Sri Lanka is a paradise island where one could enjoy the beauty of the environment. The photos and descriptions which I carry here will make you aware of some of the attractive places in the island. Visit Sri Lanka. Enjoy the hospitality of my country. It will be a unique experience for all of you around the world.
Velgam Vehera, also known as Vilgam Rajamaha Vihara is an ancinet Buddhist temple situated in Gokanna (modern Trincomalee). The temple is situated at Kanniya( often mistaken as Kinniya), on the Trincomalee - Anuradhapura Road close to the famous hot water springs at Kanniya. The temple is one of the most historic Buddhist temples situated in the Trincomalee district.
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HISTORY
The temple is believed to have been constructed by the great king Devanampiyatissa (307-207 BC); a king who rendered a yeoman service to establish Buddhism in the island. The temple has been renovated from time to time by kings like Bathiya 1 , Agbo - 2 , Vijayabahu - 1 and Parakramabahu - 1. An inscription has been found in the temple premises written during the reign of king Bhatika Tissa (141-165 AD) which bears witness to the fact that the temple had received royal patronage.
However, with the collapse of the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa kingdoms the population gradually migrated to the South. This resulted in the temple being abandoned and falling into ruins.
The Chola invaders destroyed most of the ancient Buddhist temples in the island. However , the invaders spared Velgam Vehera due to an unknown fact and they renovated it keeping to their architecture . The temple was renamed Rajarajaperumpalli after king Rajasinghe 1. Some stone inscriptions written in Tamil found in the temple premises mention that the temple had received donations from King Rajaraja and King Rajendradeva.
The ruins of the Velgam Vehera were discovered by the Sri Lanka archaeological Department and in 1934 ; the site was declared as an archaeological protected reserve.
Marble Beach is one of the most attractive beaches in Sri Lanka. The sea here is shallow, safe , and not rough. Even a small child can have a dip without fear. As the place is part of an air force camp it is well protected and not polluted. If you have not been there I could say that you are💓 unlucky to be a Sri Lankan.
Location: Marble Beach is situated in Trincomalee , in the Eastern Province. If you travel from Colombo on the A6 turn right at the Tambalagamuwa Junction to Kinniya road. Proceed about 15km and turn left at the sign 'Marble Beach'. The narrow yet carpeted road terminates at the Marble Beach.
Yapahuwa, the ephemeral citadel, is situated on the Anuradhpura - Padeniya road in close proximity to Mahawa. Those who travel to Anuradhapura on the Anuradhapura-Padeniya road can turn right at the Daladagama junction, pass the Mahawa Railway Station and reach the ancient citadel of Yapahuwa.
Historical Background
As king Parakramabahu-2 passed away in about 1270 A.D. his son prince Vijayabahu attained the kingship. He is named as Vijayabahu-4. He was also known as Bosath Vijayabahu. However, his reign was limited only for two years. He was killed in a military coup. After that prince Buvanekabahu, who was the brother of king Vijayabahu-4 overcame the conspirators and became the king in about 1272 A.D. He is named as king Buwanekabahu-1. King Buwanekabahu-1 had to face a number of problems. As soon as he became the king a group of provincial leaders rebelled against him. During the same time several south Indain forces invaded Sri Lanka. One invasion was led by an army general named as Kalingarayara. Another platoon was led by one army general named Chodanga. The king faced all these adversaries successfully and spent a few years in Dambadeniya. Later the king selected Yapahuwa, since it was a safer place, as his capital. King Buwnekabahu-1 died in 1284.
After the demise of king Buwanekabahu-1 a dispute was started between prince Parakramabahu, the son of Bosath Vijayabahu and prince Buwanekabahu-2, the son of king Buwanekabahu-1 over the kingship. During this time a provincial leader from South India named Arya Chakrawarthi had arrived in Sri lanka with a Pandya army. Ary Chakrawarthi making use of the unstable situation in the country attacked the Yapahuwa citadel, took the 'tooth relic' to South India and handed it over to king Kulashekara who was the Pandyan king.This was a black mark for Sri Lankan royalty. Later the son of king Bosath Vijayabahu, prince Parakramabahu went to India, met the king Kulashekara, discussed with him and brought the sacred tooth relic back to Sri Lanka. After that prince Parakramabahu went to Polonnaruwa and started his ruling. Later he was known as King Parakramabahu-3. His ruling period started in 1287 A.D. But prince Buwanekabahu-2 besieged Polonnaruwa, defeated the king and brought back the sacred tooth relic to Kurunegala in about 1293 A.D. Buwanekabahu-2 made Kurunegala his capital.
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The story revolves around the following kings.
Parakramabahu-2
son- Vijayabahu ( Vijyabahu-4): Bosath Vijayabahu
son- Prince Buwanekabahu (Buwanekabahu-1)
The architect of Yapahuwa
Parakramabahu - son of Bosath Vijaya ( King Parakramabahu-3)
Buwanekabahu-2; son of king Buwanekabahu-1
When you see the giant rock at a distance automatically your mind runs to Sigiriya.
No wonder this picturesque place attracted King Buwanekabahu-1 for his citadel with the sacred 'tooth relic'. Once you pass the outer moat you enter the royal garden which is also separated with an inner moat.
The entrance at the outer moat.
The granite steps leading to the royal garden.
The ancient Yapahuwa Rajamaha Vihara at the entrance to the citadel.
The famous flight of steps leading to the rock. The steps have been purposely made narrow , probably , to make it difficult for the invader to reach the 'tooth relic'. This the archtects might have thought would give ample time for the guards to protect the 'tooth relic'.
Mind your steps.
An forgettable experience for the traveller
A journey to heaven.
The steps leading to the rock leaves an unforgettable memory in the visitor.
The granite steps leading to the rock bear witness to the ingenuity of the ancient Sri Lankan engineers. They must have possessed an unmatched technology to turn huge chunks of granite into beautiful creations. The precision the carved stones have been placed on each other is astonishing. How could have they done it? How did they transport the huge blocks of granite to this place? How did they position the finished blocks in such precision. The efforts the ancient sculptor has taken to leave his creativity on the granite blocks is magnificent.
If you visit this place be prepared to answer the long list of questions your kids would shower you?
Mesmerizing ancient Sri Lankan sculpture.
Feel proud to be a Sri Lankan.
Half way up the rock.
The surrounding from the rock.
Once you climb up the rock you do not feel the heat of the day. The breathtaking view from up the rock makes you feel that your effort is worth. When you look around you get the feeling that you are enjoying an exquisite art work on canvas. The blue sky and the green below never allow you take away your eyes for a moment.
Even if you are in a hurry you never feel like leaving here. You automatically become a part of this environment; rather you are absorbed into the place. Do not rush, just sit somewhere and lose in your imagination for a while. Think of the painstaking efforts our forefathers have taken to construct this massive citadel. Our ancient royalty often had disputes in their families and these disputes often created political instability paving the way for the invaders to create havoc in the country. The country did not flourish, the economy collapsed , great constructions were ruined and innocent people suffered at the hands of the invaders. However, the ingenuity in their blood made them create architectural masterpieces where ever they shifted the kingdom. Yapahuwa bears witness to this truth.
A web novel by written by Ruchi Tarin, a young Sri Lankan writer. Enjoy in your free time.
💪 Yapahuwa is a place worth visiting for the young student for learning about the ancient grandeur of Sri Lanka. No doubt, they would think of their forefathers with awe and understand that they were very much higher than the modern Sri Lankan both spiritually and physically. The modern Sri Lankan has to learn immensely from his ancient counterpart and what they have left behind for us.
