Sinharaja Beautiful forest

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt; width: 100.0%;"><tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMav4zhHZ2I/AAAAAAAAACM/miqeWaJiJDc/s1600/468-4-200-134-the-highest-faunal-endemicity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMav4zhHZ2I/AAAAAAAAACM/miqeWaJiJDc/s320/468-4-200-134-the-highest-faunal-endemicity.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">Sinharaja </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(11,250 ha)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">, is the jewel of the last remaining virgin rainforest crown in country is located in the wet zone of the country. the primeval Sinharaja covers 8900 hectares of breathtakingly beautiful, continuous forest.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Beautiful Streams, springs, rivers, waterfalls, leopard, monkeys, butterflies and moths, rare trees, valuable shrubs and medicinal herbs are all found within its green canopy. A trek along the sinharaja paths would provide nature entusiast a never to be forgotten experience of sights and sounds and feelings.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Due to its high bio-diversity and ecological importance, it has been declared as a National Heritage Wilderness Area and it is the only natural World Heritage Site (declared by UNESCO) in the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMawxcMV4UI/AAAAAAAAACc/5ZNeNsAwY0c/s1600/467-3-200-134-scenic-beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMawxcMV4UI/AAAAAAAAACc/5ZNeNsAwY0c/s320/467-3-200-134-scenic-beauty.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Sinharaja is one of the few virgin forests left in the world, The forest has series of mountains and ridges rising abruptly from 90m to 1170m above mean sea level. Situated in Ratnapura, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Galle</st1:place></st1:city> and Matara districts in the interior wet zone of the       south west of the island.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">This is <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s most important rainforest. The forest has tall trees growing in close proximity, but winding paths make it easy to walk along the forest floor. It is inhabited by water monitors, torque macaques, leopards, giant squirrels, purple-faced leaf monkeys and leeches.<br /> Bird life includes Ceylon Spurfowl, Ceylon Junglefowl, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Layard's Parakeet, Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Ceylon Small Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, Spotted-winged Thrush, Brown-capped Babbler, Orange-billed Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughing-Thrush, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon White-headed Starling, Ceylon Hill Munia, Ceylon Hill Myna, Malabar Trogon, Black Bulbul, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Green Imperial Pigeon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Yellow-browned Bulbul.</span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 7.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Crystal-Clear Cool Water </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMawPe1sE_I/AAAAAAAAACQ/Q1ghKydIqK0/s1600/470-6-200-134-rivers-of-sinharaja-rain-forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMawPe1sE_I/AAAAAAAAACQ/Q1ghKydIqK0/s320/470-6-200-134-rivers-of-sinharaja-rain-forest.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Sinharaja falls within a rainfall range of 3,000 to 6,000 millimeters and even diest season records a surprisingly considerable amount of rain fall.<br /> <br /> Small streams found within the forest contain crystal-clear cool water and one can clearly see the fish, toads and crabs swimming in it. Another characteristic feature of Sinharaja is the mixed species flock formation of its birds. Number of species in the flock can be go up to about 40 species.<br /> If you are lucky enough you can experience the tropical monsoon inside the forest, which will be an unforgettable experience</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 7.