Ancient constructions of Sri Lanka
The ancient
Irrigation works
Major
The Sri Lankan chronicle, the
The final achievements were highlighted by Sir Henry Ward, Governor of Ceylon:[2]
It is possible, that in no other part of the world are there to be found within the same space, the remains of so many works of irrigation, which are, at the same time, of such great antiquity, and of such vast magnitude as Ceylon. Probably no other country can exhibit works so numerous, and at the same time so ancient and extensive, within the same limited area, as this Island.
Reservoirs
A wealth of river basin-based water heritage is abundant in Sri Lanka.[3] Reservoirs of Sri Lanka are different from the water tanks seen in ancient civilisations or bodies of water collected for purposes such as generation of electricity or supplying water for consumption.
Tanks are locally termed Weva (plural: Wew).
- Viji Wewa
- Ridiyagama
- Badagiriya
- Muruthawela
- Hurulu weva
- Abhayavapi tank
- Mamaduwa Wewa
- Angamuwa Wewa
- Bandagiriya Wewa
- Basawakkulama Wewa (Abaya Wewa)
- Bathalagoda Wewa
- Debara Wewa
- Erupothana Wewa
- Giritale Wewa
- Iratperiyakulama Wewa
- Kala Wewa
- Kande Ela Reservoir
- Kandy Lake (Nuwara Weva)
- Kantale Wewa
- Kaudulla Wewa
- Kondawattuwana Wewa
- Lunugamwehera
- Mahagala Wewa
- Mahakanadarawa Wewa
- Mahavilachchiya Wewa
- Minneriya Tank
- Mutukelina Wewa
- Nachchaduwa wewa
- Nuwara Wewa (Anuradhapura}
- Padaviya Wewa
- Panda Wewa
- Parakrama Samudraya or Sea of Parakrama
- Pavakkulama Wewa
- Sorabora Wewa
- Tabbowa Wewa
- Thuruwila Wewa
- Tissa Wewa (Anuradhapura)
- Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama)
- Urusita Wewa
- Siyambalangamuwa Wewa
- Vavunikulama Wewa
- Weerawila Wewa
- Wilpita Wewa / Lenabatuwa Wewa
- Yoda Wewa (Mannar)
- Yoda Wewa (Tissamaharama)
- Kuda Vilachchiya Wewa
Stupas of ancient Sri Lanka
The dagobas, or
- Ruwanwelisaya
- Thuparamaya
- Ridi Vihara
- Lovamahapaya
- Abhayagiri Dagaba
- Jetavanarama
- Mirisaveti Stupa
- Lankarama
- Isurumuniya
- Rathna Prasadaya
- Dakkhina Stupa
- Sela Cetiya
- Naka Vihara
- Kiribath Vehera
- Pubbarama
- Tapovana
Hindu Temples of ancient Sri Lanka
The
.These complexes were highly praised by scholars and historians since the antiquity. The most impressive of these five magnificent and decorated temple complexes was the Tenavaram temple. Built on vaulted arches on the promontory overlooking the Indian Ocean. The central gopuram tower of the vimana and the other gopura towers that dominated the town were covered with plates of gilded brass, gold and copper on their roofs. Its outer body featured intricately carved domes, with elaborate arches and gates opening to various verandas and shrines of the complex, giving Tenavaram the appearance of a golden city to sailors who visited the port to trade and relied on its light reflecting gopura roofs for navigational purposes.
The Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta visited the temple in the 14th century and described the deity Dinawar as sharing the same name as the flourishing trade town in which He resided, made of gold and the size of a man with two large rubies as eyes "that lit up like lanterns during the night."[4][5] One thousand Hindus and Yogis were attached to this vast temple for services, with five hundred girls that danced and sang in front of the Mahavishnu idol.[6]
- Naguleswaram
- Ketheeswaram
- Koneswaram
- Munneswaram
- Tondeswaram
Cave Temples of ancient Sri Lanka
Cave temples had been used in
- Vessagiri
- Dambulla Rock Temple
- Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara
- Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple
- Dimbulagala Raja Maha Vihara
- Bogoda and Dowa cave temples
- Kinihiri Kanda Temple
Palaces of ancient Sri Lanka
- Queen's Palace
- Sigiriya built in the 5th century CE was a combination of natural and man made fortress built around a 200-metre-tall (660 ft) rock on which was the royal Sky Palace. It is world-renowned for the beautiful Sigiriya frescoes.
Landscaping in ancient Sri Lanka
- Magul Uyana
- Mahameghavana Garden
- Ranmasu Uyana
Royal Baths of ancient Sri Lanka
Sculpture in ancient Sri Lanka
- Samadhi Statue
- Toluwila Statue
- Avukana Buddha Statue
- Buduruwagala Statue
- Rasvehera Statue
- Maligawila Buddha statue
References
- ^ Sri Lanka Ancient Irrigation
- ^ Collected Minutes of Brohier (1934)
- ^ A chronicle of Polonnaruwa: Changing the dimensions of writing history Archived October 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Samuel Jeyanayagam Gunasegaram. (1985). Selected Writings.
- ^ Battuta Ibn. Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325–1354. p. 260. Also spelt "Dinaur" (anglicized spelling) in other sources.
- ^ Battuta Ibn. Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325–1354. p. 260.