Samadhi image of the Buddha at Anuradhapura, carved in the 4th century AD.

Anuradhapura abandoned

Around the middle of the 13th century with the collapse of the Rajarata civilization as a consequence of a series of South Indian invasions, sacred places in Anuradhapura were encroached by the jungle. Nevertheless, Anuradhapura was not completely depopulated.

While the majority migrated towards the wet zone some courageous Sinhalese continued to live in isolated pockets around small village tanks battling against malaria, drought and wild animals. Yet, they looked after the sacred places especially the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi to the best of their ability.