Anuradhapura is the first recorded Capital of Sri Lanka. It takes the tourist to the flourishing days of Sri Lanka during the pre-Christian era. It brings out the gentle influence of Buddhism that produced magnificent feats of construction and irrigation. It is 205 kms from Colombo and 138 kms from Kandy. The sculptures of this period speak of a developed nation. The gentle wave of Buddhism changed the Island into a totally Buddhist and produced magnificent feats of architecture and construction of huge Dagobas the complex pleasure gardens and palaces and the exquisite sculpture.
Thuparama Dagoba This is the smallest ancient dagoba in Anuradhapura is the first historical dagoba in the whole island. The dagoba built by King Devanampiyatissa in the form of a paddy heap had been ruin in the day of King Agrabodhi II (604-614 AD0 and reconstructed. The dagoba reared on a circular terrace 11 ft. 4 inh. high and 164 1/2 ft. circumference, is itself 59 ft. in height as at present. The right clavicle bone of the Buddha is said to be enshrined here. The pillar capped with sculptured capitals ranged in concentric circles round the dagoba indicate that it was roofed over at our stage. the present bell shape of the dagoba was given to it ata a recenstruction.
Isurumuniya Isurumuniya In the ancient inner city of Anuradhapura are several ancient buildings belonging to various period close to each other. Of these the most importance is the Temple of the Tooth-relic, the site of which is marked by an inscription of Mahinda IV the right canine Tooth-relic of the Buddha brought to this country in the ninth year of Kithsiri Meghawarna (301-328 AD) was first deposited in a house called the Dharmasoka build in the reign of Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC). Although the chronicles give particulars of the Temples of the Tooth relic elsewhere, there is very little mention of the temple at Anuradhapura.
