Discover-SriLanka: temples

DISCOVER - SRI LANKA: PROLOGUE

IN PRAISE OF MY BEAUTIFUL ISLAND,

INFORMATION, PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO.

THE 13th CENTURY VENETIAN TRAVELER MARCO POLO DESCRIBED THE ISLAND AS 'THE JADE PENDANT IN THE INDIAN OCEAN'. THE ABUNDANCE OF GEMSTONES, SPICES, RAIN FORESTS AND WILDLIFE; THE MAGNIFICENT BEACHES, ANCIENT RUINS AND A WRITTEN HISTORY OF OVER 2500 YEARS MAKE THIS ISLAND A TOURISTS' PARADISE.

THE RUINED CITIES OF ANURADHAPURA AND POLONNARUWA ILLUSTRATE THE GLORY OF THE ANCIENT KINGDOMS. THE GIGANTIC STUPAS AND BUDDHA STATUES ARE AMONG THE BIGGEST MAN MADE STRUCTURES OF THE WORLD. THE MASSIVE RESERVOIRS, BUILT BY ANCIENT KINGS TO IRRIGATE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND, ARE MARVELS OF HYDRO ENGINEERING. THERE ARE EIGHT UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN SRI LANKA

THE ISLAND WAS KNOWN TO THE GREEKS AS 'TAPROBANE' AND TO THE ARABS AS 'SERENDIB'. EARLY MERCHANTS VISITED THE ISLAND IN SEARCH OF GEMSTONES AND SPICES, MAINLY CINNAMON AND PEPPER. COFFEE AND TEA PLANTATIONS WERE STARTED BY THE BRITISH COLONIAL RULERS. CEYLON TEA IS FAMOUS THE WORLD OVER.

TOURISM INDUSTRY IS A MAJOR MONEY SPINNER FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND. THE VAST EXPANSE OF BEACHES, RAIN FORESTS AND NATIONAL PARKS WITH HERDS OF WILD ELEPHANTS, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WITH LITHE WATER FALLS, BRING IN THE TOURISTS. THE ISLAND IS DOTTED WITH HUNDREDS OF HOTELS TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAVELER. AN ISLAND OF 25,000 SQ; MILES HAS 103 RIVERS AND 25000 RESERVOIRS, MOSTLY MAN MADE. WITH VARYING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS THIS IS TRULY A 'SMALL MIRACLE'.

" THE ISLAND OF SRI LANKA IS A SMALL UNIVERSE, IT CONTAINS AS MANY VARIATIONS OF CULTURE, SCENERY AND CLIMATE AS SOME COUNTRIES A DOZEN TIMES ITS SIZE........I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY COUNTRY WHICH SCORES SO HIGHLY IN ALL DEPARTMENTS - WHICH HAVE SO MANY ADVANTAGES AND SO FEW DISADVANTAGES. LOVELY BEACHES, BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, IMPRESSIVE RUINS, A VIBRANT CULTURE AND CHARMING PEOPLE- NO WONDER SRI LANKA IS A SMALL MIRACLE ".***** Arthur C. Clark *****

Showing posts with label temples. Show all posts

15 February, 2013

SRI LANKA - MAHIYANGANA STUPA

The Mahiyangana sthupa and the entrance to the Mahiyangana temple.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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08 November, 2012

SRI LANKA - MAHIYANGANA TEMPLE

The Mahiyangana temple is believed to be the site of The Buddha's first visit to the country. The Sthupa stands at a height of 120 feet and a decorative gateway adorns the entrance to the temple.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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11 October, 2012

SRI LANKA - MONKEYS

Visitors to the Temple of The Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy are greatly amused by the antics of the monkeys living in the vicinity, they feed on the flowers and tender leaves of the many trees surrounding the temple and handouts from passersby who are amused by their eccentric behavior. Pictures show a family in the shade and an aggressive adult with with a fresh scar on its face.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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16 July, 2011

SRI LANKA - DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE [ 1st CENTURY BC ]

The ceiling of the caves are covered with intricate paintings depicting the life of The Buddha. Dambulla cave temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pics by : Gerrit,Netty,Hans and Hanneke [ Belgium ]

Sri Lanka Tour, May 2011

24 February, 2011

SRI LANKA - HERITAGE [ TEMPLE OF THE SACRED TOOTH RELIC, KANDY ]

Built in the 15th century, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

in Kandy is a fine example of ancient architecture. The ornately

carved wooden pillars and beams, the octagon building from

which The King addressed his subjects, the imposing main

gateway to the Palace and the moat at the entrance illustrate

the architectural prowess of the ancient builders.

Pics : Nelsonlanka
Sony DSC H 7

29 September, 2010

SRI LANKA - DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLES

Cave temples had been used in Sri Lanka since ancient times, fine examples if these include the magnificent cave temple complex inDambulla built by king Valagamba. Cave temples has preserved some of the best examples of Sinhalse art and Sinhalese architecture. In the years gone by of monarchy rule in ancient Sri Lanka the rock cave shelters cloistered in the recess of the forests served the recluse Buddhist monks in performing their meditation chores and other religious observances. Such cave hermitages were patronised by the ruling kings of the time, chieftains and the people as well. As the years passed, such cave shelters turned into len viharas (cave temples) and len avasas(abodes of Buddhist monks). Such len (cave shelters), were gifted by the kings, queens, and other nobles of the royalty. Foremost among such noble chieftains were the paramukas (chieftain of royal rank holding multiple designations).