Ambuluwawa-Kandy

Ambuluwawa




Ambuluwawa peak situated in the center of Gampola Kingdom established by the great Sinhala King Buvanekabahu IV. (1341-1357 AD) was hitherto not put into any use. Height of the peak trom the mean sea level is 365 feet and from the Gampola town is 1965 feet Mayura Sandesa, the messenger poem written in the 14th Century describes this enchanting rock and the surroundings thus:
When the planets and stars disappear trom the sky and when the nectar appears in or drops from flowers on tree tops and when the sun spreads its rays as it rises over the mountain of the east, you may set off trom Ambuluwakada happily

Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy

Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy was constructed in the 14th century AD by King Parakrambahu. It was revived later by Vijayabahu IV. Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy was made in the conventional Sinhalese way. Lankathilaka Viharaya is one of the popular tourist destinations in Kandy which is worth visiting. 

Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy is a dramatic building made out of clay brick. At one time it was a five-storied building. Lankathilaka Viharaya in Kandy was decorated with flowers, creepers, birds, animals and statues of gods. At the entrance of the building there are two huge pillars. Presently the pillars have broken down and reduced to a height of 58 ft. Initially, the height of these pillars was almost twice the existing one. 

In the shrine rooms of the Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy there is an intricate designing of stonework and also of wood for the four gods who are guarding the building. The outer walls of Lankathilaka Viharaya in Kandy are adorned with sculpture which is very delicate in nature. The sculpture portrays diverse buildings of the Polonnaruwa period. There is a pillared "mandapaya" rite in front of the structure. It consists of 40 festooned pillars made purely out of stone. 

The passage of the Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy, which is similar to the passage of a cathedral, faces a statue of a standing Buddha. The statue of the standing Buddha is presently headless. Previously it was 41 ft. in height. 

Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy has an exclusive architectural design. It is very much different from the other buildings of its era. As a result it attracts a number of tourists from different corners of the world.

Polonnaruwa -Stone Temple

Gal Vihara

Polonnaruwa is a city in the north of Sri Lanka. Since 1982 the archeological park has been recognized as UNESCO world cultural heritage. Residuals of huge stupas, temples with numerous Buddha statues and the whole garden, park and palace estates make this sight one of the main attractions for everyone.

Sri Paada Kanda is Sri Lanka’s holiest mountain and is claimed by most of the country’s religions as the site where Buddha came to earth. Every good Buddhist is expected to make a pilgrimage to its peak at least once in their life. It is a stiff climb.

It is a 2,243 metres (7,359 ft) tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well-known for the Sri Pada "sacred footprint", a 1.8 m rock formation near the summit, in Buddhist tradition held to be the footprint of Lord Buddha.

Although the central highlands of Sri Lanka rise to over 2500 metres, there are few distinct peaks. The one exception to this is Adams Peak, which rises like a mini-Matterhorn out of the surrounding tree-clad slopes. You can drive pretty close to the summit but it is still a steep climb to the top. The peak has been a site of pilgrimage for over a thousand years and there is now a well maintained set of over 4500 steps that take you to the top.

The climb is traditionally done in the dark to allow the pilgrim to witness the sunrise from the peak and to return again before the heat of the day. The path is well-lit by ugly strip lights which ascend in the darkness blending confusingly with the stars, so at times it looks like the path goes on for ever up into the heavens. In fact climbing in the dark is best as you can’t see how much further you have to go.

The mountain is located in the southern reaches of the Central Highlands, in the Ratnapura district of the Sabaragamuwa Province - lying about 20 km northeast of the city of Ratnapura. The surrounding region is largely comprised of forested hills, with no mountain of comparable size nearby.

Access to the mountain is generally provided by a bus that travels between Sri Pada and the nearby town of Maskeliya, to the northeast. The summit of the mountain, however, may only be reached on foot.

The mountain can only be scaled from December to May. During other months it is hard to climb the mountain due to very heavy rain, extreme wind, and thick mist. It is almost impossible to hike there through lesser known jungle tracks because of flooding rivers and animals.

Galle : Sri lanka

Galle : A World Heritage Site

The name Galle is synonymous with the attractive Dutch fort, is a tropical paradise that blends in a rich heritage and immense religious value.  Due to its vibrant history and ethnic significance, UNESCO declared Galle, the capital of Southern Sri Lanka, a World Heritage Site.

Prior to the arrival of the Portuguese, Galle was known as Gimhathiththa. During the early 16th century when it was under Portuguese rile, Galle was transformed into a significant port. Following the occupation of the Dutch up until the invasion of the British, Galle reached a noteworthy amount of development with its peak mostly occurring during the 18th century.

Although major developments took place during foreign rule, Galle was an eminent seaport in prehistoric times as it is documented that valuable spices were traded through the port of Galle. Rich civilisations such as Arabs, Indians, Greeks, Persians and Romans used this port as a major business hub in South Asia. 
The city of Galle which is 119 kilometres away from Sri Lanka’s commercial centre Colombo, is home to about 100,000 people. This remarkable coastal city has a well established rail road system and it is linked by rail to Colombo and Matara.

The exciting beach of Unawatuna is positioned a mere 6 kilometres southeast from the city of Galle.  During October and April many tourists arrive in the country just to experience and explore the enthralling beach life of this splendid city. 
With many attractions located in and around Galle, visitors are sure to enjoy the rich cultural amd historical valued of the city. Attractions such as the Galle Fort, The Maritime Museum and famous Galle lighthouse are some of the many sights within this city. The Galle International Cricket Stadium that holds several international as well as national matches is one of the most recent additions to the historical city of Galle.

Galle is a perfect example of the fusion of European and Asian styles. Its natural beauty, superb archaeological location and rich heritage have made it an outstanding coastal city of Sri Lanka.