Haldummulla lies about 175 km off the capital of Colombo at a elevation of about 1200 metres. The Portuguese fort of Haldummulla existed in the early 17th century between Haldummulla and Idalgashinna.
Centuries ago when Lanka was ruled by the Sinhalese Kings, ‘Gaalla’ or Galle was the old world’s romantic city which owed its glory to its natural harbour.
Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a stunning blend of European architecture and South Asian traditions. Enclosed by massive stone bastions, its cobblestone streets lead to colonial villas, chic boutiques, and historic churches. Walking the ramparts at sunset offers breathtaking ocean views and a timeless cultural experience.
The Dutch were the first to erect a fort at Elephant Pass. It was more like a stockade or a watch post. Though well fortified and built with strong defenses the extent of the fortifications were much smaller to that of Galle or Jaffna forts.
The Colombo Fort was a walled city, with administrative and military buildings, as well as cinnamon storehouses, mills, a parade ground, a church, residential buildings, and stalls for horses and elephants.
The Fort in Batticaloa lies on a one of the many small islands of Batticaloa in the east coast of Sri Lanka. It was built by the Portuguese in 1628 after a Dutch fleet landed in Batticaloa in 1603 with a fleet of six ships to take part in a joint effort to oust the Portuguese from the island after an initial agreement with then King of Kandy. This infuriated the Portuguese who had a firm holding in the Island and built a small fort 1628.
It is during the reign of King Buwaneka Bahu VII 1525-1551 that the Portuguese involvement in the internal affairs of Kotte and Seethawaka became pronounced. The Portuguese were involved in the wars that were waged by King Buwaneka Bahu against his brother, Mayadunne, King of Seethawaka.
The Balana Fortress served as the Kandyan Kingdom’s primary defensive “lookout,” thwarting multiple Portuguese invasions. Through strategic resistance and a decisive 1638 victory under Rajasinghe II, the stronghold maintained Kandy’s independence against superior colonial forces.
The Mapagala Rock Hike offers a rugged, off-the-beaten-path climb south of Sigiriya, revealing massive “cyclopean” walls built from unmortared boulders. This prehistoric fortress provides a breathtaking, crowd-free vantage point of King Kassapa’s Lion Rock. It is a must-visit for trekkers seeking ancient defensive engineering amidst stunning, wild Sri Lankan landscapes.
Buduruwayaya Archaeological Site with rock carvings similar to Gal Viharaya lies south west of the Wasgamuwa park, some 6 kilometers from Bakamuna town.
Buduruwagala is a breathtaking 10th-century masterpiece featuring Sri Lanka’s tallest standing Buddha, towering at 51 feet. Carved into a massive rock resembling a kneeling elephant, these seven Mahayana statues still bear ancient orange pigment. Don’t miss the “medicinal oil” mystery, a flame-shaped cavity that remains perpetually, inexplicably wet.
On the road stretch between Ratnapura and Balangoda somewhere in Lellopitiya a sign board on your left hand side will point the turn off to the Budulena Rajamaha Viharaya. The temple is perched at the top of a mountain, surrounded by mountains. The estate road hugging the sides of the mountain curved and curled ascending higher and higher towbrds it.
Budugehinna cave temple is locally referred to as Punchi Dambulla. The temple is believed to have been occupied by Buddhist monks from the 3rd century BC. The site is said to have been named thus due to the presence of Buddha images in the cave shrine room.
Our destination was the Budugala Monastery Ruins in Kalthota. After a while we stopped at an Archaeological Department sign board, and parking the vehicle on the side of the narrow road hardly enough for two vehicles to pass, we crossed the canal which by now had succumbed to a narrow deep drain.
The Buddhangala Monastery lies deep in the jungles about 7 kilometres off Ampara. The Monastery covers 1280 acres covering 5 rocks where the remains of the ancient monastery can be seen. This area belonged to the Digamadulla Kingdom which was started by Prince Dighayu in the 4th century BC.
Hidden beside Bogoda Rajamaha Viharaya, the Bogoda Bridge is Sri Lanka’s only surviving wooden bridge from the Kandyan era. Built without nails and roofed with tiled shelter, it spans Gallanda Oya and guards ancient caves, legends of King Walagamba, and forgotten pilgrim routes.
According to the legend, Bihalpola Rajamaha Viharaya was constructed during the reign of King Devanmpiya Tissa (250-251 B.C.) and later renovated by King Walagamba 89-77 BC).
Situated in the outskirts of the city of Colombo, in the village of Bellanwila, just three kilometers from the city limits, Bellanwila temple has a long and hallowed history.
The Beligala Rajamaha Viharaya is believed to be another achievement of King Vatta Gamini Abaya (aka King Walagamba) during the period of 103 BC to 89 BC.
Batalagoda Wewa is a pre-Christian reservoir in Ibbagamuwa, once the lifeline for the enigmatic “Parana Nuwara” city. Linked to King Kumara Dhatusena and Queen Kalyanawathi, this historic site witnessed royal investitures and epic battles. Today, it remains a bustling weekend retreat steeped in legends of ancient scholar-kings and warriors.
