Sri lanka

Sri Lanka has attracted travelers Sri Lanka Holiday and Sri Lanka Travel for centuries for its heritage, an extraordinary variety of places significant as a cultural heritage. Sri Lanka has a two thousand five hundred years of recorded history and remarkable achievements of the early Sinhalese civilization can still be seen in the ruined cities and great religious monuments. Some of the ancient cities of the world including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy, once glorious cities, palaces, monasteries intricately carved.

Ancient city of Anuradhapura is located approximately two hundred and twenty kms from the capital of Colombo, in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the capital of Sri L:anka from 4th century BC beginning from 11th century AD. At present this ancient city has become extremely sacred to Buddhists all over the world. It has monasteries surrounding and considered as the most significant archaeological sites of the world.

The city of Anuradhapura was named after a Minister at that time called Anuradha who founded this city as a settlement according to the “Mahavanmsa”. He was one of the ministers who accompanied King Vijaya from India. Vijaya was the first king of Sinhalese race according to the recorded history. Anuradhapura the most famed and most exquisite was this kingdom longest serving capital of Sri Lanka.

The other significant old city is the Polonnaruwa from the 6th century BC. Battle of “Vijthithapura” a war waged by king Dutugemunu to unite the country was happened in close proximity to Polonnaruwa. Subsequently this area was gradually developed as an influential agricultural area, large irrigation tanks were built by the Sinhalese kings and even up to present day this area is an agricultural area famous for paddy cultivation which supplies main food the rice for the people of this country. Sinhalese kings selected strategically and security wise significant Polonnaruwa in order to protect themselves from invaders and Polonnaruwa became the next kingdom capital of Sri Lanka.

Another significant heritage site is the Sigiriya Rock Fortress of Sri Lanka which is located along Colombo – Habarana main road and turning towards East from Inamaluwa in the district of Matale close proximity to Dambulla. Sigiriya Rock which were endowed with many caves and a temple which had been used as meditation centre by Buddhists monks. Sri Lankan king Kassapa who killed his father and became the king of ancient Sri Lanka used this rock as his fort in order to protect from the enemies. Subsequent to 18 years of his rule, his brother Prince Mugalan came with an army to fight with King Kassapa and during the battle King Kassapa committed suicide and Mugalan became the king of Sri Lanka. He ruled the country from Anuradhapura and gave back the Sigirya to Buddhists monks again. King Kassapa was not considered as in high esteem in the history of Sri Lanka due to his awful conduct but he created art in high caliber and frescoes are regarded as amazing creation of art. Sigirya fortress and a water garden displays most innovative elements of landscaping and the oldest wall painting recorded in Sri Lanka. A compelling variety of landscapes ranging from wildlife rich jungles home to extensive wildlife and rare bird species. Many tourists who are arriving in Sri Lanka never forget to visit this world renowned Sigirya rock. Sigiriya rock and fortress is famous for its gardens frescoes and irrigation system that still amaze the foreigners.

Nuwara-eliya is called as the little England in Sri Lanka is located among beautiful background of mountains, vallyes and water falls. As tourists you will find evidence of the British influence in cottages or mansions.

Digamadulla the Eastern Kingdom of Sri Lanka was the agricultural and spiritual capital of the country during the kingdom of Anuradhapura.

Kandy is the hill capital of Sri Lanka and it was the last kingdom which come to end on 2nd March 1815. Kandy is the most venerable place for the Buddhists the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic ( Dalada Maligawa ) Subsequent to the death of last king Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe Combo became the capital of Sri Lanka up to now. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities and administrative and religious capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the second largest town in Sri Lanka and also a heritage site which gives evidence to capabilities of Sri Lankan people after being buried and raged more than thrice by the invading Portuguese the Kandyan kingdom still holds beautifully carved and built houses existed for nearly five hundred years. People of all over the world visit this city to warship Sacred Tooth Relics of the Lord Buddha. Kandy was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988.

The Kande Viharaya temple has a long history and continues to this date to be a significant link in the Buddhist cultural and religious activities and white clad devotees from all over the country flock to this temple every day.

Ancient Dutch fort located in the coastal belt Galle now has been declared a World Heritage site. Galle Fort is approximately eighty seven acres of land and Dutch constructed this fort in 1640. This is an interesting place for tourists traditional Dutch buildings, Light House, The first Maritime Museum and a Dutch Church which was built in 1752 and journey to this site would be a memorable event.

The glories of Buddhist civilization continue to provide benchmark of the national identity for the island’s Sinhalese and long established Tamil mostly living in the Northern province of Sri Lanka have established a vibrant Hindu culture. Sri Lanka the natures treasure is the home to one of the oldest civilization in the World.