Anuradhapura
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| Sri maha bodhiya |
The sacred city Anuradhapura was
once a major civilization in Sri Lankan. The attraction ancient ruins include large
stupas built in Anuradhapura. They are built of small sun-dried bricks, water
reservoirs, sculptures, temples, palaces, and ancient.
However, in this area people may
have lived since as early as the 10th century BC. After the arrival
of a cutting from the Bodhi Tree called Sri Maha Bodhi, This sacred city became
a great. After an invasion in 993 AD, Anuradhapura was permanently abandoned.
The headquarters of the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon is in Anuradhapura.
Today, the splendid sacred city
of Anuradhapura, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, draws many
Buddhist pilgrims all kind of visitors.
Anuradhapura has so many things; they
are the sacred Bodhi tree, eight major palaces, monasteries and monuments.
Sri
Maha bodhiya
The Sri Maha bodhiya is perhaps
the oldest living tree in the world. Around 245 BC, Sanghamitta Their brought
with her a branch of the Bodhi Tree in the time of King devanampiyatissa.
Ruwanwelisaya
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| Ruvanweliseya |
After defeating the Tamil king
Elara, King Dutugemunu of Sri Lanka built this wonderful stupa. The stupa is
known as Runwnawelisaya, Swarnamali Chaitya and Mahathupa. The compound is
supported by stone elephants, and the surrounding wall is decorated with 1,900
figures of elephants – on each side.
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| Thuparamaya |
The King Devanampiyatissa built
Thuparamaya in which was enshrined the collarbone of the Buddha and is
considered as the first Dagaba built in Sri Lanka, after the introduction of
Buddhism. This dagaba was destroyed from time to time. During the reign of King
Agbo II it was completely destroyed and the King restored it. The dome is 11
feet 4 inches (3.45) in height from the ground , 164 ½ ft. (50.1m) in diameter.
During the early perioed vatadage was built round the dagaba.
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| Lovamahapaya |
It is situated between
Ruvanveliseya and Sri Mahabodiya. In ancient times the building included the
refectory and the uposathagara. The famous Lohaprasada built by Kig Dutugemunu
described as an edifice of nine storeys, was a building of this class. One side
of the building was 400ft (120 m) in length. There are 40 rows, each row
consisting of 40 stone pillars and a total of 1600 stone pillars were used for
the building. The building was completely destroyed during the reign of King
Saddhatissa.
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| Abhayagiriya |
Abhayagiri
Dagaba
King Valagamba ascended the
throne in 103 AD. Thereafter the bhikkhus of the Abhayagiri vihara founded a
separate sect there. King Valagamba’s reign is marked by an important event-the
first schism in Buddhism in Ceylon. Most learned bhikkhus lives in Abhayagiri
Vihara, then the hight is said to have been 140 cubits. In the year 1875,
Abhayagiri Vihara which had a diameter of 307 feet (94) at its base, stood to a
hight of 231 feet (70 m)
Jetavanarama
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| Jethavanaramaya |
King Mahasen (273-301AD) built
this largest stupa in Ceylon. The doorpost to the shrine which is situated at
the courtyard is 27 feet (8m) in height. This stupa belongs to the Sagalika
sect. The compound of the stupa is 8 acres (3 ha.) One side of the stupa is 576
feet (176) in depth. The 4 flight of steps at the four sides is 28 feet (8.5m)
in depth. It is a foot (0.3m) underground.
Mirisaveti
Stupa
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| Mirisavatiya |
After defeating King Elara, King
Dutugamunu Built the Mirisaveti Stupa. Relics in the scepter, after placing the
Buddha, he had gone to Tisawewa for a bath leaving the scepter. The stupa was
built in the place where the scepter stood. In order to punish himself he built
the Mirisavetiya Dagaba. Lankarama was built by King valagamaba. The round
courtyard of the stupa seems to be 10 feet (3m) above the ground. The diameter
of the stupa is 45 feet (14m). The courtyard is circular in shape and the
dismet4er is 1332 feet (406 m)
Isurumuniya
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| Isurumuniya |
It is situated near Tisawewa and
It was built by King Devanampiyatissa to house 500 newly-ordained children of
high caste. King Kasyapa I renovated
this viharaya and named it as “Boupulvan, Kasubgiri Radmaha Vehera”. A small
stupa is built on it. The carving of Isurumuniya lovers on the slab has been
brought from another place and placed it here. The important place of Magul
Uyan is situated close to Isurumuni Vihara and Tissawewa and it contains
several ponds. The largest pond in this garden is 31 x 55ft (9.5 x 17 m) in
length and breadth. Rathna Prasadaya was built by King Kanittha Tissa who ruled
Ceylon form 167-186 AD. King Kanittha Tissa had build an lams hall, King
Gottabhaya built an uposathagaraya, where the bhikkhis assembled for the
ceremony of confession, while King Agbo I constructed a large building, The
most popularly known fact is that this stupa was constructed on the tomb of
King Dutugemunu. This stupa has been given this name as the platform and stupa
has been constructed in stone. Naka Vihara is a square-shaped stupa built of
bricks. The remains of this vihara shows that it is 30 feet in height and the
circumference is 425 feet
Kandy
Kandy, the last capital of Sri
Lanka is major tourist destination. Famous for the temple of the Tooth and many
other temples the city could be called the cultural capital of the island.