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Scenic Beauty </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b><br /> <b><i><u><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br /> </span></span></u></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Apart from its ecological and biodiversity value its scenic beauty is also invaluable. The largest known tree of the country is found in the Sinharaja, which is an endemic tree. Insect eating Pitcher plant is frequently seen here. This magnificent rainforest is also a home for large number of butterflies. In side the forest is dark even during the day time due to close canopy above and one can here the voice of cicadas and frogs throughout the time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> Topographically <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region> is divided into three morphological areas Topographically. and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Sinharaja</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Rain Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place> belongs to the middle range uplands by elevation range. It range of 270 to 1,060 meters in height and a slopes range of 100 to 350. The Sinharaja forest is located on the Rakwana mountain range which lies detached from the main central Mountain ranges of the island.</span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 7.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The highest faunal endemicity</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The highest faunal endemicity of the country is found in the Sinharaja. Out of 12 endemic mammal species of the country 8 are found here. Giant squirrel, dusky-stripped jungle squirrel and endemic purple-faced leaf monkey and torque macaque are frequently seen.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> Almost 95% of the countries endemic birds (about 19 species) are found here including rare Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Caucal, Blue Magpie and Sri Lanka Spur fowl. Diversity among the reptiles and Amphibians are remarkably high. The endemic green pit viper, endemic hump nosed lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus) and horned lizard (Ceratophora aspera) are common here. Small tributaries and rivers of the forest support the fish such as striped rasbora, walking catfish and endemic comb tail</span></div></td></tr> <tr><td style="padding: 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 7.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">                                     </span></span></i></b></st1:placetype></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Mountain</span></span></i></b></st1:placetype></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Peaks</st1:placetype> of</span></span></i></b></span><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Sinharaja</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Rain Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></span></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMawjdPwWlI/AAAAAAAAACY/IsCvIOEDKvc/s1600/469-5-200-134-mountain-peaks-of-sinharaja-rain-forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMawjdPwWlI/AAAAAAAAACY/IsCvIOEDKvc/s320/469-5-200-134-mountain-peaks-of-sinharaja-rain-forest.jpg" width="320" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: orange; font-size: large;"> </span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">There are several mountain peaks in the eastern side of the Forest Reserve.</span> <br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;"> Hinipitigala Peak - 1,171 m<br /> Dotugala Peak - 769 m<br /> Mulawella Peak - 760 m<br /> Kosgulana 797 m<br /> Hinipitigala West 1170 m<br />                                                                   Hinipitigala East 1168 m<br />                                                 Pathinigala 605 m<br />                                                 Sinhagala 742 m<br />                                                 Tibbotagala 904 m<br />                                                 Kohilarambe 757 m</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 7.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Rivers of Sinharaja Rain <st1:place w:st="on">Forest</st1:place></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; text-decoration: underline;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMawW0aMxGI/AAAAAAAAACU/rd0xM_F0ErQ/s1600/472-2-200-134-crystal-clear-cool-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMawW0aMxGI/AAAAAAAAACU/rd0xM_F0ErQ/s320/472-2-200-134-crystal-clear-cool-water.jpg" width="238" /></span></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;">Koskulana Ganga<br /> Maha Ganga<br /> Kudawa Ganga<br /> Maha Dola<br /> Pitakele Ganga<br /> Gin Ganga<br /> Kalukandawa<br /> Gin <st1:place w:st="on">Ganga</st1:place> </span><br /> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table></div>

