★ The Pilgrimage to Anuradhapura

Date : 11/12 August 2012

My grandmother wants to visit ”Atamasthana” or eight sacred places and this time I went to Anuradapura with my family. This was quick visit & two days and one night trip. We were stayed at the forest department holiday bungalow in Anuradapura close to “Mirisavatiya Dagaba” and it was a good place. We found the facilities to be clean, and the maid service was good.

The sacred places are known as

• Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya
• Ruwanwelisaya
• Thuparama
• Lovamahapaya
• Abhayagiri Dagaba
• Jetavanarama
• Mirisaveti Stupa
• Lankarama.

They are situated in Anuradhapura, the capital of the ancient Anuradhapura Kingdom. 

To get more information you can visit website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atamasthana

We have visited few other historical places too. Those are Isurumuniya, Ranmasu Uyana, Samadhi Statue and Moonstone.

We also visited Nellikulama Temple. There are statues of 500 arahat Buddhist monks walking behind the Buddha. Project is not finished yet and the temple 5 miles away from Anuradhapura.

Ranmasu Uyana - Goldfish Park & mysterious Sakwala Chakraya (Star Gate)




On our way back home, we visited Yapahuwa.

Yapahuwa

The history of Yapahuwa ancient city located in the Kurunegala District close to Mahava, extends up to 3rd century BCE. King Devanampiyathissa planted 32 fruits from the Sri Maha Bodhi in different places and Yapahuwa is one of them. During the 13th century, when the invader Kalinga Maga was ruling a part of Sri Lanka, a general named Subha had built a fortress at Yapahuwa and he was engaged in protecting that area and Buddhism.  From 1270 to 1272 CE, King Vijayabahu - 1V rules the country and he build a rampart wall round the city and constructed a beautiful palace for King Vijayabahu to live there. It is this prince who made Yapahuwa the capital city of Sri Lanka having ascended the throne as King Buvanakebahu. He built a rampartwall round the city and constructed a beautiful palace for King Vijayabahu to live there. The most attractive construction is the staircase which has been enriched by the beautiful carvings and other architectural features.

Source : Extracted