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The Dematamal Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple in the Okkampitiya village in Monaragala District, Sri Lanka. The history of this temple dates back to the 2nd – 3rd century BC. According to the legend, this is the temple which the King King Saddhatissa hid after being defeated in the battle with King Dutugemunu (Brother of King Saddhatissa). External Links ගැමුණු කුමරුට බියේ තිස්ස කුමරු සැඟවී සිටි දෙමටමල් විහාරය දෙටුමල් නමින් බිහිවූ දෙමටමල් විහාරය Read more...
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The Somawathiya Stupa is said to be enshrined the right tooth relic of Lord Buddha. It is located in Somawathiya Rajamaha Vihara premises in Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province. The area in which the temple located belongs to the Somawathiya National Park as well. The stupa was built during the reign of the King Kavanthissa (205–161 BC ) and it was named after his sister called princes Somawathi. Enter your current location in the search box below the map to find the best route to the Somawathiya Stupa. Click here to find a list of accommodations around Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. External Read more...
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The Fort Frederick is a fort built in 1624 CE by Portuguese as a military encampment at Trincomalee District in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. It was built from the debris of the famous ancient Hindu Koneswaram temple that was destroyed by the Portuguese. It has been an important military site for centuries. In 1665 the fort was rebuilt by the Dutch and again it was taken over by the British in 1795. Although the Fort Frederick is used today by the Sri Lankan military you are allowed to explore some parts of it. The Gokanna Temple and the rebuilt Koneswaram Read more...
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The Ambewela New Zealand Farm is one of the dairy farms managed by “Lanka Milk Food” company. The farm is located in Nuwara Eliya District of Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is open to visitors and you can see the milking process at 12.30 pm every day. The road to the farm traverse through a landscape with eye-catching grasslands. Read more...
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The Mirisaweti Stupa is located in Anuradhapura District of North Central Province. The stupa has been built by the king Dutugemunu (161BC – 137BC) after defeating South Indian invader king Elara. According to the legends, one day the King Dutugemunu had gone to Tissa Wewa for a bath leaving the scepter here. Once he returns to the scepter, it is said that it could not be moved from that place. As a result, the King has constructed this Stupa on the place where the scepter stuck. It is also said that it had been a practice of the King Dutugemununu Read more...
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Thuparamaya is considered to be the first Stupa built in Anuradhapura, after the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. It is also one of the “Atamasthana” (8 most sacred places of Buddhists in Sri Lanka). The stupa was built during the reign of King Devanampiyathissa (307 BC to 267 BC). It is believed that the stupa enshrines the right collarbone Relic of the Lord Buddha. Thuparamaya Read more...
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Eth Pokuna or Elephant Pond is a huge man-made ancient pond located in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura District in North Central Province. It is 52.7 m in width and 159 m in length. The depth of the pond is about 9.5 m. Supplying of water to the pond has been done by underground channels from the Periyakulam Tank. These water-supplying channels are still in working condition even after hundreds of years. The pond is surrounded by a number of ruins belongs to the Abhayagiri Monastery. Therefore this pond also may be built for the use of monks belongs to Read more...
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Hatadage is an ancient shrine in the Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was built by the King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196 A.D.). This had been used to place the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. According to historical sources, the shrine has built in sixty hours. The English translation of the Sinhalese word “Hata” is sixty, represent the duration of the construction period and the word “Dage” has the meaning of “relic shrine”. The remaining features of the building for today, evidence that the shrine was originally a two-story building. The shrine is 120 ft in length Read more...
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The Sankapala Raja Maha Viharaya is located in the Ratnapura District of Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. According to rock inscription found here, the history of this temple goes back to the reign of King Dutugemunu (161-137 BC). As said by the legends, there had been Ten Giants in king Dutugemunu’s troops. The giant Pussadeva is one of them who had a special skill of blowing conch shells (“Sankha” in Sinhala) so loudly. The symbol of the giant was also the conch shell itself. After winning the Vijithapura war, the king Dutugemunu has offered this area to the Pussadeva giant. Later, he has Read more...
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Pothgul Vehera is located in the Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese name “Pothgull” has the meaning of “place to store books”. As such, with the other historical evidence, this ancient place has been identified as the oldest Buddhist library complex in the country. It was built by the King Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186). Click here to find a list of accommodations around Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka on Booking.com Read more...
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Galboda Ella (or Galaboda Ella) is a waterfall located in Nawalapitiya area of Kandy District in Central Province, Sri Lanka. The waterfall is about 30m high and width ranges from 3 m to 6 m. It is also located nearby the Watawala which is one of the areas get the highest rainfall in Sri Lanka. The waterfall can be accessed by both road and railway. If you are traveling by a vehicle, you have to park the vehicle about 2km away from the waterfall and have to walk along the trail. When traveling by train, you need to get down Read more...
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The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens are located in the Kandy District of Central Province, Sri Lanka. The garden is spread over 147 acres. The origin of the garden date back to 1371, the reign of King Wickramabahu III. The garden has more than 4000 species of plants including orchid, spices, medicinal etc… External Links Department of Trade, Commerce & Tourism, Central Province Ministry of Sustainable Development and Wildlife Department of National Botanical Gardens Read more...
