The King Statue of Polonnaruwa

The King Statue of Polonnaruwa             The statue, located to the north of the Pothgul Vihara on the banks of the Toppa Tank, is a great work of the ancient Sinhalese. It is 11 feet high and 6 inches high. There are many opinions among historians about this statue. Some say that it is a statue of King Parakramabahu I (1153 - 1186 AD) or another king who ruled over the Polonnaruwa kingdom. Another view...

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Weheragala Rajamaha Viharaya

Weheragala Rajamaha Viharaya           Located on the boundary of the Thamankaduwa and Ampara Districts in the Polonnaruwa District, this is a beautiful temple. It is believed to have been built during the Anuradhapura period. The three stone inscriptions adjoining the forty-foot high rock provide some indication in the history of the temple. But the inscriptions are so bad that they are unreadable. In these articles the reigns of two kings are given. The first article is about King Buddhadasa. This king was...

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Dhowa Rajamaha Viharaya

The Dhowa Rajamaha Viharaya         The Dhowa Raja Maha Viharaya is one of the most famous temples in Badulu Town. The Dove Raja Maha Viharaya, located a few miles down the Badulla road, is situated in a very picturesque setting. The history of this temple dates back to the Anuradhapura period. Accordingly, its history dates back to the reign of Walagamba (103, 89 - 77 BCE). Four months after he came to power, the South Indian prince invaded the country. King Walagamba, who was at war with the enemy, retreated a...

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Sri Pada

Samanala Peak                    Samanala Peak is a cone shaped mountain located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The peak is 2215 meters high. The site of the Siripa site is about 22380 hectares. The Siripa site was declared a sanctuary on October 25, 1940. It is the third highest mountain in Sri Lanka. Located between Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya Districts. In the eighth year of enlightenment,...

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Lankaramaya

Lankaramaya                        Lankaramaya is a small stupa of the size of the Anuradhapura Kingdom. An ancient stupa, known as the Lankaramaya, is not heard. Therefore, many scholars believe that this was later applied. Just like the bhikkhuni monastery of the Thuparamaya Maha Vihara which belonged to the Mahavihara, the Lankaramaya or the Manisomaramaya was the Bhikkuni...

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Jethavanaramaya

Jethavanaramaya        At 400 feet (120 m), it is the world's tallest stupa. It is also the largest brick building ever built. The largest stupa in Sri Lanka was built by King Mahayana Buddhist Mahasen (273 - 301). So this is a consumerist tradition.         It is the 3rd largest construction in the ancient world, apart from the two Great Pyramids in Giza. Approximately 93,300,000 burned bricks were used...

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Ruwanwelisaya

Ruwanwelisaya                       The Ruwanwelisaya (Ruwanweli Dagaba) is a great physical chaitya located in Sri Lanka. At 300 feet (92 m) and 950 feet (292 m) in diameter, this stupa is one of the tallest monuments in the world. The Rawanveli Dagaba is also known as Ratnamali Seya and Maha Seya.                      King Dutugemunu...

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Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya

                       Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi          The sacred Bodhi tree is considered to be a very sacred object by the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. It was during the reign of Devanampiya Tissa that the southern branch of the Bodhi Tree in Buddhagaya, India, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, was brought to Sri Lanka. BCE Between 307 and 267, the Sangamitta...

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