Kandy perahera, the pageant of
the temple of tooth where Buddha’s tooth is kept is held either in July or
August. In each year, the parade the golden caskets is a must see itenary. The
final procession is the most spectacular event of the country. More than 50
elephants parade the city accompanied by the drummers, dancer and chieftains.
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| Kandy Perahara |
The temples tooth
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| Sri Dalada Maligava |
The main attraction of the city is
Kandy in Sri Lanka and all so the most sacred Buddhist establishment in Sri
Lanka is where one of Buddha’s tooth is being kept. Established in the 16th
century but improvements and additions have been done to this structure until
the fall of the Kandy kingdom. Daily rituals are being carried out at various
offering times to the shrine. A dress code applies for entering the temple. The
magnificence has been enhanced by the octagonal pavilion.
Other
temple
Kandy is surrounded with many
major Buddhist temples. In close to the lake, Main important temples are
Malwaththa and Asgiri temples. Fine painted murals of Buddhist stories in these
temple buildings are a good example of the arts in the Kandy period. Hindagala
temple has significant painting in 7th century.
Hindu shrine
Temple of the tooth are there of
the four major Hindu shrines taking part in the Kandy perahera. Shrines are
dedicated to Gods Vishnu and Natha and Goddss Patthini. The forth shrine is
further towards the town. Visitors to these shrines could witness the Hindu
religion customers thought most of the worshipers today are Buddhists. Hindu
shrines taking part in the Buddhist pageant is a good example of the Sinhala
and Tamil co-existence that lasted for centuries. Four of the last Sri Lankan
kings were of Indian origin.
Other
royal palace compound
Old place buildings are just
beside the temple of the tooth. Among them are the old royal palace, quarters
of the royal concubines. Some of these are now being used as museums representing
the exhibits of the Kandyan era. The council chambers built in 1784 is a unique
example of wooden architecture of the Kandyan era. Ceding the country to the
British in 1815, The Kandyan Convention was signed here.
Lankatilake temple
Lankatilake temple is a
magnificent building built on rock at a scenic location which also has fine
paintings.
The royal botanical garden
Once this was a pleasure garden
of a Kandyan Queen this 40ha land is beautiful park with numerous tropical plants.
During the Second World War, the commander of the allied forces in Southeast
Asia Earl Mountbatten had the headquarters in the garden. 
Peradeniya is situated about 5.5
km to the west from the city of Kandy in the central Province of Sri Lanka. Royal
Botanical Garden is the most famous park from the ancient British era, and
attract 1.2 million visitors annually. It is renowned for its collection of a
variety of orchids. It includes more than 300 varieties of orchids, spices,
medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to it is the National Herbarium. The
total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres at 460 meters above sea level,
and with a 200-day annual rainfall. 
Fact that origins of the Botanic
Gardens date is as far back as 1371. King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne
and kept court at Peredeniya near Mahaweli River. King Kirti Sri and King Rajadhi Rajasinghe were also followed it. On this
location, a temple was built by King Wimala Dharma. But when they were given
control over the Kingdom of Kandy, it was destroyed by the British. Thereafter,
the groundwork for a botanical garden was formed by Alexandar Moon in 1821. The
Botanical Garden at Peredeniya was formally established in 1843 with plants
brought from Kew Garden, Slave Island, Colombo, and the Kalutara Garden in
Kalutara. Under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844, the Royal Botanic
Garden, Peradeniya was made more independent and expanded. On his death in 1849
George Henry Kendrick Thwaites became superintendent. When it was established
in 1912, the Garden came under the administration of the Department of
Agriculture. The classical Avenue of Palms is located in this Garden. One tree
with a significant history is the Cannonball Tree planted by King George V of
the United Kingdom and queen Mary in 1901.
