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reflecting the character, imagination, culture, philosophy, and the faith of its people are seen in the form of ruined cities, buildings, palaces, reservoirs, parks, dagobas (dome enshrining sacred relics or the bodily remains of the Buddha, or articles used by Him), Buddha images, temples, sculpture and painting throughout the little Island. However it is at the major archaeological sites of
Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy that the glory of the Island's past can be seen in its true form still living among the several ruins. These ancient cities can be reached easily from Colombo in a comfortable morning's drive through green paddy fields, acres of coconut palms and alongside deep jungle where wild animals roam.
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Kandy:
The Hill Capital of Kandy was the last bastion of the Sinhala kings and is a charming city offering a living record of a magnificent past.
Centre of attraction is the Dalada Maligawa, the temple housing the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha.
Anuradhapura: About 205 km north of Colombo is Anuradhapura, the first capital of Sri Lanka established in the 4th century BC that remained the Royal Capital for over ten centuries. Several magnificent dagobas, buildings, monasteries, ponds, irrigation tanks spanning one thousand five hundred years bear testimony to a glorious and technically advanced civilization. Ruvanveli, Jetavana, and Abhayagiri are huge dagobas that stand majestically having withstood the battering of elements for over fifteen centuries. Foremost among the numerous historical monuments in Anuradhapura is the Sacred Bo Tree - Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a branch of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. A mass of stone pillars close to the Sri Maha Bodhi identified as the Brazen Palace was once a nine storied building. Isurumuniya is famous for its beautiful stone carvings. Samadhi Buddha image is a masterpiece of sculpture. Among the extensive ruins covering the city of Anuradhapura are Buddha images, temples, palaces, bathing ponds, monasteries, hospitals, alms halls and beautiful stone carvings and irrigation tanks. Archeological remains of Anuradhapura spanning over ten centuries are too vast to be listed in full. However, the place is a treasure house where one can delightfully loose oneself amongst the stupendous relics of a bygone Golden era of a great civilisation.
Mihintale: Thirteen kilometers from Anuradhapura is Mihintale, the site of introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the year 247 BC. The King of Sri Lanka having embraced Buddhism established the world's first fauna and flora sanctuary at Mihintale in the 3rd century BC. Monasteries, an ancient hospital, dagobas, ponds, caves in which Buddhist monks lived are among the many places of interest that the visitor should see.
Polonnaruwa: The glory of mediaeval Sri Lanka is seen at Polonnaruwa, the mediaeval capital of the Island about 216 km, south east of Anuradhapura. Polonnaruwa used by the Sri Lankan kings as a 'country residence' from the 7th century became the Island's capital in the 11th century AD. Within the ramparts of the Royal Citadel are the ruins of the King's palace,the Council Chamber and the Royal Bath. The Buddha images at the Gal Vihara or the Rock Temple are masterpieces of stone sculpture. Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama is a giant man made irrigation reservoir. A visit to Polonnaruwa is incomplete without visiting the new archaeological museum opened by the Central Cultural Fund where the ancient gloryof the city has been recreated in scale models.
Sigiriya: A city, palace and a garden complex centering a 200 metre high rock, Sigiriya, is a glowing tribute to the vision of King Kashyapa who created this 'Palace in the Sky' in the 5th century AD. On the summit of the Sigiriya rock (meaning the 'Lion Rock') that is over 1.5 hectares in extent are the remains of a large palace, the earliest surviving royal palace in Sri Lanka, with several chambers and a bathing pond. In a sheltered pocket of the giant rock are the celebrated paintings of 5th century AD, a few that is remaining from around 500 paintings that once covered the rock surface. Meticulously planned water gardens at the foot of the rock are the earliest such gardens found in Asia. The boulder gardens are a fine example of landscaping while conserving the environment. The Mirror Wall, which had been exposed to elements for over fifteen centuries still carry some of the original sheen that has given it the name. This archaeological site unparalleled in South Asia has been declared a World Heritage Site.
Dambulla: Dambulla Rock Temple is a magnificent gallery of Buddha images and wall and ceiling paintings not seen anywhere else in the Island. It is a complex of five cave temples with its origin going back to the Anuradhapura period (1st century BC). However due to additions and restorations done by various rulers over the past two thousand years what now remains are mostly the works of the Kandyan period (18th century). |
