-
Vatadage
In the southeast of the Quadrangle, the vatadage (circular relic house) is typical of its kind. Its outermost terrace is 18m in diameter, and the second terrace has four entrances flanked by particularly fine guardstones. The moonstone at the northern entrance is reckoned to be the
-
Eth Pokuna (Elephant Pond)
Surrounded by jungle, the magnificent eth pokuna (elephant pond) is thought to be an ancient water storage pool for the Abhayagiri monastery rather than a swimming pool for pachyderms. However such is its scale – 159m long, 53m wide and 10m deep – a whole herd could undoubtedly bat
-
Rumassala Peace Pagoda
On the west end of the peninsula of the same name, the Rumassala Peace Pagoda was built by Japanese Buddhist monks of the Mahayana sect in 2005, as part of their scheme to build peace temples in war-torn places worldwide (the Sri Lankan war was raging at the time). The glistening w
-
Asgiriya Maha Vihara
The principal viharas (Buddhist complexes) in Kandy have considerable importance – the high priests of the two best known, Malwatte and Asgiriya, are the most important in Sri Lanka. This temple is the headquarters of two of the main nikayas (orders of monks). The head monks also a
-
Kirinda Temple
Kirinda centres on this Buddhist shrine piled atop huge round rocks. It is dedicated to Queen Viharamahadevi, who lived in the 2nd century BC and is at the heart of an old favourite story. When raging waters threatened Ceylon, King Kelanitissa ordered his youngest daughter, then a
-
Victoria Park
The lovely Victoria Park at the centre of town is one of the nicest, and best maintained, town parks in South Asia, and a stroll around its manicured lawns is a pleasure indeed. The park comes alive with flowers around March to May, and August and September. It’s also home to quite
-
Tivanka Image House
The northern road ends at Tivanka Image House. Tivanka means ‘thrice bent’, and refers to the fact that the Buddha image within is in a three-curve position normally reserved for female statues. The building is notable for the carvings of energetic dwarfs cavorting around the outsi
-
Padeniya Raja Mahavihara
About 85km south of Anuradhapura and 25km northwest of Kurunegala, where the Puttalam and Anuradhapura roads branch off, is the Kandyan-style Padeniya Raja Mahavihara, which is worth popping into if you’re passing by. It’s a pretty, medieval temple with 28 carved pillars and a stun
-
Kandy Monasteries
The principal viharas (Buddhist complexes) in Kandy have considerable importance – the high priests of the two best known, Malwatte and Asgiriya, are the most important in Sri Lanka. They are the headquarters of two of the main nikayas (orders of monks). The Malwatte Maha Vihara is
-
Gangaramaya Temple
Run by one of Sri Lanka’s more politically adept monks, Galboda Gnanissara Thera, this bustling temple complex has a library, a museum and an extraordinarily eclectic array of bejewelled and gilded gifts presented by devotees and well-wishers over the years (plus one lonely and cha
-
Traditional Puppet Art Museum
Puppet shows were long a part of traditional entertainment in Sri Lankan villages. Performing troupes would stage shows with intricate plots that lasted for hours. This engaging museum keeps the traditional puppet arts alive. Dozens and dozens of colourful puppets – some quite huge
-
De Soysa (Lipton) Circus
One corner of this bustling roundabout is occupied by the popular Odel department store. Opposite is the Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church , which dates to 1877. Located just south of the church is the Dewata-Gaha Mosque , a rambling structure dating to 1802 that bustles with people
-
Ho
Do you feel lucky? The Ho-o-maniya blowhole is sometimes spectacular and other times a fizzle. During the southwest monsoon (June is the best time), high seas can force water 23m up through a natural chimney in the rocks and then up to 18m in the air. At other times the blowhole wi
-
Coconut Cultural Park
Just behind the hotels, this impressive new attraction is dedicated to the coconut, surely the worlds most remarkable plant, and inexorably linked with the Sri Lankan nation (their cultivation is mentioned in the Mahavamsa) and diet. You can wander under coconut groves and learn al
-
Farr Inn
A local landmark, Farr Inn was a hunting lodge for high-ranking British colonial officials, but now incorporates a basic but expensive cafe and visitor centre with displays on the flora, fauna and geology of the park. A small souvenir stand nearby has books on the park’s flora and
-
Mirisavatiya Dagoba
This huge dagoba was the first built by Dutugemunu after he captured the city in the 2nd century BC. The story goes that Dutugemunu went to bathe in the tank, leaving his ornate sceptre implanted in the bank. When he emerged he found his sceptre, which contained a relic of the Budd
-
Isurumuniya Vihara
This rock temple, dating from the reign of Devanampiya Tissa (r 247–207 BC), has some very fine carvings. Best known of the sculptures is the ‘lovers’, which dates from around the 5th century AD and is built in the artistic style of the Indian Gupta dynasty of the 4th and 5th centu
-
Statue
Standing nearly 4m high, this statue displays an unusually lifelike human representation, in contrast to the normally idealised or stylised Buddha figures. Exactly whom it represents is a subject of some debate. One theory is that its the Indian Vedic teacher Agastya, holding a boo
-
Historical Mansion
If you think you’ve got a lot of clutter filling up the shelves at home, then just wait until you get a load of the Historical Mansion, which is the private collection of a longtime Fort family. Set in a restored Dutch house, it’s not really a museum, as many of the exhibits have p
-
Matale Heritage Centre
This crafts centre draws on the rich traditions of the area, producing quality batik, embroidery, carpentry and brasswork. It occupies a sprawling compound of bungalows, workshops and gardens up in a forest. The centre’s kitchen does meals for groups of four (book by phone a day ah
Total
424 -travel
FirstPage PreviousPage NextPage LastPage CurrentPage:
15/22 20-travel/Page GoTo Page:
