Hiriwadunna Sri Bodhiraja Forest Hermitage is an ancient temple complex which came in to limelight few years ago when a controversial book claimed that Bodh Gaya was in fact at Hiriwadunna.
Tag: Dambulla
Ganegama Aramunapola Rajamaha Viharaya – ගණේගම අරමුණපොළ රජමහා විහාරය
Ganegama Aramunapola Rajamaha Viharaya which is also commonly referred to as Ganegama Rankoth Viharaya lies 2.5 kilometers before the Pelmadulla Town in center of a paddy field. The history of the temple goes as far as king Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC)…
Mihintale Sanctuary – මිහින්තලේ අභය භූමිය
Mihintale Sanctuary is the first wildlife sanctuary in the world established by king Devanampiyatissa in the 3rd century BC after meeting the Great Mahinda Thero,
Minneriya National Park – මින්නේරිය ජාතික වනෝද්යානය
Situated 182 km from Colombo, Minneriya National Park is dominated by the Minneriya tank. This is another park where you will find the Elephants in large numbers.
Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve – රිටිගල දැඩි ස්වභාවික රක්ෂිතය
Size 1,528 hectares Main attraction Ritigala Aranya Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve has a unique vegetation. Ramayana legend has it that Hanuman was asked to bring a particular medicinal plant, to cure Rama, from the Himalayas.When he got there he forgot…
Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Burial Site – ඉබ්බන්කටුව ප්රාග්-ඓතිහාසික සුසාන භූමිය
Ibbankatuwa Ancient burial ground lies five kilometers before the Dambulla town on the Kurunegala-Dambulla Road. An archeological Department board will indicate the turn off from the main road. The site is reached by traveling about 500m in to this road.…
Dambulla Somawathi Stupa Archaeological Site – දඹුල්ල සෝමාවතී චෛත්යය පුරාවිද්යා භූමිය
Dambulla Somawathi Stupa Archaeological Site is a relatively unknown site lying in the heart of Dambulla build by King Walagamba in the 2nd Century BC dedicated to one of his queens
Ritigala Ruins – රිටිගල නටබුන්
Ritigala Ruins decorative urinal These are at least 70 caves at Ritigala which were prepared for monks between the 1st century BCE and the early centuries CE.
Ramakele Stupa at Sigiriya – රාමකැලේ ස්තුපය
Ramakele Stupa at Sigiriya is thought to be constructed in the 5th century by king Kashapa I (477-495 AD) or Mugalan I (495-512 AD).
Kotagala Piyangalu Raja Maha Viharaya – කොටගල පියන්ගලු රජමහා විහාරය
After traveling 12 kilometers to Kekirawa and another 12 kilometers to Dambulla from Kekirawa in the District of Anuradhapura, Kotagala Sri Piyangalu Raja Maha Viharaya can be seen.
Pidurangala [3] – ‘Discover Sri Lanka’
By Hiranthi FernandoSri Lanka is blessed with such a variety of archaeological sites of historical and cultural importance that the visitor is often spoilt for choice. While the grandeur of the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa is difficult to…
Pidurangala [2] – In Sigiriya’s Shadow
Overshadowed by the glamour of the Sigiriya rock fortress, the equally ancient Pidurangala cave temple is neglected by the authorities as well as visitors Sigiri Pidurangala Raja Maha Viharaya is just a short distance from the Sigiriya Rock fortress. Although…
Pidurangala Rajamaha Viharaya – පිදුරංගල රජමහා විහාරය
There are several old monasteries at Pidurangala, Enderagala, Ramkele, Manikdena, and Kaludiyapokuna, which were not only important as religious foci; but also as major centres of socio-political and economic origination. A mile North of the Sigiriya Citadel is Pidurangala which…
Jathika Namal Uyana [4] – The Secret Garden in Dambulla
March 28 marks the 11th anniversary of the Jathika Namal Uyana (National Naa Park) in Dambulla, Galkiriyagama. In 1991, a solitary monk made his ashram in this ancient site then encroached by the dense forest. Eleven years after it was…
Posted in Heritage Tagged with: Dambulla, galewela, ironwood forest, Kekirawa, Namal Uyana, pink quartz mountain, rose quartz mountain
Jathika Namal Uyana [2] – Place of Environmental, Geographical and Archaeological Importance
Most of you may have heard of the Namal Uyana, while some of you may have even visited this important ecological area. The protected area known as the Namal Uyana is situated in the village of Madatugama, on the…
Nalanda Gedige at Matale – නාලන්දා ගෙඩිගේ
Nalanda Gedige is situated one km to the east of the A9 route 20km north of Aluvihare. It is one of a number of remarkable archaeological sites in Sri Lanka that receive few tourists through no limitations of their own.
