| Anuradhapura
206 km from Colombo is Anuradhapura; Sri
Lanka's first capital. Anuradhapura became the capital
in 380 BC. For over 1000 years Sinhalese kings ruled
from this great city. This ancient capital of Sri Lanka
is a Sacred City today; a potent symbol of Sinhalese
power, and the most extensive and important of Sri
Lanka's ancient cities.
Here one finds the remains of a
flourishing ancient civilisation. This great past is
reflected in the huge Dagobas, palaces and monuments.
Its impressive remains were discovered in the early 19th
century and have been in the process of restoration ever
since. |
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| Polonnaruwa
216 km from Colombo, 75 km South-east of
Anuradhapura in the North Central Province, the ancient
lakeside Sacred City of Polonnaruwa was once the medieval
Capital of Sri Lanka from 11 � 12 century AD. Polonnaruwa rose
to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. |
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Ancient ruins of King's
council chamber, the Royal Citadel, the Kumara Pokuna,
Royal Pavilion, the Vatadage Relic House lavished with
moonstones, guardstones and sculptured railing, temple
houses, rock cut statues, a vast man-made lake are some
of the memorable sights.
The largest of the man-made reservoirs,
the huge Parakrama Samudra, is larger in size than the
Colombo harbour. The Kiri Vehera, a white stone dagoba
of imposing height is just one of the many tributes to
the Buddhist faith. Kiri Vehera is the best preserved of
all Sri Lanka's un-restored dagabas; Gal Vihare -- the
most impressive sculptures are the colossal Buddha
images carved on the face of a granite boulder.
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| A beautiful inland tank abounds with bird
life. At the Gal Vihara you will see three unique pieces of
Buddhist statuary and in the hush of the giant trees, the huge
form of the Reclining Buddha reminds one to tread softly in
this holy place. Apart from this Museum at Polonnaruwa
exhibits well preserved ancient ruins. |
| Sigiriya
In a sheltered pocket, approached by a
spiral stairway, are the famous frescoes, 5th century
rock paintings of damsels These frescoes which have
withstood the elements for 15 centuries are probably the
finest examples in the world.
Stone steps lead to the flat top with an
area of nearly one hectare where the palace -- the outer
wall of which was built on the very brink of the
precipice -courtyards, and even a complicated drainage
system were constructed. Sigiriya was a royal citadel
for more than 18 years. |
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| The summit of the rock offers spectacular
views. The UNESCO-sponsored Central Cultural Fund has restored
Sigiriya's 5th century Water Gardens to their former glory.
Here on the gallery walls are the famous Sigiriya frescoes.
These frescoes which have withstood the elements for 15
centuries are probably the finest examples in the world. This
is regarded as a World Heritage Site and supposed to be the
8th wonder in the world. |
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Dambulla
48 km from Colombo and South of Sigiriya
is another vast isolated rock mass on the summit of
which has a cluster of five temples of which from
ancient times have been the abode of monks. It was place
where the King Valagam Bahu took refuge in the 1st
century B.C. He later turned the caves into a rock
temple.
Hewn out of this rock is a gigantic
recumbent image of the Buddha 14 meter long. These
temples are painted throughout with most exquisite
murals depicting the life and teachings of the Buddha.
Some of the frescoes are over 2,000 years old.
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