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Archive for October, 2011
Polonnaruwa Vatadage
The most famous of the ruins in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, if not the most most famous vatadage (circular house of relic) across Sri Lanka, is the Vatadage in Polonnaruwa. With four Buddha images facing the cardinal directions circling around the centerpiece stupa created from white marble and gilded with gold leaf during the city’s heydays in the 12th Century, Polonnaruwa was ravaged by invasions and later replaced by Kandy as the next administrative centre of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Dagoba or Stupa
Stupas: a dome-shaped form created over sacred relics of Buddha on spots consecrated as the scenes of his acts are found around the world. However, Sri Lanka’s stupas are the largest brick structures known to the ancient world and have evolved over time into varied refined shapes with later ones covered with lime plasters made from a combination of material that includes egg whites, plant resins and the saliva of white ants!
Dambulla Cave Temple
The largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, the Dambulla Cave Temple was built by King Valagamba upon his return to the throne in Anuradapura kingdom as a gratitude to the monks of Dambulla who protected him from enemies during his 14 years in exile at the caves. With a total of 160 statues and murals covering an area of 2,100 m² the Dambulla Cave Temple has a rich history that dates back to the 7th century BC.