World heritage of
Sri Lanka
Thuparamaya Temple
This is the first stupa to be built in the
country after the introduction of Buddhism to
Sri Lanka. Built in the time of king
Devamnampiyatissa (250BC – 210BC) t
his was a stupa as well as an Aramic complex (monastery). Today
ruins of this complex covers nearly 3 ½ acres. The stupa was built on the
instructions of Mahinda Thero who brought Buddhism to the island to enshrine
the right collar bone of Lord Buddha.
On this stupa you can see a unique
architectural feature called vatadagê, a stupa-house. This building completely
housed the stupa. At present four concentric circles of stone pillars are found
around the stupa. They diminish in height from inner most circle and at one
time carried the weight of a dome shaped roof over the stupa. There has been
176 pillars which supported this stupa house and in 1896, 31 complete pillars
with capitals has been standing. This vatadagê has been built in the 1st
centaury AC.
In the seventh century BC the stupa was
covered with a gold and silver casing and the vatadagê (stupa-house) with
golden bricks and golden doors. Then Pandyans (south Indian Tamil) plundered
the stupa of its all gold, jewels and treasures.
Again Mahinda IV (956-972) re installed
the golden casings and the golden doors but again in the late 10th centaury
Colas (south Indian Tamil) completely plundered the complex of its valuables.
On the left to the stupa you can see the
conserved remains of an Image house belonging to this stupa complex.The
renovation of the present stupa was completed in 1862 which as completely
changed the ancient features of this most ancient stupa.On the north-western
side of the stupa you can see the Basawakkulama tank. This is the most ancient
monument in Apura. This was built by king Pandukabhaya in the 4th century BC.
Sri
Maha Bodhi
The Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred bodhi tree, is central to
Anuradhapura in both a spiritual and physical sense. The huge tree has grown
from a cutting brought from Bodhgaya in India by the Princess Sangamitta,
sister of Mahinda (who introduced the Buddha's teachings to Sri Lanka), so it
has a connection to the very basis of the Sinhalese religion.
This sacred tree serves as a reminder of the force that inspired the creation
of all the great buildings at Anuradhapura, and is within walking distance of
many of the most interesting monuments. The whole area around the Sri Maha
Bodhi, the Brazen Palace and Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba was once probably part of the
Maha Vihara (Great Temple).
The sacred bodhi tree is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world,
for it has been tended by an uninterrupted succession of guardians for over
2000 years, even during the periods of Indian occupation. There are not one but
many bodhi trees here; the oldest and holiest stands on the topmost platform.
The steps leading up to the tree's platform are very old, but the golden
railing around it is quite modern. The railing and other structures around the
trees are festooned with prayer flags. Thousands of devotees come to make
offerings at weekends and particularly on poya (full-moon) days. April is a particularly busy
month as pilgrims converge on the site for snana puja (offerings or prayers). You must remove your
shoes and your hat before entering this site.
Ruwanweli Saya
Ruwanweli Saya
Dagoba is the holiest place that ranks with Sri Maha Hohi in Anuradhapura. They
see the big dagoba painted in white from a distance as the landmark of
Anuradhapra.
It
was 110 meters high in the second century B.C when it was completed, but it has
become smaller due to the transition and ruin afterwards. Now, it is55 meters
high and 80 meters in diameter. The stupa with the bowl form that copied water
bubble was set up on the platform of three steps that heaped up the stones and
the bricks. The main body of the stupa was also constructed by laying up
bricks. The legend says that, in order to prevent the subsidence, the elephants
treaded the base of 5 meters deeps that was made from crushed Lyme stone and
clay. Other legend says that, before laying up the bricks, the chest shape's
room made from the vivid color stones was put inside the stupa and the bohdi
tree of jewel and the golden Buddha image were installed there.
In India, a cube in the upper part was mainly used as a place for keeping
Buddha's ashes, and the steeple on the cube that originally had the shape of
the umbrella was a variation of symbol of nobility. Moreover, there is a theory
that the object like the building facade that stands on the edge of Stupa is
the oldest sculpture in Sri Lanka.
At the sunset time, in the precincts of Ruwanweli Saya Dagoba, I heard Piritha
as the statement of a Sri Lankan Buddhism. It was not a live performance but
transmitted from speaker. The sound by recitation and percussion instrument
echoed through the sky growing dark. The monotonous and slow rhythm made the
auditory sense faint, and the scenery that the white wall rising high before my
eyes dimmed the brightness also made the sense of sight faint. I sat down there
between about 1 hour. As I left me with the situation, my consciousness was
also dimming. Its state was as if I had reached at the entrance of a kind of
religious experiences or I had slipped to ancient time. When the sky grew dark
entirely, Pritha finished and the dagaba was lighted up. The comfortable and
usual evening returned.
