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Anuradhapura,
is
one
of
the
ancient
capitals
of
Sri
Lanka,
famous
for
its
well-preserved
ruins
of
ancient
Lankan
civilization. |
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The
city,
now
a
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site,
lies
205
km
north
of
the
current
capital
Colombo
in
Sri
Lanka's
North
Central
Province,
on
the
banks
of
the
historic
Malvathu
Oya. |
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Founded
in
the
4th
century
BC,
it
was
the
capital
of
the
Anuradhapura
Kingdom
until
the
beginning
of
the
11th
century
AD.
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
kmē).
Anuradhapura
is
also
significant
in
Hindu
legend
as
the
fabled
capital
of
the
Asura
King
Ravana
in
the
Ramayana. |
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