Nagolla Aramaya (Gonmottawa Kanda Aranya) – නාගොල්ල ආරාමය
In a quiet out of the way spot almost hidden from human kind is the Nagolla Aramaya or the Gonmottawa Kanda Hermitage. Here amongst the solitude of huge shade trees, are the rock cave habitations specially modified for the convenience…
Menikdena Viharaya [2] – මැණික්දෙන පුරාවිද්යා රක්ෂිතය
The first rays of sunlight were streaming down through the canopy of forest trees at Kandegedara landa – Jak and Mahogany plantations. Myriads of fine light streaks and colonnades of thick beams spilled and splashed persistently through the luxuriant…
Menikdena Archeological Reserve – මැණික්දෙන පුරාවිද්යා රක්ෂිතය සහ වෘක්ෂෝද්යානය
Menikdena Archeological reserve lies on the Dambulla – Kandy road few kilometres away from the Dambulla town. The reserve lies between the beautiful Menikdena tank and the Nikula or Menikdena Hill range reaching a 875m height. Menikdena archaeological reserve covers…
Dambulla Maligathenna ( Nuwaragala Kanda) Ruins – නුවරගල කන්ද (මාලිගාතැන්න) නෂ්ඨාවශේෂ
There are number of locations called Nuwaragala Kanda and the most well known location is Nuwaragala Kanda is Ampara District. But this Nuwaragala Kanda is location between Dambulla and Polonnaruwa district and lies midst of a thick jungle. There are…
Kumara Ella Archaeological Reserve – කුමාර ඇල්ල පුරාවිද්යා භුමිය
In close proximity to the little known Buduruwayaya archeological site in the Polonnaruwa district is found another interesting archeological site (About 7 (seven) kilometers from Bakamuna and 1 ½ (one and a half) kilometers from Buduruwayaya) This is the recently excavated archeology site of Kumara Ella on the Dambulla – Kalagahawela new expressway.
Kinihiri Kanda Rajamaha Viharaya – කිනිහිරිකන්ද රජ මහා විහාරය
The Kinihiri Kanda Rajamaha Viharaya is located inside a triangle of three World Heritage Sites ( 52 km from Anuradhapura , 42 km from the Polonnaruwa, and 20 km from the Dambulla). It is only 15 km from another World…
Kaludiya Pokuna in Dambulla – දඹුල්ල කළුදිය පොකුණ පුරාවිද්යා භූමිය
Kaludiya Pokuna in Kandalama is not to be confused with its name-sake in Mihinthale . It dates back to the period, 853 – 857 A.D., during the reign of King Sena the 2nd. The sacred precincts of this ancient site served as a meditating center for the Buddhist monks who resided there.
Elahera Gal Amuna and Prakarama Inscription – ඇලහැර ගල් අමුන
The new Aban Ganga anicut at Elahera was on the road side, just within the elephant fence separating the Wasgamuwa Park from the main road. The gate to the premises was locked. But as we stopped our vehicle, the guard whose quarters were on the opposite side of the road came out. We asked him if we could go to see the old Gal amuna.
Dambulla Cave Temple [2] – දඹුල්ල රජමහා විහාරය
Dating back to the 1st Century BC, this is the most impressive cave temple in Sri Lanka. It has five caves under a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry. In 1938 the architecture…
Captivating tales of Sigiriya’s rediscovery [9]
A visit to Sigiriya is an adventure that takes one back in history, art and culture. Apart from melodrama, romance, intrigue and the grandiose life that surrounds the rock fortification of Kassapa, the tales of its rediscovery in the 19th century are as captivating.
