One of the most famous attractions in Sri Lanka, overlooking the kandy lake with its golden roof, is the Temple of the Tooth, “Sri Dalada Maligawa”. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site mainly due to the temple.
After Load Buddha attained Nirvana in 483 BC, some important relics, including His begging bowl, His collarbone and some strands of His hair, were recovered from His funeral pyre and later sent to Sri Lanka to be placed within the inner sanctums of dagobas built for them. Lord Buddha’s Tooth was also recovered and kept in the Indian Kingdom of Kalinga. The Tooth was considered the most sacred relic of Buddhism.
In the 4th century AD, due to the resurgence of Hinduism, the future of the Tooth relic was thrown in to doubt. In AD 331 the Indian king sent the Tooth relic to Sri Lanka, hidden in the hair of his daughter Princess Hemamala accompanied by Prince Danta.
The Sacred Tooth relic became not only the most precious icon of Sinhalese pride but also a symbol of kingship. It was customary for the kings to build a temple for the Tooth relic near their palace, and to become its custodian.
SIGIRIYA
Sigiriya is possibly the most spectacular sight in Sri Lanka. This magnificent, massive monolith rises 600 feet (183 m) from the lush jungle and was one of the most beautiful royal cities that ever graced the earth. Today, the “Loin Rock” is one of the best-preserved and most elaborate surviving urban sites in South Asia and considered by some as the eighth wonder of the world, consists of an ancient castle used by King Kasyapa of the 5th century AD.
The Sigiriya site has the remains of an upper Sky Palace sited on the flat top of the rock, a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the Mirror Wall and the world famous Sigiriya Frescoes, the lower palace that clings to the slopes below the rock, and the moats, walls and gardens that extend for some hundreds of metres out from the base of the rock.
The site is a palace and fortress, sufficient remains to provide the visitor with a stunning insight into the ingenuity and creativity of its builders. The upper palace on the top of the rock includes cisterns cut into the rock that still retain water. The moats and walls that surround the lower palace are still exquisitely beautiful.
ANURADHAPURA
Anuradhapura is a major city and one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of the ancient Sri Lankan civilization. The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the center of Theravada Buddhism for many centuries.
Many centuries before Christ, while the Greek Empire was flourishing in the Mediterranean and other regions were emerging from the late Stone Age, a highly advanced civilization inhabited the ancient land of Lanka. Cities were orderly, with superb irrigation systems and linked with fine roads.
Anuradhapura became the capital of the island in 380 BC and excavations on the site confirm that human settlement began here about 500 BC. According to the Mahavamsa (the history of the civilization written by monks in the 5th century AD), the founder of the city was Anuradha, a close follower of Prince Vijaya, the legendary forefather of the Sinhalese race.
Anuradhapura, situated in the North Central province, was a great thriving city and remained the capital for about 1400 years until the 10th century AD. At the height of its glory the city covered 250 square miles (650 square km).
POLONNARUWA
In 1073, King Vijayabahu (1055-1110) drove away the Cholas from the island and restored the Sinhalese Throne. He kept Polonnaruwa as the capital, and reconstituted the Buddhist Sangha, the order of monks, which had been demoralized by the Indian occupation. Vijaya devoted his reign to rebuild the country, improving irrigation systems and strengthening the inner core of Buddhism.
GOLDEN TEMPLE DAMBULLA
Dambulla Cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla was designated a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1991. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The cave’s history dates back to 103 BC, when king Vattagamani Abhaya took refuge there after being driven out of Anuradhapura by a Tamil invasion. After regaining the throne in 89 BC, King Vattagamani Abhaya converted the five caves in to shrines as a debt of gratitude to Lord Buddha.
Subsequent kings made further, significant improvements to this magnificent rock temple. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses.
ADAM’S PEAK
Adam’s peak is the fifth highest mountain in Sri Lanka. At 7360 ft (2243 m) it is located within the 60000 acre (24,300 hectare) peak wilderness sanctuary. The mountain is located in the southern reaches of the Central Highlands, in the Ratnapura District and Nuwara Eliya district of the Sabaragamuwa Province and Central Province. The surrounding region is largely forested hills, with no mountains of comparable size nearby. The region along the mountain is a wildlife reserve, housing many species varying from elephants to leopards, and including many endemic species.
The ancient name for the mountain was Samanalakande, “The Mountain of saman” after the god Saman, one of the four guardian deities who guards over the island. The Sinhala name for the mountain is Sri Pada, “Holy Footprint”. The mahavamsa made reference to Lord Buddha’s Footprint left on top of this mountain. Sri pada has attracted countless numbers of visitors to worship it.
MIHINTALE
Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa who inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Since then countless pilgrims have been visiting, “Mahinda’s mountain”, to venerate the shrines, Dagobas and caves found on the sacred hill. At the foot of the mountain are the ruins of a first hospital in the world, medical bath (or stone canoe in which patients were immersed in medicinal oil) a stone inscription and ruins belonging to the ancient period have been unearthed. Between the hospital and the steps leading to the rock are the ruins of a large monastery.
GALLE
Galle was a major port in Sri Lanka until around 1875, when maritime trade was diverted to Colombo. This well-preserved fort remains a “living” monument with a thriving community within and is one of the eight UNESCO worlds Heritage Sites and is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers.
A Portuguese fleet first landed in Galle in 1505 after taking shelter in the harbor when their ship was blown off course. Gradually, they developed trading links with the island. In 1589 they built a small fort in Galle to guard the harbor and named it Santa Cruz.