Anuradhapura is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the north central part of the island was the first capital (5th century BC - IX AD), the center of Buddhist civilization of the island and undoubtedly the largest city Sri Lankan. It was said that the city was a planning model - there were shelters and hospitals and a water supply was secured by the construction of reservoirs.
By the middle of the third century BC, the fame of the first capital of the island had spread to the distant lands of the Mediterranean.
Anuradhapura was to continue as the national capital for over 1300 years until the 10th century AD when repeated innovations by the Indians and a struggle for royal succession led to the withdrawal of capital to Polonnaruwa.
It remains the home of the sacred tree, the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world that was brought to Sri Lanka over 2000 years ago by Mahinda Thero's sister who introduced the teachings of Budda to the country. Nowadays the monuments of Anuradhapura's heyday survive for you to visit surrounded by the solemn start of the trees and an ancient park - it is essential to see!
