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An atlas of Earth’s mysterious places — megaliths, pyramids, lost and sunken cities — with the evidence shown plainly: what is verified, what is contested, and what is still unknown.

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© 2026 Mysteria. Exploring the ancient world.Map © OpenFreeMap · OpenMapTiles · OpenStreetMap contributors

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Sri Lanka

5 places in the atlas, 4 of them inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage.

Kinds found here

Ancient cities3
Temple complexes3
Archaeological wonders2
Fortresses1
Hydraulic works1
Irrigations1
Ancient ports1
Reservoirs1
Submerged sites1

How well established

Verified5

Top regions

North Central Province, Anuradhapura District2
Central Province, Matale District1
North Central Province, Polonnaruwa District1
Northern Province, Mannar1

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Verification

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Verified5 Widely accepted0

Contested

0

Pseudoarchaeology0

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Ancient cities3 Temple complexes3 Archaeological wonders2 Fortresses1 Hydraulic works1 Irrigations1 Ancient ports1 Reservoirs1 Submerged sites1

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Heritage

UNESCO World Heritage only

Excavation

Partially excavated3 Excavated1 Submerged1

Tags

anuradhapura2 unesco2 bisokotuwa1 bodhi tree1 dagaba1 fresco1 gal vihara1 harbour1 hydraulic civilisation1 hydraulic gardens1 jetavana1 jetty1 kassapa1 mahatittha1 mahavamsa1 mantai1 parakramabahu1 polonnaruwa1

1 place

Hydraulic works Verified Clear all

✓VerifiedUNESCO

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka · Hydraulic works

Abhaya Wewa (Abhayavapi) — Anuradhapura Ancient Reservoir

Anuradhapura period (400 BCE – 10th c. CE) · Anuradhapura Sinhalese (Sinhala hydraulic civilisation)

400 BCE 350-ha 3.8 Mm³ tank with Bisokotuwa sluice — world's earliest valve 3rd c. BCE.