Anuradhapura | Sri Lanka | Travel | Destinations

Ancient Cities in Sri Lanka

With the advent of Buddhism in the 3rd century BC, Anuradhapura was transformed to one of the best cities of the world with a royal palace, building shrines, hospitals and libraries. More than 500 street cleaners and 200 sewerage workers gives one an inclination of the population of the town. Pipe bourn water was introduced at a very early stage at Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura is considered to be a sacred city for Buddhists the world over. The tooth relic presently housed at the Kandy Maligawa was earlier kept at Anuradhapura.

Looking at the ruins of ancient hospitals in Mihintale and Anuradhapura, it is evident that a highly organized and dedicated system of medicine existed in Sri Lanka for more than 2,000 years. Ruins that have been unearthed at the foot of the Mihintale Rock reveal that this was probably one of the oldest hospitals in the world.