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Lanka’s greatest religious icons and symbolizes the greatness of the Buddha. In around 250 BC this sacred tree was brought to Sri Lanka by the daughter of the great Emperor Asoka of India and sister of Arahat Mahinda, the monk who introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
sacred dagoba in the entire island, as it is believed to house the largest number of relics of the Buddha. Construction of this great dagoba was thought to have started during the reign of King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century BC.
Built in the shape of a heap of paddy, this dagoba is considered to be the first in Sri Lanka, following the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Arahat Mahinda. The collar bone of Lord Buddha is believed to have been enshrined here. The Thuparamaya as it stands today is after several renovations, having once been completely ruined
the monks of the Mahviharaya Buddhist University. At any given time, the Lovamahapaya was supposed to have housed 3000 monks! The bronze tiles that were used to cover the roof, gave this building the name, the Brazen Palace. It was thought to have taken 6 years to build this magnificent building. What we see today represents the Brazen Palace in ruin.
dagoba was more than just part of a complex of monastic buildings. Abhayagiri gained popularity as a fraternity for Buddhist monks, attracting scholars from all over the world across all nuances of Buddhism and as such its influence can be traced to other parts of the world. The 3rd century AD saw the golden age of Abhayagiri, and when the Buddha’s Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka the 4th century, Abhayagiri was selected to house the relic for public veneration.
Anuradhapura. At a height of over 120m, Jetavana Dagoba is the largest dagoba in Sri Lanka and among the tallest monuments in the world. A part of a sash or belt tied by the Buddha is believed to be enshrined here.
This dagoba was built in the 2nd century by King Dutugemunu.
Anuradhapura there are many other ruins and important places of worship. A few other interesting historical places worth visiting are;
Isurumuniya was built in the 3rd century BC as part of a monastic complex. This temple is best known for its rock carvings, the most popular being “the lovers”. The style of the sculpture resembles the Gupta Art of India.
masterpiece of sculptural art and dates back to around the 4th century BC. The statue is 8 feet high and made of granite. The statue shows the Buddha in a deep state of meditation.
This magnificent granite Buddha statue which stands at 13 feet is among the tallest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. The Aukana Buddha statue dates back to the 5th century AD.
of Mihintale goes way back to a full moon day in the month of June around 250 BC, when Arahat Mahinda was believed to have come from India to preach the doctrine of Buddhism. As the story goes, Arahat Mahinda met King Devanampiyatissa and converted the king and his court to Buddhism. Following this, the Mihintale Rock became a monastery and sanctuary.
Polonnaruwa has probably the largest number of Hindu temples spread out amidst Buddhist shrines. Compared to the larger Buddhist shrines, the Hindu temples can be considered small but significant in design and execution, with a definite Hindu character conforming to an orthodox religious architectural tradition.
ocean. It is of such a width that it is impossible to stand on one shore and view the other side. It encircles the town like a ribbon, being both a defensive border against intruders and the lifeline of people in times of peace.
King Parakramabahu’s Palace must have once been an imposing structure, and historical records describe it as 7 stories high with a 1000 rooms. The large halls, royal pleasure gardens complete with royal baths, intricately carved stone pillars, grandiosely decorated windows and the fabulous architecture used to build this palace, are characteristic of this great era.
monuments of Polonnaruwa. The central unit here is the Vatadage or the circular relic house. An elegant and beautiful work of art.
Is the most celebrated site in Polonnaruwa and one of the most famous in the whole island. It is known for its large rock-cut images which are in a perfect state of preservation. Across the face of the rock is (1) a seated Buddha image in deep meditation (2) a sculpture inside a cave out of sold rock (3) a standing Buddha statue 7 meters high (4) the Buddha lying down.
exposed some of the most unique and significant buildings of the Polonnaruwa period. The brick-built image house of Lankathilaka with its 41 foot colossal Buddha statue occupies the center of this space. Is without doubt one of the most impressive ruins of this ancient city.
Kandy has played an important role in Sri Lankan history not only as the last capital of Sri Lanka but also as the last bastion of the Sinhala culture that flourished for more than 2000 years. Fortunately Kandy has preserved certain aspects of the performing arts, architecture and religious practices of by-gone civilizations. Kandyan architecture has a distinct character of its own which is comfortable rather than luxurious. The buildings are smaller in scale, and simpler in appearance, but refined in detailing.
Built on a rocky outcrop, the temple is reached by a long series of steps cut directly into the rock. The temple is full of exquisite painted scenes of the lives of 24 former Buddha’s and there is a colossal seated image of the Buddha.
Built in the 14th century. This temple has been completely built from wood, and is famous for the unique wood work and the splendid carvings. A deistic shrine is dedicated to the God of Kataragama. The wood art of this temple is astounding with dancers, swans, soldiers on horseback, floral emblems and double headed eagles to name a few. Special treasures are the doorways of sandalwood.
This temple is built almost exclusively from stone in the 14th century and sits on a hilltop with commanding views of the countryside. The Gadaladeniya rock Temple is famous for its stone carvings. The structure of the temple is influenced by South Indian architecture.
Galle Fort was first built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and then modified by the Dutch during the 17th century. During this time the fort became Sri Lanka’s main port and centre of trade and commerce among the Persians, Arabians, Greeks, Romans, Malays and Indians. The Galle Fort is one of the best preserved examples of 17th century colonial fortifications in the world and is on the UNESCO list of world monuments. In fact today, much of what visitors see of the Galle Fort is a reflection of the way Galle Fort was during the time of the Dutch. When the British took over Galle for the Dutch in the 18th century they did little to alter or eradicate any of the Dutch structures or influences.
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