Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
25
Milano Tourist Rest
D6
Eating
27
Casserole
C5
Family Super
C5
28
Walkers
D5
You'll need a couple of days to properly explore the Unesco-recognised
Anuradhapura
The scale of the ruins is huge. You can appreciate individual areas such as the Citadel
on foot but a bicycle is an ideal way to get around. There are pretty rides on car-free trails
and walkways that link the main sites. The four main areas of interest are: Mahavihara, the
spiritual centre of Anuradhapura, home to the Sri Maha Bodhi; Abhayagiri Monastery, ar-
guably the most evocative part of the entire site, with several temples and dagobas over
2000 years old, spread over a large, forested area; the Citadel, a compact collection of
structures about 1000 years old; and Jetavanarama, a huge dagoba and important museum
in a small area.
Mahavihara
This is the heart of ancient Anuradhapura and is often the scene of religious ceremonies,
which draw masses of people dressed in their finest. Relics here date from the 3rd century
BC to the 11th century AD.
Sri Maha Bodhi
SACRED TREE
The sacred bodhi tree is central to Anuradhapura in both a spiritual and physical sense. It
was grown from a cutting brought from Bodhgaya in India and is said to be the oldest his-
