photographs

 PHOTOGRAPHS AND DESCRIPTION

Thirukoneswaram Kovil 

The Holy Koneswaram Temple, is a Hindu temple in Trincomalee on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The temple lies on a high rocky promontory surrounded on three sides by the sea. It bears a history of over three millennia with its records indicating its roots in 1580 BC.

The Koneswaram temple is well known for its celebration of the traditional Ther chariot festival, the Navaratri and Sivarathri functions. The Ther Chariot Festival lasts for twenty two days in April and focuses on preparing the deities and the community for Puthandu, the Tamil New Year.

The most sacred of the Pancha Ishwarams of Sri Lanka, it was built significantly during the ancient period on top of Konesar Malai, a promontory overlooking Trincomalee District, Gokarna bay and the Indian Ocean. The monument contains its main shrine to Shiva in the form Kona-Ishvara, shortened to Konesa.

The word 'Konam' is believed to have come from the old Tamil word meaning 'peak'. Koneswaram also takes on alternates names from 'Dakshina Kailayam' a Sanskrit influence to mean 'Mount Kailash of the South' or 'Aathi Koneswaram', where 'Aathi' means ancient.

Sigiriya

UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, is known as Lion Rock, a private fortress and place of immense stature with a remarkably impressive design. The history of the Fortress reveals a captivating story whereby King Dhatusena of Anuradhapura forced his way to the throne after assassinating his father

Sigiriya is a fifth century fortress in Sri Lanka which has been carved out of an inselberg, a hill of hard volcanic rock. It towers around 600 feet (182.8m) from the forest and gardens below, and has a flat top. This is where the palace of King Kasyapa once stood, reachable up a winding stone staircase.

Sigiriya was designated as a world heritage site in 1982. Sigiriya is famous for it's palace ruins on top of a massive 200 meter high rock surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures. The rock itself is a lava plug left over from an ancient long extinct volcano.

 Interesting facts about Sigiriya

The name of this place is derived from this structure; Siṃhagiri, the Lion Rock. The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site.

One of the most enduring enigmas surrounding Sigiriya is the purpose of its construction and the eventual fate of King Kashyapa. Some speculate that Sigiriya served as a symbol of the king's power and ambition, while others suggest it was a sanctuary shrouded in secrecy.

Ruwanweliseya

Built nearly 2500 years ago,accomplishing a prediction made by Lord Buddha himself, Ruwanweli Seya or the pagoda of golden dust, was one of the largest structures in the ancient world, standing 103 m tall with a circumference of 290 m.

It is believed that a considerable number of relics of Buddha is enshrined in this glorious stupa, built in replicating the shape of a bubble of water. At the eastern entrance to the stupa is a statue of King Dutugamunu.

The Ruwanwelisaya possesses a history spanning two millennia, where King Dutugemunu commissioned the construction in the 1st century BC to commemorate the unification of the island of Sri Lanka for the first time after driving out the Chola invaders out of the country.

It was built by Sinhalese King Dutugemunu in c. 140 B.C., who became king of Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elāra (Ellalan) was defeated. It is also known as Swarnamali Seya, Svaṇṇamāli Mahaceti (in Pali) and Rathnamali Seya.

Jayasirimaha Bodhi

Considered to be the oldest tree in recorded history (over 2,200 years old) and one of the most sacred relics for Buddhists all over the world, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya was brought to the country by Sanghamitra Thera and was planted by the then reigning monarch King Devanampiyatissa.

Literally the 'tree of awakening', also known as the Bo Tree, it is the tree under which Siddhārtha Gautama is believed to have gained enlightenment (bodhi) after meditating under it for 49 days. In Pāli it is known as the bodhirukkha, in Sanskrit as the bodhivṛkṣa, and it is known to botanists as ficus religiosa.

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred fig tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenmen.

Bodhi' means enlightenment. Lord Buddha taught the world the truth and the ways to achieve enlightenment. 'Maha' means grand.

King Devanampiyatissa received this sapling and planted it at the present site in Mahameghavana Garden in 249 BC. Taking this information into account today (in 2023) the Sri Maha Bodhi tree is exactly 2273 years old. Thus this tree is considered the oldest living tree in world in the recorded history.

