VISIT SRI LANKA
(Sathyage Travels)
The Historical Places of Sri Lanka
Tour on the Heritage
If you are a historian or simply interested in visiting sites pertaining to the rich, sacred and religious history of the island, below is a compilation of the places by far the most visited by both tourists and locals alike.
Anuradhapura
This Sacred city dates back to 5th Century B.C. and was once the country's capital up until its invasion by the South Indians in 11th century A.D. One of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, it now consists of conserved ruins, renewed monuments and reinstated edifices of the glorious Sinhalese Buddhist civilization. Visit the stupas (dagobas), rock carvings, high colossal stone pillars and reservoirs which reflect the awe-inspiring ancient civil engineering, also found in the ruins of the royal palaces, Buddhist temples and monasteries. Among them one can find splendid swimming pools, made of the sophisticated hydrology of ancient times.
Specifics
Ticket costs – Free for children below 6 years, 1,625 LKR (approx. 8.7 US$) per child from 6-12yrs and 3,250 LKR (approx. 17.5 US$) per adult. Both women and men must wear clothing that will cover both the shoulders and the knees.
Polonnaruwa
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa was the second capital of the island and boasts the Brahmanic monuments built by Cholas and the beautiful garden-city that was built by Kind Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. It was also famously known to be a thriving religious and commercial center of the country. Up to date it holds an Archaeological Museum for tourists, impressive ruins of the Royal Palace, a quadrangle which has a concentration of buildings, the Vatadage that has four Buddha statues placed in its four entrances that lead to the main central Dagoba and many other Dagobas such as the Rankoth Vihara, which is 54 meters tall! and Kiri Vehara that were significant to the ancient history of Sri Lanka. The four Buddha statues are still in perfect condition and were cut from single long granite slabs.
Specifics
Ticket costs – 12.5 US$ per child and 25 US$ per adult. Both women and men must wear clothing that will cover both the shoulders and the knees.
Sigiriya
Sigiriya, one of the most prominent and magnificent rocky structures is perhaps one of the dramatic attractions in Sri Lanka. It is an ancient palace and an ancient cave temple to the short-lived kingdom of Kassapa and was once even nominated as the 8th world wonder. It is situated approximately 25 km from the city of Dambulla and boasts of a height of 220 metres with a staircase of 1250 steps. It is also known to be a great rock-climbing destination and on the route to the palace which is situated at the very top of the rock, one will pass remarkable paintings of Frescoes and carved onto a bedrock a massive lion’s paws. It will take approximately 2 hours to reach the top of the rock from the bottom. The rock is surrounded by moats covered with lily-pads and water gardens which adds to the beauty of the scenic setting.
Specifics
Ticket costs – 30 US$ per adult which is inclusive of the ticket to the Sigiriya museum. The ancient site is opened every day from 7.00 am to 5.30 pm, where the last entrance is at 5.00 pm. The most preferable wear is comfortable clothing, with a hat and sunscreen.