Anuradhapura - 2011
Mihintale
Anuradhapura was the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka.
It was founded over 2200 years ago and was ruled by Sinhalese kings for over 1000 years.
Mihintale, 12km east of Anuradhapura, is the site where Mahindra, the son of the Indian Emperor, Asoka,
met Devanampiya, the grandson of King Pandukabhaya, the founder of Anuradhapura.
This led to the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
According to legend they met while Devanampiya was out hunting.
According to Buddhist tradition you walk clockwise around these stupas.
The people lived in caves while the complex was built.
Bruno, our tour-leader.
These large troughs once contained cooked rice and vegetables to feed more than 1000 monks who lived here.
This large meditating Buddha is a 1936 addition to the complex.
Aradhana Gala, the rocky outcrop where Devanampiya and Mahintale met.
Anuradhapura is the most extensive of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka.
A World Heritage site, it fell to invading southern Indians several times over a 1000 year period.
It was established by King Devanamprya and remained the capital until the 11th century AD..
We rode bicycles around the ruins.
Jetavanrarmaya
Abayagiriya
Ruwanweliseya
The Bodhi Tree was a large and very old sacred fig tree located in Bodh Gaya
(about 100 km from Patna in the Indian state of Bihar), under which Buddha,
the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism, is said to have achieved enlightenment.
It has long since died.
In the 3rd century BC Sanghamitta, a daughter of the Indian Emperor, Asoka, brought a branch of the tree
to Sri Lanka . It was planted here in Anuradhapura with much ceremony.
It is now the oldest tree in the world with a recorded history and is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world.
Eddie, our 75 year old local guide, led us around the sites here on his bicycle.
He had a small part in the powerful Indian movie, Water, most of which was filmed in Sri Lanka.
Mihintale
Anuradhapura was the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka.
It was founded over 2200 years ago and was ruled by Sinhalese kings for over 1000 years.
Mihintale, 12km east of Anuradhapura, is the site where Mahindra, the son of the Indian Emperor, Asoka,
met Devanampiya, the grandson of King Pandukabhaya, the founder of Anuradhapura.
This led to the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
According to legend they met while Devanampiya was out hunting.
According to Buddhist tradition you walk clockwise around these stupas.
The people lived in caves while the complex was built.
Bruno, our tour-leader.
These large troughs once contained cooked rice and vegetables to feed more than 1000 monks who lived here.
This large meditating Buddha is a 1936 addition to the complex.
Aradhana Gala, the rocky outcrop where Devanampiya and Mahintale met.
Anuradhapura is the most extensive of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka.
A World Heritage site, it fell to invading southern Indians several times over a 1000 year period.
It was established by King Devanamprya and remained the capital until the 11th century AD..
We rode bicycles around the ruins.
Jetavanrarmaya
Abayagiriya
Ruwanweliseya
The Bodhi Tree was a large and very old sacred fig tree located in Bodh Gaya
(about 100 km from Patna in the Indian state of Bihar), under which Buddha,
the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism, is said to have achieved enlightenment.
It has long since died.
In the 3rd century BC Sanghamitta, a daughter of the Indian Emperor, Asoka, brought a branch of the tree
to Sri Lanka . It was planted here in Anuradhapura with much ceremony.
It is now the oldest tree in the world with a recorded history and is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world.
Eddie, our 75 year old local guide, led us around the sites here on his bicycle.
He had a small part in the powerful Indian movie, Water, most of which was filmed in Sri Lanka.
