Anuradhapura
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sacred City of Anuradhapura* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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| State Party | Sri Lanka |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, vi |
| Reference | 200 |
| Region† | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1982 (6th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO. |
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Anuradhapura, (අනුරාධපුර in Sinhala), is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.
The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in the of Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya.
Founded in the 4th century BC, it was the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²). Anuradhapura is also significant in Hindu legend as the fabled capital of the Asura King Ravana in the Ramayana.
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