Buddhism, Ruins And Culture
Buddhism has had a tremendous influence on Sri Lanakan culture, arts, and architecture.Visiting ancient cities like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kandy, travelers are awed by the well-preserved ruins of enormous Buddhist temples, Royal palaces and fortresses, statues carved of huge granite rocks, artistic stone sculptures, and paintings, influenced by Buddhist doctrine and dating back over 2000 years.
These ancient cities also contain an irrigation system dating back 2500 years and consisting of huge reservoirs designed to hold rainwater and canals interconnecting them and supplying to the paddy fields. Still functional, they bear evidence of an advanced, agricultural civilization.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was founded in the 5th century BCE and flourished as the capital of the Sinhala Kingdom for 1,500 years, according to recorded history.
Being the center of Theravada Buddhism for centuries, it has been a major destination for Buddhist pilgrims,
Numerous well-preserved ancient ruins of temples, pagodas, stone-carved statues and stone sculptures, some reconstructed, including Maha Viharaya, Lowa Maha Paya, Ruwanweliseya, Samadhi statue, Sandakada Pahana, and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a scred tree for Buddhists, as well as many colossal and ancient water reseviors found in Anuradhapura.
Visit Anuradhapura and gilmpse into a thousands of years old civilization influenced by Buddhism.
Kandy
Kandy, a historically and culturally important destination in Sri Lanka, is located in the central highlands.
The last capital of the ancient kings, Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth, one of Buddhism’s holiest shrines and a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a museum displaying artifacts from the last kingdom before British occupation.
The picturesque Kandy Lake, Royal Botanical Gardens, and iconic Esala Perahera festival with parading elephants and traditional dances performed to music played with traditional instruments are other attractions of Kandy that will form lasting, fond memories.
Sigiriya
Located in the Matale District, near Dambulla in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress, constructed on a granite column standing 180 meters high, during King Kayshyapa’s rule in the 5th century. It served as a royal complex and a fortress until Kashyapa’s fall in 495 CE.
It houses an upper palace on the flat rock summit, mid-level terraces with the iconic Lion Gate and frescoes, and lower palaces clinging to the slopes.
Sigiriya’s ingenious urban planning, remarkable frescoes, and lush gardens make it a cultural treasure, impressing over a million annual visitors.
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa, located in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, was once a military post of the Sinhalese kingdom, and now stands as the second oldest of Sri Lanka’s old kingdoms.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, This ancient city showcases well-preserved ruins, including remnants of Monolithic constructions, enormous stone statues, and huge water reservoirs that awe even modern engineers. The ancient temple Gal Viharaya with its magnificent stone statues of Budhha, The Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu, Hetadage, and the enormous and ancient Parakra Samdudhraya reservoir are just a few of the archeological wonders of Polonnaruwa.