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Yapahuwa Rock Fortress – ephemeral capital of Sri Lanka By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated about 145 kilometers from Colombo, at the southwestern corner of the Cultural Triangle, Yapahuwa is an ancient rock fortress and capital built in 1301. Rising to a height of about 110 meters above the surrounding low-lying areas, this historical site is situated on the outskirts of Kurunegala. The biggest showpiece of the Rock Fortress is its ornamental stairway, a unique design covered with excellent stone carvings. The top flight of steps of the stairway displays the talented craftsmanship of our ancestors. Originally, there had been three flights of stone stairs. Later, the lowest stair had disappeared and the stone stairs have been replaced with cement stairs. The steps of this stairway are narrow and need to be maneuvered sideways. According to historians, this may be a form of defense as the steps can neither be ascended nor descended ...

Oct 31, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Bhuwenakabahu, King Bhuwanekabahu, Yapahuwa Rock Fortress Comments 0

St. Paul’s Church Kandy – impressive Colonial Era Church By Arundathie Abeysinghe Built in neo – Gothic style, this impressive red brick church is perhaps the only such example of British Architecture in Sri Lanka. The Church originally served as a Garrison Church for British Officers and Troops, especially 15th and 37th Regiments based near Kandy City. Interior of the Church is English Victoriana. The aesthetic quality of the Church is the austere mass of its bare brick walls turned to red-ochre shade due to weather and climate changes over the years. The impressive great tower of the Church directed upwards adds a majestic look to the Church. The building of the Church is cruciform (based on the Cross) and the Church has symmetrical pairs of entrances on each side of the transepts with the tower of the Church, a plain square. There are three clocks which adorn the West ...

Oct 26, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic Comments 0

National Railway Museum – reminiscence of yesteryear – By Arundathie Abeysinghe National Railway Museum is situated adjacent to Kadugannawa* Railway Station between Balana and Pilimatalawa Railway Stations on the upcountry railway line about 515 meters above sea level. The building of the Museum is divided into several halls. Among the items on display at the Museum are gas lamps, tablet machines, tools, rail cars, trolleys, machineries, ancient railway equipments, signs and railway memorabilia including a station sun dial which had been used since the beginning of Sri Lanka Railways (formerly Ceylon Government Railways – CGR). The Museum is situated adjacent to the platform of Kadugannawa Railway Station on the up-country railway line. The Railway Museum also showcases a large collection of railway memorabilia including several diesel and steam engines, locomotives as well as diesel carriages that were used in Sri Lanka in the past. As steam power engines are not ...

Oct 12, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Kadugannawa Railway Station Comments 0

Authentic Sri Lankan food at Hela Bojun Hala – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Hela Bojun Hala (Traditional Sri Lankan Food Court), serving quintessentially delicious fresh food at subsidized prices are situated in many places in Sri Lanka. Each food is vegetarian, fresh and healthy as well as free from flavors and additives. The first outlet of Hela Bojun Hala was started in Gannoruwa in Kandy as a pilot project with the objective of promoting fresh local food as well as empowering local women. Prices of food items range from Rs 25/= upwards and a whole meal costs around Rs. 300/= (about 2.2 AUD). Spacious with open kitchens, Hela Bojun Hala outlets are scattered throughout Sri Lanka from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya to Jaffna and Matara. Initially, the project was set up by Women’s Agriculture Extension Program of the Ministry of Agriculture and at present the project is taken up by Provincial Agriculture Departments also. ...

Oct 4, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Authentic Sri Lankan food, Authentic Sri Lankan food at Hela Bojun Hala, Hela Bojun Hala, Kewum, kiri appa, kiribath, Konda Kevum, Kottu, Kurakkan, Levariya, Mani pittu, Mung Kevum, Narang Kevum, vandu appa Comments 0

Nine Arch Bridge – spectacular architectural marvel in Ella – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Nine Arch Bridge also known as Bridge in the Sky (Ahas Nawaye Palama in Sinhala) due to its breathtaking visual appearance is a famous attraction in Ella visited by local and foreign tourists. The artistic ingenuity of the Bridge and the beautiful landscape including mountains and tea plantations surrounding the Bridge are tourist attractions. If a person stands below the bridge and looks up, the sky can be seen through the nine arches of the Bridge. Hence, it is popular as Ahas Nawaye Palama (Bridge in the Sky) among locals. Spectacular vistas of the Bridge is enhanced and the environment creates a mystic and captivating scene when the famous ‘blue train’ (of Sri Lanka Railways) passes over the Bridge with ‘clicks’ from phones and cameras of the visitors who waited impatiently for the surreal moment. If ...

