Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura. It is believed that this southern branch of the historical Bodhi tree Sri Maha Bodhi at Bodh Gaya in India under which Buddha attained enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC and is the oldest tree in the world with a known planting date, which is man made. Today it is one of the sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world.

Other Fig trees that surround the sacred tree, protected from the storms and animals such as monkeys, bats, etc.

In the 3rd century BC, this tree was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamitta Tera, the daughter of Emperor Ashoka, and the founder of the order of Buddhist nuns in Sri Lanka. In 249 BC, the tree was planted by king Devanampiya Thiess on a high terrace about 6.5 m (21, 3 feet) above the ground in the Park Mahamevnawa in Anuradhapura and is surrounded by a fence.

Several of the ancient kings contributed to the development of this religious place. King Vasabha (65 - 107 BC) placed four statues of Buddha on four sides of the sacred tree. The king of Sagarika Tissa (214 - 236 B. C.) put a metal statue. The king of Mahanaga (569 - 571 B. C.) built a water channel around the sacred tree.

Contemporary wall was built Rupandehi Astadasa Tero during the reign of king Kirti Sri Rajasinha to protect the wood from wild elephants, which could damage it. The height of the wall is 3, 0 m, thickness of 1, 5 m, length from North to South is 118, 3 m and from East to West, 83, 5 m.

The first Golden fence around the sacred tree was constructed several Buddhist followers from Kandy under the leadership of Athravan Narada Thero in 1969. The iron fence was erected by the people of Gonagala under the leadership Agerola Purnananda Tero. Second Golden fence was built under the leadership of the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hurt Wickremasinghe in 2003.

Two branches of the sacred tree were broken because of the storm in 1907 and 1911. Crazy cut and threw a branch in 1929. Tamil terrorists shot several pious followers of the Buddha on the upper terrace in 1985.