Anurādhapura

views updated May 23 2018

Anurādhapura. Capital of Sri Lanka until 10th cent. CE. The Mahāvihāra monasteries were established here, along with many temples and stūpas. Of particular importance are the two great dagobas, Ruwanweli and Thūparāma. A branch or cutting of the Bo tree (under which the Buddha became enlightened) was planted in the 3rd cent. BCE, which survives to the present as (reputedly) the oldest tree in the world.

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