Anuradhapura Sacred City

Established in the 4th century BC, Anuradhapura served as the inaugural capital of the island, standing as the royal seat for 119 successive Singhalese Kings and enduring for approximately 1,500 years, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Asia. Anuradhapura holds a distinct place as the cradle of the Hydraulic Sinhalese civilization and Theravada Buddhism. Today, it is a renowned World Heritage Site and a major Buddhist pilgrimage site, adorned with the ruins of ancient Buddhist temples. Among these, the Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya and the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi stand out, the latter being the oldest documented, still-living tree globally. This sacred Bodhi tree is believed to have originated as a branch of the revered fig tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India, beneath which the Buddha attained enlightenment.