In North Central Province about five hours north of Colombo, this city of 51,000 is one of Sri Lanka´s oldest and most sacred cities, it was the island’s first capital for over a millennium (from the 4th century BCE to the 11th century CE) and remains a cornerstone of Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist heritage. Today, it has a serene, spacious feel, with ancient ruins spread across a wide, tree-lined plain. Its vast archaeological zone is dotted with monumental stupas, monasteries, and reservoirs. Key sites include the Sri Maha Bodhi, said to be the oldest historically documented tree in the world, monasteries like Abhayagiri Vihāra, and great stupas such as Jetavanaramaya and Ruwanwelisaya (pictured here, restored and said to contain the world's largest collection of relics of the Buddha), once among the tallest structures on earth.
Read more in Tripatini contributor Travel Guide´s post Stupendous Sri Lanka and 7 of its Top Destinations.
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