The 1st Capital of Sri Lanka, dating back to the 4th Century BC, and one of the most fascinating ancient cities in the world. There was an entire range of religious and secular buildings including hospitals, hostels, cemeteries, temples, palaces and irrigation tanks. The "Sri Maha Bodhi" tree is said to be the oldest historically documented tree in the world. Today, it is supported on crutches and encircled by a gold plated railing.