Sigiriya [8] – Oldest landscaped gardens in the world
Sri Lanka’s topless Sigiri fresco women, sublime and etched on rock walls between 477 to 495 A.D. are as elusive in identity to historian as the name and personality of Mona Liza, painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
Posted in Heritage Tagged with: Dambulla, Habarana, sigiriya, sigiriya fortress, sigiriya frescos, sigiriya images, sigiriya rock
Sigiriya, the Eighth Wonder of the World [7]
Sri Lanka’s topless Sigiri fresco women, sublime and etched on rock walls between 477 to 495 A.D. are as elusive in identity to historian as the name and personality of Mona Liza, painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
The mystique of Sigiriya [6]
Sri Lanka’s topless Sigiri fresco women, sublime and etched on rock walls between 477 to 495 A.D. are as elusive in identity to historian as the name and personality of Mona Liza, painted by Leonardo da Vinci. In like mode,…
The mystique of the Lion Rock [5]
IT rises like a brown leviathan ploughing through the green sea of a Sri Lankan forest. Geologically they call it an inselberg or a bornhardt. It’s defined as: “a large domelike residual hill of hard rock, characterized by very steep…
Sigiriya: The Ascent [4]
It is probably the most singular geological formation in Sri Lanka, and encompasses one of the more remarkable archaeological sites. It has a history that has all the elements of a classic drama, with a central character straight from Shakespeare’s…
Mystery of Sigiriya [3] : “Palace in the sky”
As thousands of “weekenders” throng to Sigiriya whenever a holiday falls on a Friday or Monday, often to gaze at the architectural marvels or to gasp at the breathtaking sight from the summit, one cannot help but wonder if anyone…
Sigiriya [2] – Who are these maidens and what is their message
The Sigiriya maidens have caused much debate, discussion and disagreement. Who are these ladies ? What is their message? These are questions that have eluded answers to generations of scholars and art lovers. . H.E.P. Bell believed that the paintings…
Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Ancient Palace Complex – සීගිරිය
Rising 200 meters vertically from the flat pains, Sigiriya Rock provides you with one of the most dramatic sites in Sri Lanka. Top of this rock contains ruins of an ancient palace complex, built during the reign of King Kasyapa (477AD – 495 AD) and surrounding rock is the Royal Garden.
Mapagala Fortress in Sigiriya – මාපාගල බලකොටුව
To the South of Sigiriya is the Mapagala Fortress. Archaeological Commissioner Hocart in the 1920s took note of the cyclopean style stone walls in the fort, and the square hammered stones in the ramparts of the Citadel.
Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya – බුදුගේහින්න නාග මහා විහාරය
– The Temple That Is Called Punchi Dambulla Len Viharaya – Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya, locally better known as the “Punchi Dambulla Len Viharaya” due its resemblance to the popular Dambulla Cave Temple, lies 14 km off the Galewela town. The temple…
Kebithigollewa Sinhaya Ulpotha – කැබිතිගොල්ලෑව සිංහයා උල්පත
Panaliya Gotabhaya Gallen Rajamaha Viharaya – පනලිය ගෝඨාභය ගල්ලෙන් රජමහා විහාරය
Vilbawa Rajamaha Viharaya – විල්බාව රජමහා විහාරය
Koradoluwa Mayuraselarama Viharaya – කොරදොළුව මයුරසේලාරාම විහාරය
Wadakada Seruwagala Purana Viharaya – වදාකඩ සේරුවාගල පුරාණ විහාරය
Alawwa Maligagodella Ruins – අලව්ව මාලිගාගොඩැල්ල නටබුන්
Algama Sri Sangharaja Rajamaha Viharaya – අල්ගම ශ්රී සංඝරාජ රජමහා විහාරය
Metiyagane Mayurawathi Rajamaha Viharaya – මැටියගනේ මයුරාවතී රජමහා විහාරය
Historic Balana Kadawatha Kos Gasa – බලන කඩවත කොස් ගස
Ihalakotte Sangaraja Lena – ඉහලකෝට්ටේ සංඝරාජ ලෙන (සඟරජලෙන)
Meeyan Ella waterfall – මීයන් ඇල්ල
Nathagane Ancient Cave Temple Complex Ruins – නාථගනේ පුරාණ ලෙන් විහාරය නටබුන්
Hambegamuwa Purana Rajamaha Viharaya – හම්බේගමුව පුරාණ රජමහා විහාරය
Mattagoda Galekade Ambalama in Gampaha – ගම්පහ මත්තගොඩ ගලේකඩේ අම්බලම
Amunugoda Ambalama in Gampaha – ගම්පහ අමුණුගොඩ අම්බලම