Sigiriya
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| Sigiriya at a glance |
Sri Lankan architectural
tradition is well displayed at Sigiriya. From the first millennium, it is the
best preserved city centre in Asia with its combination of buildings and
gardens with their trees, water gardens, pathways.
The Complex consists of the
central rock and it is rising 200 meters above the surrounding plain, and the
two rectangular precincts on the east (90 hectares) and the west (40 hectares),
surrounded by two moats and three ramparts.
The water garden moats and
ramparts are based on an ‘echo plan” Layout and design of its duplicate is on
either side. This city still displays its skeletal layout and its significant
features. In the spectacular ‘Lion rock’ fortress, Sigiriya stands majestically
overlooking the luscious green jungle surroundings. It is one of the major
attractions in Sri Lanka
This was built by King Kasyapa,
King Dhatusena is his father. As legend goes, King Dhatusena was overthrown and
walled in, alive by Kasyapa in 473 AD. Mogallana, Dhatusena’s son by the true
queen fled to India,
Kasyapa fearing an invasion built this impregnable
fortress at Sigiriya. Sigiriya is famous in all over the world with followers. The
beautifully landscaped water gardens contain a complex network of underground
water distribution system. It provides water to the Royal baths, little moated
islands & fountains. Some fountains are still work during the rainy season.
About halfway up the rock is a sheltered gallery of frescoes painted on the
sheer rock face. Beyond the fresco gallery, the pathway circles the sheer face
of the rock, and is protected by a 3m
high wall. The graffiti was mostly inscribed between the 7th and 11th
Century AD. The Northern end of the rock the path way emerges to a platform.
Therefore the rock derives its name Sigiriya (the Lion Rock).
Dambulla
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| Dambulla Viharaya |
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| Cave arts |
Dambulla is a big town. It is situated
in the Matale District in Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is near the Ibbankatuwa
prehistoric burial site, Dhambulla cave temple complexes is the latest
archaeological site of Sri Lanka. Statues and paintings in these caves date
back to the 1st century BC. But the paintings and statues were
repaired and repainted in 11th, 12th, and 18th,
century AD. at that time buddhist monks meditating in the caves of Dambulla
provided the exiled king protection from his enemies. When King Valagamba
returned to the throne at Anuradapura in the 1st century BC, he had
a magnificent rock temple built at Dambulla as a gratitude to the monks in
Dambulla.
Kelaniya
The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is
one of the most sacred places of the Sri Lanka. In the past Kelaniya, it was a
large city and Maha Viharaya was one of the largest and one of the most beautiful
temples of Sri Lanka.
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| Kelaniya temple |
With the third visited of the
Buddha to this country, The spot on which this Vihara stands derived its
sanctity in the Buddhist era 2531. The fact that the Buddha visited the spot on
a Wesak day on the invitation of King Maniakkhika. This story is given in the
historic epics of Sri Lanka.
Kelaniya Vihara however, received
its hallowed status and became a place of Buddhist worship after venerable
Mahinda brought the Dhamma to this country. According to the Mahawansa,
King Devanampiyatissa’s brother Uttiya renovated the vihara for the first time.
King Devanampiyatissa’s brother Uttiya renovated the vihara for the first time.
Historical evidence shows that
the Kelaniya Viharaya was at its highest glory during the Kotte Era. By the
time the Portuguese conquered the country considerable land had been donated by
the kings to the Kelaniya Vihara, and when in 1510 the Portuguese entered and
destroyed the secret temple.
Forest in Sri Lanka
Sinharaja
The Sinharaja Rain Forest is in
the South Western part of the island and covers an area of 11,187 Hectares. Sinharaja
Forest Reserve is bordering three districts of the island, namely Galle, Matara
and Ratnapura districts. The Rakwana with its mountain ranges are part of the
area covered by Sinharaja rain forest.
There are few interesting facts
of the Sinharaja Rain Forest in Sri Lanka and how it came in to being. In present
the world rain forests are being an evolution of the earlier rain forest lands
called Amazon, African and Far Eastern at that time. About 55 million years
back during Cretaceous era that lank mass called Decan plate. 
The Sri Lanka and
India were located separated from the Southern hemisphere, started drifting
towards the equator and joined with the Northern hemisphere called Laurussia. Today
the Rain Forests in Sri Lanka are confined to the Southern part of the Sri
Lanka nearest to the equator. Forests in the other parts of the island differs
much with Sinharaja Forest cover. It is a noticeable fact that the animal and
plant lives are having similarities in Sinharaja rain forest and the other rain forests found in Madagascar, Andaman
Islands, Mascarene Islands, African and South Eastern Islands.
