Dambulla, the Golden Rock Temple

The famous rock carving known as Isurumuniya Lovers

Jetawana Stupa, the tallest stupa in the world

Mihintale, Cradle of Sri Lanka Buddhism

Sri maha bodhi is the world's oldest tree

The Majesty Hill capital Kandy

Ancient cities in Sri Lanka .. Back to 500 B.C

Anuradhapura (“The Royal Capital”), the first ancient city in Sri Lanka

Anuradhapura is the first ancient city in Sri Lanka and today, it is the main city of the North Central Province, situated 225 Kms away from Colombo on the main road to Jaffna. Anuradhapura is the ancient Sri Lanka’s first capital founded about the 4th century BC. This ancient city in Sri Lanka was a model of planning and well-constructed city. Kings of Sri Lanka thought that their utmost duty was to protect people from hunger and they realised that the rivers and fertile soil alone were not enough. Thus there arose a superb engineering system of tanks and canals first centred round of Anuradhapura.

This sacred city was established around a cutting from the "tree of enlightenment", Buddha's fig tree, brought there in the 3rd century B.C. by Sanghamitta, the founder of an order of Buddhist nuns. Anuradhapura, a Ceylonese political and religious capital that flourished for 1,300 years, was abandoned after an invasion in 993. Hidden away in thick jungle for a long time, the splendid site, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, is once again accessible.

Anuradhapura is one of the most extensive ruins in the world. Anuradhapura, one of its most sacred pilgrimage cities, was a great monastic centre as well as a royal capital, with magnificent monasteries rising to many stories, all roofed with gilt bronze or tiles of burnt clay glazed in brilliant colours. To the north of the city, encircled by great walls and containing elaborate bathing ponds, carved balustrades and moonstones.

There are 17 key world popular religious units in Anuradhapura and you will find how interested are they from the world history perspective. Here are a few of key ones. Click here to read more about Anuradhapura, especially places to visit in Anuradhapura.

-Sri Maha Bodi (The Sacred Bo-Tree) has grown from a cutting of the Bo-tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment is over 2250 years old.

-Jetawana Stupa, the tallest stupa in the world

-Ruined Relic House, a very elegantly constructed adifice with refined detailes and delicate sculptures to enhance the design.

-Residential complex, the residences as seen through the porter’s lodge. (The monastery had 5000 monks in residence.)

-Prasada Stupa, stepped stupas of the prasada type are rare in the world.

-Abhayagiri stupa, the tallest brick edifice of the ancient world originally about 350 feet high.

-Bo tree shrine, displays many phases of constructional activities in the earliest being attributed to the formation of the vihara in the first century B.C.

-Seated Buddha, the image situated at the site of an ancient bodhi-tree shrine.

-The biggest rice-bowl in the world

-The Elephant pond, equivalent in area to 6 modern Olympic swimming pools, is perhaps the largest man-made pond in Sri-Lanka.

-Kuttam Pokuna, twin pond, a beautiful and unusual design of two baths joined to form a single bathing complex

-Moonstone, the is one of the most exquisite moonstones found in Sri Lanka

-The Ruwanwelisaya, standing at 300 feet, is the oldest but smallest of the three giant edifies

-Magnificant Isurumuni Lovers, 6th Century Gupta style carving

-Sanadhi Budda image, this image is counted among the finest Buddha figures sculptured in Sri lanka.

-Anuradhapura Thurparama stupa, the earliest monument found in Sri Lanka is the ‘Stupa’, which is described as a hemispherical dome surmounted with a spire. During the time of Emperor Ashoka (304 - 232 BC)

Polonnaruwa "The Medieval capital"

This was the second capital of ancient Sri Lanka (ancient city in Sri Lanka) established after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993. In its time, a 6 km rampart protected the city. Even during the time when Anuradhapura was the capital Polonnaruwa was an important city because it strategic position commanding all the crossings over the Mahaveli River (major river in Sri Lanka) and acted as a buffer zone against the invading armies. It comprises, besides the Bra manic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century.

There are a number of world popular religious units in Polonnaruwa and you will find how interested are they from the world history perspective.

-Palace of King Parakramabahu, the seven story brick masonary extends to the 3rd floor

-Magnificent Vatadage or Circular stupa house

-Lankathilake, these relief’s display the architectural form of the brick of the 12th century Buddhists sculpture found anywhere in the world

-Galvihara, comprises the finest group of sculptures of the Buddha carved from a single granite

-Parakrama Samudra,or Sea of Parakrama one of the greatest man built irrigation systems

-Atadage, the first Tooth Relic shrine in Polonnaruwa

-Thuparamaya, the best preserved building consist of 7th century limestone images of Buddha

Click here to read more about Polonnaruwa, especially places to visit in Polonnaruwa.

Kandy (“Beauty of the City of Kandy.”)

Kandy was the last capital in the ancient Sri Lanka and the most popular amongst the ancient cities in Sri Lanka. Kandy town is the most venerated and the most sacred place of the Buddhists world over. Is enhanced by its lake and the group of hills Hunnasgiri, Hantane, Bahiravakanda etc surrounding it,To get a full view of the city, any of these hills could be climbed and the mild invigorating weather giving you the necessary back up.

Kandy is generally blessed with a mild climate, adequate rainfall, breathtaking scenery, precipitous tea estates, terraced paddy fields, meandering streams etc. River Mahaweli flows majestically encircling the northern area of the city.