Sinharaja Beautiful forest

Sinharaja (11,250 ha) , is the jewel of the last remaining virgin rainforest crown in country is located in the wet zone of the countr...

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Aluviharaya

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">                               </span><span style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aluvihara- where Tripitakas were written</span><u style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUoaNXY_IOI/AAAAAAAAAD0/RoDaxAoqvCg/s1600/aluviharaya-matale-sri-lanka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUoaNXY_IOI/AAAAAAAAAD0/RoDaxAoqvCg/s320/aluviharaya-matale-sri-lanka.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;"><u><br /> </u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The epic reign of king Valagamba/Vattagamani (104-77 B.C.) would go into the annals of the Buddhist literary history as the Tripitakas (Buddhist scriptures) were written down on ola leaves in Pali by a conclave of Buddhist monks of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aluvihara</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>, lying close to Matale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">These Tripitakas originally had come down by mere word of mouth by being committed to memory by Buddhist monks of the time. Such Tripitakas are classified into three divisions. They are Vinaya Pitakaya (Basket of discipline), Suthra Pitakaya (Basket of Discourse) and Abidarma Pitakaya (Basket of Metaphysics).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The entrance canopy has a prominent Pandal with an arch constructed out of concrete. From there is a steep ascent of stone steps leading to the meda midula - frontage terrace. Here looms a mass of rock boulders harbouring cave shelters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Then from there, rises round and round steps of stone giving way to the other rock caves having well chiselled drip ledges on the apex. Mr. W. Edwin is in charge of the library housed in a commodious building which is named as the International Library and Museum for writing the Tripitakayas on ola leaves in Pali.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The foundation stone for this International Library and Museum was laid by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sihanouk of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:place></st1:country-region> on 17.2.1957.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUoZ9tX3F_I/AAAAAAAAADw/oWHE9syvTw8/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUoZ9tX3F_I/AAAAAAAAADw/oWHE9syvTw8/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /> </span></span> </span><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">He had been in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region> then to attend the Buddha Jayanthi Celebrations held in February 1957. This edifice was inaugurated by the late Premier, Srimavo Dias Bandaranaike on 1.9.1974. It was constructed with state funds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Mr. W. Edwin, Librarin there, is a real repository of all Buddhist philosophy and other historical episodes connected with this <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aluvihara</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> and other archaeological artifacts of cultural value. He was receptive to me and briefed me its origins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">There is an influx of tourists both home and abroad flocking to this historic temple. The library contains a gallery of antiques ranging from Buddhist statues, seated, standing made out of clay, brass, marble, while some of them have been gold plated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">There are priceless Buddha statues gifted by <st1:country-region w:st="on">Siam</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>, and Myrama (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Burma</st1:place></st1:country-region>), together with other archaeological artifacts pertaining to old Lanka, as well. Then there is also displayed Buddha statues of Mahayana sect gifted from countries like <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Korea</st1:country-region></st1:place>. There are well bound Tripitakas on ola leaves written in Pali displayed in a separate bookshelf.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Then next comes an array of heaps of talipot leaves (fresh ones processed into ola leaves on which the scriptures are written with the aid of the panhida-stile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUoahC2pHAI/AAAAAAAAAD4/T_8iNiZu6fI/s1600/465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUoahC2pHAI/AAAAAAAAAD4/T_8iNiZu6fI/s320/465.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">These specimens are in the form of display to visiting tourists as Mr. Edwin, the Librarian has to explain to them in his lectures as to how these ola leaves are processed from the tali-pat palm-leaves. Besides. Mr. Edwin being proficient in Sinhala, Pali, Sanscrit, he is also well-versed in foreign languages like French, Italian and German as he delivers lectures in these languages on all aspects of making of ola leaves from scrap, and about the origins of Buddha statues and other stone monuments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Among the antiques displayed are old brass lamps, arecanut cutters, swords, knives, ceramic ware, and other ornaments and implements of antiquity, as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">This Aluvihara temple from ancient times had been called as Aloka vihara. Mr. Edwin told me that during the reign of Valagamba of the 1st century A.D., the Buddhist scriptures, those Tripitakayas were originally written on ola leaves in Pali at seven of those rock caves by an assembly of erudite Buddhist monks who were resident in those very caves. Of those seven caves, only three are remaining.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">In the first cave about 25 feet long and 10 feet high was one of the venues where some of these archaic Tripitakayas were written on ola leaves in Pali by a team of Buddhist monks. On its apex is written in bold Sinhala letters that the Tripitakayas were written during the reign of king Valagamba at this cave shelter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The rock cave shelter harbours an Image House. Its entrance doorway, overhead is surmounted with the typical Makara Thoranay motif flanked by janitors. There are also seated standing and recumbent Buddha statues of terra-cota, while the murals are adorned with paintings of Jataka stories. The cave ceilings are studded with fascinating paintings of lotus flowers in full bloom - all dating back to the Kandyan period of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Next comes a spiral stone staircase that terminates on its summit where the sacred Bodhiya stands cloistering an image house in this rock cave shelter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The third cave is met amidst a conclave of rock boulders where is sheltered another rock cave where the Tripitakayas were written on ola leaves by the ancient Buddhist monks. Lying in the same premises where the Library stands, is another commodious building sheltering the Sanga Nivasa (Monks Residency).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">This Sanga Nivasa was completed on 14.7.1994.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Inside the hall is placed a bronze plaque against its wall in which are inscribed both in Sinhala and English the following nobel but immortal words: "This Sanga Nivasa dedicated to the Sanga Fraternity became a reality on 14.7.1994 with meritorious act completed with the support of the Ven. Son Song Nayaka Thera, members of the Dayaka Sabha Hynn Bulsung Temple of Bulsung Sect in Korea and the Aluvihara Temple Development Fund initiated and constructed during the incumbency of Ven. Ethipola Sri Medhankara Nayake Priest, Chief High Priest, Matale <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div></div>

Aluviharaya

                               Aluvihara- where Tripitakas were written The epic reign of king Valagamba/Vattagamani (104-77 B.C.) would g...