Tropical rain forests need to
have three main factors in common. Only Sinharaja and few other scattered
forest cover of lesser extent in land area in the Southern Western part of Sri
Lanka. There is also a good reason for Sinharaja to be a virgin forest but not
for the forests in the Northern parts of the Island. The land coverage of the
Sinharaja Forest is 21 km lengthwise, with a minimum width of 3km and a maximum
width of 7 km throughout that land extent. Gin Ganga and Kalu Ganga gets its
water flow from this forest Land. The Sinharaja forest is considered to be a tropical
rain forest in the areas below 1000 Mts. elevation and Sub Montane Forest above
1000 Mts. elevation. To visit Sinharaja Forest, the most used and accessible route is
Veddagala-Kadawa Route.
Udawalawa
wild Life Park
In Sri Lanka, Udawalawe National
Park lies on the boundary of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces. The reason for
creating Udawalawe National Park was to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced
by the construction of the Udawalawe reservoir on the Walawe River, as well as
to protect the catchment of the reservoir. Udawalawe is an important habitat
for water birds and Sri Lankan Elephants. Udawalawe is a popular tourist
destination and the third most visited park in the country.
Udawalawe is also a good bird watching
site. Endemics Spurfowl, Red- faced Malkiha, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill,
Brown-capped Babbler, and Sri Lanka Jungle fowl are among of the breeding
resident birds. The open parkland attracts birds of prey such as White-bellied
Sea Eagle, Crested Serpent-eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Booted Eagle, and
Changeable Hawk-eagle.
Udawalawe is the closest National
Park to the capital city Colombo. The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home was
established in 1995 for the purpose of looking after abandoned elephant calves
within the park.
The Rusty – spotted Cat , Fishing
Cat and Sri Lankan Leopard are members
of the Felidae family present in Udawalawe. Sri Lankan Smbar deer, Sri Lankan
Axis Deer, Indian Mutjac, Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain, Wild Boar and Water
Buffalo are among other mammal species, Golden jackal, Asian Palm Civet, Toque
Macaque, tufted Grey Langur and Indian Hare also inhabit the park.
Yala
In Sri Lanka, Yala National park
is second largest national park and the most visited park. Actually it consists
of five blocks. Two of them are now open to the public. It is situated in the
southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva
Province. The park covers 979 square kilometers and is located about 300
kilometers from Colombo. In 1900, having been designated in 1938, Yala along
with Wilpattu were designated as a wildlife sanctuary. it was one of the first two national parks in
Sri Lanka. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is
important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds.
There are six national parks and
three wildlife sanctuaries in the vicinity of Yala. The park is situated in the
dry semi-arid climatic region and rain is received mainly during the northeast
monsoon. The number of mammals that has been recorded from the park is 44, and
it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world. It is one of the 70
Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka. Yala harbors 215 bird species
including six endemic species of Sri Lanka.
Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu National Park also located
in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. The park is located 30 km
north of Colombo. Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest National Parks
in Sri Lanka. Nearly sixty lakes (Willu) and tanks are found spread throughout
Wilpattu. It is among the top national parks world renowned for its Leopard. The
park is 131 693 hectares and ranges form 0 to 152 meters above sea level.
Beaches
Sri Lanka is an Island that is
covered in Indian Ocean as well as an island floating in the blue waters of the
Indian Ocean. It covers with over thousand miles of beautiful beaches fringed
with coconut palms. Thousand of Hotels and resorts are located along the
seacoast.
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| Pasikuda |
The main attractions of the Sri
Lanka are mainly beaches. For the most
parts of beaches and the resorts and less on the nearby towns and villages.
However, some places like Galle on the west coast with its historical heritage,
are included in the attraction even without the lure of the sun and sand.
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| Nilaveli |
Negombo
Mount Lavonia
Kaluthara
Beruwala
Benthota
Pasikuda & Kalkuda
Unawatuna
Mirissa
Weligama
Polhena
Dickwella
Hikkkaduwa
Koggala
Tangalle
Trincomalee
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| Unavatuna |
Nilaveli
Batticaloa
Arugambe
Casuarina beach
Kilali beach
Vankalai
Rumassala Mountain
Rumassala is very Small Mountain.
