Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
******** NOTICE ********
We have moved to a new Home. Please Click Here or type www.amazinglanka.com at the address bar to access the most up-to-date information.

Home > Heritage > Anuradhapura

The Ancient City of Anuradhapura

[ about ] [ Map ] [ Sites ] [ Kings ]
The city of Anuradhapura is situated 205 kms away from Colombo in the north central province of Sri Lanka on Malwathu Oya. Founded in the 6th century BC, it was the capital of the Sri Lanka from 4th century BC to beginning of 11th century AD. Today this ancient capital of Sri Lanka has become sacred to the whole Buddhist world , with its surrounding monasteries covering a area of 40 sq kilometres and one of the worlds major archaeological sites.

According to Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of the Sinhalese, the city of Anuradhapura was named after a Minister called Anuradha who founded this area as a village settlement. He was one of the ministers who accompanied king Vijaya from India, who according to the tradition founded the Sinhalese Race in Sri Lanka.

It was king Pandukabhaya who made it his capital in the 4th Century BC. It was during the period of his grandson king Devanampiyatissa that the Buddhism was brought to Sri Lanka by Arhath Mahinda Thero, the son of Emperor Asoka in India. This was 236 years (middle of 3rd century BC) after passing a way of Load Buddha. From this point onwards a great civilization developed based on one of the greatest religions of South East Asia, Buddhism.

Routes to Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura can be reached through many routes from Colombo. The two main routes are through Puttlam (Puttalama) and though Kurunegala. Traveling from Puttlam you will pass scenic Wilpattu area. the From Kurunegala there are two main routes to Anuradhapura. The most common route is through Dambulla. The other route is though Galgamuwa. Out of all the routes, the commonly used is the Kurunegala - Dambulla route.
Distances from Colombo to Anuradhapura through Puttlam
From Colombo To Wattala  
08
      Negambo  
35
      Chillaw  
80
      Puttlam  
132
      Kala Oya  
171
      Nochchiyagama  
183
      Anuradhapura  
206
           
Distances from Colombo to Anuradhapura through Kurunegala - Dambulla
From Colombo To Miriswattha  
25
      Warakapola  
56
      Ambepussa  
58
      Allauwa  
67
      Polgahawela  
74
      Kurunegala  
93
      Malsiripura  
119
      Dambulla  
150
      Kakirawa  
169
      Maradankadawala  
177
      Anuradhapura  
209
           
Distances from Colombo to Anuradhapura through Kurunegala - Galgamuwa
From Colombo To Kurunegala  
93
      Variyapola  
113
      Padeniya  
118
      Galgamuwa  
158
      Rajanganaya  
172
      Thambuthegama  
177
      Thalawa  
188
      Anuradhapura  
201

Places of Interest

  1. Abayagiri Stupa
  2. Asokaramaya (Pankuliya Buddha Statue)
  3. Dhakkhina Stupa
  4. Eth Pokuna
  5. Galpalama (Stone bridges)
  6. Isurumuniya Vihara (Originally Meghagiri Vihara)
  7. Jethavana Viharaya ( Jethavana Temple)
  8. Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds)
  9. Lankaramaya
  10. Lovamahapaya (The Great Copper Roofed Mansion)
  11. Mihinthale
  12. Mirisavatiya Dagaba
  13. Pancavasa (Biso Maligaya) with the Moonstone
  14. Ranmasu Uyana ( Goldfish Park)
  15. Rathna Prasada (Jewel Palace)
  16. Ruwanvali Seya
  17. Samadhi Statue
  18. Sri Maha Bodhi (The sacred Bo-Tree)
  19. Tapovana Monastery
  20. The Royal palace of King Vijayabahu I
  21. Thuparama
  22. Vessagiriya (originally Issara Samanarama or Isurumuniya)

  1. Sandakada Pahana - Moonstone
  2. Korawakgala - Balustrades of Bhuddhist Buildings
  3. Mura Gala ( Guard Stone)

Atamasthana

Other Historical Sites around Anuradhapura

  1. Awkana Buddha Statue
  2. Ras Vehera (Sesuruwa)
  3. Hatthikucchi
  4. Namal Uyana
  5. Sigiriya Rock Fortress
  6. Mihinthale

 

A chronological list of Sri Lankan kings who ruled from Anuradhapura [For a full list click here]

Vijaya  
Upatissa  
Panduvasdeva  
Abhaya  
Pandukabhaya  
Mutasiva Son of pandukabhaya
   
