Sri Lanka Archives

Train travel in Sri Lanka is relatively simple.

Isurumini Rajamaha Viharaja

Isurumini Rajamaha Viharaja

Kandyan dance (Sinhala: උඩරට නැටුම්) encompasses various dance forms native to the area called Kandy of the central hills region in Sri Lanka. But today it has been widespread to other parts of the country.

According to the legend, the origins of the dance lies in dance ritual known as the Kohomba kankariya (named for the deity Kohomba), which is also known as Kohomba yak kankariya or simply kankariya.

Traditional dance masters believe that originally the king of a place referred to as "Malaya Rata", and his two brothers, performed the first Kohomba kankariya. Some believe that this "Malaya Rata" was located in India.

Kandyan dance

Kandyan dance

Stupa.

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 which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is now a pilgrimage site, and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures.

Autorisha's ;)

The Wolrd Largest Buddha Statue (*as of 2015) in the Dhamma Chakka Posture, 30 meters (100 feet) in height.

The Wolrd Largest Buddha Statue (*as of 2015) in the Dhamma Chakka Posture, 30 meters (100 feet) in height.

Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site (1991) in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country.

It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains.

There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings.

Dambulla - largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. UNESCO, World Heritage Site.

Dambulla - largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. UNESCO, World Heritage Site.

Sigriya was a monastery belonging to 1-2 centuries B.C. with caves surrounding the rock. King Kassapa I (473-491 A.D.) transferred the administrative centre from Anuradhapura to Sigriya and ruled the island from Sigriya.

The true identity of the ladies in these paintings still have not been confirmed. There are various ideas about their identity. Some believe that they are the ladies of the king's while others think that they are women taking part in religious observances. These pictures have a close resemblance to paintings seen in the Ajanta caves in India.

The names of the ladies and the artists who painted them are lost to history. Their legacy has survived for over half a million days, a testament to the genius of their creators and the king who commissioned them.