
Provincial Information at a glance

	Districts covered	Anuardhapura
		Plonnaruwa

	Divisional Secretariat	29 Nos
	Pradesiyasaba	24 Nos
	Municipal Council	01 No
	Grama Niladhari Divisions	984 Nos
	Villages	3742 Nos
	Electorate District	07 Nos

		Anuradhapura	Polonnaruea
	Members of Parliament	08	05
	Members of Provincial Council	22	11
	Members of Local Authorities	201	82


	No of Families	296,207 Nos
	No of Samurdhi Family	137,961 Nos

	Special Education Institutes	Rajarata University - Anuradhapura
		Open University – Anuradhapura
		Teachers Training School - Anuradhapura
		Pulatishi - Polonnaruwa
		Technical college – Anuradhapura

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A Brief History of Anuradhapura

Located in the North Central part of Sri Lanka and named after the great King Anuradhapura in 500 BC is Anuradhapura the first capital of Sri Lanka one of the extensive and important ancient cities of the country that attracts all tourist. Hence explorers re-discovered the crumbling ruins of this ancient monastic city in the 19th Century which sparked the beginning efforts to restore and re-build this city.This historical and archaeological site now continues to attract Sri Lankan and foreign visitors as well as pilgrims to bask in the glories of the magnificent city of the Kings.

Today the city is a pleasant place to visit, with shady trees, nice guesthouses and a distinct lack of overdeveloped concrete. Situated 206km away from Colombo, for the first time traveller Anuradhapura appears to a modern town set in dry forest area. Yet a short distance away from this modernity you are sure to discover the distinctness of the city sited with classical ruins. A city where both public and private transports are available, it takes approximately 8 hours by train and 5 to 6 hours by private or bus transport.

Anuradhapura is both a tourist and pilgrimage ground. The ancient city of Anuradhapura evokes its visitors to picture and imagine life in the early millennia shining with all its glory and grandeur. The astonishing dagaobas considered the second mightiest masses of monumental history after the Egyptian pyramids makes one wander of the impeccable details used by the architects in constructing these monuments and the marvel of huge solid stones transported to great heights for the purpose.

The Sri Maha Bodhi a sapling of the tree under which lord Buddha attained Nirvana heads eight principal places of worship for the Buddhists visiting the city. These include Ruvenveli Seya the oldest dagopa constructed like a shape of a water bubble in 2nd century BC, considered as the pride of the Great Emperor Dutugemunu, Thuparama believed to enshrine the collar bone of lord Buddha, the 120m high Jetawana monastery the third tallest monument in the world during the fall of the roman empire founded by King Mahasena and believed to be the resting place of Mahinda Thera who introduced Buddhiam to the then Ceylon, the 108 meter high 200ha spread Abayagiri Stupa the largest monastery of this ancient kingdom built by King Valagamba, Lankarama, Mirisevati and Isurumuniya the 3rd century stupa with, the Isurumuniya lovers believed to have been inspired by love that bloomed between Saliya the son of the great emperor and a low cast maiden of the Palace, and believed to been the source of creation for many ancient writers and poets.

Other site seeing include The 13 meter high Buddha Statue carved out of solid granite dating back to the 5th century that is situated 50 km off the town is a sight one can ever miss and the perfection of this statue really owes all the credit to its sculptor for his outstanding achievement. The 2000 year old Brazen Palace built by King Dutugemunu as a dwelling for the Buddhist monks; Kuttam Pokuna (twin pool) used for monks to bath; the palace of King Mahasena; Moonstone carvings and the 4th century Basawakkulama tank built by King Pandukabhaya. Few meters away from this site and up the rocks you can feast your eyes on the finest and oldest carvings dating back to About 50km south east of the town is the Ritigala rock ruins. Dating back to 350 BC the unearthed ruins that stand still at the foot of the 600m Ritigala rock is considered to the oldest historical places mentioned in the ancient chronicles.

