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Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura
අනුරාධපුරය
அனுராதபுரம்
City
Kuttam Pokuna
Anuradhapura is located in Sri Lanka
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Location in Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 8°21′0″N 80°23′7″E / 8.35000°N 80.38528°E / 8.35000; 80.38528Coordinates: 8°21′0″N 80°23′7″E / 8.35000°N 80.38528°E / 8.35000; 80.38528
Country Sri Lanka
Province North Central Province
District Anuradhapura
Established 4th century BC
Government
 • Type Municipal Council
Area
 • City 7,179 km2 (2,772 sq mi)
 • Urban 36 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation 81 m (266 ft)
Population (2012)
 • City 50,595
 • Density 2,314/km2 (5,990/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Anuradhians
Time zone Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30)
Postal code 50000
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Sacred City of Anuradhapura
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Location Sri Lanka
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iii, vi
Reference 200
UNESCO region Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 1982 (6th Session)

Anuradhapura (Sinhalese: අනුරාධපුරය ; Tamil: அனுராதபுரம்) is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central Province, Sri Lanka and the capital of Anuradhapura District. Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sri Lankan civilization. It was the third capital of the Kingdom of Rajarata, following the kingdoms of Tambapanni and Upatissa Nuwara.

The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the center of Theravada Buddhism for many centuries. The city lies 205 km (127 mi) north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

It is believed that from the fourth century BC until the beginning of the 11th century AD it was the capital of the Sinhalese. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).


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