Ancient Cities
Dalada Maligawa
Kandy ’s main attraction is the Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the
Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Brought
to Sri Lanka in the 4th c. A.D., the sacred relic has ever since
been the symbol of sovereignty for its rulers and always enshrined
in great splendour. Kandy’s Dalada Maligawa is a magnificent
shrine, with decorative walls, moat, turrets, golden roof and fine
wood-work and its 16th – 19th century ambience vividly alive.
Three religious services (pooja) with traditional music, held
daily at dawn, mid-day and in the evening, can be viewed by
visitors.
Kelaniya Temple
This temple, consecrated during the third and final visit of Lord
Buddha to Sri Lanka, eight years after gaining enlightenment, is
situated 7 miles from Colombo in Gampaha District on the banks of
the Kelaniya River. Its history goes back nearly 2,563 years. The
Mahawansa records that the original Dagoba at Kelaniya enshrined a
gem-studded throne on which the Buddha sat and preached. The
temple is also famous for its image of the reclining Buddha and
paintings which depict important events in the life of the Buddha,
in the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, also incidents from the
Jataka tales. lt is the venue of the annual Duruthu Perahera held
in the month of January.
Adam’s Peak
It is believed that Lord Buddha during his third visit to Sri
Lanka placed his footprint on the summit of this sacred mountain.
So, the name Sri Pada the sacred footprint. This mountain is also
known as Samantakuta, Sumanakuta, Samanalakanda, Samanhela,
Samangira, Medumhelaya etc. The Christians call the mountain
Adam's Peak, derived from the Portuguese Pico de Adam (Peak of
Adam). It is 7,360 feet in height and is the forth highest
mountain in the country and has several approaches, the main ones
being through the Hatton town and Ratnapura District. Annually,
from December to April, devotees climb the mountain to pay
obeisance.
Dambulla Vihara
Located north of Kandy and considered by most to be the center
point of SriLanka, Dambulla is a town built around a vast isolated
rock mass 500 ft and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.It was here that
King Valagambahu took refuge in the 1st century B.C. The view from
the top of this rock is breathtaking 350 ft. above are a series of
five caves which was later turned into a magnificent rock temple
by King Valagambahu.
In the first cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47 ft, long ,
cut out from the rock. There are images of deities associated with
Buddhism. The frescoes on the walls and ceiling could be dated to
the 15th - 18th centuries. In the second cave, the finest and the
largest , are not less than 150 life size statues of gods. There
are numerous images of the Buddha as well. The ceiling too is
covered with frescoes which depict great events in the life of the
Buddha , and landmarks in the history of the Sinhala People.
Sigiriya Rock
The history of Sigiriya dates back to over 5000 thousand years, to
the Mesolithic period. One of SriLanka’s major attractions and a
World Heritage Site, Sigiriya(Lion Rock) came into prominence in
the 5th centaury AD, when the patricidal King Kasyapa, afraid of
reprisals led by his half - brother, Mogolan, chose to move the
seat of power from Anuradhapura to this 500m rock. It was Kasyapa
and his master-builders who were responsible for the complex plan
which made Sigiriya the glorious capital it was, for 17 years (477
– 495 AD). The frescoes of the ‘ heavenly maidens ‘ halfway up the
rock in a sheltered gallery, are the only painted renderings of a
secular subject in this country.The ‘ mirror wall ‘, which records
the poetic outpourings of early visitors to the rock and the
colossal plan of the royal palace, water gardens and
fortifications, is entirely fascinating.
Mahinyangana Maha Seya
This Cetiya (stupa) was built during the lifetime of Lord Buddha
enshrining the lock of hair given by Him to God Saman on the
occasion of His first visit to Sri Lanka, nine months after
attaining enlightenment. It is the first ever stupa to be
constructed in Sri Lanka.
It was enlarged by Arhat Sarabhu to a Cetiya 12 cubits high after
receiving and enshrining the collar bone relic of the Buddha taken
from the funeral pyre. The son of King Devanampiyatissa's brother,
for greater protection, covered it over and made it thirty cubits
high. King Dutugemunu -(161-137 BC). Dwelling there, while
fighting the invading forces of the Tamils, enlarged it to eighty
cubits high. It was subsequently rebuilt by Vijayabahu 1
(1055-1110 CE) and restored again during modern times.
Ruwanveli Seya
Situated in Mahamega Gardens. Built in the second century B.C by
King Dutugamunu. It is 100 metres tall, 77 metres wide, 300 ft in
diameter.