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Samadhi Buddha Statue is a sitting Buddha’s statue and it is considered as one of the best sculpture created during the Anuradhapura era. It is located in Anuradhapura district of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The statue with the height of 7 feet and 3 inches has made with dolomite marble. In this statue, the Buddha is depicted in the position of the Dhyana Mudra, the posture of meditation associated with his first Enlightenment. Some scholars say Samadhi statue belongs to 3rd century BC and others say it belongs to 2nd or 3rd century AD. External Links Iconographic Feature of the Buddha’s Read more...
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The Lankaramaya Stupa is one of the Eight Sacred places known as “Atamasthana”. The stupa was built during the 1st century B.C. by King Walagamba (89 B.C. – 77 B.C.). It is located in Anuradhapura District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. According to chronicales, this place was also known by the names Silasobbakandaka and Galhebakada. Initially, this stupa was known as Somarama Stupa in commemoration of Queen Soma who saved the life of the king. There are three rows of stone pillars that can be seen around the stupa and it is evident that there had been a house Read more...
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This is another ruin of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which is identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An inscription found on the upper level of the staircase identifies this building as the Council Chamber (The Raja Sabhawa in Sinhala) of King Parakramabahu the Great who ruled the country for 33 years from 1153 – 1186 A.D. It is located in front of the Royal Palace of the King. There are two moonstones located at the beginning and the middle of the staircase. Both sides of the staircase are decorated with stone carvings. There are a number of beautifully Read more...
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This pond or royal bath is presently known as “Kumara Pokuna” is believed to be the Pond named “Sila Pokkharani” mentioned Mahavamsa. The pond is located next to the Council Chamber of King Parakramabahu in Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. According to Mahavamsa, the pond was built by King Parakramabahu the Great (1153 – 1186 A.D.). The pond is located such a way that it can get water from the Parakrama Samudraya tank and it has provided with outlets to drain off the used water. The water was supplied to the pond by the two dragon mouths located Read more...
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Bopath Ella Waterfall is located in Agalawatta Village in Kuruvita, in the Ratnapura District of Sri Lanka. The waterfall has the shape of a Bo leaf. The name “Bo-path Ella” has been given to it because of this shape. In Sinhalese, “path” means the leaves of a tree and “Ella” is the Sinhala translation of the term “waterfall”. The waterfall is 30m high and it is formed from the Kuru Ganga. The Kuru Ganga is joined with the Kalu Ganga at Madara. Bopath Ella is a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka, as it is located not far from the capital, Read more...
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This beautifully carved ancient statue is located near the Pothgul Vehera in the Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The identity of this statue is not yet confirmed and some believed it to be the statue of King Parakramabahu the Great (1123–1186). And others believed that it is the statue of great Saint called Pulasthi or Kapila. The statue is about 3.5m tall and carved into a large rock boulder. Enter your current location in the search box below the map to find the best route to the statue of King Parakramabahu the Great Click here to find a list Read more...
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Laxapana Falls is a waterfall located in the Maskeliya area of the Nuwara Eliya District in Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is a picturesque waterfall formed by the Maskeliya Oya upstream which is a tributary of Kelani Ganga. Laxapana Falls is 126m in height and it is the eighth highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. This amazing waterfall is also located in an attractive location that has many hidden caves and natural tunnels. The most convenient route to the Laxapana falls is the Hatton – Maskeliya road. You can go to the top of the waterfall by taking a by road Read more...
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Sembuwatta Lake is a man made lake situated at Alkaduwa in Matale District of Sri Lanka. The lake is created from natural spring water and it is about 9-12 m deep. At one end of the lake there is a natural swimming pool. Currently the lake belongs to the Elkaduwa Plantations and maintained by the same. Read more...
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Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Sri Dalada Maligawa, possibly the most sacred Buddhist temple for all Buddhists in the world. External Links UNESCO Record www.sridaladamaligawa.lk Read more...
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Abhayagiri Stupa is the second-highest stupa in the country and it is located in Anuradhapura District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is one also of the Eight Sacred places known as “Atamasthana”. The stupa was built by King Valagamba was also known as Vattagamani Abhaya and Valagambahu in 1st century BC. According to legends, the king has built this stupa to commemorate some incident that happened while he escaping from one fight with Tamil invaders. According to this legend, a Jain monk called Giri has shouted at the king saying “the great black Sinhalese is fleeing” while he was passing Read more...
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Mandaram Nuwara is a beautiful small village located in Nuwara Eliya District of Central Province, sri Lanka. It is in the foothills of Piduruthalagala Mountain. The village is colloquially known as “mist city” as it is shrouded in mist majority of the day. At one end of the village there is a waterfall called Kolapothana Ella. Mandaram Nuwara Read more...
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This was a 7 storeyed building with about 1000 rooms, built by the King Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186). It is located in Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. This place is considered to be the Palace of King Parakramabahu the Great. The Palace was called as Vijayotpaya or Vijayanta Prasada (the name of the Palace of God Sakra). Since it has consisted of 7 stories, the building also called “Sathbumupaya” (in Sinhala). The remaining huge walls with thickness over one meter and part of stairs and the foundation walls give you an idea about the size of the building. Read more...