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HISTORICAL PLACES OF SRI LANKA

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Introduction -----------------------------------------3

Anuradhapura--------------------------------------- 4-5

Polonnaruwa----------------------------------------- 6-7

Sigiriya------------------------------------------------- 8-9

Dambulla Cave Temple--------------------------- 10-11

Temple Of Tooth Relic----------------------------- 12-13

Galle Fort---------------------------------------------- 14-15

Contents

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Sri Lanka is a country which owns a great and proud

history and it is elegantly represented by historical monuments which are all over the country. 

Sri Lankan Historical places also get the highest attention among history Explorers and tourists 

Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa , Kandy, Sigiriya and Dambulla can be defined as the key places which highlights the great history of Sri Lanka.

Introduction

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Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka,

famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Sri Lankan civilization.

It was 3rd capital of the Kingdom of Rajarata after Tambapanni and Upatissa Nuwara.

 It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century AD.

Anuradhapura

5Anuradhapura is one of the Ancient

Kingdom of Sri Lanka, Number of great kings ruled in the era of Anuradhapura.

Thisa Wewa is a tank build by ancient engineers for to get water for crops of the villages, this is how the ancient kingdoms

were in the time of glory.

As Anuradhapura is an ancient Kingdom, there are number of holy places and

ancient Historical temples.

Most of the tourists visit Anuradhapura to see the amazing skills of craftsmen in the

ancient time.

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Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa city is the second great capital situated in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka after Anuradhapura

The mainly significant King at some stage in this era was King Maha Parakramabahu the first. He ruled the kingdom from the year 1153 AD to the year 1186 AD. 

 Kaduruwela area is the Polonnaruwa New Town and the other part of Polonnaruwa, remains as the royal ancient city of Polonnaru Kingdom. 

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There are number of holy places and ancient Historical temples in Polonnaruwa.

Amazing skills of craftsmen in the ancient time in Polonnaruwa can be seen even

today.

King Parakramabahu I was the king who ruled longest in Polonnaruwa.

Moon-stone is a unique feature of the Sinhalese architecture of ancient Sri

Lanka..

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Sigiriya

Sigiriya is a town with a large stone and ancient rock fortress and palace ruin in the central Matale District of Central Province.

A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescos), which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India.

It is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

The spectacular 'Lion rock' fortress was built by King Kasyapa, a son of King Dhatusena, by a palace consort.

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World famous Ancient Fortress , Shows the glory of the Sri Lankan proud history.

Ancient city of Sigiriya is consists of number of ruins that witnesses the ancient

glory of Sri Lanka.

Ancient city of Sigiriya is consists of number of ruins that witnesses the ancient

glory of Sri Lankan Civil Engineering Architecture.

Sigiriya Frescoes are very famous all around the world , many people from all

around the world come and fall in love with these maidens.

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Dambulla Cave Temple

Although there are numerous cave temples in Sri Lanka, the Golden Rock Temple a few km’s south of the market town of Dambulla, is its most famous and spectacular.

The temple is in a cave under a range of granite hillocks which rise 160 meters above the surrounding plains.

It is believed that when King Vattagamini was fleeing from his enemies in the 1st century BC, he was sheltered by ascetic monks who lived in these caves. 

The caves were further enlarged by King Nissankamalla in the 12th century, with five temple built into them.

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The entrance to the various cave temples. Amazing Dambulla Cave Temple Frescoes.

A row of Buddha statues with a background of colorful wall paintings.

A mural of the Buddha sheltered by the Naga King.

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Temple Of Tooth Relic

The most famous attraction in Kandy is the Temple of the Tooth, or Sri Dalada Maligawa.

The Buddha's Tooth was first brought to Kandy during the reign of Vimaladharmasuriya 1 at the turn of the 17th century. He built a temple to house the relic but this was later destroyed. 

It was taken away for safety during a Portuguese invasion of Kandy and eventually recovered during a the rule of King Rajashingha II.

The present Temple of the Tooth was built in the early 18th century by King Vira Narendra Sinha, and later extended and modified by subsequent kings.

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The exterior view of the tooth temple. A colorful view of tooth temple at night.

The museum with Buddha image and paintings.

Wall painting done on the inside of the temple of tooth relic.

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Galle Fort

Galle Fort was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, and then expansively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards.

There is a Light House situated near this fortress.

The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.

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Galle fort is built by the Dutch People who conquered Sri Lanka. This is very

attractive and beautiful place in Galle.

This is the inside view of the Galle Fort Entrance.

This is famous as one of the world heritages which gives the grandeur to the

southern province in Sri Lanka.

The Symbol of the Dutch people who created the Galle Fortress.

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