Devamnampiyatissa Son of mutasiva
250-210 BC
Uttiya Brother of Devamnampiyatissa
Mahasiva  
Suratissa  
Sena and Guttgaka  
Asela  
Elara  
Dutugamunu  
161-131 BC
Saddhatissa Brother of Dutugamunu
137-119 BC
Thulatthana Second son of Saddhatissa
119 BC
Lanjatissa Elder son of Saddhatissa who ousted  Thulatthana
119-109 BC
Khallata Naga  
103 BC
Vattagamini Abaya Youngest son of Saddhatissa
103 BC
Pulahatta South Indian Tamil Invaders
from 103 BC
Bahiya South Indian Tamil Invaders
Panayamara South Indian Tamil Invaders
Pilayamara South Indian Tamil Invaders
Dathika South Indian Tamil Invaders
upto -89 BC
Vattagamini Abaya (restored) Defeated the South Indian Tamil Invaders
89-77 BC
Mahaculi Mahathissa  
76-62 BC
Coranaga A rebel who was poisoned by his queen Anula. 
62-50 BC
Tissa Son of Mahaculi Mahathissa also poisoned by Anula.
50-47 BC
Siva  
Vatuka  
Darubhatika Tissa  
Niliya  
Anula (Queen)  
47-42 BC
Kutakanna Tissa  
41-19 BC
Bhatika Abhaya Son of Kutakanna Tissa
19 BC-9 AC
Mahadathika Mahanaga Son of Kutakanna Tissa
9-21 AC
Amanda-Gamini Abhaya  
22-31
Kanirajanu Tissa  
31-34
Gulabhaya  
34-35
Seevali (Queen)  
35
Ilanaga  
35-44
Candamukha Siva  
44-52
Yasalalaka Tissa  
52-59
Sabha  
59-65
Vasabha  
65-109
Vankanasika Tissa Son of Vasabha
109-112
Vajabahu I Son of Vankanasika Tissa
112-134
Bhathika Tissa  
140-164
Kavanthissa  
164-192
Kanittha Tissa Youngest brother of Bhathika Tissa
192-194
Kunkanaga  
194-195
Sirinaga I  
195-214
Voharika Tissa  
214-236
Abhayanaga  
236-244
Sirinaga II  
244-246
Vijaya-Kumara  
246-247
Samghatissa I  
247-251
Sirisamghabodhi  
251-253
Gothabhaya  
253-266
Jettatissa I  
266-276
Mahasena Son of Gothabhaya
276-303
Sirimeghavanna Son of Mahasena
303-311
Jettasissa II  
331-340
Buddhadasa  
340-368
Upatissa I  
368-410
Mahanama  
410-432
Chattagahaha Janthu  
432
Mittasena  
432-433
Pandu  
433-438
Parinda  
438-441
Khudda Parinda  
441-456
Tiritara  
456
Dathiya  
456-459
Pithiya  
459
Dhathusena A monk who gave up the robe to fight the tamil invaders after king Mahanama
459-477
Kassapa I Son of Dhathusena. Killed his father for the throne and built the rock fortress at Sigiriya.
477-495
Moggallana Step brother and the rightful owner to the throne. Defeated Kassapa to gain the throne. Kassapa committed suicide. 
495-512
Kumara-Dhatusena Son of Moggallana
512-520
Kittisena  
520-521
Siva  
521
Upatissa II  
521-522
Silakala  
522-535
Dathapabhuti  
535
Moggallana II  
535-555
Kittisirimegha  
555-573
Mahanaga  
573-575
Aggabodhi I Nephew of Mahanaga
575-608
Aggabodhi II Nephew of Aggabodhi I
608-618
Samghatissa II  
618
Moggallana III  
618-623
Silameghavanna  
623-632
Aggaboghi III, Sirisangabodhi  
632
Jettatissa III  
632
Aggabodhi III (restored)  
632-643
Dathopatissa I  
643-650
Kassapa II  
650-659
Dappua I  
659
Hatthadatha II  
659-667
Aggabodhi IV  
667-683
Datta  
683-684
Hetthadatha II  
684
Manavamma  
684-718
Aggabodhi V  
718-724
Kassapa III  
724-730
Mahinda I  
730-733
Aggabodhi VI  
733-772
Aggabodhi VII  
772-777
Mahinda II  
777-797
Udaya I Son of Mahinda II. Also known as Dappula II
797-801
Mahinda III  
801-804
Aggabodhi VIII  
804-815
Dappula II  
815-831
Aggabodhi IX  
831-833
Sena I  
833-853
Sena II Nephew of Sena I
853-887
Udaya II  
887-898
Kassapa IV Son of Sena II
898-914
Kassapa V  
914-923
Dappula III  
923-924
Dappula IV  
924-935
Udaya III  
935-938
Sena III  
938-946
Udaya IV  
946-954
Sena IV  
954-956
Mahinda IV  
956-972
Sena V Son of Mahinda IV. Became the king at age of 12
972-982
Mahinda V  
982-1029

Home > Heritage > Anuradhapura

July 15, 2007
Send comments to visitsl[at]gmail.com (please substitute @ for [at] )