Lanka Heritage

Sri Lanka  contains an  astonishing  seven UNESCO  world  heritage within its

Compact shores- the  same as heritage – packed Egypt. Six are testament to a

Civilization over 2000 years of recorded history, while the seventh, a  natural site ,

Boasts some of the highest biodiversity  out side the Amazon basin. Two of the sits, sacred

 Anradhapura . probably the grandest city in Asia at its prim, and the ancient city of

Poionnaruwa  ,feature  enormous  dagobas and Buddha statues. The  jatawana  dagoba

atAnuradhapura (3 rd. BC) was 120 m tall, the world s third higst structure. Now 75m , it still has the distinction of beingthe world ‘s lagest structure.

Anudhapura  is the location of the Sri Maha Bodhi Bo- tree , grown from the orginal tree

Anudhapura

Anuradhapura  ,situated in the north central  province    was the capital of the ancient  Sri L anka, where ancient places  of worship are situated , while the offices , banks trade centres , are locked in the New  Town.

There is   easy access  to the city of Anudhapura either by main highway or rail road. Coming from Colombo  one could reach  Anuradhapura via  Kurunagala  ,Kandy.

Anuradha pura Ruwanwel Maha Dagabai

King Dutugamunu   bacme the load of   entire Sri Lanka ,having achived  his ambition he became a benefactor of Buddhism and erected many religious  buildings .Among them Ruwanvelisaya is the best Known.

Atahis  dagaba was built on  a firm foundation  .It is recorded  that in side  the dagaba are  enshrined valuable gems stats made out of gold, various valuable object  and also relics of Buddha which measure s about Adon . on the four sids  Stupa  are frontispieces (Vahalkada).The courtyard  on which the  stone tablets are laid is known as the salapathla courtyard. Below  the  salapatala  courtyard is compound  made of sand. (Valimaluwa). On the four sides of  the compound  are the parapet walls with the figures of  elephants and has been made to appear as though it was supported by the elephant . There are 1900 figures of elephants  on the wall consisting of 475 on each side. There  fore it is known as elephant compound . In the temple courtyard  are the old modles of Ruwanvalisaya  made of stone, statue of King Datugamunu  WORSHIPPING THE DAGABA. In the image house situatedinthe temple courtyard are 4 status of the Buddha who have attained  Buddhahood in this aeon and future Buddha (Maitri).All this creationsnare very old .The pinnacle of Ruwanvelisaya is24 ft ,in height.

Lovamahapaya  is situated between Ruwanveliseya and  Sri  Mahabodiya. It is al so knownas the Brazen Place or    Lohaprasadaya. In the ancient  time     the building included   the  refectory  and the uposatagara.    There was also a simsmalaka where the sangha assembled on  poyadays  recite  thenformula of the confessional.  The  famous Lovamahapaya built by King D utugamunu described as an edifice of nine  storeys,  was a building of this class. One side of building was  400 ft in length. As the roof was covered with    tiles made by bronze. This  was  known  as the Brazen Place. There are 40 rows ,each row consisting  of 40 stone pillars and total of 1600 stone pillars were      used for  the building.It is believed  that  it  took 6 years for the construction of building and pian was   brought from the heaven.