ANURADHAPURA - II

OTHER FASCINATIONS AT ANURADHAPURA

Isurumuniya Rock Temple

The Meghagiri Vihara is now commonly known as Isurumuniya Vihara was built in the 3rd century BC as part of a reclusive complex. This temple is best known for its rock carvings, situated near the Tisawewa (Tisa tank).

The most general being “the lovers” prince Saliya (The son of the King Dutugamunu) and his mistress Asokamala. Another acceptance was couple signify the god Siva and goddess Parvathi of Hindu belief. The style of the sculpture is similar to the Gupta Art of India.

Samadhi Statue

The Samadhi Statue located at the Mahamevuna Park in Anuradhapura is honored to be a work of genius of sculptural art and dates back to around the 4th century BC. The statue is 8 feet high and it’s made of granite. The statue shows the Lord Buddha in a profound state of meditation.

Eth Pokuna or the Elephant Pond

Near the Lankarama stupa is the largest pond found in Anuradhapura. This is revealed to be the bathing pond for the Abayagiri Monastery monks.

The name of this Elephant Pond meant for a cause of the size of the pond as the creation via for general public use.

The Moonstone/Sandakada Pahana

This is a semicircular shape of stone which stood at the foot of a flight of steps in most Buddhist temples. In most of the moonstones of Anuradhapura aeon, the border is designed with a ring of fires and below that is a ring filled with 4 types of animals – Elephant, Lion, Horse, and Bull chasing each other. The next semi-circle is line of a creeper with a wavy stem with greenery (“liyawela”). Next is a line of design swans with a twig of flower and a leaf on their mouth. Again it’s a floral pattern. At the Centre on the moonstone is lotus with petals.

Kuttam Pokuna/Twin Ponds

Twin Ponds belief to be built by the Sinhalese, date back to around 8 - 10th centuries. These are considered one of the major triumphs in the field of hydrological engineering and outstanding architectural and artistic constructions of Sinhalese.

A garden was landscaped which splits the two ponds in length of 18 .5feet and the larger pool of the two is 132feet x 51 feet, where the smaller pool is 91feet x51 feet.

Beaches - I

Trincomalee



Trincomalee is prominence for its natural harbour. It has a water area of 2,023 hectares. It ranked as the 5th largest natural harbour in the world. The harbour provides an extensive space for lay-up ships and tankers, and has been used for several purposes. Trinco features a tropical wet and dry climate. The city appears to feature a dry season from March through July and a wet season for the residue of the year.

Trincomalee is famous for an ancient Koneswaram temple referred to in its historic Tamil name Thirukonamalai which means "Lord of the Sacred Hill". About 11km from west of Trinco are the Kinniyai Hot-springs, extremely pure to Hindus who worship them to be a creation of God “Vishnu”. There are the seven hot springs and the temperature of each spring being slightly different.

Trincomalee beach is most picturesque and scenic beaches in Sri Lanka. All water sports are available including fishing, whale watching, bathing and swimming.

Trinco’s most famous landmark is fort Frederick, a century and a half of British fortifications can be found here. Also the mouth of Sri Lanka’s longest river Mahaweli Ganaga is located at the Trincomalee.

Nilaveli

If white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue seas spell out your relaxation, then the Nilaveli Beach is the place to be. Nilaveli is located in the east coast of Sri Lanka which is famous for its beautiful and calm. This is a very popular destination amongst sun worshippers. You will find Nilaveli about 275 km away from Colombo. The ideal season to visit here would be from April to October.

Close to Nilavali is red rick Beach – an estuary peach and pinkish colour Boulders.

Pigeon Island

A 10 minute boat-ride off the coast and you may visit Pigeon Island which lies 2km off the beach of Nilaveli, great for diving, snorkeling and sea bathing.

Pasikudah

Close by, has a spanking bay with lucent waters, which opens to the north. An offshore reef shelters a sandy beach and keeps the water, complacent and pure. This place is a windsurfers and water skiers delight.

