South AsiaAsia

Anuradhapura Kingdom

c. 437 BCE – 1017 CE · about 1454 years approximate dates

The Anuradhapura Kingdom was the first established kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka, with its capital at Anuradhapura. Buddhism arrived in the 3rd century BCE, and the kingdom built huge stupas and irrigation reservoirs. The Chola invasion of 1017 ended it.

Key facts

Dates	c. 437 BCE – 1017 CE
Region	South Asia
Continent	Asia
Capital	Anuradhapura
Founder	Pandukabhaya
Religion(s)	Theravada Buddhism, Hinduism

Note on dates: The early dates come from the Pali chronicles (Mahavamsa) and are traditional.

Before & after

Followed by

Chola Empire

Sources

Wikipedia – Anuradhapura kingdom

Dates follow widely used reference works; many ancient dates are approximate or debated. Neutral summary for general reference.