Moreover the sandy shore of the great Tissa Wewa built during the 2nd Century BC that covers 65 hectares (160 acres). The water travels 85 km (54 miles) from the Kala Wewa, feeding 70 tanks on its way. The cool shore of the tank is ideal to watch the sunset. You could also feast your eyes on the local tourists enjoying a quick bath or resting under the shady trees after a meal on their way towards the city relaxing in cool river breeze and boutique vendors selling local sweets meats and toys to attract the children. From the city limits a few meters away is the Anuradhapura Museum, showcasing the British colonial building and the Folk Museum containing a collection of historical monuments depicting the rural life of the area. 12 km away form this great city you will arrive upon a rock dotted with shrines and dwelling named Mihintale with a grand stairway of 1,840 steps made of granite slabs that leads to a summit with a splendid view of the countryside.

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A Brief History of Polonnaruwa

Located 216 kilometers from the capital city of Colombo on the south east of ancient town Anuradhapura is the medieval town of Polonaruwa. The island’s medieval in the ancient city of Polonaruwa and built in the 12th century A.D by the great King Parakramabahu the 1st and rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. You could arrive at this destination by public bus transport in 5 hours and by hired transport an hour less. As you enter in to this ancient town you will notice the mountain ranges, dry land with monkeys in groups perched on rocks, wandering among the ruins. Polonaruwa is a land that stands as monument of the past flourishing historic days of the then Ceylon, an island so magnificent and enthralling to the west. The city in its day was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many a shrine and sacred place. The city itself, as well as the surrounding plain was watered by a unique irrigational complex – the Parakrama Samudra, the largest of the man made reservoirs. Ensemble planning in building, sculpture and landscape reached its perfection at Polonaruwa under Parakramabahu. Furthermore, he created a tank so large it was called Parakrama Samudra, or The Sea of Parakrama. With a bund over 14km long and on average 12m high, this was an astonishing hydraulic accomplishment, and would be considered a major feat of engineering if undertaken today. It provided cooling breezes through the city as well as water for irrigation, and even provided defense on the western side of the city.

Legend maintains that the Portuguese stumbled on the monuments in the jungle and looted them several centuries later. The place certainly remained unknown to the Dutch. It was only during the early to mid-19th century that the British found the site and, near the end of the century, started to excavate it. The seven storey Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu I was built in the 11th Century. The massive brick walls of the main hall stand amidst the ruins of about 40 inter-connecting rooms. Other site attractions include the Kumara Pokuna, the handsome royal bath; the Royal pavilion still found with its lion portals, graceful pillars and a moonstone; the Audience Hall containing exquisite stone carvings, and the entrance has two flights of steps with moonstones flanked by mythical dragons; the Kumara Pokuna where the ladies of the court is believed to have taken an evening bath and Dalada Maluwa, the centerpiece of the ancient city which was a sacred precinct containing 12 magnificent buildings and known today as the Quadrangle Vatadage; the Gal Viharaya consists of four seperate images of different postures carved and cut from one long slab of granite.

First is a samadhi image in meditation posture, while the second is inside a cave and the third is a standing Buddha image which is 23 ft in height and the forth is a recumbent Buddha image measuring 46 feet, depicting the passing away. The Potugal Vihara with small dagabas surrounding a circular brick building on the central platform; the statue of King Parakramabahu I, a huge 12th Century AD rock sculpture depicting a figure in barefoot clad only in sarong, with broad face and serious look holding a sacred manuscript. Inscriptions suggest that the history of Polonnaruwa dates back at least to the 2nd century AD, when farmers began to clear the jungle for cultivation and hermit-monks established themselves in the rock caves. In the 6th century it became a military garrison of some importance to the Sinhalese kings of Anuradhapura. This was because it guarded the vital crossing point of the Mahaweli Ganga from the southern province of Ruhuna, where rebellion was a continuous threat. A century later, the kings of Anuradhapura started to use Polonnaruwa as a country residence.

It was the south Indian Cholas who first gave Polonnaruwa civil and cultural significance, however. After conquering Anuradhapura in 933AD, the Cholas made Polonnaruwa their capital, from where they controlled the outer reaches of the island. When the Sinhalese king Vijayabahu I (1055 - 1110) eventually drove the Cholas off the island in 1070, he made Polonnaruwa his capital. Vijayabahu then devoted his energies to rebuilding the ravaged country, in particular restoring and improving the neglected irrigation system and strengthening the Buddhist faith.

ABOUT NORTH CENTRAL PROVINCE

Provincial Information at a glance

A Brief History of Anuradhapura

A Brief History of Polonnaruwa