The capital of Sri Lanka from the 05th Century B.C. to the end of the 10th Century A.D. was the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities which are now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage. The city’s greatest treasures are its Dagobas constructed of bricks and are hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagobas are the Ruvanveliseya dating back to the 2nd Century B.C. and is 300 feet in diameter, the Jetawanarama is 370 feet and the Thuparama Dagoba is enshrined with the collarbone of the Buddha. The city’s most renowned relic is the sacred Bo Tree, which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained Enlightenment. It was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world.

The Sacred Bo tree; Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka is the oldest living tree in documented history of the world. It is a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha enlightened. It was planted in 288 BCF and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. It was brought from Buddhagaya India by the Ven. Sanghamitta Therini, a sister of Arhant Mahinda – who introduced the Teachings of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. The area around the Sri Maha Bodhi, the Brazen Palace and Ruwanweliseya Dagoba were once probably part of the Great Temple. The Sacred Bodhi tree is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world; it has been tended by a continuous succession of guardians for over 2000 years, even during the periods of Indian occupation.

The Ruwanweliseya was built by King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century BCE. Since being restored the dome is clear and shines white in the sun. S.M. Burrows of the Ceylon Civil Service wrote in 1885, “Its present height is about 150 feet, with a diameter of 379 feet. It is now being restored by the pious contributions of pilgrims, and the zealous efforts of the Chief Priest. The Dagoba was originally surrounded by two large paved courts or platforms, the inner one raised above the outer. Round the outer side of the boundary-wall there was originally a complete circle of elephants, made out of brickwork, and coated with Chunam each elephant being furnished, says the Mahavamsa or Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, compiled in about the 6th century AD with tusks of real ivory. Most of these figures have fallen away beyond recognition; but in some few, the shape of the animal is still plainly discernable.”

Lunch at local restaurant.

Mihintale is 140 miles from Colombo, 8 miles from Anuradhapura. Mihintale is called the “Cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka”- it was here that the Buddhist doctrine was first preached by the monk ‘Mahinda’, son of Asoka, Emperor of India, to King Devanampiyatissa more than 2000 years ago. Mihintale – ‘the hill of Mahinda’ is approached by a magnificent, wide, ancient stone stairway of 1,840 steps. This is the World’s first declared sanctuary from 247 B.C. and continues to be one up to this day. Some of the monuments found here are the oldest in the country and the large number of Brahmin inscriptions dates from the 3rd century B.C. Kantaka Cetiya, Ambastala Dagoba, Maha Thupa, At Vehera, Alms Hall, Girihandu Seya, Indikatu Seya, Old Hospital and Kaludiya Pokuna are some of the interesting sites at Mihintale.

Undoubtedly, this is the most magnificent undamaged ancient image in the island. This 5th Century statue, ascribed to King Dhatusena, is 46 feet high and was protected by a large image house where the remaining can still be seen. It is situated 32 miles (51 kilometers) south-east of Anuradhapura via the great tank of Kalawewa. This is the ideal example for a Statue of the Standing Buddha Image in Sri Lanka.

The Somawathiya Chaitya is a Buddhist Stupa situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Chaitya premises is called the Somawathiya Rajamaha Viharaya.It is located within the Somawathiya National Park on the left bank of the Mahaweli River, and is believed to have been built long before the time of Dutugamunu enshrining the right canine Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. It is attributed to the reign of King Kavan Tissa – Dutugemunu’s father – who ruled Magama. Somawathiya is therefore much older than Ruwanwelisaya, Mirisawetiya Vihara or Jetavanaramaya.The stupa is named after Princess Somawathi, the sister of King Kavantissa, and the wife of regional ruler Prince Abhaya. The prince built the stupa to enshrine the right tooth relic of the Buddha, obtained from Arahat Mahinda, and named the stupa after the princess. Upon completion of the stupa and other constructions, the prince and princess handed over the temple to Arahat Mahinda and other monks.

Polonnaruwa, the 2nd most ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka is an interesting mix of Buddhist and Hindu structures that are a testament to the different kings who reigned over this ancient kingdom. This ancient city is well known for being one of the Eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa rose to prominence between the 11^th and 13^th centuries and thrived during the reign of the famous monarch, King Parakramabahu I, who did much to create a resplendent city. His greatest achievement was the construction of the sea of Parakrama (Parakrama Samudraya), a huge water reservoir spanning an area of 6,280 acres. The ruins at Polonnaruwa are within walking distance and many of them set in tree-shaded areas, a welcome refuge from the tropical sun.

