ANCIENT CITIES.
A rich history of over 2000 years has left the island with many an ancient ruin worth visiting. Be it the coast, the plains or the hill country, you are sure to find an ancient city or a historical place of worship.
There are many Ancient Citys Around Sri Lanka, and here we have Added 6 Maine sites.
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(01) - Dalada Maligawa - Central Province
The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the tooth relic of the Buddha, a tooth, which is venerated by Buddhists.
The city is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO, in part due to the temple.
(02) - Anuradhapura (377 B.C. – 491 A.D.)- North Central Province
Anuradhapura, is the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka which lasted for the longest period as the capital in the country.It is important to locals for religion,history,and the culture and world famous for its well preserved ruins of the Great Sri Lankan Civilization.
The city now a UNESCO heritage site. Today this ancient city of Sri Lanka, which is sacred to the Buddhist world, which its surrounding monasteries covers an area of over sixteen square miles and is one of the world's major archaeological sites
(03) - Polonnaruwa - North Central Province
The second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I.
Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the kingdom's first rulers.
(04) - Sigiriya - Central Province
Perched on a slab of rock that juts dramatically over the forests of central Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is as imposing a sight now as it must have been when it was first built by a fierce king in the fifth century A.D. Meaning “lion’s rock,” Sigiriya (designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982) is accessed by way of passageways cut into the rock face between a monumental pair of lion paws.
(05) - Dambulla Cave Temple - Central Province
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, declared (1991). The Golden Temple of Dambulla is located close by to Sigiriya(20KM) in the central province and is an ancient rock temple with beautiful wall paintings,
The Golden Temple of Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are 153 statues of Buddha statues, three Sri Lankan kings statues, and four statues of gods and goddesses. The latter include Vishnu and the Ganesha. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square meters (23,000 sq ft). Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara, and Buddha's first sermon.
(06) - Ritigala Archaeological Site.- Central Province
Ritigala is a mountain in central Sri Lanka which is home to an ancient Buddhist monastery, and it is an Archaeological site. The ruins and rock inscriptions of the monastery date back to the 1st century BCE. It is located 33km away from Sigiriya.