North central province

North central province

This is the largest province of Sri Lanka, located in dry-zone.it consists of 2 districts ; Anuradhapura & Polonnaruwa.Anuradhapura is the Provincial Capital , which is one of the sacred cities in Sri Lanka as many places of Buddhist whorship are located in this ancient city.it is one of the eight world heritage cites in Sri lanka.

Eight Great Places of Veneration in Anuradhapura – Atamasthana

• Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
• Ruwanwelisaya
• Thuparamaya
• Lovamahapaya
• Abhayagiri Dagaba
• Jetavanarama
• Mirisaveti Stupa
• Lankarama

Other structures

• Isurumuniya
• Magul Uyana
• Vessagiri
• Rathna Prasadaya
• Queen's Palace
• Dakkhina Stupa
• Sela Cetiya
• Naka Vihara
• Kiribath Vehera
• Kuttam Pokuna
• Samadhi Statue
• Toluwila Statue
• Ranmasu Uyana

           Plonnaruwa District

            Which is the second most ancient of Srilankan’s kingdoms & it was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu.

As per the history books, the real  hero of polonnaruwa was his grandson, Parakramabahu whose reign is considered the Golden age of Polonnaruwa.Polonnaruwa is a source of the outstanding ruins,paintings and enormous statues of reclining Buddha.

Today the city has been declared by the world heritage site by UNESCO. At present  ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archaeological sites in the country , also it is one clenest and more beautiful cities in the country.the green environment with amazing constructions attract the tourist to Polonnaruwa.

Gal Viharaya

Gal Viharaya which is an outstanding site in Polonnaruwa,also known as the Cave of the Spirits of knowledge. It was constructed in the 12th century by Parakramabahu I. The central feature of the shrine are four images of the Buddha, which have been carved into the face of a large granite rock.the four images of statute were made by the King Parakramabahu.The first is seated Buddha in deep meditation, the second is inside of a cave, the 3^rd statue stands 23 feet high and expresses the calmness of the Buddha. The final statue is of a reclining Buddha which measures 46 feet in length.

Lankatilaka temple.

The majestic Lankathilake Vihare, believed to be one of the most magnificent architectural edifice in the Gampola kingdom, was built at the crest of a large rock named Panhalgala overlooking the Hantane mountain range in the Hiripitiya hamlet in Udunuwara. King Buwanekabahu IV who reigned from 1341 to 1351 A. D. chose Gampola as his kingdom and constructed this Viharaya with the help of a South Indian architect Sthapati Rayar. Following Buwanekabahu IV, five consecutive kings chose Gampola as their kingdom. Though the kings of Gampola were not powerful warriors, they had a high calibre for art and culture and have made significant contributions to art.

Sandakadapahana

The first Sandakada pahanas were created during the latter stage of the ancient Anuradhapura Kingdom. They were only placed at the entrances to Buddhist temples during this period.

The carvings of the semi-circular stone slab were the same in every Sandakada pahana. A half lotus was carved in the centre, which was enclosed by several concentric bands. The first band from the half lotus is decorated with a procession of swans, followed by a band with an intricate foliage design known as liyavel.

The third band has carvings of four animals; elephants, lions, horses and bulls. These four animals follow each other in a procession symbolising the four stages in life: growth, energy, power and forbearance. The fourth and outermost band contains a carving of flames.

The design of the Sandakada pahana of the Polonnaruwa period differs largely from that of the Anuradhapura period.

The single band that was used to depict the four animals was removed, and processions of the elephant, lion and horse were depicted in separate bands. The most significant change is the removal of the bull from the Sandakada pahana.

The Anuradhapura tradition of placing Sandakada pahanas only at entrances to Buddhist temples also changed, and they are found at the entrances of other buildings belonging to the Polonnaruwa period as well. The Sandakada pahana at the entrance to the Polonnaruwa Vatadage. Note the absence of the bull and lion.

Medirigiriya vatadage

The Vatadage of Medirigiya is an ancient shrine surrounded by lush paddy fields, fascinatingly natural waterways and shrub land speckled with lanky trees. Apart from that, multiple rock outcroppings lie in the wood and a little further down from the ruins, one can get a glimpse of a lotus pond frequented by aquatic birds, peacocks and monkeys which may be seen cavorting in the water.

On general view, Vatadage is a unique structure with three concentric circles of rock pillars surrounding the central dagoba (stupa) inside the Vatadage.

The graceful entrance to the Vatadage includes some 27 granite steps and four stone images of the Buddha are located at four cardinal directions within the Vatadage. However, all marks of the ruins of this Vatadage leave no doubt that Medirigiriya was once a developed 'aramaya' and it was a reputed centre of learning for bhikkus monks.

Thus the Vatadage remains the central attraction in the spot scattered with other important ruins. The Vatadage has been constructed where the sprawling rock rises above the ground level. The northern entrance with a simple, non embellished moonstone is at this lowest area of the rock. It is surprising that the designer has planned a simple moonstone while the stone pillars have been marked with exquisitely sculptured designs.

The granite stairway which consists of 27 steps (rock slabs) provides a spacious landing which commands some splendid views of the green forest all-round.

After passing four more steps and a lofty archway, the visitor finds himself before the Vatadage which contains the major stupa in the centre.

Its dome has been preserved only up to a height of five feet and the terrace on which the dagoba stands has a moulded profile faced with finely cut limestone slabs. Four Buddha images cut out of limestone are placed at the four cardinal points and only one Buddha image has been sufficiently well-preserved.

Nissanka latha mandapaya

The Nissanka Latha Manadapaya, a unique structure built by King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196), is located near the western entrance to the Dalada Maluva, where the oldest and most sacred monuments in the city stand. A nearby stone inscription identifies the structure as the building used by Nissanka Malla to listen to pirith.

The structure consists of an elevated stone platform with a number of stone columns surrounded by a low stone wall. These stone columns are unique to the Nissanka Latha Manadapaya, as their carvings are not found anywhere else in the country. According to the legendary archeologist Senarath Paranavithana, the stone columns at the Nissanka Latha Mandapaya are the best examples of this feature of ancient Sri Lankan architecture.