Dambulla Cave is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Within these rock columns you find the Dambulla Cave Temple which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka. The Caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found in the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the walls and the ceiling are the oldest here but they are over painted in the Kandy period. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures with few statues of Gods and Kings. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes, which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhalese people.

The Aluvihare Rock Temple is a sacred Buddhist temple located in Aluvihare in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. Surrounded by hills, the Aluvihara cave temple is situated 30 km north of Kandy on the Matale-Dambulla road. The history of Aluvihare Rock Temple is traced back to the 3rd Century B.C to the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. It is believed that the King built the dagoba, planted the Bo sapling and founded the temple after the introduction of Buddhism to the country during his reign. The significance of Aluvihara is the writing of the Tripitaka in Pali (Buddhist scriptures – Vinaya Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka and Sutra Pitaka). After the Buddha’s ‘Parinirvana’ (passing away), the Buddha Dhamma (Buddha’s preaching) was passed on from generation to generation, verbally by his pupils.

The hill capital is another “World Heritage Site”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (“Maha Wasala”), “Palle Wasala”- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, “Meda Wasala” where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, Natha Devala and Vishnu Devala are situated close by. The Bathing Pavilion (“Ulpenge”) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse. Today it is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. Visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city. (Visiting the museum will subject to an additional entrance fee of US$ 10/- per person)

Gadaladeniya Temple in Sri Lanka is an old monastery built over a rock in Diggala in the district of Kandy. According to an inscription carved into the walls the temple was built in 1,344 AD by King Buwanekabaghu the fourth. The Temple was designed by the South Indian architect Ganesvarachchari in a design similar to South Indian architecture.

Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy was constructed in the 14th century AD by the 4^th King Buvanekabahu. It was revived later by Vijayabahu IV. Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy was made in the conventional Sinhalese way. Lankathilaka Viharaya is one of the popular tourist destinations in Kandy which is worth visiting. Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy is a dramatic building made out of clay brick. At one time it was a five-storied building. Lankathilaka Viharaya in Kandy was decorated with flowers, creepers, birds, animals and statues of Gods. 

Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo. It was completed in the late 19th century. The temple’s architecture demonstrates an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture. This Buddhist temple includes several imposing buildings and is situated not far from the placid waters of Beira Lake on a plot of land that was originally a small hermitage on a piece of marshy land. It has the main features of a Vihara (temple), the Cetiya (Pagoda) the Bodhi tree, the Vihara Mandiraya, the Seema malaka (assembly hall for monks) and the Relic Chamber. In addition, a museum, a library, a residential hall, a three storied Pirivena, educational halls and an alms hall are also on the premises. Most notable for tourists is the architecture of the Seemamalaka Shrine, which was built with donations from a Muslim sponsor to the design of Geoffrey Bawa.

Colombo is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, only a few miles away. Colombo was only a small seaport, which came into prominence in the 16th Century with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 and the development of it as a major Harbor took place during the British period. Colombo became the capital of Sri Lanka in 1815 after Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British. The remains of the buildings during the period of the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule are found in every area of the city. None of the Portuguese & Dutch fortifications are found today but some of their buildings and churches could be seen in the Fort & Pettah areas. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street – the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area where there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Kayman’s Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Colombo Museum (There is an entrance fee of US$ 15/- Per person for the Museum) and the Natural History Museum are some of the sites which you can visit. Also visit the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square.

One of the earliest Buddhist Dagobas traditionally believed to be the site visited by the Buddha 2,500 years ago. According to the Mahavamsa, the “paddy-heap” shaped dagoba at Kelaniya marks the spot where the Buddha, on the request of a Naga king Maniakkika, sat on a” gem-studded throne” to preach the Dharma to his subjects and convert them. It is recorded that King Yatala Tissa of the 3rd Century B.C. had constructed the Temple and the Dagoba may dates to an earlier period. An annual Perahera called “Duruthu Perahera” is held each year during the month of January for 3 days in order to pay respect to this holy land.

In the Udu Nuwara area of the Kandy district lays a Temple with a history of over six centuries. Built during the reign of King Wickremabahu III (1371-1394AD) who ruled in the Kingdom of Gampola, the Temple is practically covered in wood carvings. The woodwork is confirmed by UNESCO as some of the best and most detailed in the world. The Temple is dedicated to the god known as ‘Murugan’ by the Hindus and ‘Katharagama deity’ by the Buddhists.