The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred Bo tree that stands in the Mahamewna Gardens in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Not only is it the closest authentic living link to Gautama Buddha, it is also the oldest human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date and a recorded history

Peradeniya botanical garden 

It was a Royal Gardens from 1780 – 1798. The gardens are home to a large and diverse variety of plants especially including endemics and species extinct in the wild. This 60 ha land at an elevation of 460 mt. above sea level in Peradeniya includes 4000 plant specie

It is near the Mahaweli River (the longest river in Sri Lanka). It is renowned for its collection of orchids. The garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to it is the "National Herbarium of Sri Lanka".

A botanical garden is basically a collection of living plants that are kept alive for pure and practical purposes. It serves two purposes: it is an ex-situ conservation area and a place where economically endangered plants can be displayed for research and education.

Botanic gardens play a critical role in the conservation of rare and threatened species, through research and ex situ protection in seed banks and in living collections.

Sri Dalada Maligawa

The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the tooth relic of the Buddha, a tooth, which is venerated by Buddhists.

It houses a tooth relic of the Lord Buddha, and is consequently considered one of Sri Lanka's most holy shrines. Although you may not view the actual tooth itself, the casket within which it is said to be is displayed twice a day.

The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. During puja (offerings or prayers), the heavily guarded room housing the tooth is open to devotees and tourists. However, you don't actually see the tooth.

he South Indian Kings who ruled the country from Senkadagala renovated and protected the shrine which was built by King Narendrasinghe. The temple was finely renovated and beautified by King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe to its present appearance.

The tooth is housed in a two-story inner shrine in the complex, packed with offerings of flowers, often lotuses; the air is usually thick with the smell of incense. The tooth lies on a solid gold lotus flower within a series of gold and jeweled caskets that sit on a throne and is rarely on public display.

Galle Fort

The fort, like most of the forts in Sri Lanka, is built on a small rocky peninsula, belonging to the sea as much as to the land. As it exists today, it covers an area of 52 hectares (130 acres).

The Galle Fort is the largest remaining fortress in Asia constructed by any European imperial powers. Also known as Dutch Fort or Ramparts of Galle, this architectural and archaeological wonder was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese and lavishly rebuilt by the Dutch during the 17th century.

Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and then further developed by the Dutch and the British over the next 350 years. It covers nearly 4sqkm and is protected by 12 bastions and connecting ramparts.

History of Galle dates back to 14th century; it was the ancient seaport of Tarshish and King Solomon used it draw valuables like elephants, peacocks, gemstones. Persians, Arabs, Greeks, Romans, Malays, Indians and Chinese have also used Galle seaport for their business activities during the 14th centure.

Nilaveli Beach

Nilaveli Beach (Open-land of the moon-shine) is located north-west of the Island. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka renowned for its soft white sand and breath-taking bays. Nilaveli is famous for recreational water sports such as scuba diving.Nilaveli Beach (Open-land of the moon-shine) is located north-west of the Island. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka ren

Located on the East Coast of Sri Lanka, known the world over for its beautiful soft white sand beaches which slope gently into clear shallow seas, the vast Indian Ocean which washes on to the shores of this coastal resort holds a treasure chest of dreams just waiting to be opened.

A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shells or coralline algae.

Dunhinda Waterfall

Dunhinda Falls is a waterfall located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Badulla in the lower central hills of Sri Lanka. The waterfall, which is 64 metres (210 ft) high, gets its name from the smoky dew drops spray, (Dun in sinhala means mist or smoke) which surrounds the area at the foot of the waterfall.

Dunhinda Falls, about 5 kilometres from Badulla, the capital of Uva Province, are formed by the Badulu Oya, which gives the town its name. The 64-meter-high waterfalls got their name from the smoky spray that surrounded the bassin, as “dun” means mist in Sinhala.

One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka, Dunhinda Falls which is 64m in height is located 5 kms north of Badulla town and 1 km from Badulla-Mahiyanganaya Road.

Dunhinda Falls is a waterfall located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Badulla in the lower central hills of Sri Lanka. The waterfall, which is 64 metres (210 ft) high, gets its name from the smoky dew drops spray, (Dun in sinhala means mist or smoke) which surrounds the area at the foot of the waterfall

Wewurukannala Temple

The Wewurukannala Vihara temple is dominated by an image of a seated Buddha as 50 m in height. And also,it is the largest statue in all of Sri Lanka with 160 ft of its height and dates back to the time of King Rajadhi Rajasinghe in the ancient time period from year 1782 to 1798. 

A 50m-high seated Buddha figure – the largest in Sri Lanka – is a highlight of this somewhat gaudy temple, which is often thronged with worshippers. Before reaching the Buddha you pass through a hall of horrors full of life-sized models of demons and sinners.