Arundathie Abeysinghe

Stupas of Delft Island – evidence of earliest human habitation – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Known as “Neduntivu” or “Nedunthivu” by residents in Jaffna, Delft Island is commonly referred as “Delft Island”, inherited from Dutch Colonials during their rule in Jaffna. Although, Delft Island is a vast island, it is mostly uninhabited. At the northwestern coast of Delft Island, there are ruins of three ancient Buddhist stupas (dagobas) known as “Cholan ruins.” Two stupas are of medium or small size, yet the largest stupa has a circumference of 32 meters. Their ground walls are restored by the Department of Archaeology. Buddhist ruins on the Island were first reported in 1832, by a person utilizing the pseudonym “Pen” (PENN) to “Colombo Journal” newspaper. Around the main stupa, there are remains of four smaller stupas. All these are bell shaped. There had been two stupas on the sides of the steps towards the ...

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“Girihandu Seya” – first Buddhist stupa? – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Girihandu Seya (“Seya” meaning stupa or dagoba) also known as “Nithupathpana Vihara” is an ancient Buddhist Temple in *Thiriyaya in *Trincomalee.  Girihandu Seya is considered as the first Buddhist Stupa in Sri Lanka, believed to have been constructed by two seafaring merchants *Tapassu and *Bhalluka. Names of the two merchant bothers are recorded on a rock inscription in the temple premises. According to the inscription, Girihandu Seya was constructed by the guilds of merchants named “Trapassuka” and “Vallika”, Their names were written as “Tapassu” and “Bhalluka” in Sinhala chronicles. Situated on a small hillock near the sea coast, approximately 47 kilometers (29 miles) towards north of Trincomalee, the stupa of the Temple has been enlarged during the 8th century A.D. The Vatadage (literally meaning circular relic house or shrine) covers the stupa with concentric circles of stone pillars, almost similar ...

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Pettigala hike – epic views of Central Highlands – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located approximately 20 kilometers from Kandy City, Pettigala (also known as “Pethiyagala”) in *Teldeniya in the Kandy district is well-known as a hiking area. Pettigala is a moderately tall mountain situated at an elevation of 760 meters, with an altitude variation of 200 meters. During the hike, many tourists visit *Bambaragala Buddhist Temple (situated at the commencement of the hike), too. History of the Temple dates to 2000 years and its incredible cave paintings and statues are proof of its ancient history. During the route to Bambaragala Buddhist Temple and Pettigala from Kandy to Digana, prominent landmarks are Mahaweli Ganga (*Mahaweli River) and Victoria Golf Club Road. Pettigala hike starts from the top of the stone steps of the Bambaragala Buddhist Temple. Although, not immediately obvious, there is a well-worn trail which continues towards the forest past the ...

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Corbett’s Gap – amidst montane cloud forests – By Arundathie Abeysinghe   Located along an abandoned jeep track along *Knuckles Conservation Forest, a designated UNESCO World Heritage, Corbett’s Gap is one of the highest mountainous passes in Sri Lanka named after British Army Colonel, naturalist, surveyor and adventurer, Jim Corbett who mapped the location. It is a montane cloud forest and home to a range of endemic flora and fauna, including several endangered species such as the purple-faced langur (also known as the purple-faced leaf monkey – Trachypithecus vetulus) and the Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya). The terrain of the location rises to 3000 feet (approximately 915 meters), above sea level. The trail to Corbett’s Gap offers breathtaking views of *Knuckles Mountain Range, verdant tea fields, a tiny hamlet almost similar to a picture postcard nestled in the foothills of the mountains that include isolated village communities. The trail ...

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Alawala Caves – prehistoric archeological treasure trove – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated in close proximity to Gampaha in the Western Province, discovery of two pre-historic human remains and several artifacts in Alawala Caves dating to prehistoric periods reveal valuable archeological data… Initially, these artefacts were discovered by a team of archaeology scholars and their students from the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), University of Kelaniya. The team comprised of archaeologists, chemists, botanists as well as geologists. According to scholars, the finds at Alawala Caves include fragments of a skull, jawbones with teeth, including loose teeth. Scholars are of the view that these artefacts date to pre-historic era 13,000 B.C.E. Archaeologists are of the view that these remains may reveal valuable data about the pre-historic past of Sri Lanka, including a different concept of our history. According to archaeologists, shark tooth ornament seems too small and delicate to have survived many ...