Religious significant of the city is exhibited by the Temple with the scared Tooth relic of the Buddha brought to Lanka by Princess Hemamala and Prince Danta and which is venerated by the Buddhists world over. The annual cultural pageant held giving pride of place ancient culture draws also the other religions are also well represented in Kandy with their Kovils, Mosques, churches etc. Kandy had been declared as a Heritage city by the UNESCO and draws visitors from all over.

There are a number of key world popular religious units in Kandy and you will find how interested are they from the world history perspective.

Peradeniya Botanical gardens

Peradeniya Botanical gardens are situated about 4 miles off Kandy along Colombo – Kandy highway. Average height of the area being about 1500’ as it is on the Kandy plateau, it has a mild climate. Average temperature being about 75 F. Both monsoons being sufficient rain throughout the year. Town of Peradeniya had gained importance partly on account of these world famous Botanical gardens. Much beauty is added to these sides while the other side faces the Kandy – Colombo road; a suspension bridge connects the Gardens with the opposite bank.

Ancient city of Sigiriya (“The Lion Rock”)

This ancient city in Sri Lanka, which dates back to about 1500 years, is the best-preserved city centre in Asia in the first millennium. “The Lion Rock”, the gardens and the pockets of paintings surviving on the rock face are the centres of attraction in this site, which stands at the threshold of being declared as the 8th wonder of the world. An array of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a prodigious lion constructed of bricks and plaster provides access to the site. It lies 169 kms away from Colombo. Sigiriya was the capital city, built by parricidal King Kasyapa who reigned from 477-495 AD. The ruins of the city lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high. The rock was transformed into a recumbent lion, which dominates the jungle from all sides.

Click here to read more about Sigiriya, especially the history, images and what you can see in Sigiriya.

The Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla

This rock cave located 148 kms away from Colombo has been held as sacred by the Sri Lankans for last 15 centuries. This impressive rock had been transformed into a temple by the Sinhala kings. It contains five sanctuaries and is the largest and best preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. Inside the caves, the ceilings are painted with intricate patterns of religious portraits, following the contours of the rock. There are images of the Buddha and bodhisattvas, as well as various gods and goddesses. The Buddhist mural paintings, covering an area of 2,100 square metres, with 157 statues hold immense value.

Mihintale (“Cradle of Sri Lanka Buddhism”)

Mihintale is one of the key religious’ sites and is regarded as the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is located about 10 miles east of Anuradhapura along Anuradhapura – Trincomale major road and it is also at the junction of Kandy – Jaffna road too. Mihintale was originally known as Missaka Pakbata and Sila Kuta (peak) in the northern peak of this mountain on to which the Tera Mahinda alighted after arrival to the island of Sri Lanka and below Sila Kuta is the vast tableland Ambathala and the whole of this area is included in the cultural triangle. The term Mihintale of Mihindutala )plain of mahind) perpetuates the scared name of the Thera Mahinda who arrived in Lanka leaving his native land , India at the behest of his father – king Asoka – to work for the uplift of the moral and spiritual well – fare of the Lankans. Thus the tradition of the Sinhala Buddhists ands the accord in Mahavansa as the introduction of Buddhism to this isle cannot be put away as mere heresy.

There are a number of world popular religious units in Mihintale and you will find how interested are they from the world history perspective.

-Kantaka Cetiya. is one of the earliest religious monuments in Sri Lanka.

-Ambasthala Dagoba, marks the spot where Mahinda surprised King Devanampiyatissa

-Aradhana Gala, or Rock of Convocation, is a rocky peak in Mihintale.

-Mahaseya Dagoba, is the largest stupa in Mihintale. It enshrines a single hair relic of the Buddha.

In 247 B.C. Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka on the mountain of Mihintale. Since then, various kings of Sri Lanka have blessed this rock with magnificent masterpieces of architecture. These include a hospital, a monastic complex, stupas and dagobas. While some of these structures are in an almost perfect state of preservation, some others are in complete ruin. The most spectacular of these is the Kantaka Chaitiya, which displays some of the finest architecture of the early Anuradhapura era.

There are three inscriptions in caves at Mihintale which proves the historically of Wattiya refried to as maharaja brother of king Devampiyatissa.

Kataragama, (“the Holy city”)

Known in the past as Kajaragama, Kataragama is one of the sacred Buddhist cities sanctified with the Buddhas third visit to Lanka/ small village on the right banks Menik ganga, about 8 miles North East of Mahagama or Nirigama (Tssamaharama), is a fast houses tels, gas hot developing town and a pilgrimage destination with all facilities, pilgrim – rests etc.

Kataragama a popular pilgrimage destination frequented by adherents of all religions in Sri Lanka. The main shrine devoted to Skanda popularly described in eulogies as God having six faces and twelve arms whose assistance is sought for worldly gain. The history of the shrine dates back to 2 century BC. The annual procession held in July or August is the main event of the shrine with fire walkers and Kawadi dancers. Offering to the got are made at 4.30am 10.30am and 6.30pm daily.

Kataragama has a long history going back to pre Christian era. Aryans who came to Lanka during the (6 BC not only settled around Kadambanadi or modern Malwatu Oya but in other areas as well. In the deep south there have been at least two major settlements. One centred round Magama and the other in Kataragama and yet another at Kelaniya which cannot definitely say that they came at the same time or they were connected to the royal family in Anuradhapura.

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