his foot print at the site of Padalanchana Chethiya rising to the air to return to India after his 3rd visit to Sri Lanka.
Ransimalakaya at Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර රන්සිමාලකය නටබුන්)
According the brief description on the board by the Department of Archaeology, this building has been used as the meeting hall of the bikkhus of the Maha Viharaya. The body of the Maha Mahinda Thero has been kept here before cremation.
Toluvila Ruins at Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර තොලුවිල පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
It has been identified Toluvila as the place where the Great Mahinda Thero took shelter on their way from Chethiya Pabbatha to Maha Viharaya in the 3rd century BC. The Toluvila monastery belongs to the late Anuradhapura period (7-9th centuries).
Nakha Vehera of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර නඛා වෙහෙර)
Nakha Vehera (Naka Vehera) is one of the 4 square stupas found in Sri Lanka. Lying in the sacred city of Anuradhapura built in the 9-10th centuries, this site is rarely visited by the pilgrims.
Mahapali Alms Hall of Anuradhapura Kingdom (අනුරාධපුර මහාපාලි දාන ශාලාව)
Massive granite pillars where the massive Mahapali Alms Hall stood and a rice trough made of granite lies within these ruins covering over 1/4 acres. One of the main attractions is the deep well which would have supplied water to the alms hall.
Vijayarama Aramic Complex at Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර විජයාරාම පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
Vijayarama is an ancient buddhist monastery lying on the outskirts of Anuradhapura close to the ancient stone bridge (Gal Palama). The complex spans 23 acres which has been declared as an archaeological site.
Tissa Wewa Reservoir in Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර තිසා වැව)
Tissa Wewa was built by King Devanampiya Tissa.(250-210 BC). The embankment of Tissa Wewa is 11,000 feet long (Two miles) and 25 feet high.Tissa Wewa has an area of approximately 550 acres.
Basawakkulama Wewa (Abaya Wewa) – First Reservoir to be in the recorded history of Sri Lanka (බසවක්කුලම වැව)
Basawakkulama Wewa First Reservoir to be in the recorded history of Sri Lanka today carries 174 hectares of water at the surface even after 2500 years, the tank still continue to supply water to Anuradhapura.
Thuruwila Wewa in Anuradhapura (තුරුවිල වැව)
Thuruwila (Turuwila) is an ancient reservoir in (Wewa) Anuradhapura district built by King Mahanaga un the third century B.C. This can be considered as the forth Wewa (reservoir) to be built in Sri Lanka.