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The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa) located in the city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most venerated and oldest living trees in the world and holds immense religious and historical significance for Buddhists worldwide. The tree is believed to be a direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India, under which Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, attained enlightenment.
History: The history of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi dates back over 2,300 years. According to historical records, in the 3rd century BCE, Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty in India, after embracing Buddhism, sent his daughter, Princess Sangamitta, to Sri Lanka as a Buddhist missionary. Along with her, she brought a sapling from the original Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya to be planted in Anuradhapura.
The sacred sapling was planted in the Mahamevuna Park in Anuradhapura during the reign of King Devanam Piya Tissa (307-267 BCE). This event marked the formal establishment of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The tree has been carefully preserved and protected by successive Sinhalese kings and later by the Sri Lankan government and Buddhist clergy.
Details: The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is not only revered for its religious significance but also for its age. It is estimated to be more than 2,300 years old, making it one of the oldest known planted trees in the world. The tree stands approximately 32 meters (105 feet) tall and has a large canopy with numerous branches that provide shade to the devotees and visitors who come to pay their respects.
The site of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is an essential pilgrimage destination for Buddhists from all over the world. The temple complex surrounding the sacred tree is called the Mahavihara, and it is one of the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. The complex includes various stupas, ancient ruins, and other significant Buddhist monuments.
The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is continuously protected and cared for by a team of custodians, and rituals are regularly conducted to honor the tree and its spiritual significance. The devotees offer flowers, light lamps, and burn incense as offerings to express their reverence and gratitude to the Buddha and his teachings.
Over the centuries, the tree has faced numerous challenges, including natural disasters and threats from human activities. However, through the dedicated efforts of custodians and authorities, the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi continues to stand as a symbol of strength, resilience, and spiritual significance for Buddhists and visitors alike.
"We had an excellent and memorable trip and all credits to Cyril. In-depth knowledge about the places, roads and history and culture. From the airport assistance - Food, accommodation provided and the vehicle was excellent. Very matured and patient, We being on safe hands. Thanks for making it a memorable experience for all of us. " Aubry De Souza and group from Dubai
"We would like to say thank you very much Mr. Cyril for the excellent 7 night tour of Sri Lanka you provided us. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Sri Lanka and the itinerary you arranged. The four hotels (Earls Regency, Amaya Lake, Heritance Kandalama and the Colombo Hilton) were excellent and thoroughly deserved their 5 stars. Your driving skills was excellent. Also very friendly, calm, helpful, and courteous and always prompts. Sri Lanka is a lovely country and the people were very friendly. ..." Suresh and Prashanth
"We came for a wedding and then embarked on an amazing holiday. Cyril show us magnificent sights and scenery of Sri Lanka. To do the country just we need to return with more time. Many of the sites we visited just made us want to know more about them, even though Cyril was a fountain of knowledge. We have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Cyril and his excellent company, and it was so nice to go home a guardian angel looking after us. He is consistently courteous & good humored and now fe..." Andy Powell UK
"Dear Cyril, Thank you very much for wonderful holiday. Your attention to detail and care of your clients is extraordinary. We certainly hope to cross paths again and we will recommonding you to all of our friends and to family too. Many thanks again. Paul nad Machelle Brisbane, Australia. Visited during 10/10/2012 - 26/10/2012" Mr. Paul and Mrs. Machelle from Australia
"Dear Cyril, We just got back to Singapore today...I am will be back to work tomorrow.. :) Sad but true ha ha……. We were very lucky to have you as our guide. I don’t think there will be anyone else who could have done an excellent job that you have done. We will spread the word around and will surely sell your services...do keep in touch so we can work something out. Thanks for the photos they are great Will visit your website soon and put in some good words for you.. Ti..." Shuhanth Haridas from Singapore
"Hi Mr.Cyril, Hope you and family and grandchild are doing fine. Hope to come to Sri Lanka again. We really enjoyed our trip especially with your special help and guidance. We will definitely contact you if at all we wish to visit Sri Lanka again. Thanks & Best Regards Mr. & Mrs.Pillai Singapore 29/7/11 " Mr & Mrs.Pillai from Singapore
"Cyril is one of the best experienced person in the industry" Ahamed Anver
" Dear Cyril We spent a wonderful week with you. We were so pleased to have to visited your beautiful country and we will recommend you for all of our relatives and to friends. It has been a pleasure to spend these days with you, we will never forget nice smile on your face all the time. Thank you and if one day you would like to visit Switzerland we will be raedy take you around snowy mountans! All the best, Franz family" Dr. David franz from Swiss
"We had a trip planned with Cyril just when international travel closed down due to Covid. Cyril was great in planning a trip with me that had a great deal of flexibility and tailored to visit the places we wanted to seeUnfortunately we were unable to take the trip. Cyril's response to that was great, he dealt with everything for us in terms of cancellationsHe has kept in touch with us since then and has already contacted me with a revised plan for our trip to Sri Lanka. Which we will book with h..." Brian O: Keefe - Perth - Australia
"Thanks a lot for making great arrangements for the visit. The visit was very well organized with good hotels and the vehicle/ driver. I would highly recommend your agency and its services to everyone who wants to visit Sri Lanka. Anastasia - Russia, Feb 2011 " Anastasia
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