Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Ancient · Buddhist · Sri Lanka

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

Anuradhapura, North Central · 8.3447°, 80.3967°

Sacred Bodhi tree of the BuddhaAnuradhapura (Devanampiya Tissa)UNESCO World Heritage
Sacred since
288 BCE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
planted 288 BCE
Anuradhapura (Devanampiya Tissa)

History & significance

A sacred fig grown from a cutting of the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, planted in the royal park at Anuradhapura in 288 BCE by King Devanampiya Tissa and protected by later rulers including Vasabha, Sena II and Kirti Sri Rajasinha. Raised on a terrace some 6.5 metres above ground and ringed by walls and companion trees, it draws millions of pilgrims a year.

Sthala katha — the legend

Sri Lankan tradition holds that the southern branch of the original Bodhi tree was carried to the island by the Buddhist nun Sanghamitta, daughter of the emperor Ashoka.

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Airavatesvara Temple
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Shore Temple
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15th–16th c.

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Anuradhapura (Devanampiya Tissa)