Kandy Esala Perahera: A Grand Celebration of Sri Lanka’s Cultural and Religious Heritage.-by Kalani-eLanka The Kandy Esala Perahera, also known as the Sri Dalada Maligawa Perahera, is one of the most significant and vibrant cultural festivals in Sri Lanka. Held annually in the historic city of Kandy, this grand procession is a majestic and deeply spiritual event, celebrated in honor of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. It is a captivating display of Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage, religious devotion, and artistic expression. The Kandy Esala Perahera has its origins in ancient Sri Lankan history, dating back to the 4th century CE when the Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka from India. The relic, believed to be one of the Buddha’s teeth, is housed in the Temple of the Tooth, or Sri Dalada Maligawa, in Kandy. The Perahera was instituted by King Kirthi Sri Meghavanna as a ...
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River cruise by Five Schoolboys from St. Anthony’s College Mahaweli River Cruise by 5 Antonians in the 1950s. Shane took me to the mouth of the Mahaweli River after many years where our Great Mahaweli canoe Trip ended at MUTUR. The road & Bridge were not there & the memory of our final day is as vivid as ever. Five Schoolboys from St. Anthony’s College carried out & completed an adventure that was treated as the impossible. I am ever grateful firstly to Our Wonderful Dad & Mum for allowing me to carry it out with friends Lynton Van Starrex, Andre Titus, Alec VanStarrex, Our Guardian, & Anton Beekmeyer. I have detailed our Adventure in my Memoires & many thanks must go to the boatmen that guided the two joined timber canoes & us to our destination. The owner of the boats at Kandakadu refused to hire us the canoes ...
Kandy Esala Perahera Festival 2023 Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – August 2023 Kandy Esala Perahera is a historical procession held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. A unique symbol of Sri Lanka, the procession consists of traditional local dances such as fire dances and performances in whip-dance garments. The festival ends with the traditional Diya-kepeema ritual, a water cutting ceremony which is held at the Mahaweli River at Getambe, Kandy ...
peradeniya botanical garden – By Malsha – eLanka Peradeniya Botanical Garden is a beautiful botanical garden located in the central hills of Sri Lanka, near the city of Kandy. It is one of the oldest and most renowned botanical gardens in Sri Lanka, covering an area of 147 acres. The garden was established in 1821 during the British colonial period and was initially used for coffee and cinnamon cultivation. Later on, it was transformed into a botanical garden in 1843 under the direction of Alexander Moon. Today, the garden is home to over 4,000 species of plants, including many endemic and rare species. Some of the highlights of Peradeniya Botanical Garden include the giant Javan fig tree, which is over 130 years old, the orchid house which displays over 300 varieties of orchids, the spice garden which showcases a wide range of spices, and the palm avenue which is lined ...
Kithulgala – iconic location of the Gem of the Silver Screen “The Bridge on the River Kwai” – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Having won seven Academy Awards, “Bridge on the River Kwai” directed by British Film Director David Lean (Sir David Lean 1908-1991) was an epic war film shot in Ceylon in 1957 aided by Chandran Rutnam (Sri Lankan film maker and entrepreneur) who collaborated local links. Adapted from the 1952 novel by Pierre Boulle (that goes by the same name) the movie was filmed in *Kithulgala, in *Ratnapura District, perched on the western edge of Sri Lanka’s Hill Country. A makeshift bridge was constructed over the *Kelani River for the movie, although, nothing remains at present, except the concrete foundations of the Bridge (as the railway bridge utilized in the movie was blown-up as part of the film sequel). The movie describes the tale of a group of Japanese war ...
The Mighty Mahaweli River, Kinniya, Mutur, Sampur and the Oil Tanks at China Bay – Photos by Stefan D’silva ...
Teldeniya – location of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” – By Arundathie Abeysinghe From thick jungles to spectacular mountains, cascading waterfalls, central hills carpeted with tea, endemic flora and fauna to idealistic beaches, spectacular surfing beaches on the east, kite surfing adventures by the lagoon in the west, the island nation also offers an abundance of paddy fields dotted with farmers, a showcase of Sri Lankan village life. Sri Lanka meaning “a resplendent isle” (in Sinhala) and the country living up to its name has everything a film producer would need to make a film, yet, set within 65,610 kilometers (25,332 miles) with a total coastline of 1,340 kilometers (832.6 miles), accessible within a short time. Released on May 23, 1984, in the USA with a record-breaking $45.7 million in its first week, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, the second installment in the Indiana Jones franchise ...
Kadadora Viharaya – spectacular vistas of drought – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Submerged by the water of *Kotmale Reservoir, spectacular ruins of Kadadora Viharaya, especially the sculptured statues of the Buddha and other deities that can be seen during drought is a rare surreal sight to behold … Nestled in the breathtaking central highlands of Sri Lanka, engulfed by the misty cool climate, clear waters rippling in the gentle breeze blowing across the vast expanse of water, no one would believe that there are scenic attractions to feast one’s eyes on, beneath the tranquil waters… Kadadora Viharaya in Kotmale is a nostalgic reminder of life in a bygone era… There are ruins of approximately 54 ancient temples of historic and archaeological value, 57 human settlements including villages, over 14 tea estates that were inundated with the completion of Kotmale Reservoir when the Reservoir was constructed damming Thispane and Kadadora hills ...
Commonwealth War Cemetery – tribute to brave warriors By Arundathie Abeysinghe Serene and incredibly well-maintained Commonwealth War Cemetery also known as Kandy War Cemetery is a memorial to known and unknown warriors who sacrificed their lives during World War I and II. This cemetery is one of the most well-maintained and visited war cemeteries in the world. There is one Commonwealth burial from the World War I and 196 Commonwealth burials from the World War II. The cemetery also has four foreign national burials and two non-world war burials. The graveyard formerly known as the Pitakande Military Cemetery was taken over by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a permanent war cemetery Located approximately 1.5 kilometers from the entrance to the *Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, the Cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Among the burials in the Cemetery, 203 buried comprise 107 British, 35 East Africans, 26 Sri ...
Kandy Clock Tower – a memorial to a son By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located in the center of Kandy City, at a major intersection, Kandy Clock Tower is an iconic landmark. Embellished with traditional Kandyan style architectural motifs, the Clock Tower blends well with the surroundings. The design of the clock tower is influenced by Kandyan architectural style. Kandy Clock Tower was completed on December 23, 1950 and declared open for the public by the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, D.S. Senanayake and Kandy Mayor E.L. Senanayake in 1951 in the presence of Mohamed Zacky Ismail’s family members. The clock tower has a tragic story behind it and is also known as Kandy Ismail Clock Tower as it was constructed by Haji Mohomed Ismail, the local agent for Rowlands Limited (the largest importer of British cars to Sri Lanka during that period) in memory of his son Mohamed Zacky ...