Sep 27, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Ahas Nawaye Palama, Ella and Demodara Railway Stations, Nine Arch Bridge, Nine Arch Bridge Ella, Nine Arch Bridge Sri Lanka Comments 0

Bible Rock – landmark in Colombo – Kandy Road: By Arundathie Abeysinghe Breathtaking views of craggy dense mountains shrouded in early morning mist, panorama of cascading waterfalls, luxuriant meadows … Bible Rock, the magnificent mountain is a colossus dwarfing the entire landscape of Kadugannawa… Bible Rock is a landmark that has inspired poets, photographers, painters and nature lovers from time immemorial. It was a square lookout point used by Sinhalese ancestors to protect the Kandyan Kingdom. This fascinating mountain is seen from Kadugannawa Pass on Colombo – Kandy Road, the same route which British took in 1815 to conquer Kandyan Kingdom. Bible Rock is visible to any traveler on the Kandy-Colombo Road but it can be seen clearly to those traveling by train from Colombo to Kandy. The surface of the Rock is mostly covered in *mana grass. Bible Rock known as Bathalegala by locals is shrouded in thick jungle. ...

Sep 21, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Bible Rock, Kaithankadagala and Urakanda hillocks Comments 1

Royal Palace of Kandy – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Royal Palace of the Kandyan Kingdom is located to the north of Dalada Maligawa. It was the royal residence of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (1798-1815), the last reigning King of Kandy as well as Sri Lanka. The palace dates back to the 14th century. King Wickramabahu III (1357-1374) and King Senasamatha Wickramabahu (1469-1511) of the Kingdom of Gampola constructed the palace. King Wimaladharmasuriya I (1592 – 1603) was the first king to occupy the Palace. Each king who resided in the Royal Palace made improvements to the structure of the Palace. The original palace walls were burnt during wars between foreign invaders and the Kandyan Kingdom. The Palace was renovated during the Kandyan Kingdom after the wars without alterations to its interior. Royal Palace Complex included the Royal Palace (Raja Wasala), Royal Audience Hall (Magul Maduwa – hall where the king ...

Sep 15, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Dalada Maligawa, Kandyan Kingdom, Kataragama, Natha Devale, Raja Wasala Comments 0

Bahiravakanda Vihara Buddha Statue in Kandy – By Arundathie Abeysinghe This beautifully sculpted white omnipresent Buddha Statue is 88 feet (about 27 meters) in height and depicts the Buddha in the posture of Dhyana Mudra (posture of meditation associated with the Buddha’s Enlightenment). It is one of the tallest Buddha Statues in Sri Lanka as well as a prominent landmark in Kandy City. The temple where the Buddha statue is located is Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya. But it is popular as Bahirawa Kanda (Gnome Mountain) Temple. This temple is situated at Bahirawakanda Road about two kilometers from Kandy City. Majority of Buddhist temples in Kandy were constructed during the Kandyan Kingdom under the guidance of Kandyan Kings. But this temple was constructed in 1992 and was officially opened on January 1, 1993. The Temple was founded by Venerable Ampitiye Dhammarama Thero. According to devotees, paying homage to the Bahirawa Kanda Vihara Buddha ...

Sep 8, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Bahiravakanda Vihara Buddha Statue in Kandy, Bahirawa Kanda, Dhyana Mudra, Gnome Mountain, Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya, Theravada Buddhism Comments 0

Lipton’s Seat – Tea with breathtaking views – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Photo caption: Statue of Scottish Tea Baron Sir Thomas Lipton at Lipton’s Seat Named after the connoisseur of Ceylon Tea Trade, Scottish Tea Baron Sir Thomas Lipton, Lipton’s Seat is an observatory point situated at an elevation of 1,970 meters above sea level on Poonagala Mountain in Dambetanne Tea Estate. The lookout from Lipton’s Seat is equal to breathtaking views from World’s End at Horton Plains. Sir Thomas Lipton, the famous tea planter had used this literal seat to survey his burgeoning Tea Empire (sprawling extents of thousands of acres of tea), seated on a bench at this highest point in Dambetanne Tea Estate. On the way to the Lipton’s Seat a visitor will pass through the 2500 acre Dambatenna Tea Estate and factory set up by Sir Thomas Lipton in 1890. Sir Thomas Lipton had lived in this estate and ...

Aug 31, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Lipton’s Seat, Sir Thomas Lipton Comments 0