Srilanka Culture
Sri Lanka has a lustrous heritage of civilization and Culture spanning more than 2500 years. Much of this deep rooted heritage is eloquently documented in the island's ancient and medieval capitals, citadels, cities and sites.
The country been an important stop on the ancient times"silk route " has been considerably effected to the culture and the economy of the country. Sri Lanka is blessed with multinational population consisting sinhalease, tamils, Muslims, mallay, and burgers. Buddhism helped Sri Lanken civilization sour to sublime heights, becoming it's bed rock and inspiration from the 3rd century BC.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura ancient city (205 kms from Colombo, Approximately 05hrs) is Sri Lanka’s First historical capital founded in 5th century BC by a king Called Pandukabhaya. It gives a fascinating glimpse of a stately well laid out pre-Christian metropolis of gigantic Buddhist shrines and monasteries, splendid palaces, pavilions, parks, bathing ponds and vast reservoirs.
Polonnaruwa Ancient City
Polonnaruwa was the island’s second great capital in the medieval era (11th to 13th cen Ad) located in north central province of the country. It is 218km away from Colombo and midway on Colombo – Batticaloa highway.
History of Polonnaruwa goes back to 6th Cen BC, same as Anuradhapura city. Polonnaruwa was a strategically important place for the Anuradhapura kings since it was in between Anuradhapura and down south of the country. In 10th centaury AD local kings lost their glory at Anuradhapura and shifted to Polonnaruwa. Then onward Polonnaruwa became the medieval capital of Sri Lanka .
Dambulla Cave Temple
Dambulla rock cave temple is one of the largest temple of this nature in Sri Lanka. The history of the temple goes back to 1st century BC according to the inscription written on the rock.
In the temple, there are 5 caves lining together having large colossal size to small about 150 statues of Buddha in numbers. These statues have been painted over and over again and again hundred times leaving no trace of their original form or composition. It is certainly a repository of the oldest to the most modern examples of Buddha statues.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
The Sigiriya a rock fortress made in the sky in 5th cen AD is an ancient political capital and most sensational archeological heritage site that has been listed on the world heritage site list in Sri Lanka. It is a major archeological site in Asia displaying a remarkable convergence of fifth centaury urban planning, architecture, gardens cape, engineering, hydraulic technology and art of ancient Sri Lanka.
Kandy and the temple of the Tooth Relic of Buddha
Kandy is a city of replete with scenic beauty, salubrious climate, naturally protected with mountain ranges and a river, situated 116kms away from Colombo. The city is been decorated with an artificial lake made by the last king in Kandy. The focal point of the Kandy city is the temple of the Tooth Relic of Buddha which consider as the most sacred shrine for the Buddhists in the country. Considering the value the tooth relic temple and the colonial building remaining around the city, it has been nominated as a world heritage site by the UNESCO.
Galle
Galle is a city on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for Galle Fort, the fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century. Stone sea walls, expanded by the Dutch, encircle car-free streets with architecture reflecting Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. Notable buildings include the 18th-century Dutch Reformed Church. Galle Lighthouse stands on the fort’s southeast tip.