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Horton Plains

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMaupD1gOiI/AAAAAAAAACE/WBLaTqD-sms/s1600/457-1-200-134-beauty-of-horton-plains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMaupD1gOiI/AAAAAAAAACE/WBLaTqD-sms/s320/457-1-200-134-beauty-of-horton-plains.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">Horton</span></st1:placename><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Plains</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><u><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Horton</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Plains</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype> "Maha-Eliya" in Sinhala is a national park in the highlands of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region></st1:place>. It lies at a height of more than 2000 m in the central highlands, and its altitude means that it has a much cooler and windier climate than the lowlands of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region></st1:place> , with a mean annual temperature of 16 °C rather than the 26 °C of the coasts. In the winter months it is cold at night, and there can even be frosts, although it rapidly warms up as the tropical sun climbs higher in the sky. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The park covers 31.60 km², and is a mixture of highland forest and wet grassland. Annual rainfall is high with the area being affected by both monsoons as well as the inter-monsoonal periods; it is driest between January and March.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">This is the only National Park in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region></st1:place> in which visitors are allowed to walk. At 'Worlds End' the 2000 meters plateau comes to an abrupt end, plunging 700-1000 meters to the valley floor. This gentle walk takes two to four hours depending on how much time is spent identifying the impressive bird life seen along this route. It is worth starting early to avoid the crowds, the mist that drifts up the valley can often obscure the views as the day wears on. 'Little Worlds End' is another popular location, falling a mere 300 meters, along with Baker's fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The plains appear to have a lot more in common with the moors and highlands of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region> than with the rest of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s National Parks. The extensive grasslands are bleached brown by the frosts at this altitude and the herds of sambar are reminiscent of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">red deer</st1:place></st1:city> roaming the Scottish Glens. This large sambar(Srilankan Sambar Deer) population, along with the Purple-Faced langurs, wild boar and barking deer support a small number of leopards, although seeing them requires a huge amount of luck. Your best chance is offered by driving around the park late in the evening and listening for the alarm calls of the sambar.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">This is also one of the top destinations for birders who visit the area to look for several of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region>'s endemics; these include the Yellow Eared Bulbul, the Ceylon Hill White Eye, Sri Lankan Bush Warbler, Black-throated <st1:city w:st="on">Munia</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region> Wood Pigeon, Dull-blue <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Flycatcher</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ceylon</st1:country-region></st1:place> Whistling Thrush and the Ceylon Blue Magpie. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMau2ao_aRI/AAAAAAAAACI/kQKx9Mbe_GY/s1600/467-3-200-134-scenic-beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMau2ao_aRI/AAAAAAAAACI/kQKx9Mbe_GY/s320/467-3-200-134-scenic-beauty.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The diversity of vegetation is also impressive from grasses to ferns, shrubs and large flowering trees. The montane forest is very distinctive with all the trees reaching a similar height to protect themselves against excessive precipitation, the western slopes support the most extensive area of cloud forest in the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">At Horton Plains the central mountain massif is shaved into a tabletop of rolling <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">patna</st1:city></st1:place> punctuated by rhododendron and bracketed by sporadic swathes of evergreen forest. Temperatures at night drop to 0C. Yet while the air and the water in the streams are bracing, the .sun is fiery. On a magnificent day the dawn is misty; noon is the time of blue skies and limitless vision; sunset is orange and burgundy; and twilight, a quiet, purple hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Every seventh to twelfth year the jungle paths become a mosaic of pink and purple and blue when the nilloo bursts into bloom in periodic splendour before it seeds and dies. Flowing streams and their rocky banks are lined with delicate ferns, while beneath the clear waters lies a fine tracery of flora which is constantly woven into an ever-changing pattern. The forest-clad escarpment of Hortons is source and watershed to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s two mightiest rivers - the Kelani and the Mahaweli - as well as many other streams, rivers and lakes, providing water to the western, southern and northeastern sectors of the island.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">How to get there<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Approached from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombo</st1:place></st1:city>, the journey to Horton Plains is a five- or six-hour trip by road. National Park situated in the Hill Country and falls within the Nuwara Eliya district and is 200 km away from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombo</st1:place></st1:city>. It can be accessed by traveling from Nuwara Eliya through "Ohya". And Nuwaraeliya to Ambewela then Horton Plains.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;">            </span></div></div>

Horton Plains

  Horton Plains National Park Horton Plains National Park "Maha-Eliya" in Sinhala is a national park in the highlands of Sri...

