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Star Guest House
This has clean, if virtually windowless, air-con rooms that are the best option for sweaty Mannar. Some travellers have complained about conditions in the cheaper rooms, which share bathrooms.
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Sapumal Foundation
The Sapumal Foundation is located in what was once the home of artist Harry Pieris. Today this rambling tile-roofed bungalow is packed with some of the best examples of Sri Lankan art since the 1920s.
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Velaikkara Slab Inscription
Just in case you thought that bureaucrats have evolved through the years, check out this 12th-century memorial slab with an equally lifeless slab of text tossing off credits in all directions.
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Gangarama Maha Vihara
Just off Baddegama Rd is this interesting Buddhist temple that has lots of popular educational paintings that are the work of one man over nearly a decade. The monks are happy to show you around.
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Anipandi Sitivigniswara Alayar
Of the many Hindu temples, Anipandi Sitivigniswara Alayar is visually the finest, with a magnificent gopuram (gateway tower) that’s decorated with a riotous festival of intertwined god figures.
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Pabula Vihara
Also known as the Parakramabahu Vihara, Pabula Vihara is a typical dagoba from the period of Parakramabahu I. This brick stupa is the third-largest dagoba in Polonnaruwa, and set in a woodland clearing.
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Galapota Temple
A few kilometres inland on the south bank of the Bentota Ganga is the Galapota Temple, which is said to date from the 12th century. To reach it, cross the bridge and take the side road to your left after 500m.
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Buddhist Railing
A little south of the Jetavanarama Dagoba, on the other side of the road, there is a stone railing built in imitation of a log wall. It encloses a site 42m by 34m, but the building within has long disappeared.
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Temple Trees
The official prime ministers house has also been the residence for several recent presidents, including Mahinda Rajapakse. Its heavily protected and they might not even let you walk along the sidewalks nearby.
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Natha Devale
The 14th-century Natha Devale is the oldest of Kandys devales . It perches on a stone terrace with a fine vahalkada (solid panel of sculpture) gateway. Bodhi trees and dagobas stand in the devale grounds.
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Colombo Racecourse
Once the centre of harness racing in Colombo (and a WWII airfield), the landmark grandstands here now face a new rugby ground, while the buildings themselves house a large collection of up-scale shops and cafes.
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SJV Chelvanayakum Monument
The strange, top-heavy pillar erected near the Jaffna Public Library is the SJV Chelvanayakum Monument, celebrating the founder of the Tamil Federal Party. His somewhat Gandhi-esque statue stands beside the monument.
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Gangatilaka Vihara
The massively, impressive Gangatilaka Viharahas a hollow dagoba (stupa) with an interesting painted interior depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha. It’s immediately south of the Kalu Ganga bridge on the main road.
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Clock Tower
The clock tower at the junction of Chatham St and Janadhipathi Mawatha (once Queen St) was originally a lighthouse that was built in 1857. Its now right at the heart of officialdom and you can expect a few watchful guards.
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St Mary’s Cathedral
Built by the Dutch along classical lines, St Mary’s Cathedral is astonishingly large, but it’s curious to see corrugated-iron roofing held up by such a masterpiece of wooden vaulting.
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Valipura Kovil
The much-revered Valipura Kovil is 5km from central Point Pedro. It’s famous for the boisterous water-cutting festival (devotees are sprayed in holy water) it revived in October 2004, attracting around 75,000 pilgrims.
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Lloyds Buildings
Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha has the grandly restored Lloyd’s Buildings. Several other imposing colonial piles on the street are also being renovated, recreating the regal air of when this was the fiscal heart of Ceylon.
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Hikkaduwa Lake
Hikkaduwa Lake, with its monitor lizards and numerous birds, makes for a pleasant excursion away from the beach. Boat tours can sometimes be organised on the lake; ask around. To get there head along the Baddegama Rd.
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Kaludiya Pokuna
Further south along the same road is the Kaludiya Pokuna (Dark Water Pool). This artificial pool was carefully constructed to look realistic, and features a rock-carved bathhouse and the ruins of a small monastery.
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Nelum Pokuna
A track to the left from the northern stretch of road leads to unusual Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond), nearly 8m in diameter, which has five concentric, descending rings of eight petals each. The pool was probably used by monks.
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