Sri Lanka A Rich in culture and heritage

April 16th, 2008 admin Heritage Comments Off

There are famous cultural and heritage centers in Sri Lanka well worth a visit. Sigiriya is a world famous rock fortress built by king Kashyapa. You can see the beauty of the fortress and all the paintings which makes it the eighth wonder of the world. You can also enjoy the frescoes and stone carvings that can be seen in Sigiriya. Kandy is a renowned historic city of Sri Lanka which is situated amidst the hills making it a picturesque location. The sacred tooth relic of Buddha is also seen in a temple built in the 15th century. You can see the most colorful pageant here every August. You can also see the famous drummers; dancers and musicians exhibit their traditional art forms in Kandy. The botanical garden, museum, elephant bathing scenes and Kandyan dancing are other major attractions of this city.

The first known kingdom of Sri Lanka built by king Anuradha is also famous for its cultural heritage and seeped in ancient history. Anuradhapura is famous for its architectural marvels, Mahabodhi, tanks and Dagabas. It is also famous for its irrigational network and farming community. It is declared as a world heritage city by UNESCO and one of the landmarks for Buddhism. If you are the type who loves art you ought to visit the ancient city of Polonaruwa. The Gal Vihara rock temple and ancient temple architecture is manifested in many of the sculptures and artifacts seen in this great city. Many traditional rituals undertaken by farming community can also be seen here. Dambulla is another place rich in cultural heritage where you can see beautiful wildlife including elephants and birds. Many cultural shows can also be seen here. Another manifestation of Sinhala art and architecture is the rock fortress of Yapahuwa built by king Buwanekhabahu on a huge granite rock that rises 100 m from the ground. Ritigala near Yapahuwa is famous for its monasteries.

Minneriya is another ancient city built alongside a tank by King Parakramabahu. It has a popular wildlife and games park.