Documented history of Sri Lanka dates back to 3rd c.B.C. when the island was among the most advanced and developed nations of the pre-modern world and the seat of an important historical civilisation in Asia. The ruined cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya extending from 3rd c.B.C. to 12c.A.D record a grandeur unsurpassed.
The gentle sway of Buddhism introduced in 247c.B.C. which transformed the Indi-Aryan Sinhalese has produced magnificent feats of architecture and construction. In the massive dagobas, the ornate pleasure gardens and palaces and the exquisite sculpture which abounds, particularly at Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
Sri Lanka’s ancient cities are also the centres of the irrigation works of the past. Massive reservoirs built to collect rain water, river diversions; giant aqueducts and miles long irrigation channels are proof of a civilization highly developed in the science of irrigation, hydraulics and water management.
Most of these ancient irrigation works such as the Tissa lake, Basawakkulama and nuwara lake at Anuradhapura, the massive Parakrama Samudhra, Giritale and Minneriya in the Polonnaruwa region, the Kalawewa and Balaluwewa still provide water to irrigation the rice fields if the dry zone in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s first capital, founded in the 5 c.B.C. according to the ancient Sinhala chronicle Mahavamsa, was a model of planning with precincts set aside for huntsmen, scavengers, heretics as well as for foreigners. There were separate cemeteries for high and low castes, hostels and hospitals.
Anuradhapura was an example per excellence of a Hydraulic Civilization. The construction of reservoirs, canals and irrigation channels during this period exhibited an amazing knowledge of trigonometry and the design of reservoirs a thorough grasp of hydraulic principles. The ornamental scale of the large reservoirs is compelling evidence of a thriving economy and a state structure which had resources from an agricultural surplus and profile from trade to invest in these projects as well as on religious and public buildings designed on a lavish scale. The unique feature of Buddhist Sri Lanka is the Stupa (Dagoba), which enshrined relics of the Buddha and were objects of veneration. It is generally a solid, hemispherical dome, which expresses the serenity and simplicity the quintessence of Buddhism. The ‘Rajarata’ – the king’s country is dotted with these stupas and picturesque lakes which has an irresistible charm for the visitor. There are many important stupas at Anuradhapura.
The Abayagiri Stupa ( meaning mountain of valour) build by the warrior king Valagam Bahu in the 1c. B.C. and Jathavana Stupa build by King Mahasena in the 3c. A.D. were taller than the third pyramid of Giza and were the wonders of the world at the time, with the Jethavana probably being the largest stupa in the whole Buddhist world.
Build by king Dutugemunu in 2c. B.C. is by far the most beautiful its white dome shinning like a pearl in the dry, arid landscape. The Thuparama Dagoba is the most ancient of Sri Lanka is dagobas and was built by king Devanampiyatissa to enshrine the Buddha’s collar bone. It’s present ‘bell’ shape dates to reconstruction in the 1840’s.
This 4c. A.D. statue of the Buddha in meditation post is acknowledged world wide as a masterpiece of sculpture. The Brazen Palace (Lovamahapaya) – a roof of copper bestowed the name given to this building which burned down only 15 years after its construction in the 3c. B.C. the 1600 pillars, in 40 rows, that now mark the site are ascribed to King Parakkamabahu(12c) the original building of nine graded storeys is said to have been 100 cubits square at ground level and 100 cubits high.
These twin ponds are among the handsomest works of the Anuradhapura period. The Mirisavetiya Dagoba, was built on the spot where king Dutugemunu buried his spear containing a relic of the Buddha, after celebrating his victory in battle on the shores of the Tissa wewa.
The sacred Bodhi Tree (Ficus Religiosa) the world’s oldest authenticated tree is the most venerated of shrine in Anuradhapura. Grown from a branch of the very Bodhi Tree in Buddhagaya, India, beneath which the Buddha found Enlightenment, brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd.c.B.C. by Theri Sangamitta, sister of Arahat Mahinda. Throughout the centuries the Sri Maha Bodhi has been venerated by Buddhist in Sri Lanka and all over the world. Today it is looked upon as a national treasure by botanists, specially appointed by the government. The gold gilded ‘Ran Veta’ (fence) is a recent offering made through public contributions.
Many scholars regard the ‘moonstone’ a semi circular slab of stone richly decorated in low relief and placed at the foot of a stairway leading to the major shrine as the finest product of the Sinhalese artiste.
The ‘Cradle of Buddhism’ 11 Km east of Anuradhapura. Its history dates back to 247c.B.C. when King Devanampiyatissa met Arahath Mahinda the great Buddhist missionary who preached the Buddhist doctrine to the king. Mihintale, ‘the mountain of Mahinda’ was identified as a great monastic city.
