Anuradhapura

8.314812980.4149319Koordinaten: 8 ° 19 ' N, 80 ° 25' O

Anuradhapura ( Sinhala: අනුරාධපුරය Anurādhapuraya [ anura ː də ˌ purəjə ], Tamil: அனுராதபுரம் Aṉurātapuram [ anura d̪əpurʌm ː ] ) is the capital of the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. She was over a thousand years of different center Sinhala king dynasties.

Near Anuradhapura is Mihintale, the cradle of Sinhalese Theravada Buddhism. The historic Anuradhapura, whose foundation is set to 400 BC, is still a pilgrimage destination for many Buddhists as well as an important archeological site. The modern city of Anuradhapura is located a few kilometers away, because the original city was plundered and destroyed 993 after an invasion by the Chola dynasty.

History

Anuradhapura was founded in the fourth century BC in the vicinity of Sri Mahabodhi tree and was the first capital of Sri Lanka. In the year 100 AD the city was about the ninth- largest in the world (see List of largest cities of the world ( historically ) ). Anuradhapura was the pressure of the Chola dynasty do not hold up, but fell only 993 finally in their hands. Prior Anaradhapura over 1300 years has been political and religious center. After the invasion by the Chola, the city was abandoned and remained for many years in the jungle hidden. After significant excavations of palaces, monasteries and monuments, is once again a major center in Sri Lanka.

The first European to Anuradhapura has seen, was the British sailor Robert Knox: On the run from Rajasinha II, who had taken him 19 ½ years of captured, he came in 1679 to the place.

Attractions

The most important pilgrimage site of Anuradhapura is the Sri Mahabodhi. According to tradition, this poplar fig grew out of a branch of that tree in Bodh Gaya (North India ), under which Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, enlightenment is said to have attained. In the 3rd century BC, the branch came in the wake of the Buddhist king Ashoka's missions to Sri Lanka.

In addition, located in the city and the surrounding region several large Dagobas ( stupas ), in particular those of Ruwanväliseya, Abhayagiri and Thuparama.

Population

Air table

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