Pay a visit to Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi - One of the most sacred religious sites in Sri Lanka
The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya is a sacred fig tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which is believed to be the oldest human-planted tree in the world. Legend has it that the tree was the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Bodhgaya in India under which Lord Buddha achieved Enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC by Devanampiya Tissa, one of the earliest kings of Sri Lanka in his Royal Park in Anuradhapura, and protected by generations of Buddhist monks and dedicated kings. Visiting and paying homage to this site is an annual custom for Buddhists pilgrims from far-away villages as they believe that the offerings to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya will give positive changes in their life. Today it is one of the most revered relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka where pilgrims perform rituals for good fortune and blessings.