The rock is dotted with shrines and rock dwelling. Today it is venerated dally, especially on Poson Full Moon poya day commemorating this historic event. A majestic flight of 1840 granite steps, 5 metres wide lead you to the summit, with its splendid views of the surrounding countryside. An atmosphere of serenity and peace lingers heightened by the chants of the devotees and the stark, rocky surroundings. The king having embraced Buddhism declared the forest where he met the sage, a sanctuary, the first historically documented sanctuary in the world.
Situated 51 km to the southeast of Anuradhapura, is the most magnificent undamaged Buddha image in the island. 13m. high it stands beneath a canopy now, built for protection. However the statue as it stood amidst the jungle surrounding had been a stunning sight.
Incidentally, the Wilpattu National Park could be visited either on your way to Anuradhapura or from Anuradhapura as a half day of full day tour.
The island’s medieval capital (11c. & 12c) rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. The city in its day was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many shrines. Polonnaruwa shows the interesting blend of the influence of the south Indian Hindu culture on the Sinhala Buddhist art and architecture in the scattered shrine and monuments still venerated dally by devotees.
The Siva Devales are interesting transposition of the Hindu style of décor. Other interesting ruins are, the king’s Council Chamber the floral stone pillars of Nissanka Lata Mandapaya, the royal citadel, Kumara pokuna (baths), the thuparama with its original vaulted roof, the exquisite circular Vatadage relic house, lavished with moonstones, guardstones, and sculptured railings, Kiri Vehera, the best preserved of Sri Lanka’s un-restored dagobas.
These sculptures are glory of polonnaruwa and peak of its artistic achievement. The colossal statues of the Buddha are cut in a row from horizontal escarpment of streaked granite. The consummate skil with which the expressions of peace, serenity and strength have been carved out of solid rock is simply breathtaking. Undoubtedly this is the place visitors linger most, while sightseeing to absorb the wonder and peace and serenity in the atmosphere. Demala Maha Seya a shrine of novel design, Thivanka Image House, has some of the best examples of Buddhist frescoes of the 11th century and the Lankathilaka Viharaya, shows a unique style of brick work architecture. The Alahana Pirivena, a medieval centre of learning for monks, where restoration work is being done by the Central Cultural Fund.
One of the largest men made inland lakes in the world. Called the ‘sea of parakrama’ owing to the waves that play on its surface due to its immense size. Built by Parakramabahu ‘the Great’ in the 12th c.A.D. it is a unique irrigation complex which waters the city as well as the surrounding plains and in use even today. The embankment rises to an average height of 12m. and stretches over its entire length of 13.7 km.
This rock fortress was built by king Kasyapa in the 5th century A.D. and was a royal citadel for more than 18 years. It is a complex of buildings, part royal place, part fortified town, and water gardens on par with the best in the ancient world, constitute a magnificent and unique architectural feat of the ancient Sinhalese. In a sheltered pocket approached by a spiral stairway are the famous Sigiriya frescoes, the earliest surviving pictorial art of Sri Lanka and of the same period as the Ajantha frescoes of india. The summit of the rock with an area of nearly one hc. was the site of the palace. It is regarded as the 8th wonder of the ancient world.
Like Sigiriya, Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here King Valagam Bahu took refuge in the 1c.B.C. He later turned the caves into a rock temple. Site rock ceiling is one large sweep of colourful paintings which depict Buddhist mythology and tales of the Buddha’s previous births. Some of them are over 2000 years old. Within the cave temple is the collection of the largest number of Buddha statues in one place. There is also a recumbent Buddha carved out of the living rock, some 14m long.
19 K.M. south of Dambulla, it is the earliest all atone building 8c. Found in Sri Lanka. Believed to be a Mahayanist shrine owing to rare tantric carvings of sensuous nature. However it is an amalgamation of Hindu and Buddhist architecture.
An interesting transit stop on the route to the Ancient Cities and the East Coast, surrounding by looming rocky outcrops, capital of Sinhala king during 13th and 14th c. interesting de-tours to Yapahuwa, the capital of king Bhuvanakabahu 01. (1272-1284). The Mayan like steep stairway of the ruins of the temple of the tooth is the most striking feature of this site. The Padeniya Buddhist Temple (25km) medieval temple, Arankale 6th c. forest hermitage (24) and Panduwasnuwara (Parakramapura) cspitsl of Parakramabahu 01 (12th c) the remains of the big palace complex is the main attraction. Ridigama a cave temple nearly 2000 years old (18 K.M)
