SRI LANKA - ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE

The architecture of ancient Sri Lanka displays a rich variety of 

architectural forms and styles, varying in style and form from the Anuradh

apura Kingdom to the Kingdom of Kandy. Ancient Sri Lankan architecure 

mainly grew around religion, styles of Buddhist monasteries were in excess 

of 25.^[1] Buddhism had a significant influence on Sri Lankan architecture, 

since it was introduced to the island in 3rd Century BC.^[2] Significant 

architectural buildings include the stupas of Jetavanaramaya, Ruwanvelisaya 

in the Anuradhapura kingdom and further in the Polonnaruwa Kingdom, the 

palace of Sigiriya is considered as a masterpiece of ancient architecure and 

ingenuity, the fortress in Yapahuwa and the Temple of the tooth in Kandy 

are also notable for their architectural qualities. Ancient Sri Lankan 

architecture is also significant to sustainability, notably Sigiriya which was 

designed as an environmentally friendly structure.Monasteries were designed 

using the Manjusri Vasthu Vidya Sastra, a manuscript which outlines the 

layout of the structure. The text is in Sanskrit but written in Sinhala script. 

The script is believed to be from the fifth century AD, It is exclusively about 

Buddhist monasteries and is clearly from the Mahayana school. The text 

shows much originality and there is nothing similar in the existing Indian 

treatises, which deal only with Hindu temples.^[1]

Contents  [hide] 1 Buddhist architecture in Sri Lanka 1.1 Cave temples 1.2 Dagobas or Stupas 1.3 Vatadage 1.4 Meditation houses 2 Sky scrapers 3 Palaces 3.1 Rock Palaces 4 Pool Design 5 Audience halls 6 Hospitals 7 Houses 8 Design and construction 8.1 Building materials 8.1.1 Timber 9 See also 10 References 11 External links