Anuradhapura
The first great capital of the island, and its political and religious centre for well over a thousand years, from roughly the…
Gazetteer
Places
The reservoirs, stupas, temples and ancient cities that the rest of this archive describes.
- All types
- Stupas & Dagobas 5
- Temples & Shrines 7
- Tanks & Irrigation 4
- Monuments & Carving 4
- Ancient Cities 3
- Landscape 1
Ruwanwelisaya
Built under King Dutugemunu in the second century BCE and among the most venerated stupas in the Theravada world. The dome stands…
Jetavanaramaya
Raised under King Mahasena in the third century CE, and when complete one of the tallest brick structures ever built anywhere…
Thuparamaya
Traditionally held to be the first stupa built on the island, raised by King Devanampiya Tissa in the third century BCE shortly…
Abhayagiri
The centre of a monastic complex that at its height rivalled the Mahavihara and housed several thousand monks. Abhayagiri was…
Samadhi Statue
A seated Buddha in the dhyana mudra, carved from dolomite marble and generally dated to the third or fourth century CE. It is…
Isurumuniya
A rock temple of the third century BCE, best known for the carved panel called the Isurumuniya Lovers. The identity of the two…
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
A sacred fig grown from a cutting of the tree at Bodh Gaya under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, brought to the island…
Sandakada Pahana
The semicircular carved threshold stone placed at the foot of stairways into shrines — the moonstone, one of the most distinctive…
Tissa Wewa
One of the earliest reservoirs of the Anuradhapura system, attributed to King Devanampiya Tissa in the third century BCE and…
Sigiriya
A royal citadel built on and around a granite inselberg rising about 180 metres from the plain, constructed under King Kashyapa…
Dambulla Cave Temple
Five caves under a rock overhang, in continuous religious use since the first century BCE and containing the largest surviving…
Mihintale
The hill where, by tradition, the monk Mahinda met King Devanampiya Tissa in the third century BCE and introduced Buddhism to the…
Kala Wewa
Built under King Dhatusena in the fifth century CE, and fed Anuradhapura through the Yoda Ela — a canal running roughly 87…
Minneriya Wewa
Built under King Mahasena in the third century CE, and still irrigating land today. As the tank recedes in the dry season it…