What is the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree?

The Sri Maha Bodhi is a very revered sacred fig tree in Anuradhapura, and it holds the verified record as the oldest historically documented, human-planted tree on Earth, planted back in 288 BC. It was raised from a direct cutting brought from Bodh Gaya in India, the very same tree where the Buddha reached enlightenment.

For more than 2,000 years, it has been carefully guarded without pause by devoted monks, and many people call it the spiritual core of Sri Lankan Buddhism. The old, first branch is kept heavily supported with gold-plated iron crutches, and the whole area sits within protective walls. When pilgrims visit, they often believe that making offerings at this place is one of the most spiritually gainful deeds they can do during their lifetime.