Kalkudah

Kalkudah bay facing east, boasts of clear, calm reef protected sea ideal for bathing and swimming.

ANURADHAPURA - I

ANURADHAPURA

This magnificent city of Anuradhapura is Sri Lanka’s most sacred town and has some of the most remarkable ruins in the world. This city served as a great monastic centre. It continued residence and royal capital for over 100 successive Sinhalese Kings for around 1500 years from the 4th century BC to the 8th century AD, after which it was abandoned and the capital crossed over to Polonnaruwa.

Anuradhapura has eight main places of veneration, known as “Atamasthana”. These eight places include Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Thuparamaya , Ruwanwelisaya , Lovamahapaya, Abayagiri Dagoba, Jetavanaramaya, Mirisaveti Stupa and Lankarama.

1.Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

The Sri Maha Bodhi, an ancient historical sacred tree in the universe, is a cutting from the very Bodhi tree in Buddha Gaya in India beneath which the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. This is one of Sri Lanka’s greatest religious images and symbolizes the grandeur of the Lord Buddha. In around 250 BC this adorable tree was brought to Sri Lanka by the daughter (Theri Sangamitta) of the great Emperor Asoka of India and sister of Arahat Mahinda, the monk who introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the Poson Poya Day. All over the centuries the Sri Maha Bodhi has been represented by Buddhists in Sri Lanka and throughout the world. Today it is looked upon as an imperial treasure.

The following places are venerated monuments known as dagobas or stupas. Mostly shaped like a tea cup turned upside down, the significance of theses dagobas lies in the fact that one or more holy relics of the Buddha are enshrined within the walls.

2.Thuparamaya

This dagoba is regarded to be the first in Sri Lanka which was built in the shape of a heap of paddy. King Devanam Piya Tissa was built the Thuparama dagoba to enshrine the Right Collar Bone of Lord Buddha. The Thuparamaya as it stands today is after several renovations, having once been completely ruined and its present ‘bell” shape.

3.Ruwanweliseya

Known as an “eminent Stupa” Ruwanweliseya is undoubtedly just that. A perfect pinnacle standing over 300 feet tall with a diameter of 370 feet, the massive Ruwanweliseya is possibly the most sacred dagoba in the entire island, as it is confided to house the largest number of relics of the Buddha. Construction of this great dagoba was thought to have started during the reign of King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century BC. This dagoba considered an exclusive type of architectural creation of ancient Sri Lanka.

As with most historical memorials in Sri Lanka, Ruwanweliseya has a deep relationship with Buddhism. This most beautiful white dome shape of the dagoba is thought to be the perfect pearl shape, representing the Buddhist philosophy on life, the bead of life which will burst in no time like the fragility of our lives.

4.Lovamahapaya (Brazen Palace)

Also known as the Brazen Palace, this historical 9 tiers building was built in 150 BC as the monk’s dwelling place for the monks of the Mahviharaya Buddhist University. Situated between the Sri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanweliseya, is the Lovamahapaya. At any given time, the Lovamahapaya was planned to have residence 3000 monks! The bronze tiles that were used to cover the roof, gave this building the name, the Brazen Palace. It was thought to have taken 6 years to complete this exclusive building. What we see today represents the Brazen Palace in remains.

 5.Abhayagiri Dagoba

The Abhayagiri Dagoba was built by the King Valagam Bahu around 88 BC with an original height of over a hundred meters is one of the tallest souvenirs of its spirit in the world. This dagoba was more than just part of a compound of monastic buildings. Abhayagiri dagoba gained popularity as a camaraderie for Buddhist monks, attracting scholars throughout the world across all nuances of Buddhism and as such its influence can be traced to other parts of the world.

Abhayagiri was selected to house the relic for public veneration.

6.Jetavanaramaya

The Jetavanaramaya is a dagoba located in the remains of the Jetavana hermitage in Anuradhapura. At a height of over 120m, Jetavana Dagoba is the largest dagoba in Sri Lanka and among the tallest monuments in the world. A part of a sash or belt tied by the Lord Buddha is believed to be enshrined here.