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Jathika Namal Uyana

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">                        </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The secret garden in Dambulla</span><u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUofZVIAM1I/AAAAAAAAAEI/TSoZIfNTuHE/s1600/9.1.08---00-Namal-Uyana-BIG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUofZVIAM1I/AAAAAAAAAEI/TSoZIfNTuHE/s320/9.1.08---00-Namal-Uyana-BIG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Jathika Namal Uyana</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">March 28 marks the 11th anniversary of the Jathika Namal Uyana (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">National</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Naa</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>) in Dambulla, Galkiriyagama. In 1991, a solitary monk made his ashram in this ancient site then encroached by the dense forest. Eleven years after it was re-discovered by Vanavasi Rahula thera, now Namal Uyana is considered the largest Naa tree forest in the country and the home to the largest Rose Quartz Mountain Range in <st1:place w:st="on">South Asia</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Legend has it that King Devanampiyatissa planned to set up a religious park somewhere near Dambulla, but the construction was delayed due to some unexpected reasons and the king was compelled to move the proposed site for his dream park to somewhere near Anuradhapura - in the heart of the capital of his kingdom. Ultimately he set it up, it was called Mahamevna Uyana. What happened to the abandoned site near Dambulla for the next few centuries was a mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">But the abandoned garden came into light in 924 AD, when the then King Dappula IV declared it as a human sanctuary. Thus the first ever human sanctuary in local history was set up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Men who sought refuge from the persecution of the king and his officials had protection of the monks who controlled the monastery. No official could take them into custody without the permission of the monks who hardly consented to hand over their refugees. An inscription by the King Dappula IV declaring the religious site as a human sanctuary can still be seen at Adiyagala at the entrance to Namal Uyana.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">It is said that the monks in the monastery asked these refugees to plant and look after a few trees of Naa in the sanctuary premises as an act of self retribution. Subsequently this simple act led to the largest Iron wood (Naa) park in <st1:place w:st="on">South Asia</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">With the time passed and the Sinhala kingdom moving further into the countryside for protection from the South Indian invaders, the monastery and the Naa park was abandoned. <br /> Vanavasi No detail of the monastery is available since it was abandoned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">But in March 1991, a solitary monk came to this isolated once religious habitat. He too was an enigma. Very little is known about his life before he came to this ancient religious site away from the human habitation. He had his hut 40 feet above in a tree top to avoid danger from freely roaming wild animals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Now with 11 years passed since then, this once solitary monk now widely known as Vanavasi Rahula Thero recalls his difficult days with nostalgia. He is proud to call himself a the pioneer and the protector of this site of bio diversity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUofkqKNs0I/AAAAAAAAAEM/N9CYjQ3nWmA/s1600/jathika.na.mal.uyana3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUofkqKNs0I/AAAAAAAAAEM/N9CYjQ3nWmA/s320/jathika.na.mal.uyana3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">According to him some Naa trees in the park are older then 1500 years. Two varieties of Naa - Diya Naa and Batu Naa can be seen there and the former is considered to be endemic to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">According to the biologists the importance of the Namal Uyana is that it has 102 species of tropical plants of which 82 are herbal plants within 260 acres garden and the forest bordering it. The greater part of plants are considered endemic to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region></st1:place> and at the danger of extinction. 18 bird species and a number of mammals including elephant, leopard, monkey and deer also dwell in the park and its proximity. Archaeological findings of stone tombs, 'Sandakada Pahana', and inscriptions reveal that the history of this site goes back to 300 AD.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Biodiversity is not the only distinction of the place. The Rose Quartz mountain range which encompasses 500 acres has added geological importance to this isolated garden 160 km from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombo</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">According to Prof. Shiran Daraniyagala, the Rose Quartz Mountain Range is over 500 million years old and white, rose and violet colour quartz deposits can be seen in the mountain range. It is said that pieces of rose quartz of the mountain range had been used for the graving structures of the Taj Mahal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The geological importance of the Rose Quartz Park was further highlighted last January, when the tree fossils considered to be belonging to pre-historic era were discovered by Sri Lankan archaeologist Bandu Weerawardene.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">According to him fossils are about 10-15 million years old. Though many animal fossils have been found in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region> this is the first ever discovery of tree fossils in the country and according to Weerawardhane no place with such a wide spread of fossils like in rose quartz range in Namal Uyana was ever discovered. Fossils can be seen in 20-30 acres of the mountain range.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Monk Vanavasi Rahula is happy with the fact that his stay in the garden has reduced the intensity of deforestation and hunting in the site. But it does not mean all challenges to the protection of the religious site have been won.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">The monk laments that the exposure of human contact has endangered the fauna and flora of the site. According to him the threat arises not from the organised groups, but from the villagers struck by poverty. Hunting and deforestation are only a humble attempt for survival.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">Vanavasi Rahula Thera advocates increasing awareness of villagers on environment protection and improving their income generation opportunities. Namal Uyana Environment Centre has taken steps to educate local children on environment protection and train youth in environment protection.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="color: orange; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: large;">So when the Namal Uyana celebrates its 11th anniversary sustainable socio-economic development with the co existence of the environment should be the theme for the celebration.</span></div>

Jathika Namal Uyana

                         The secret garden in Dambulla Jathika Namal Uyana March 28 marks the 11th anniversary of the Jathika Namal Uyan...

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Kingdom of Kotte

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">                                             </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kingdom</span></st1:placetype><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Kotte</st1:placename></span></st1:place><u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUoa5KG40AI/AAAAAAAAAD8/kmDNbNEJ-H4/s1600/history.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUoa5KG40AI/AAAAAAAAAD8/kmDNbNEJ-H4/s1600/history.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Past the junction of Rajagiriya, now the gate-way to the administrative hub of our island, namely the Sri Jayawardene Parliament Complex, one enters a strange terrain. Externally no evidence of any extraordinary or spectacular aspect is visible since the suburban aspects of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombo</st1:place></st1:city> s fringe territory marked by the thick asphalt and concrete jungle continues here too with a regular monotony. But what makes the terrain special is that underneath all these modern concrete structures and the network of roads on which a seething populace walk and ribbons of vehicles ply back and forth in mad frenzy, sleeps a mighty city.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was the capital of our island from 1415-1565 AD predominated by the long reign of Parakrama Bahu VI, the last Sinhala king who ruled a unified Lanka. The attacks on the kingdom both by external aggressors as the Portuguese and internal dissidents were so ferocious that only meagre visible remnants testify to the existence of a once magnificent city. Just past the junction of Rajagiriya or Welikada (the more authentic name) along the Battaramulla road, one comes to the bridge under which flows a rivulet of the famous Diyawanna Oya (river) that snaked around the city. It was in the proximity of this bridge that the resplendent gateway to the old city had stood. It had been a stone-hewn gigantic entrance and no trace of it now remains. The city had been circumscribed by a mighty rampart and moat built by Nissanka Alagakkonara, a minister. Very few traces of this moat and rampart are now visible here and there as seen in the boundaries of the Perakumba Pirivena. According to existing ruins it is concluded that the rampart had been 8 feet high and 30 feet wide. The Dalada Perahara is said to have paraded along the rampart replete with elephants and flambeau-carrying dancers not to mention the king himself riding behind the richly caparisoned elephant carrying the sacred relic casket followed by thousands of devotees.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUobCRlELiI/AAAAAAAAAEA/5xyuh3RHna8/s1600/keppiti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUobCRlELiI/AAAAAAAAAEA/5xyuh3RHna8/s320/keppiti.jpg" width="196" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is a road in modern Kotte city named <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Rampart Road</st1:address></st1:street> , the only tribute to this mighty rampart built to ward off attacks. Along parts of the moat, encroachers have put up shacks and coconut trees flourish here and there. That is the sad fate of a very historical structure put up as late as the 15th century. Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is the least preserved of our ancient capitals. Even our first capital of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anuradhapura</st1:place></st1:city> going back to pre-Christian times exhibits a better state of preservation and the explanation given usually for this state of affairs is that Kotte s proximity to the capital spelt its final doom. As the population began to burst within <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombo</st1:place></st1:city> s seams, the deep moat began to provide a refuge to the homeless and also a dumping ground of garbage while the more resourceful citizens very unpatriotically built their concrete dwellings over the remnants of the ancient buildings. The lethargy of those in power added to the tragic situation. Anyway this modern house building came as an aftermath of the pillage of the city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kotte</st1:place></st1:city> by the Portuguese and by King Rajasinghe 1 of Sitawaka. Rajasinghe attacked the city to drive away the Portuguese while the Portuguese themselves destroyed it before moving onto the fort of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombo</st1:place></st1:city> with King Dharmapala. All in all the resplendent capital of Kotte plummeted into the most chaotic melee.