Anuradhapura
Sri lanka's first capital famous for its
well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning
of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable
and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The
ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by
monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).
Anuradhapura was an example par excellence of a Hydraulic Civilization. The construction of reservoirs, canals, and irrigation channels during this period exhibited an amazing knowledge of trigonometry and the design of reservoirs a thorough grasp of hydraulic principals.
Warrior king ValagamBahu in the 1c.B.C. and Jethavana Stupa built by king Mahasen in the 3c.A.D were taller than the third pyramid of Giza and were the wonders of the world at the time, with the Jethavana probably being the largest stupa in the whole Buddhist world.
Polonnaruwa
The second most ancient of Sri lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 AD to reunite the country once more under a local leader.The city in its day was fortified with three concentric walls, beautiful with parks and gardens and sactified by many shrines.
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka.. Kandy is one of the most picturesque cities in Sri Lanka; which is both an administrative and religious city. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most venerable places for the Buddhist community of Sri Lanka and all around the world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988.
What brings sanctity yo Kandy is the Dalada Maligawa whuch houses the scared Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Te golden roofed temple is visited by locals and tourists bearing flowers and incense daily throughout the day and night.
The Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya is situated about 5 km to the west of the city center at Peradeniya and is visited by 1.2 million people per year. It is the largest botanical garden on the island.
Dambulla
The city of Dambulla is situated in the Matale District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, situated 148 km north-east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy. Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here king Valagam Bahu took refuge in the 1c B.C. He later turned the caves into a rock temple. Slits rock ceiling is one large sweep of colorful paintings which depict Buddhist mythology and tales of the Buddha's previous births.
Ibbankatuwa prehistoric burial site near Dhambulla cave temple complexes is the latest archaeological site of significant historical importance found in Dambulla, which is located within 3 kilometers of the cave temples providing evidence on presence of indigenous civilizations long before the arrival of Indian influence on the Island nation
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is a large stone and ancient rock fortress and palace ruin in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. It is one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. It is also declared by UNESCO as the 8th Wonder of the World
The rock fortress was built by king Kashapa in the 5th century A.D. and was a royal citadel for more than 18 years. It is a complex of buildings, part royal palace, part fortified town , and water gardens on par with the best in the ancient world, constitute a magnificent and unique architectural feat of the ancient Sinhalese.
Nuwara Eliya
The second most ancient of Sri lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 AD to reunite the country once more under a local leader.The city in its day was fortified with three concentric walls, beautiful with parks and gardens and sactified by many shrines.
The Statue of Parakramabahu /
Agastaya is a huge 12th - century rock sclpture of great quality. A bare foot
figure, clad only in a sarong, steps forward out of the wall of rock from which
he was carved. His broad face, with its beard and walrus moustache has a look
of seriousness softened by spirituality, as he holds a sacred manuscript from
which he appears to be reading aloud. It seems certain that he is a religious
teacher, which would coincide nicely with the theories about the function of
the Pothgul Vihara.
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka.. Kandy is one of the most picturesque cities in Sri Lanka; which is both an administrative and religious city. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most venerable places for the Buddhist community of Sri Lanka and all around the world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988.
It is the
second-largest city of the island; the city can be reached by major motorways
and the railway line in every direction of the island. The main roads
Colombo-Kandy and Kandy-Nuwara Eliya are two of the most scenic roads of Sri
Lanka; Colombo-Kandy road passes through rubber plantations and greeny paddies,
Kandy-Nuwara Eliya road cuts through paddy fields and tea plantations. Both roads claw their way up
winding, rounding over the rings of hills.
What brings sanctity yo Kandy is the Dalada Maligawa whuch houses the scared Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Te golden roofed temple is visited by locals and tourists bearing flowers and incense daily throughout the day and night.
The Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya is situated about 5 km to the west of the city center at Peradeniya and is visited by 1.2 million people per year. It is the largest botanical garden on the island.
Dambulla
The city of Dambulla is situated in the Matale District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, situated 148 km north-east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy. Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here king Valagam Bahu took refuge in the 1c B.C. He later turned the caves into a rock temple. Slits rock ceiling is one large sweep of colorful paintings which depict Buddhist mythology and tales of the Buddha's previous births.
Ibbankatuwa prehistoric burial site near Dhambulla cave temple complexes is the latest archaeological site of significant historical importance found in Dambulla, which is located within 3 kilometers of the cave temples providing evidence on presence of indigenous civilizations long before the arrival of Indian influence on the Island nation
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is a large stone and ancient rock fortress and palace ruin in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. It is one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. It is also declared by UNESCO as the 8th Wonder of the World
The rock fortress was built by king Kashapa in the 5th century A.D. and was a royal citadel for more than 18 years. It is a complex of buildings, part royal palace, part fortified town , and water gardens on par with the best in the ancient world, constitute a magnificent and unique architectural feat of the ancient Sinhalese.
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara eliya, is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate.
It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) and is considered to be
the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka. The town is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka.
Nuwara Eliya, called Little England because of the
climate itself to becoming the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants
and planters in Ceylon then, was also a hill country retreat where the British
colonialists could immerse in their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer
hunting,elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket.
It's a land of peace , and silence. The nostalgia of the empire builders is reflects in Nuwara-Eliya. The town is decorated with buildings ranging in style from Georgian to Queen Anne.Parks, trout streams, an 18 hole golf course complete with gorse, the post office with the clockspire, the Anglican Church with a lych-gate and the Hill club, with its hunting prints, stuffed fish and polished oak.
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