For more than 1000 years Sinhalese kings, and sometimes the conquerors from the south of India, Sri Lanka ruled from Anuradhapura palaces. It was the largest and most influential of the Sri Lankan royal capital, but its size, history and the fact that it was a long time under the invaders from South India has made it more difficult to understand than, for example, Polonnaruwa. Today Anuradhapura is quite pleasant and well-designed city. Spreading crown of trees covered with pleasantly cool guest house located in a modern area of ​​the city.

Anuradhapura was the first capital city in 380 BC when Pandukabhaye, but of particular importance when the city acquired more Devanampiya Tissa (247-207 BC), in whose reign Buddhism came to Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura soon evolved into a large and sparkling city, but she still had to survive the invasion from the south of India, later repeated several times 1000 years. But soon the Sinhala hero Dutugemunu led army in the south to return Anuradhapura. The first part of his name "Dutu", by the way, means "rebellious," because his father, fearing for his son's life, forbade him to even think about how to return the Anuradhapura. Dutugemunu disobeyed him, and later in mockery, and sent his father decoration for women, thus showing that he is thinking about his courage.

After the liberation of Anuradhapura Dutugemunu (161-137 BC.) Began large-scale construction. Many impressive monuments that can be seen at Anuradhapura and now preserved since the reign of Dutugemunu. Mahasena (276-303 AD.), The last "great" king of Anuradhapura, who built a huge temple-Yetavanarama Dagobah. He also built a record number of irrigation facilities, as well as the main channel. Anuradhapura was destined to survive as the capital of another 500 years until finally, in its place not come Polonnaruwa.

In the old town of Anuradhapura, numerous monuments of those times, many of which are included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage - bell-shaped stupa III century BC. e., Ruanveli II-I century BC. e. with stone statues of Buddha V century BC. e .; rock monastery Isurumuniya, palaces, artificial ponds. Also, a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists is the tree and the Mahabodhi temple.