A site to behold! 🙏

I took the train (all by myself😊) on what should have been a 5 hour trip to Anuradhapura. For some reason the trip took close to 7 hours, but I am not complaining.

It's around 127 miles north of Colombo and is an UNESCO World 🌍 Heritage Site, both for it's religious and archeological importance.

I have visited many religious sites all over the world, from Vatican, (christian), Istanbul (Muslim) Bangkok (Buddhist) etc, but I don't think I have ever seen anything as spectacular as this.

Had to buy a shawl to cover my white sleeveless top. No such requirement at the Golden Temple in Dambulla. Different towns, different cultures.

And when you consider that most buildings in Anuradhapura are over 2500 years old, it makes it more amazing.

My first image of one of the Temples. I arrived at night.

According to Wikipedia:

 "Anuradhapura is the cradle of the Hydraulic Sinhalese civilisation, Theravada Buddhism, and the longest-serving ancient capital of Sri Lanka that has survived for 1500 years. 

The networks of ancient temples and monasteries now cover over 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) of area of the city today.

The founding of the city is around 437 BCE, but the site has been inhabited for much longer, making it a major human settlement on the island for almost three millennia and one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Asia, a cradle of Sinhalese civilization.

It's also longest-serving ancient capital of Sri Lanka  and has survived for 1500 years.

The city was mostly destroyed and largely deserted after 993 CE, with the Chola invasion from South India.[2] Although several attempts were made by later Sinhalese kings to return the capital to Anuradhapura, it was not reestablished as a major population centre of the island until the British colonial era in the 19th century CE. Despite its decline as a political centre, Anuradhapura remained a vital pilgrimage site for Buddhists throughout the medieval period and continues to be a significant spiritual destination today.[3][4] The modern revival of Anuradhapura began in the 1870s under British colonial rule, with infrastructure and urban planning initiatives aimed at supporting administration and accommodating pilgrims.[5] The contemporary city, much of which was moved during the mid-20th century to preserve the site of the ancient capital, is a major road junction of northern Sri Lanka and lies along a railway line. The city is the headquarters of Sri Lanka's archeological survey, and tourism is a significant factor in its economy."

(I was all decked out in my white sleeveless blouse to take the tour but had to cover my "mawga" arms. Also, I bought the bottom to enter a temple in Thailand but had to pin the split down to the knee, as too much leg was showing.🥴

Not complaining, just pointing out that different areas have different cultures in the same way even siblings can differ in their beliefs and practices.)

The young caretaker at Airbnb I stayed, gave me these petals. I thought they were for my room so left them at home.

I should have taken them to one of the shrines to use them to pay tribute to Lord Buddha.

 I live and learn.🫢.

Adherents putting gifts all around Lord Buddha's reclining image. They even bring cooked food!🤔.

Drummers leading some worshipers.

Loads of flower blossoms are given to worshipers to put on the altars at the Temples and Pagoda at the holy site.

The bottom of the main temples are wrapped with the Buddhist flag. It's quite a ritual performed by the monks.

While some of us are busy debating whether Buddhism is a religion or a way of life, to the thousands I saw there in May 2025, it is definitely a religion. 

They came to meditate, pray, pay homage to  Lord Buddha, give him gifts and get blessings.

And as part of this ritual, they bring (cooked) food, flowers and gifts for his monks and the smell of incense is all over, pleasant and calming. 

To me it was kind of surreal, especially since I have never witnessed such a crowd at a religious site a before.

Once a baby becomes 3 months old, he/ she is taken to a Temple to be blessed.

This is a man-made lake near the main Temples. Some adherents go there to cool off after a day of meditation and prayer.

One of the large rooms where incense are burned.

Despite the thousands moving through the large area, it is spotless as, workers ( volunteers?) are all around always cleaning up.

I tell you, the beauty of the artistry, carvings, sculptures is really overwhelming.

I have also been learning about the unlimited generosity of ardent Buddhists, but I was still surprised to see the truckloads of foods and fruits that local farmers brought there to give away free to those who were at the Temples🙏.

As I passed through one exit, I got a hand of ripe, bumpy bananas aka chiney banana, my absolute favorite.😊

 I was so tired after walking miles just to see what was taking place at the religious sites that I didn't even bother to visit the ruins.

They said this lady was a Hindu priestess who was performing some kind of a healing ritual there! 