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUobcyUGUWI/AAAAAAAAAEE/bmKBxYFssjw/s1600/MW3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUobcyUGUWI/AAAAAAAAAEE/bmKBxYFssjw/s1600/MW3.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Royal Palace eulogized in the Sandeshas (message poetry of Kotte) as the most magnificent edifice, a five-storied building constructed out of luminous blue stone, in whose exotic courts kings of old received embassies, had been transformed into a heap of rubble and the Dutch are said to have carried away the bricks and other materials to build their churches in Colombo. Later the rubble and the bricks had been carried away during the British government to build the brakewater at Galle Face. Contractors assigned with the removal of these had carried away the more worthy artifacts as the moonstones to decorate their own homes. That is how a moonstone (sandakada pahana) of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Royal</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Palace</st1:placetype></st1:place> adorns a house at Veyangoda now. The cruel fate that befell the <st1:placename w:st="on">Royal</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Palace</st1:placetype>, befell the Dalada Maligawa (<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Temple</st1:place></st1:city> of the Tooth Relic) said to be a three-storied edifice crowned by a chaitya with a golden pinnacle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today a <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Maligawa Road</st1:address></st1:street> (<st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Palace Road</st1:address></st1:street>) runs along in Kotte by an area surmised to be where the Palace was. The Royal Pond of the Palace had been intact till about the 30s according to some sources but somebody now has built a house above it too. The Portuguese had destroyed the Dalada Maligawa and built a church in the precincts and the church too has now disappeared leaving behind only the karakoppuwa or the cemetery. The Alakeswara Road leads to the ruins of the Palace where Minister Alagakkonara who built the Kotte fortress lived and within its proximity are two large Tombs (according to some, chaityas) known as the Baddegana Tombs. They had been buried inside a mini-mountain for years and years, foliage having grown above it till it is reported in a folk legend that one moonlit night a devotee in sil clothes walking by it had heard the sound of hewisi (drums) emanating from it. Later excavations had revealed the twin tombs or chaityas. And here is an unbelievable and almost repugnant piece. A part of the Chitra Kuta Mandapaya where the Kotte kings had their consecration ceremonies now lies miserably in ignoble negligence and a gaping hole in it is said to be used as a lavatory pit! When the writer last visited it, parts of vehicles from a nearby garage were dumped on it and beggars and stray dogs were surveying these and other heaps of rubbish on it for possible marketable and edible stuff!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Place names in Kotte reveal many edifices as the name Angampitiya. This had been the sports venue of the capital, where many games of skill (angam) were played. Today it is just a humdrum site of human dwellers. In the site where Vibhishana Devale stood, where many a bird messenger paid homage in their aerial flights had been put up a house, however, now it stands as the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Archaeological</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>. The museum just now seems to be more in a dormant stage than in an active stage. The Ranga Hala (dancing hall) and Saraswathi Mandapaya, where the learned and the high-born gathered for discourses had been sited beyond this, but there are no visible extents of any of these.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More words need not be wasted on the misfortune that befell the mighty city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kotte</st1:place></st1:city>. Most of it lies buried under modern concrete, a part of it has been taken away to put up other buildings while human ablutions are performed on the very consecration stone of the kings, now become a resting place of the area s stray dogs. One can take solace only in Buddha s teachings of impermanence of all things to reconcile one s mind with this state of things. But there is nothing to prevent one becoming nostalgic over the old city described by one of Kotte s greatest poets, Sri Rahula Himi in Selalihini Sandesha in the following strain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div></div>

Kingdom of Kotte

                                             Kingdom of Kotte Past the junction of Rajagiriya, now the gate-way to the administrative hub...

