Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the Archaeological Museum. The monks of Ratnaprasada monastery gave sanctuary to
people in trouble with the authorities, and this led to a major conflict with the king. When
court officials at odds with the king took sanctuary in the Ratnaprasada, the king sent his
supporters to capture and execute them. The monks, disgusted at this invasion of a sacred
place, departed en masse. The general populace, equally disgusted, besieged the Rat-
naprasada, captured and executed the king's supporters and forced the king to apologise to
the departed monks in order to bring the monks back to the city and restore peace.
century-BC
vatadage
.
Abhayagiri Museum
MUSEUM
The Chinese-funded Abhayagiri Museum, just south of the Abhayagiri Dagoba, commem-
orates the 5th-century visit of Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian to Anuradhapura. Faxian
spent some time living at the Abhayagiri monastery translating Buddhist texts, which he
later brought back to China. The museum, arguably the most interesting in Anuradhapura,
contains a collection of squatting plates, jewellery, pottery and religious sculpture from the
site. There's a lot of information (in English and Sinhala) about the many monuments of
Anuradhapura and a bookshop.
Samadhi Buddha
MONUMENT
This 4th-century statue, seated in the meditation pose, is regarded as one of the finest
Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. Pandit Nehru, a prominent leader in India's independence
movement, is said to have maintained his composure while imprisoned by the British by
regular contemplation of a photo of this statue.
Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds)
WATER FEATURE
These swimming-pool-like ponds were likely used by monks from the monastery attached
to Abhayagiri Dagoba. Water entered the larger pond through the mouth of a
makara
(mythical multispecies beast) and then flowed to the smaller pond through an underground
