Jump To Great Building Era
Anuradhapura the city of ancient and great architectural value that has earned fame for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.Founded in the fourth century B.C.E., Anuradhapura served as of the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom until the beginning of the eleventh century C.E. During that period, the city enjoyed stability constituting one of the most durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. Considered sacred to the Buddhist world, monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²) surround the ancient city.Anuradhapura stands out as a major force in the development and advancement of Buddhism in South East Asia. The UNESCO designation names the site the "Sacred City of Anuradhapura" to acknowledge its sacred function. Anuradhapura hosted both Hindu and Buddhist holy people and congregations. Buddhist monasteries covering over sixteen square miles surrounded the city.
Discovery of Ruins
The ruins consist of three classes of buildings: dagobas, monastic buildings, and pokunas. The dagobas, bell-shaped masses of masonry, vary from a few feet to over 1100 ft (340 m) in circumference. Some of them contain enough masonry to build a town for twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Remains of the monastic buildings lay in every direction in the shape of raised stone platforms, foundations, and stone pillars. The Brazen Palace, erected by King Dutugamunu about 164 B.C.E., constitutes the most famous. The pokunas, bathing-tanks or tanks for the supply of drinking water, lay scattered throughout the jungle. The city also contains a sacred Bo-Tree, dating to the year 245 B.C.E. The government extended the railway from Kurunegala to Anuradhapura in 1905.
Demographics
| Ethnicity | Population | % Of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese | 51,775 | 91.42 |
| Sri Lankan Moors | 3,825 | 6.75 |
| Sri Lankan Tamils | 850 | 1.50 |
| Indian Tamils | 45 | 0.08 |
| Other (including Burgher, Malay) | 137 | 0.24 |
| Total | 56,632 | 100 |
External links
All links retrieved November 22, 2016.- Full text of the Mahavamsa, Chap.X
- UNESCO World Heritage List - Sacred City of Anuradhapura
- Anuradhapura: Sri Maha Bodiya, MySriLanka.com
- Anuradhapura Travel Guide
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