Sacred City of Kandy

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The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the only surviving relic of Buddha, a tooth, which is venerated by Buddhists. The relic has played an important role in the local politics since ancient times, it's believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country, which caused the ancient kings to protect it with great effort. Kandy was the capital of the Sinhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815, fortified by the terrain of the mountains and the difficult approach. The city is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO, in part due to the temple.

Monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya conduct daily ritual worship in the inner chamber of the temple, in annual rotation. They conduct these services three times a day: at dawn, at noon and in the evening.

On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with an herbal preparation made from scented water and flagrant flowers, called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present. Read more

Historical records suggest that Kandy was first established by the King Wickramabahu (1357–1374 CE) near the Watapuluwa area, north of the present city, and named Senkadagalapura at the time, although some scholars suggest the name Katubulu Nuwara may also have been used. The origin of the more popular name for the city, Senkadagala, could have been from a number of sources. These include naming after a brahmin named Senkanda who lived in a cave near the city, after a queen of King Wickramabahu named Senkanda or after a colored stone named Senkadagala.



Links: Welcome to the World Heritage Kandy City

Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications

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Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, during the Dutch colonial period. The major river is Gin River (Gin Ganga) which starts from Gongala Kanda and passing villages such as Neluwa, Nagoda, Baddegama, Thelikada, Wakwella and kisses the sea at Ginthota. In Wakwella over the river there is Wakwella Bridge which is the longest bridge in Sri Lanka. On 26 December 2004 the city was devastated by the massive Boxing Day Tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that occurred a thousand miles away, off the coast of Indonesia. Thousands were killed in the city alone.

Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and southeast Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. The Galle fort is a world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include St. Mary's Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests, one of the main Shiva temples on the island, and The Amangalla, a historic luxury hotel.

Galle is the main town in the most southerly part of the island, with a population of around 100,000, and is connected by rail to Colombo and Matara. It is home to a cricket ground, the Galle International Stadium, rebuilt after the 2004 tsunami. Test matches resumed there on December 18, 2007.

Rumassala Kanda is a large mound-like hill, which forms the eastern protective barrier to the Galle harbour. Local tradition associates this hill with some events of the Ramayana. Read more

Information Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ancient City of Sigiriya

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Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka. The Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477 – 495), and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescos), which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. A series of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a gigantic lion constructed of bricks and plaster provide access to the site. An ancient Sinhalese guide book called the 'Sihigiri Vihara' found in the library of the Maharaja at Suvarnapura describes this rock and its palace in great detail. It describes the edifice constructed at the summit to have been made only for the use of a couple. No one was allowed to climb there other than King Kasyapa and his Queen. This edifice is described as a mansion with several landscaped gardens and a beautiful pond called Dharani with aquatic flowers. It was always full of water even in the dry season as a mechanism conducted water there. Added in UNESCO- World Heritage Site on 1982. Read more

Information Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, lankalibrary

Golden Temple of Dambulla, Sri Lanka

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A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 m2) are of particular importance, as are the 157 statues. Is a World Heritage Site 1991. Also known as Dambulla cave Temple in the central of the Sri Lanka country. Largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. There are major attractions on 5 caves contains of statues and paintings which are related to Lord Buddha and his life. May found 153 of Buddha statues. The two hindu god's Lord Vishnu and god Ganesh, was include later on.

The temple is composed of five caves, which have been converted into shrine rooms. The caves, built at the base of a 150m high rock during the Anuradhapura (1st Century BC to 993 AD) and Polonnaruwa times (1073 to 1250), are by far the most impressive of the many cave temples found in Sri Lanka. Read more

Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and World Heritage Site.

Ancient City of Polonnaruwa

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Before 1070 CE. Hampi to India and this second largest ancient of Sri Lanka Polonaruwa for Sri Lanka. The real hero of Polonaruwa was Prakramabahu I who was adamant that no drop of water falling from the heavens was to be wasted, and each be used toward the development of the land. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1982. It was once a royal capital for both Indian as well as Sinhalese kings and one can, at times, see traces of the influence of one on the other.



The South Indian Chola kings and the Sinhalese Vijayabahu I, King Parakramabahu I and King Nissankamalla were largely responsible for its architectural achievements. Polonnaruwa was a well planned city. According to historical records, King Parakramabahu the Great had built several housing complexes. The houses of the rich would have been made out of brick while the poor would have lived in houses made of wattle and daub or timber with thatched roofs.Image

Parackramabahu statue

Information and Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Discover Sri Lanka, The Hindu

To read more and discover about Polonnaruwa go the these various interesting site's..
External links

• Discover Sri Lanka - More information & images about Polonnaruwa
• Discover Sri Lanka - Historical background of Polonnaruwa
• Discover Sri Lanka - Old City of Polonnaruwa

• Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
• "Discovering Polonnaruwa" - an article in The Hindu
• Galvihara - a unique display of rock art
• Official website of the Sri Lanka Tourism Board
• A list of traditional names of cities in Sri Lanka
• Places of interest in polonnaruwa

Sacred City of Anuradhapura, Srilanka

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Anuradhapura, according to legend, was first settled by Anuradha, a follower of Prince Vijaya the founder of the Sinhala race. Later, it was made the Capital by King Pandu kabhaya about 380 BCE. In 1982 this Sacred City of Anuradhapura has become UNESCO World Heritage Site. Is famous for ruins of ancient Lanka civilization.Archaeological saying it is date as far back as 10th century BC but according to historical data the city was founded in the 5th century BC. The city also had some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world. Most of the great reservoir tanks still survive today, and some many be the oldest surviving reservoirs in the world. Anuradhapuram was permanently abandoned and hidden in the jungle for centuries after an invasion in 993 AD. Later in the 19th centuries it discover by the British and became a Biddhist pilgrimage site.
Information Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, tourslanka.com, sacred-destinations.com

Anuradhapura
Image Obtained From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia