Ritigala Archaeological complex
This site is the monastic complex on the lower slopes of Ritigala-kande – the Ritigala Mountain – situated in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Anuradhapura. These ruins are some of the most distinctive the island has to offer. The Buddhist dagobas (domed relic chambers) and statuary of Anuradhapura and elsewhere are conspicuous by their absence.
The Archeological Site of Ritigala is situated at the eastern slopes of the Ritigala mountain range, the car park and entrance of the excavation site is 20 km to the northwest of Habarana by road. It can be reached from a turn-off at the Habarana-Anuradhapura Road (A11) at a distance of 12 km from Habarana. An 8.5 km along a graveled road leads to the car park of Ritigala at the foot of the mountain range. The distance from Anuradhapura New Town is 55 km, from Polonnaruwa Archeological Site 63 km, from Kandy 113 km, and from Trincomalee 105 km.
Attraction of Ritigala archaeological complex
The reservoir: the perimeter of this huge polygonal reservoir measures 366 meters. it is said to have been dug during the reign of King Pandukabhaya (437-367 BC). Because of its location even before the entrance to the monastery, its use would have been to allow pilgrims and visitors to perform a ritual bath before entering the premises. The reservoir is crossed by a river which supplied it with water. Visitors would walk along it clockwise and reach the other side of the river.
The hospital: among the remains still visible are those of an ancient hospital and facilities for making herbal medicines, a field in which the monks particularly excelled. We can still see a bathtub used for Ayurvedic baths, as well as stones used to reduce roots and herbs to powder.
The double platforms: about fifty terraces are visible in Ritigala. On each of them, a double platform was built. They were probably surmounted by buildings housing meditation cells and other spaces devoted to common rites and teachings. Each of these platforms is oriented east-west and a stone bridge connects each pair. These platforms are typical of forest hermitages like that of Ritigala.
The traffic circles: the paved path is crossed by traffic circles visible at each intersection. These are large slabs forming a circle from which two or more paths start.
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Sri Maha BodhiyaJaya Sri Maha Bodhi on püha bo-puu Mahamewna aedades Anuradhapuras Sri Lankal. See on ajaloolise Sri Maha Bodhi lõunapoolne haru Buddha Gaya juures Indias, mille all Buddha saavutas valgustatuse. See istutati aastal 288 eKr ja on maailma vanim inimese istutatud puu, mille istutuskuupäev on teada.
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RuwanweliseyaRuwanweli Maha Seya, tuntud ka kui Mahathupa (Suur Thupa), on stuupa (poolkerakujuline ehitis, mis sisaldab säilmeid) Anuradhapuras Sri Lankal. Stuupas on hoiul kaks liitrit ehk üks dona Buddha säilmeid, mis teeb sellest suurima tema säilmete kogu üldse. Selle ehitas singalite kuningas Dutugemunu umbes 140. aastal eKr, kellest sai Sri Lanka kuningas pärast sõda, milles tšola kuningas Elāra (Ellalan) sai lüüa.
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ThuparamayaThuparamaya on esimene budistlik tempel, mis ehitati pärast mahinda thero (mahindagamanaya) saabumist Sri Lankale. Mahamewna pargi pühas piirkonnas asuv Thuparamaya stuupa on saare vanim dagoba, mis pärineb kuningas Devanampiya Tissa valitsemisajast (247–207 eKr). Valitsus on templi ametlikult tunnustanud Sri Lanka arheoloogilise leiukohana.
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LovamahapayaLovamahapaya on hoone, mis asub Ruwanweliseya ja Sri Mahabodiya vahel iidses Anuradhapura linnas Sri Lankal. Seda tuntakse ka Brazeni palee või Lohaprasadayana, kuna katus oli kaetud pronkskividega. Muistsel ajal kuulusid hoonesse söögisaal ja uposathagara (Uposatha maja).
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Abhayagiri DagobaAbhayagiri Vihāra oli Sri Lankal Anuradhapuras asuv mahajaana, theravaada ja vadžrajaana budismi peamine kloostripaik. See on üks maailma ulatuslikumaid varemeid ja üks riigi pühamaid budistlikke palverännakute linnu.
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JetavanaramayaJetavanarama stuupa ehk Jetavanaramaya on stuupa ehk budistlik relikviamälestis, mis asub Jetavana kloostri varemetes UNESCO maailmapärandi nimistusse kuuluvas Anuradhapura linnas Sri Lankal. 122 meetri (400 jala) kõrgusega oli see maailma kõrgeim stuupa ja suuruselt kolmas ehitis maailmas, kui selle ehitas Anuradhapura kuningas Mahasena (273–301).
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Mirisawetiya stuupaMirisaweti stuupa on mälestushoone ehk stuupa, mis asub iidses Anuradhapura linnas Sri Lankal. Kuningas Dutugamunu (161 eKr – 137 eKr) ehitas Mirisaveti stuupa pärast kuningas Elara alistamist. Pärast Buddha säilmete asetamist valitsuskeppi läks ta Tissa Wewasse pesema, jättes valitsuskepi sinna.
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LankaramaLankarama on kuningas Valagamba ehitatud stuupa, mis asub iidses paigas Galhebakadas Anuradhapura kuningriigis Sri Lankal. Stuupa iidse kuju kohta pole midagi teada ja hiljem see renoveeriti. Varemetest on näha kivisammaste ridu ja pole kahtlustki, et stuupa ümber (vatadage) on ehitatud maja, mis seda kattis.
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IsurumuniyaIsurumuniya on budistlik tempel, mis asub Tissa Wewa (Tisa veehoidla) lähedal Anuradhapuras Sri Lankal. Selles viharas on neli erilist huvipakkuvat nikerdust. Need on Isurumuniya armastajad, elevanditiik ja kuninglik perekond. Iidset Meghagiri viharat ehk Meygiri viharat tuntakse praegu Isurumuni viharana.