Links. 

https://youtu.be/3mOwnITV3A0?si=joM-RF96EtluXgg3

https://youtu.be/80AuEBrPUsA?si=LxbG3X63mb_rLqHq

Missing the sunset

 Mr. Haton, my tuk tuk driver in Anuradhapura, took me to the Abayawewa Resevoir to view the sunset.

 Unfortunately it was heavily overcast, so there was no sun to set! 

That's not a bad thing though, for since I came to Sri Lanka it has rained every day except today. So just overcast was good.

The government here has wisely built numerous reservoirs to harvest the rainfall, so they have no water lock offs here. (Can Jamaican politicians learn from them? I doubt it😡)

Besides with the amount of rice they eat here they have to grow lots of rice so water is always needed.

From this reservoir you can see all the major temples so people come here to meditate, enjoy the scenery or simply exercise, as there is a nice trail built beside the bank.

With no sunset to view, we went to Isumurini Raja Temple.

All the temples are more or less the same, with  passionate devotees, lots of shrines and the sweet smell of incense burning and the flowers and blooms the devotees bring ng to their prophet.

                 Abayawewa resovoir.

I don't think you can go anywhere in the Anuradhapura and not see an imposing statue of Lord Buddha so here he is right beside a meditation center across from Abayawewa reservoir.

Light from the incense rooms. Naturally, you see these better at night. 

Missed the sunset but enjoyed the beauty and fabulous art in and around another temple in Anuradhapura.

I love 💞 Mihninthale

I love the splendor of Buddhist Temples, but what I can't deal with is having to remove my shoes. For when my 175 pounds goes down on granite stones, it nuh nice😩.

Asians tend to be small and slim so I  guess, dem nuh  feel di pain like me.😭

Anyway when the pain receded, I decided I would do it all over again just to re-live the joy of having been there.

Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka at Mihninthale around 250 BCE, by monks sent from India. 

This historic event took place in the month of Poson, (June), so large hordes of Buddhists make their pilgrimage 

 there during that period each year.

As the site of the birth of that religion on the island some 2500 years ago, it's cherished, not only by, local adherents of the Buddhist religion but also historians and archeologists from all over the world.

A huge statue of Lord Buddha overlooks the site.

I make no claim about being an historian or archeologist, but have long been fascinated by the philosophies of Lord Buddha including his dedication to peaceful coexistence and generosity towards all categories that inhabit this planet. I  a

also relish in enjoying the amazing beauty and artistry that goes into the construction and care of these temples.

It's an UNESCO heritage site 

Signs warn you never to turn your back to any statue of Buddha when takin pics.

Many temples display replicas of Budda's foot.

Let sleeping dogs lie😊.

This huge contraption was where cooked rice was dispensed from, to the original monks who resided there!

Religious adherents come from all over to express their love and devotion.

The art work inside is absolutely beautiful.

One of the many residences built in the huge granite rocks at the original site.

Remnants of the original building constructed in 250 BCE, for dining, gathering and even a bathroom for the monks.

The remains of a meditation hall built some 2500 years ago.

Oh those steps were challenging.

My greatest concern with such areas though, is descending, not really ascending as I always remember Professor Damith's warning to me when coming from all heights, "Joan, you have to be careful, for remember old bones don't heal easily."

That warning was given to me quite a few years ago, when these bones were even a bit younger!

I had carelessly "flown" down Jacks Hill in Kingston, Jamaica on my bicycle and crashed at a round about in Hope Pastures, when he rode up and saw me suffering on the ground😩.

Because of the damage to my shoulder, it took me about three weeks before I could raise my right arm.

So how can I ever forget that admonition when descending from great heights?

The original meditation hall at Mihninthale 

Love the view from above

Me climb up to the top? No sah.

Why is it so many religious leaders of differing beliefs always seem to find such high points to build on? 

https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-holy-meteora.html?m=1

Met this young man who is aspiring to become a Buddhist monk.

He says he is 18 but looked a lot younger. Spoke perfect English, Sinhalese and Tamil languages.

My friends were all over 

Another residence in a huge granite rock.

Remnants of the bathroom in the original building.

The toilet area. You better learn to stoop even now.

It was a very breezy day.

Descending gingerly!

I was promised good karma if I could ring the bell three times. I did😊. (With some difficulty.) 

I really enjoyed touring this site as it was early and the crowd had not yet arrived.

Link

https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2025/05/now-thats-royal.html?m=1