The Jetavanarama dagoba was built by King Mahsen in the 3rd century AD. In this Dagoba, 3 statues elaborate the worship house for Lord Buddha. The worship house also has statues of king Mahasen.

7.Mirisaveti Stupa

This Stupa was built in the 2nd century by King Dutugemunu as a penalty for make a meal of the first product of a chilli plant accidentally himself. In that period, there was a vogue that the first plant of a tree was offered to the monks. By mistake, King Dutugemunu failed to carry out this tradition. Then he constructed this stupa and donated it to the monks.

The stupa that stands now is the result of the restoration work done by the cultural Triangle Fund.

8.Lankaramaya

This is a stupa that was built in the 1st century BC and an important place of worship for Buddhists constructed by King Walagamba .This is the smallest dagba through the 'Atamastana' of Anuradhapura. This stupa was donated to the women monks as a mark of respect for King Walagamba’s wife, Queen Soma Devi.She was the one who helped the king to evasion from the clutches of enemies, but in process, got captured herself.

Out Line

Sri Lanka is an island with 65,525sq.km Land area. It is in the Indian Ocean. Maximum Length of Sri Lanka is 432km & Maximum Breadth is 224km.It lies between 6⁰ and 10⁰ North Latitude and between the Eastern longitudes 80⁰ and 82⁰

Sri Lanka allocated 9 Provinces with 25 Districts.

v Population

Nearly 20 Million live in Sri Lanka.74% Sinhalese, 18% Tamils, 7% Moors and 1% Others. Literacy rate average 91% one of the highest in Asian countries.

v Religion (%)

Nearly 69% Buddhism, 15% Hinduism 8% Christianity and 7% Islam People live in
Sri Lanka.
             
v Climate
Cosy and elegant year around. Average temperature 27⁰ C in Colombo.In the Lowland 10⁰ at Hill Country (Altitude 1800m). The island has two wet seasons between May & July in the south-west and December – January in the north-east.Climatically Sri Lanka has no off season .During the wet season Bright sunny warm days are the rule and common.

v Time

Standard time is 5 ½ hours ahead of Greenwich.

v Water

Available Filtered & mineral waters as well as bottled drinking water. But the most popular drink is a hot cup of tea, and of course the Orange king coconut is a popular thirst quencher.

Sri Lanka Style

We welcome you to our lovely island, Sri Lanka, which is the pearl of an Indian Ocean. The island’s proud history of over 2500years and the breathtaking diversity of scenery will capture your heart.

 What may strike you most about Sri Lanka is its amazing variety of scenery. It is possible to pass radiant green paddy fields, sun-bronzed beaches, ruined cities, small beautiful villages, desert regions, sanctuaries for wildlife in tropical jungles, and hill country tea plantations verbally within hours of each other.

Sri Lanka is a paradise of unlimited sun, sea, wind and surf all year round. The coast every now and then crushes and curves into little nooks, bays and coves, ideal romantic hideaways. There are also many ecosystems with mangroves, sand dunes, lovely beaches and coral reefs.

Anuradhapura is first capital city of Sri Lanka. With inoculation from neighboring South India, the base of power shifted to Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, yapahuwa, Kurunegala ,Kandy and Kotte. Almost five hundred years during which the island came under the control and governs of the Portuguese, Dutch and British.

The island’s economy has traditionally been head on agriculture, with rice as the dominant food crop. With western commercial influence, rice gave way to cash crops, to the British made tea the base of the economy.

The new thrust in the economy is on export led industry. Agriculture is now being resuscitated. On-traditional exports such as garments, foliage, cut flowers, seafood, and tropical fish and value added agro-industries have in recent years support to the economic advance Sri Lanka.

Although well on the road modernization, the country and its people still feed most of their traditional values and take pride in their rich culture.

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