Location: North Central Province Map
Anuradhapura (Sing. අනුරාධපුරය) is a city in Sri Lanka, the administrative center of the North Central Province and Anuradhapura District. Population: about 63 thousand people (2011). Located on the Aruvi River. It consists of an “old city” (English Old City), in which there is an archaeological zone and several temples, and a “new city”, separated by a river, in which there are residential areas and a tourist area. The relocation to the new city was undertaken in the 1950s by the government to protect archaeological sites.
Historical chronicles report that the first settlement
on the site of the modern city arose in the 5th century BC. However,
according to archaeological excavations, Anuradhapura existed at least
from the 10th century BC. according to the chronicles, the city owes its
prosperity to King Pandukabhaya (Sing. පණ්ඩුකාභය), in 377 BC who chose
Anuradhapura (under the name Anuradha) as the capital of the first
Sinhala kingdom on the island. The city had a clear layout; in the
surrounding area there was an extensive system of irrigation canals. To
supply water to the city, by order of the king, an artificial lake was
built, which has survived to this day.
The location of the
capital was chosen extremely well - the river connected the city with
the coast of the Gulf of Manara, a network of roads connected with the
interior regions of the island, and the coastal jungle protected it from
attacks by pirates and conquerors. Anuradha developed dynamically as a
trade and religious center, and it was from here that Buddhism spread
throughout the island. Thanks to the influx of merchants and pilgrims,
the city was widely known in the world, in particular, it was marked on
the maps of Claudius Ptolemy. In the year 100, Anuradha's population was
130,000, placing it sixth in the world by this indicator. The capital
was famous for its high level of medicine and the attention that the
city authorities paid to the cleanliness of the streets and waste
removal.
In the 11th century, the city was destroyed by the
rulers of the South Indian Tamil Chola state who captured the island;
Subsequently, the capital of the Sinhalese state was moved to
Polonnaruwa. Anuradhapura lost its political and economic significance,
many residents left the city. However, it remained a magnet for Buddhist
pilgrims and an important religious center in Sri Lanka.
On May
14, 1985, LTTE militants hijacked a bus and occupied the bus station,
firing machine guns at passengers waiting for the buses. The gunmen then
headed towards the Mahabodhi Tree Temple, shooting the monks and
parishioners there. They then entered Wilpattu National Park and shot 18
park workers. A total of 146 people died.
Anuradhapura is located in north-central Sri Lanka, at
an altitude of 81 meters above sea level, on the navigable (for small
ships) Aruvi River. To the west of the city lies a ridge of hills that
serves as a watershed between the two shores of the island.
The
city's climate is subequatorial, with two rainy seasons (April-May and
October-January). The driest month is June. Anuradhapura is one of the
driest cities in Sri Lanka, with relative air humidity ranging from
50-75%, depending on the season and time of day.
According to the 2011 census, the number of citizens
was 63,208 people. National composition of the population:
Sinhalese
- 91.4%
Laracalla - 6.8%
Tamils - 1.5%
The distribution of
residents by religion is almost similar to the national one - the
Sinhalese are Buddhists, the Laracallas are Muslims, the Tamils are
Hindus (some are Catholics).
The city's economy is based on agricultural
processing, handicrafts (wood carving), tourism and serving Buddhist
pilgrims.
Due to its favorable geographical location,
Anuradhapura has been, from ancient times to the present day, the center
of the intersection of roads connecting the main cities of the island.
The railway connects the city with Colombo, the capital of the country.
There is a small river port.
In the old city of Anuradhapura and in the surrounding
area, numerous ancient monuments have been preserved (included in the
UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List) - bell-shaped stupas (dagobas) of
Thuparama (III century BC), Ruanveli (II-I century BC) with stone Buddha
statues; Isurumuniya rock monastery, palaces, artificial reservoirs. All
these attractions are located in the old city, from where in 1950 all
residents were relocated to the new city.
A place of pilgrimage
for Buddhists is the Mahabodhi tree and the Mahabodhi temple around it.
Grown from a branch of the sacred Bodhi tree located in the Indian city
of Bodh Gaya, under which, according to legend, Buddha found
enlightenment, the Mahabodhi tree is the oldest existing tree with a
documented history. Later, the sacred Mahabodhi tree in Bodh Gaya died
several times, but a new tree was planted in its place from the seed of
the Mahabodhi tree in Anuradhapura.
In the 19th century, the main
trunk of the Mahabodhi tree in Anuradhapura was cut down by an English
fanatic, but a small trunk remained, which is now revered and supported
by golden supports.
Around the Mahabodhi tree there is a
protected archaeological zone (the territory of the old city), which
contains numerous stupas and remains of ancient monuments from the 4th
century BC, in particular, Buddhist monasteries. There is also an
archaeological museum, which contains the most valuable sculptures.