It is very important place for beach system and totally different from other
areas of Sri Lanka. There is legend about the Rumassala in the epic story “
Rumassala”. When the Lakshman” was
injured in the war, Hanuman was sent to Himalaya to take herbal plant. But
Hanuman forgot the name of the plant. Then
he took a piece of Himalaya. Dr. Arthur C. Clerk told that
this place was meteoroid because Rumassala is different forms from other land mass.
Haputale
Haputale is cool climate place
and very valuable observation point is Sri Lanka. It is at 99 kms Colombo,
Badulla main road between Bandarawela and Balangoda in Haputale, There are
famous tea state cool climate, adishahan
bungalow. Close area of Haputale railway station can be viewed large
area are till sea. These areas are available at about 4000 it below area.
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| Adisham antique |
Traditional
Medicine
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| Traditional medicine in Sri Lanka |
Sri Lanka has a traditional
medicine system. It is calling Aryurvedic. It is developed its own Ayurvedic
system based on a series of prescriptions handed down form generation to
generation over period of 3000 years. The ancient kings were famous for these
medicine systems and they sustained its king Buddhadasa, the most influential
of these Physicians, wrote the “Saratha Sangrahaya, is still use today for
reference.
Ancient inscription on rock
surface reveal that organized medical system have existed for centuries. The
Sri Lankan mountain Mihantale still has the ruins of what believe to be the
first hospital in the world.
Water
falls
Water falls are the significant
and attractive things of the country. Sri Lanka has 103 rivers and streams
radiating from the central hills and they are various shapes and height. Now we
are describing some of the most picturesque waterfalls
Dunhinda
It is most beautiful water falls
in Sri Lankan. Dunhinda is located about 5 km off Badulla town. This water fall
is 64m in high and gets name from the drew drops spray. In Sinhala It is very
smoky sounding the area. This waterfall is created by Badulu Oya which goes
through the Badulla town.
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| Dunhinda water fall |
When some one reaches to the
water fall, should have to walk more than 1 km distance along the footpath.
Along this footpath you can meet another water fall. And meet native venders
selling herbal drink to refresh and rest yourself.
At the end of footpath you can
see the secure stage constructed for viewers to see the waterfall.
Hunas
fall
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| Hunas water fall |
It is located in Matale District Elkaduwa village. During the rainy season, apart
from the main fall, several water streams can be seen. Therefore many tourists
visit hunas fall due to this proximity to Hunas fall. There are two way to reach
the hunas fall. One is Waththegama to Elkaduwa. Other one is Matale to Waththegama.
Except above water falls. There are so many beautiful water falls in Sri Lanka.
Waterfall Location Province
Aberdeen Falls Aberdeen Central
Ahupin Ella Central
Alakola Falls
Baker’s Fall Horton Plains Central
Bambarakanda Falls Kalupahana Uva
Bomburu Ella. Perawella Uva
Bopath Ella Falls Ratnapura Sabaragamuwa
Delta Falls
Dessford Falls
Devon Falls Talawakele Central
Diyaluma Falls Koslanda Uva
Doovili Ella Central
Dunhinda Falls Badulla Uva
Elgin Falls Ambewela Central
Galboda Ella Nawalapitiya Central
Galdola Falls
Garandi Ella Balangoda Central
Garmore Falls Maskeliya
Glain Falls Central
Handapan Ella
Handun Ella
Hunnas Falls Elkaduwa Central
Kalupahana Falls
Kirindi Ella7
Kothmale Mahakandura Falls
Kurunduoya Falls Central
Laxapana Falls Hatton Central
Lihihihela Ella
Lovers Leap Nuwara –Eliya Central
Madanagiri Falls
Mahakandura Falls
Manawela Falls
Mannakethi Ella
Mapanana Falls Gileemale
Nakkawita Falls
Nanuoya Falls Central
Okandagala Falls
Oolu Ella
Peessa Ella Lunugala Uva
Puna Falls Central
Pundalu Oya Falls
Ramboda Falls Pussellawa Central
Rathna Falls Central
Ravana falls Ella Uva
Rawan Ella Uduhavara Uva
Sampath Ella
St. Clair’s Falls Hatton Central
Seetha Kotuwa Falls
Sri Pada Falls
Yaka Andu Ella
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| pink quartz mountain in Dambulla |
Windsor Forest Falls
Namal Uyana
It is situated in the
Damulla and it is the largest ironwood forest and pink quartz mountain in Asia.
The ironwood trees are endemic to Sri Lanka and the replanted forest is over
260 acres in extent. According
to the archeologists, the pink quartz and this important place has a history of
more than 550 millions of years.