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Adam's peak

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Adam’s Peak</span></st1:place></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUohTT63bqI/AAAAAAAAAEY/1n-Fy1XW2J4/s1600/images+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUohTT63bqI/AAAAAAAAAEY/1n-Fy1XW2J4/s320/images+%25284%2529.jpg" width="162" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMasEtxKmbI/AAAAAAAAACA/ZR9M4lV2zNQ/s1600/buddhist-monk-venerating-500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TMasEtxKmbI/AAAAAAAAACA/ZR9M4lV2zNQ/s320/buddhist-monk-venerating-500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jutting sharply skyward from the lush jungles of southwestern <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region> is the 7362 foot (2243 meter) <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">peak</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Sri Pada</st1:placename></st1:place>, the 'Holy Footprint'. Also called <st1:place w:st="on">Adam's Peak</st1:place>, the mountain has the unique distinction of being sacred to the followers of four of the world's major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Long before the development of these religions, however, the mountain was worshipped by the aboriginal inhabitants of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the Veddas. Their name for the peak was Samanala Kanda; Saman being one of the four guardian deities of the island. For Hindus,</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUohQADaycI/AAAAAAAAAEU/mkR40U0gjqI/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUohQADaycI/AAAAAAAAAEU/mkR40U0gjqI/s320/images+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span><br /> <span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> the name of the mountain is Sivan Adi Padham, because it was the world-creative dance of the god Shiva that left the giant footprint (5 feet 7 inches by 2 feet 6 inches). According to Buddhist traditions from as early as 300 BC, the real print is actually beneath this larger marking. Imprinted on a huge sapphire, it was left by the Buddha during the third and final of his legendary visits to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region>. When Portuguese Christians came to the island in the 16th century they claimed the impression to be the footprint of <st1:city w:st="on">St. Thomas</st1:city> who, according to legend, first brought Christianity to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region>. And finally, the Arabs record it as being the solitary footprint of Adam where he stood for a thousand years of penance on one foot. An Arab tradition tells that when Adam was expelled from heaven, God put him on the peak to make the shock less terrible - <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ceylon</st1:place></st1:country-region> being that place on earth closest to and most like heaven.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUohMxDfL3I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/GfYI1IOMsgo/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0y-sBIVzeg/TUohMxDfL3I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/GfYI1IOMsgo/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The mountain is more easily seen from the sea than from land, and also more impressive. Early Arab seafarers fascinated with the pyramidal peak wrote of it as "the highest mountain in the world" (it is not even the highest in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region>), and "visible from three days sail". The ancient Sinhalese also believed it to be of great height and a native legend tells "from Seyllan to Paradise is forty miles, and the sound of the fountains of <st1:place w:st="on">Paradise</st1:place> is heard here". Visited by many early world travelers, among them the Arab Ibn Batuta (1304-1368) and the Venetian Marco Polo (1254-1324), <st1:place w:st="on">Adam's Peak</st1:place> attained a legendary status as a mystic pilgrimage destination. Today the pilgrimage season commences in December and continues until the beginning of the monsoon rains in April (from May to October the mountain is obscurred by clouds). Certain parts of the path leading up the mountain are extremely steep and the climbing chains secured in these sections are said to have been placed by Alexander the Great (365-323 BC), though there is no evidence that he made it this far south on his <st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place> travels. Atop the peak is an oblong platform (74 x 24 feet) where stands a small Buddhist temple and the shrine of Saman with the strange footprint. Votive offerings are made here, especially of a coil of silver as long as the donor is tall, for recovery from sickness; and rain-water taken from the footprint is known to have a wonderful healing power. <st1:place w:st="on">Adam's Peak</st1:place> is also called Samanalakande or the 'butterfly mountain' because of the myriads of small butterflies that fly from all over the island to die upon the sacred mountain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> </div></div>

Adam's peak

Adam’s Peak Jutting sharply skyward from the lush jungles of southwestern Sri Lanka is the 7362 foot (2243 meter) peak of Sri Pada , the ...

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