History
(1)Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is the Srilanka’s first capital, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya.
From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia.
Jethawana Dagaba
This huge dagaba was built by king Mahasen in 1st centurary BC. This is bigger than the great pyramid of gesa. This was the largest building at ancient world.Main entrance to the Jethawanaramaya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka - highest dagaba in Sri Lanka Originally it was about 400 feet high. It is situated in Nandana Uyana (garden). There are several opinions to the creation of the Name Jethawanaramaya and one of them is that a part of the robe wore by Lord Buddha is kept inside the dagaba as a relic. The dagaba is being reconstructed under the Cultural Triangle Project
Rock carvings in Anuradhapura
Awukana statue of Buddha
The tallest Buddha statue in the world
The magnificent free-standing statue carved out of a single rock is the tallest Buddha statue which is twleve meters tall. Following the destruction of similar but much larger statues at Bamiyan in Afghanistan, the Aukana Buddha has gained even greater significance in the Buddhist World.
The whole of cultured world was horrified at the savagery & barbarity inflicted upon the colossal Bamian Buddha statues carved from the cliffs that dominate the dusty plains in the heart of Hindu Kush which have watched serenely for 15 centuries as the fortunes of the city beneath them waned from Silk Road metropolis to remote Afghan backwater.
There are still loys of places to be visited in Anuradhapura other than these places.
(2) Sigiriya
Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings , which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. The Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477 – 495), and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.
(2) Sigiriya
Sigiriya Paintings and the Enterence (A mouth of a lion, now only two legs are left)
(3)Polonnaruwa
The ruins of the ancient city stand on the east shore of a large artificial lake, the Topa Wewa Lake, or Parakrama Samudra (the Sea of Parakrama), created by King Parakramabahu I (1153-86), whose reign was Polonnaruwa's golden age. Within a rectangle of city walls stand palace buildings and clusters of dozens of dagobas, temples and various other religious buildings.
Polonnaruwa rock Temple
Rock Hindu temple
