Ancient site · City
Anuradhapura
The first great capital of Sri Lanka, on the Malwathu Oya in the island's dry north. Excavations show an Iron Age village from about 900 BCE; the chronicle Mahavamsa says King Pandukabhaya made it a capital in the 4th century BCE.
It became a centre of Theravada Buddhism, with giant brick stupas such as the Ruwanwelisaya, the sacred Bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the Buddha's tree, and great irrigation reservoirs. It was sacked by the Cholas in 993 CE but remains a pilgrimage city.
- Dates
- settled c. 900 BCE; capital from the 4th century BCE to the 10th century CE; sacred city today
- Still standing
- Yes
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Yes
- Location
- 8.34° N, 80.41° E
How we know
Described in the Sri Lankan chronicles and in hundreds of inscriptions; excavations show settlement from about 900 BCE.
Nearby sites
- Sigiriya royal citadel 477–495 CE; monastery until the 14th century
- Sivagalai c. 1200–700 BCE (rice from a burial urn); a claim of iron at 3345 BCE is disputed
- Adichanallur c. 1000–600 BCE (radiocarbon); earlier claims debated
- Keezhadi 6th century BCE–3rd century CE (radiocarbon); excavator proposes 8th century BCE; ASI questions this
- Kumari Kandam (legendary) legendary; no real date
- Arikamedu 2nd century BCE–7th/8th century CE