Lovamahapaya
Is situated between Ruvanweliseya and Sri Mahabodiya. In ancient
times the building included the refectory and the uposathagara. As the roof was
covered with tiles made of bronze, this was known as the Brazen Palace or
Lohaprasadaya. There are 40 rows, each row consists 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.
In 150 BC, Great King Dutugemunu built
this beautiful nine-storey building as the monk’s residence for the
Mahaviharaya Buddhist University.
Each floor had apartments. First floor was
for the student monks. Second floor was for the monks who knew Tripitakaya.
3rd, 4th and 5th floors were for the monks who had achieved Sovan, Sakurdagami
and An Amiga states. Top four floors were for the monks who had reached the
state of Arahath.
Altogether Lova Maha Paya accommodated
over 3000 monks at any given time.
British archaeologists were puzzled as to
why such a beautiful palace was built for the students engaged in religious
activities. It was the Sinhalese way to build some of the most beautiful
buildings at religious places. It was intended as an attraction to the
would-be-monks. Sinhalese made sure that those who remain in the monk hood were
the ones who had chosen the path for inner peace, after
experiencing the ultimate luxuries of life. The student monks would realize the
impermanence of things when surrounded by the ultimate beauty and luxuries.
This helped those who wanted the luxuries of life to leave the monk hood and
live a material life.
Sigiriya
Sri Lankan architectural tradition is well
displayed at Sigiriya, the best preserved city centre in Asia from the first
millennium, with its combination of buildings and gardens with their trees,
pathways, water gardens, the fusion of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements,
use of varying levels and of axial and radial planning.
The Complex consists of the central rock, 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 plan of the city is based on a precise square module. The layout extends
outwards from co-ordinates at the centre of the palace complex at the summit,
with the eastern
and western axis directly aligned to it. The water garden,
moats and ramparts are based on an 'echo plan' duplicating the layout and
design on either side. This city still displays its skeletal layout and its
significant features. 3 km from east to west and 1 km from north to south it
displays the grandeur and complexity of urban-planning in 5
th century Sri Lanka.
Duvili
Ella
River Walawe the 3rd largest in the country which starts from the thin
water spring of Agra Bopath and Kirigalpoththa mountains creates fascinating
and picruresque scenes of nature during its long journey. Duuviliella waterfall
is prominent among them. The forest path to the waterfall is at 0.5 kilometers,
from Medabedda road which runs to the left of Kalthota town. The root from
Kalthota to the spot runs besides the south
Even this small length display a magnificent natural beauty.
“Muguna” trees which tower as giants and about 80 to 100 feet in height shade
this root. Besides the Kaltota root. there is a motarable new road, runs via
Thanjanthenna. This road, the vehicle park and the resting places closerby are
managed by. the town council Balangoda. From there until the immediate vicinity
of the water all. cemented steps are created. This foot path runs amidst a
forest patch, abundantly consisting with medicinal “Nlli” trees yet another
root to the fall is there, amidst the forest, via “Gallaalithota”.
Horton plains
The most famous place of foreigners in Sri Lanka is Horton plains. Horton
plains are at Nuwaraeliya, Badulla and Rathnapura districts. There are two main
entrances to this plain. Those are Pattipola entrance via Nuwaraeliya and
Ambewela or Ohiya entrance via Welimada or Bandarawela. Large Savannah plains, Waterfalls,
High pure water, Forests and several natural and high eco diversity areas are
available to visit at Horton Plains. Horton Plains is controlled by Wild life
department of Sri Lanka. Hoton plains are invented by Mr. Horton who was animal
hunter in British governing period. Earlier this place is identified as ‘Maha
Eliya’. Eliya means Plains and Maha means Big. In this case real meaning of
this name is a Large Plain. This area is high more than 2300m above from sea
level.
Visitors can’t access every area of the Plain. Visitors haven't
permission to travel every place of Horton plains because some damages to
endemic plants, some burns the grass grounds, some troubles to animals or some
gets liquor on the plain. These items are prohibited at Horton Plains.
A lot of rivers of Sri Lanka are started from Horton plains. Water
of this place i s very cold and very pure. Everyday we can see many foreigners
come to this place and search animals. Leopard is endemic to this place but
search the leopard is very difficult task. Number of endemic flora and fauna
are available in this plain. Walikukula (Jungle fowl), Horn lizard are most
popular endemic fauna in this area.
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