Anuradhapura

Today we went to Anuradhapura and Mihintale.

Anuradhapura got off to a slow start, but once we got going we enjoyed it. "Anapura" (what we've decided to call it) is the name of the city, not the name of the site like we expected. There is a big temple complex in Anapura, and several other lesser sites. We started out at one of the lesser sites, and kept thinking, "is this it?". Now that we know, that that is not all there was, it was a cute little temple. 

We had to climb up some steps, as is the theme here in Sri Lanka. On one side was a Bodhi tree, which again we thought was a famous Bodhi tree, but that one came later. There were some cute elephants carved into the side of a rock rock face, and there was the first of many Stupa's. 

From there we went to an active working very new Buddhist Temple and saw a very large Buddha.

Then came some more Stuppa's, followed by the famous Bodhi tree. Which was packed with people, until it wasn't (see post on pilgrims!)

Bodhi tree festooned with flags

Then the good part came. The moon stone and guard stone locations that we got to climb over. With it's own resident cobra charmer.

Then there was the swimming pool...although it was probably water storage. Pretty though.

More Stuppa's, these ones are older and the white plaster has worn off.

And the museum of the complex.