Anuradhapura Museum, Archaeological museum near Ruwanwalisaya Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
The Anuradhapura Museum is an archaeological museum in Sri Lanka housed in a former British colonial administration building. Its collection includes Buddha statues, ancient coins, jewelry, stone inscriptions, and other artifacts spanning different periods of the island's early history.
The museum was established in 1947 and initially operated from a former hospital building near Sri Maha Bodhi. It grew from efforts by archaeologists to study and preserve the ancient remains of this significant historical city.
The displays show objects that reveal how ancient inhabitants lived, what they valued, and how they practiced their beliefs. You can observe the tools, ornaments, and sacred items that mattered to these communities.
The museum offers both indoor and outdoor exhibition areas open to visitors, with no admission fee required. Plan adequate time to explore the different sections of the collection spread across the grounds.
The institution holds Sri Lanka's largest collection of ancient inscriptions, providing deep insights into the written history of the region. A particularly notable display piece is a detailed scale model showing how the Thuparama Dagoba originally appeared with its circular relic chamber.
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