Sri Lanka Sights

Sri Lanka - one of the most ancient countries in the world. Somewhere in these parts, according to legend, came down to earth, Adam and Eve, and many ancient authors, even the location of the Garden of Eden correlated with Taprobanom or Ceylon (until 1972 called Sri Lanka). On this amazing island has many historical treasures, protected by UNESCO, as well as a large number of places associated with the name of Buddha. Hundreds of kilometers of beaches and unique underwater world put Sri Lanka in a number of the world's major sea resorts.

Colombo (in the Middle Ages - Kolontota), founded by Arab traders, today became one of the major port cities of the Indian Ocean. City though not rich in historical attractions, but still has its own special charm. Business Center Colombo - the old western part of town near the Fort. Here one can see many mansions of the colonial architecture of XVIII-XX centuries. and parks, for the majority of hotels, jewelry stores, banks and offices. Most interesting vast maritime area park Galle-Face Green, the old lighthouse and the clock tower, the Presidential Palace, the mosque Yami-ul-Affan, Central Park Victoria Gardens Chinamon Gardens, State University, a Buddhist university Vidyalankara, National Museum and Art Gallery . Old trade and colonial districts of Colombo for the most part retained the unique coloring with churches, narrow and winding streets, canals, shopping plazas and small parks. East of Fort is the "old city" Petty, occupied by hundreds of markets, shops, stalls and shacks. South-east of Fort interesting city hall, park Viharamahadevi "with a memorial pillar in memory of victims of I-st World War, and numerous Catholic churches.

Churches and temples - the main noteworthy places in the capital - the Buddhist monasteries Vaydzhyaramara, Gothami Vihara, Dipaddutaramayya and other Hindu - Kochchikade, Kottahena, Petty, Bambalappitiya, mosques - Davatagaha, Afar-Jumma, the Christian church of St. Peter, St. Lucia, St. Andrew's Scottish Presbyterian church, etc. All this peacefully side by side with each other, only emphasizing the cosmopolitan this ancient city. Still, most noteworthy places outside the capital.

The main attraction of the country, of course, surrounded by mountains in the valley of Kandy 116 km. from Colombo, the last stronghold of the Sri Lankan state to the country's occupation by European colonizers. Situated among the hills, the city of Kandy, which until 1815 the capital of Sri Lanka, still considered the cultural and religious center of the country. Covering all the central part of town is extremely picturesque lake, and the city is framed by the waters of the river, the Mahaweli Ganga with shady banks. On the outskirts of Kandy is the main shrine of the country - the Temple of the Sacred Tooth of Buddha "Daladier Maligava" allegedly "saved" from the funeral pyre of the Buddha one of the followers of his teachings, and later brought to Sri Lanka, the Indian princess. Majestically decorated temple contains a small stupa, adorned with gold and precious stones, which consistently located seven stupas in the latest of which is stored and the national shrine. Millions of believers come here to worship the relics, and in August in her honor is held the famous march of the holiday "Kandy Esala Perahera. Another interesting small museum with collections of Kandy historical exhibits and a shelter for birds "Udavatakelle Senktuari. Art Association of Kandy and the Cultural Center, located near the lake, offer a good collection of local crafts and performances of popular dance.

At Peradeniya (Kandy suburbs) is the largest in Asia, Royal Botanic Gardens (founded 1821), an area of 67 hectares, with one of the richest collections in the world - there are more than 45 thousand species of tropical and equatorial zones of the planet, including many exotic plants and even historic trees (eg Ficus King Edward VII, lignum vitae of Emperor Nicholas II and spruce, planted by Yuri Gagarin). The garden is divided into several zones, among which the most interesting area Orchids (more than a thousand species, for access to the collection of wild orchids need a special permit), Zone indoor plants (more than 750 species), Palm Grove (about 200 types of palm trees), etc.

In the city Pinnavela (27 km. From Kandy) is the state elephant nursery Pinnavela (founded in 1975), which brought orphaned elephants. Here they learn everything necessary from the standpoint lankiyev skills (and, of course, show tourists), and then some of them are sent to zoos around the world, while others work in Ceylon. Elephants occupy an important place in national life, as do an enormous range of economic activities in many spheres of life - they felled the forest, carrying cargo and tourists participate in all religious ceremonies and traditional beliefs, it is not surprising such a respect for these animals, which often Lankans .

In Aluvihara located temple-cave complex, which, according to legend, was created Pali Canon (Tripitaka) - one of the written monuments of Buddhism.

Anuradhapura - not only the ancient capital of the country, but also the holy city. This ancient royal residence was established in IV. BC. e. already at the time of late antiquity was widely known throughout the world (to X. was practically destroyed). Subsequent rulers of the country regained many of the great monuments of Anuradhapura. The restoration work until the middle of XX century, rebuilt in its present form a small part of this grand complex, but still magnificent ruins of the old town, many of which still await restoration, occupies an area of over 60 sq. km. km. Grandiose irrigation system with seven reservoirs and a complex system of channels, even in these days leading to the amazement of specialists.

