Sacred Bo Tree
After the fall of Anuradhapura, the kings moved the capital to Polonnaruwa, and the once magnificent city was left to the will of the dry zone tropical jungle for about eight hundred years. During this time, only the sacred "Bo" Tree, started from a sapling of the ficus religiosa under which Siddhartha Gauthama attained enlightenment, was continually cared for. This sacred "Bo" tree is the oldest historically documented tree on earth. This tree has been tended devotedly for nearly 23 centuries, even after the city came under the rule of north Indian Dravidian conquerors The branches of this sacred "Bo" tree, with a recorded history of more than 2,100 years, seems very slight and fragile. For this reason the branches are supported with iron crutches to prevent any mishaps during heavy rains or strong wind storms. The tree stands among other younger trees, on a special platform, protected by a gold plated railing. It is believed that most of the older Bo trees in Sri Lanka and some in other Buddhist countries are descendants of this sacred tree.
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