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| Sigiriya-The Rock fortress |
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| Frescoes |
Ancient
Ruins |
On
top of the Sigiriya Rock
(200m Above ground ) |
Sigiriya, an ancient Rock fortress in the north (5th century A.D.).
The "Eighth Wonder of the
Ancient World", and the best preserved city center in
Asia from the first millennium. Macro- and micro-hydraulics
including a man made lake with a 8 mile (12 km) dam and a
series of moats, as well as water control and retaining
systems display one of the ancient world's most sophisticated
hydraulic technologies. These miniature water gardens were
created 5 centuries before those at Angkor in Cambodia or
Mughal gardens in India. |
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| Anuradhapura |
Sri Lanka's first capital, founded in the 5th century B.C. is situated 206 km. from
Colombo. Attractions worth seeing are:- The Sacred Bo Tree, Abhayagiri Dagaba,
Jetavanaramaya, Brazen Palace, Thuparama Dagaba, Samadhi Buddha, Kuttam Pokuna and
Mirisawati Dagaba.
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| Polonnaruwa |
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Polonnaruwa is second in importance as royal city to Anuradhapura.
In the 11th Century the capital was moved from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, as it was
hoped that this new kingdom in such an inaccessible area would be better
protected from the notorious raids from the Indian Sub-Continent. As a result Polonnaruwa became a splendid kingdom and capital. During the reigns of king Parakrama Bahu the
Great (1153 - 1186) and his successor Nissanka Malla 1187 - 1196 the
Singhalese kingdom reached its last golden age, of which the splendour of its buildings and
palaces the impressive irrigation system with artificial lakes, tanks and channels give
clear evidence.
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