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Sakkotai Cape – northernmost location in tear drop isle – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Sri Lanka, a tear-drop-shaped resplendent isle located at the southern tip of India is considered as “heaven on the Earth” by majority of foreign tourists. With 1,340 kilometers of magnificent coastline and an enviable choice of palm-fringed golden beaches with deep turquoise waters that stretch out into the deep azure of the Indian Ocean. Situated in the southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian peninsula by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, visitors are endowed with a unique and exotic experience in the spectacular island. Sri Lanka’s beaches come in all styles and suit visitors of diverse tastes; popular surfers’ paradise of *Arugambay, *Trincomalee and *Mirissa that are popular vantage points for blue-whale watching, *Hikkaduwa, a popular location for boogie-boarding, snorkelling and scuba diving, *Batticaloa, with flat year-round warm-water including shallow-lagoons, *Pasikudah, ...

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Buduruwayaya archaeological site – hidden historical treasure – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located in the south west of *Wasgamuwa National Park, approximately six kilometers from Bakamuna town in Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province and situated amidst spectacular vistas of paddy fields spread endlessly, blending into breathtaking mountains, Buduruwayaya archaeology site is rarely visited by local and foreign tourists. Tropical dry mixed evergreen forest characterized by tall trees, including Weera (Drypetes sepiaria), Palu (Manikkara hexandra), Buruta (Satin – Chloroxylon Swietenia) Ehala (C. Fistula), Milla (Vitaex Pinanata) and Kaluwara (ebony- Diospyros Ebenum) including the endemic Galsiyambala (Dialium ovoideum) and engulfed by diverse endemic and dry zone vegetation, the forest is also home to many wild animals. Scholars are of the view that remains of several small rainwater reservoirs and ruins of Buddhist Temples, indicate that this region had been a well-developed village, many years ago. According to archaeologists, the ruins date to ...

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Deanston – marvelous vantage point in Knuckles Range By Arundathie Abeysinghe Sri Lanka is a small island state in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), similar to a droplet of water. Despite being a small island, it is endowed with a diverse collection of landscapes, climates, awe-inspiring vistas which have enticed tourists for decades. Sri Lanka is arguably one of the most spectacular places in the world, a tiny island of 9,833,517 square kilometers, yet, has a diverse range of breathtaking landscapes from awe-inspiring misty mountains and cliffs, carpets of verdant tea plantations, spectacular cascades, lush forests and pristine beaches… There are many spectacular viewpoints in Sri Lanka with several precipices offering breathtaking vistas of the surrounding area and valleys, in addition to popular World’s End and Mini World’s End at *Horton Plains. Mini World’s Ends at *Little Adam’s Peak in Ella and *Hulangala in Selagama are such viewpoints with awe-inspiring ...

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Shanthipura – highest viewpoint with spectacular vistas – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Sri Lanka is renowned globally as one of the most spectacular places. This tiny island is only 9,833,517 square kilometers, yet has a huge range of diverse breathtaking landscapes to offer; mist clad spectacular mountains and cliffs, carpets of verdant tea plantations, spectacular cascades, lush forests, scenic view points and pristine beaches… There are many spectacular viewpoints in Sri Lanka with several precipices offering breathtaking vistas of the surrounding area and valleys, in addition to popular World’s End and Mini World’s End at *Horton Plains. Mini World’s Ends at *Little Adam’s Peak in Ella and *Hulangala in Selagama that are viewpoints with awe-inspiring vistas. Situated at the foot of Kikiliyamana Mountain in Nuwara Eliya, the fifth tallest mountain in Sri Lanka, Shanthipura is the highest village in Sri Lanka. Shanthipura View Point provides amazing panoramic vistas of the surrounding ...

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Significance of Wesak – thrice-blessed day – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Wesak (also spelt Vesak) marks the Birth, the *Enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. All these three significant events took place on a Full Moon *Poya Day in May. According to *Theravada tradition, the three most significant events in the life of the Buddha occurred on Wesak full moon Poya Day; birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha as a layman) in Lumbini in Nepal where Queen Mahamaya gave birth to him under the shelter of a Sal Tree (Shorea robusta) around 566 BCE. The second significant event was Siddhartha Gautama’s Enlightenment (supreme attainment as the Buddha). The third significant event was the Buddha’s Parinibbana (or *parinirvana) approximately 2500 years ago at *Kusinara. Buddha means the enlightened or awakened one. Buddhists do not believe in a single god who created the world. Wesak Day is celebrated by Buddhists, globally. ...

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