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Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Kabiliththa Devalaya,Sri Lanka
Friday, September 23, 2011
Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic), Kandy, Sri Lanka
Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sinhala: ශ්රී දළදා මාළිගාව http://www.sridaladamaligawa.com/) or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple.
Monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evening. On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with an herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers, called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present.
History
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| Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha |
During the reign of King Dharmapala, the relic kept hidden in Delgamuwa Vihara, Ratnapura in a grinding stone.It was brought to Kandy by Hiripitiye Diyawadana Rala and Devanagala Rathnalankara Thera. King Vimaladharmasuriya I built a two storey building to deposit the tooth relic and the building is now gone.In 1603 when the Portuguese invaded Kandy, it was carried to Meda Mahanuwara in Dumbara. It was recovered in the time of Râjasimha II and it has been reported that he reinstate the original building or has built a new temple.The present day temple of the tooth was built by Vira Narendra Sinha.The octagonal Patthirippuwa and moat was added during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. Famous Kandyan architect Devandra Mulacharin is credited with building the Patthirippuwa. Originally it was used by the kings for recreational activities and later it was offered to the tooth relic. Now it is an oriental library. Although it was heavily damaged in the 1998 terrorist attack it has restored to its previous state.
Esala Perahera (the festival of the tooth)
Esala Perahera (the festival of the tooth) is the grand festival of Esala held in Sri Lanka. It is very grand with elegant costumes. Happening in July or August in Kandy, it has become a unique symbol of Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist festival consisting of dances and nicely decorated elephants. There are fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandian dances and various other cultural dances. The elephants are usually adorned with lavish garments. The festival ends with the traditional 'diya-kepeema'.
Temple of the Tooth building complex
1) Temple of the Tooth building complex
2) Mahawahalkada (The main entrance)
3) Moat
4) Pattirippuwa (Octagon)
5) Handun kunama
6) Golden canopy
7) New Palace
8) Royal Palace of Kandy
9) National Museum of Kandy
10) Old courts building
11) Kandy Lake
12) Biso ulpen ge (Queens bath)
13) Diyathilaka mandapaya
14) Udawatta Kele Sanctuary
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Hikkaduwa Beach Hotels
| Hikkaduwa |
Cruising further south, your next port of call is Hikkaduwa. Sri Lanka’s beach party capital is only 60 miles south of Colombo. Hikkaduwa is famous for its crystalline waters and golden sand beaches, magnificent coral reefs with an abundance of tropical fish and for doing all the water sports you can imagine. Here is actually on of the most popular beach venues of Sri Lanka, and the opportunities for water sports are probably unrivalled in the island. There’s great surf in the area for board or body-surfing. The Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary is a shallow protected reef carpeted with brilliant hues of coral and inhabited by a myriad of colourful tropical fish. The reef, which runs parallel to the shore, can be investigated by snorkeling or in a glass-bottomed boat. While snorkeling, remember to keep an eye out for the manta rays, sea turtles and an abundance of multi-colored fish. If you’re the kind of person who would like to stay dry while exploring the corals, then our glass-bottomed boats will be ideal. Passing over the top of beautiful coral reefs you are sure to love the intoxicating beauty of Sri Lanka’s underwater world.
Hikkaduwa’s gorgeous beaches combined with the many water sport activities, great restaurants and pubs, and the happening nightlife make this vibrant town the ideal place to suite every budget for almost everybody; be it the youthful surfer, families looking for fun and excitement on their holiday, or the older more mature traveler seeking a more relaxed holiday.A few places we would recommend are; |
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Trincomalee Beach Hotels
| Trincomalee |
Trincomalee is the largest city in the Eastern Province and is famous for many things… the trademark Nilaveli beach, its magnificent deep natural harbor and the numerous historical sites of religious significance to the Hindu and Buddhist people.
The famous white sand beaches of Uppaveli and especially Nilaveli immediately calls to mind island clichés…tall swaying palm trees fading away into sparkling blue waters, glorious white sandy beaches and lazing in the sun in a tropical island… Probably the best time to soak up the sun is from April to October, as this is when the ocean is at its calmest. The beach is also ideal for bathing, as knee deep waters seem to go on for many meters into the sea. and Snorkeling around the famed Pigeon Island, just off the Nilaveli Beach is also a must. The Tirukoneswaram Temple is a popular Hindu place of worship and is definitely worth a visit. There are quite a few Buddhist temples in the area as well, some dating back to even the 2nd century BC. The other attractions in and around Trincomalee include the Trincomalee harbour which is the among the largest natural harbors in the world, whale watching in the deep sea, the seven hot springs of Kanniya found on the way to Trincomalee and the Dutch Fort. A few places we would recommend are; |
Nilaveli Beach Hotel
| Facilities |
 Total no. of rooms – 80 |
| Type of accommodation - standard air-conditioned, non-air conditioned sea view rooms with ceiling fans, deluxe rooms & luxury suites |
| Air-conditioned |
| Swimming pool |
| TV lounge |
| Gift boutique |
| Outdoor activities |
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Tangalle Beach Hotels
| Tangalle |
 This seaside town in Sri Lanka’s Deep South is 127 miles from Colombo. Celebrated for its pristine and secluded bays, the beautiful sandy beaches and some of the most idyllic coves in the whole south coast, Tangalle is a must-explore beach destination for any traveler to Sri Lanka. It’s no wonder then that it has been rated as owning some of the best beaches in the island. Tangalle is also well known for being one of the best bathing places in Sri Lanka. Snorkeling and diving off the coast are also very popular.Tangalle is a great place from which to visit the surrounding attractions. The Rekawa Turtle Sanctuary is only 7km east of Tangalle and provides visitors a brilliant opportunity to watch the marine turtles nest. Sri Lanka is home to 5 of the 7 marine turtles of the world, all of which are endangered species. Mulgirigala is a famous rock temple close to Tangalle that’s definitely worth a visit. This ancient Buddhist monastery dating back to the 2nd century B.C holds many Buddha statues, and depicts glorious paintings that are unique to Mulgirigala. Rumored to have special powers in making wishes come true, Mulgirigala draws devotees in droves. A few places we would recommend are; |
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