Originally the shupa was designed in a " Bubble " shape . Sadly
different restorations of the Thupa have changed its shape. The
Great Sthupa cost the King 6.4 million coins in wages. The
construction was commenced on a full moon day in May 144 B.C. The
foundation was made of butter-clay, imported from India, which was
used as cement. Further four small Stupas are to be seen in the
0four corners in order to give more respect. Entering the shupa ,
you come across a sand court yard from which rises the Elephant
wall.
Walking around the stupa you see a life size statue of a king,
believed to be King Dutugamunu. Further you see an Inscription
done by King Nissankamalla in the platform. King Dutugamunu fell
sick with a sickness that was to be mortal, He sent for his
younger brother Saddhatissa to complete its work. So King
Dutugamunu had his wish fulfilled as he lay dying, and the stupa
was later finished by King Saddhatissa.
Gal Viharaya
Located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and built in the 12th
century A.D by the great King Parakramabahu the 1st. It is a group
of Buddha images that probably mark the high point of Sinhalese
rock carving.The Gal Viharaya consists of four seperate images of
different postures carved and cut from one long slab of granite.
First is a samadhi image in meditation posture, while the second
is inside a cave and the third is a standing Buddha image which is
23 ft in height and the forth is a recumbent Buddha image
measuring 46 feet, depicting the passing away.
Wewurukannala Vihara
15 miles east of Matara is the town of Dikwella, where there is
one of the most amazing Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. The
Wewurukannala Vihara temple is dominated by an image of a seated
Buddha. It is 160ft high, the largest statue in all of Sri Lanka
and dates back to the time of King Rajadhi (1782 - 1798).
The temple has three parts, the oldest being about 250 years old;
however this is of no particular interest. The next part has life
size models of demons and sinners shown in graphic detail. If you
don't follow the path to enlightenment this is what happens to
you. Punishments include being drowned in boiling cauldrons, sawn
in half, disemboweled and so on. Finally there is the enormous
seated Buddha that is as high as an eight-storied building.
The temple walls show you the path towards enlightenment by
depicting hundreds of comic strip representations of events in the
Buddha's life. Among one of the episodes is the Chulla Dhammapala
Jataka. It tells the story of how King Maha Prathapa of Varanasi
on entering the palace found the queen cuddling her seven month
old child. After ignoring him the King was left insulted so
ordered that the prince be executed and the body be thrown into
the air. Several Jataka Stories are also amid the paintings, which
where selected for Vesak stamps in 1991. One depicts The Kattahari
Jataka showing Prince Kastavahana, son of King Brahmadatta resting
with his entourage.
Buduruwagala Rock Sculptures
Located 5kms south of Wellawaya a side road branches west off the
road to Tissa to the rock cut Buddha figures of
Buduruwagala.Buduruwagala means stone images of Buddha.The figures
dates back to 10th century AD, and are of the Mahayana Buddhist
school.The gigantic Buddha statue still bears traces of its
original stuccoed robe and a long streak of orange suggests it was
once brightly painted.The central of the three figures to the
Buddha’s right is thought to be the Buddhist mythological figure,
the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. To the left of this white painted
figure is a female figure in the thrice-bent posture, who is
thought to be his consort, Tara. The three figures on the Buddha’s
left appear to an inexpert eye to be of a rather different style.
One of them is holding up the hourglass shaped Tibetan thunderbolt
symbol known as a dorje – an unusual example of the Tantric side
of Buddhism in SriLanka.One of them is said to be Maitreya, the
figure Buddha , while another is Vishnu.
Kataragama Devalaya
One of Sri Lanka’s holy places where Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims
visit on religious pilgrimage. It is a large Complex with the `Mahadewala’
– Main Hindu shrine being the most important place. This Shrine of
God Skanda, the Hindu war God who is worshipped as the Kataragama
Deviyo is venerated by pilgrims of all three religions. It is
believed that King Dutugemunu the warrior king and Sinhala folk
hero built a shrine here for the worship of the Kataragama God in
the 2nd century BC. There is also a first century BC Buddhist
Dagoba - `Kirivenhera’ at this site. The annual Hindu Kataragama
festival is held in July and August.
Tirukoneswaram Kovil
At the northeastern most tip of the Fort Frederick's promontory is
a cliff known as Swami Rock, dropping about 360 feet directly into
the sea. On its topmost pinnacle is the Tirukonesvaram Kovil ,
destroyed by the Portuguese though the Kovil was restored and
completed in 1963.Three ancient bronze images and a Shiva lingam,
later found by divers at the bottom of the cliff beneath the
temple , were installed for worship. Puja services are especially
colorful at twilight on Fridays. Trincomalee may take its name
from the site of this temple - perhaps from the Tamil words tiru
kona malai , " mountain scared to Konesvara ( Shiva )."