01Mahinda, Sanghamitta and the Bodhi tree
The Mahavamsa, the Pali chronicle of Lanka, says King Pandukabhaya laid out Anuradhapura as his capital in the 4th century BCE. Under Devanampiya Tissa, Ashoka’s son Mahinda came to the island and taught the Dhamma, and Ashoka’s daughter Sanghamitta brought a branch of the tree under which the Buddha had sat at Bodh Gaya. Planted here, the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is held to be the oldest tree in the world with a recorded planting. The Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya and Abhayagiri stupas, the last two among the tallest brick structures of the ancient world, still rise over the plain.
02Elara and the Cholas
Tamil kings ruled from Anuradhapura more than once. The Mahavamsa remembers Elara, a Chola prince, who held the city for forty-four years and was known even to his enemies as a just king; Dutugemunu defeated him in single combat in the 2nd century BCE and honoured his tomb. Twelve centuries later Rajaraja Chola I sent his armies across the strait. His inscriptions claim the conquest of Ilamandalam, and the Culavamsa laments that the Cholas broke open the stupas and carried off the treasures of Anuradhapura. They made Polonnaruwa their seat, and when Rajendra I captured King Mahinda V in 1017 the old capital was finished.
The life of this place
- 4th century BCEPandukabhaya makes Anuradhapura his capital (Mahavamsa).
- 3rd century BCEMahinda comes to Lanka; Sanghamitta plants the Bodhi tree branch here.
- 2nd century BCEDutugemunu defeats the Chola king Elara and takes the city.
- c. 993Rajaraja Chola I’s army takes and sacks Anuradhapura; Polonnaruwa becomes the Chola seat.
- 1017Rajendra Chola I captures Mahinda V; the old capital is abandoned.
- 1982The sacred city is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The sacred city is spread over several kilometres; hire a bicycle. Dress in white and remove shoes and hats at the Sri Maha Bodhi and the stupas.
