One of the most significant and sacred cities that belong to the ancient world, Anuradhapura was the first capital of Sri Lanka. Hosting UNESCO world heritage sites this city is the core of Buddhism and its people due to its grandeur history and the vast array of Buddhist monuments that dates back to more than 2000 years. The largest brick monuments of the world named, Jethavanaya and Abhayagiriya were situated there. Sri Mahabodhi the sacred Bodhi tree shrine of the Mahaviharaya which was planted in the 3rd Century B.C. .
King Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC) having donated to the bhikkhus the Nandanavana and Mahameghavana located near the southern entrance built the first Sangharama (Monastery) within the Mahameghavana. This was first named ‘Tissarama.’ Later it came to be known by the names of ‘Mahameghavanarama’ and ‘Mahavihara.’ Since then Mahavihara was the headquarters of the community of Sri Lankan bhikkhus for centuries. It is by the bhikkhus of Mahavihara that the Triptaka and the Commentaries (atthakatha) were committed to writing. Mahavihara exerted direct influence on religious, political, economic, social and cultural fields of the island. Within this zone could be seen the Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruvanveli Seya and Thuparama