The largest surviving to the present day monastic complexes of Anuradhapura - vihara (monastery) Abhayagiri (the second largest Buddhist stupa in the world, 122 meters), considered one of the 8 holy places of the city. According to legend, vihara built on the very spot where the marks of the Buddha. In the courtyard of a temple, surrounded by a golden fence, stands the sacred Bo tree (tree of Buddha), the oldest on Earth. His appendage was brought here from India in the III. BC. e. Sacred Buddhist Dagobah (Stupa) Ruvanveliseya, Jetavana, Ruvanaveli, Tuparama and others on the skill builders and elegance threads are true masterpieces of ancient architecture. Sizes of these structures are comparable except that with the Egyptian pyramids, which makes them the real miracle of engineering technology.

Sigiriya (Lion Mountain ") - is another magnificent monument of the past. This lonely relict mountain, towering above the surrounding plain, overgrown with jungle for 200 meters, on top of that in V. Mr. e. built a unique royal palace-fortress of the king Kassiapy. Are amazing murals gallery (to have survived only nineteen of 500 of these unique paintings) and the amazing quality of performance decorative elements that adorn many interiors of this huge palace. Everywhere the ruins of the colossal in size sculptures carved in the rock dozens of terraces and stairs, the remnants of rooms, walls and deep pools, hundreds of square feet of bright, despite his age, murals, scenic rocky grottos, arbors, and dozens of other ancient structures, attract thousands people from all over the world. At the foot of Sigiriya, do not place a triple ring of ancient defensive ditches and royal baths, stretch beautiful "water gardens" - the oldest in Asia. Here is a Buddhist monastery of the sect and Mahayana, including a cave temples, halls for meditation, flowering gardens and ponds.

12 km. the south-west of the Sigiriya complex located Dambulla cave temples (Rangiri Dambulla Vahaya), the oldest of which belongs to I,. BC. e. Here, in an area of 20 hectares, at an altitude of 350 meters, has five large and many small caves with countless Buddha statues and mural paintings unique V-XVIII centuries. Cave Devaradzhalena with the adjacent outside the chapel dedicated to the god Vishnu, Maharadzhalena ( "Temple of the Great Kings") keeps a stupa and 11 sculptures of the Buddha. Mach Alut Vikharev ( "The Great New Church") contains a statue of a sleeping Buddha (9 meters tall) and a meditating Buddha, surrounded by 13 statues of Buddha in a lotus position and 42 standing statues of Buddha, and the ceiling of the cave is decorated with 1000 images of Buddha in meditation. One of the wonders of Dambulla is a cave, the walls of which, framed by a unique stone carving, up (!) Water flows. At the highest point of the cave water collects and falls down in a golden cup, and around the meditating monks in orange togas - full surrealism!

To the north lies the hill Dambuly Mihintale - a sacred place for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Here are the ruins of an ancient temple complex, but these regions have become famous because here, Buddhism began to spread around the island. One of the main attractions of the country - Adams Peak (Sri Pada, Shrivan Adipatam, 2243 meters) - the holy mountain, not only for residents of the country, but for followers of all four world religions. At the top of the hill is a rock with footprints. Buddhists believe that this should Gautama Buddha, the Hindus claim that the prints belong to Shiva, Muslims say they are first walked on the earth, Adam, Christians believe that it should be St. Thomas. Tens of thousands of believers from around the world ascent (extremely tedious, by the way) to touch his lips to the sacred prints.

It is interesting to visit the remnants of the old fort at Trincomalee, one of the centers of trade in the Middle Ages, also known by its rock Swami Rock and picturesque surroundings with dozens of bays.

The country is famous for its beautiful beaches, stretching for hundreds of kilometers along the coast of the island. On this basis, built many beautiful resorts, as well as independent hotel complex - Ahungala, Beruwela, Bentota, Vaduvva, Halle, Induruva, Kandalama, Kalkudah, Kalutara, Kogalla, Mount Lavinia, Negombo, Hikkaduwa and others 180 km. from the capital, at a height of 2 thousand meters above sea level, is a mountain resort in the Nuwara Eliya - the edge of the beautiful climate and tea capital of the country, has long been bearing the title of one of the best resorts in Asia. In Nuwara Elie many mansions of the colonial-style residence of the President of the Queen's House, a beautiful Victoria Park, a lot of ancient and modern hotel with a golf club, racecourse, Lake Gregory with trout farm and plenty of opportunities for recreation. At the nearby mountain slopes grow best in the world black tea, foaming mountain streams with waterfalls, and nearby stands the highest mountain in the island - Pidurutalagala. In the mountainous parts of Sri Lanka waterfalls set in the Nuwara Eliya district is here simply to record their number.