Photo of The Day
Short stories about traveling to interesting places
Day 2 – DAMBULLA – AUKANA- MIHINTALE – ANURADHAPURA
Amaya Lake hotel is much nicer at daylight. The big open view from the restaurant over the lake is astonish and serene. A stay at Amaya Lake lets you discover Sri Lanka's unique heritage once it is ideal jump-off point to witness the ancient wonders of the historic Cultural Triangle, this four-star resort is located along the shores of Kandalama Lake, surrounded by lush nature, and filled with inviting treats that we had no time to try. We leave the hotel after early breakfast to visit in first place Dambulla. Dambula is a part of the Cultural Triangle declared by UNESCO is on the main road from Sigiriya to Kandy about 19Km from Sigiriya. There are over 80 caves in the surrounding and some of them have been used by the monks as meditation locations. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain the statues and the paintings. As a sign of respect we took our shoes at the entrance, something that we will repeat so many times over the next days. Since it's founding in the 1 century BC by King Valagamba, many improvements and additions have been carried out to the sculptures and paintings over the years. Hindu statues are believed to be of the 12 century AD and the latest paintings are of the late 18-century. The temple is a perfect location to view evolution of the ancient Sri Lankan arts. Worthy of a detour is the Aukana Buddha 50km (30miles) south of Mihintale. This isolated colossus is the most perfectly preserved ancient statue in Sri lanka, though it is often wrongly dated. For many years it was attributed to the reign of the 5th century King Dhatusena, but the style of carving points to a later date. Whatever the date, it is a magnificent image, carved out of the living rock with supreme assurance. Although it stands erect, firmly planted on both feet, the body is graceful. This effect is helped by the beautifully flowing drapery which appears almost diaphanous. The Buddha's heavy right hand is raised in the posture of blessing; his other hand delicately touches his shoulder, as if holding his pleated robes in place. His expression is serene, and from his curled hair there sprouts the flame signifying super-enlightenment. It is only when you lower your gaze to the massive feet resting on the vastness of this statue. It rises to 13 meters (42ft) canopied by a reconstruction of the brick image house said to have contained it when it was first built. We proceed to Mihintale [3rd Century BC], situated 12 kilometers east of the ruins of the great city of Anuradhapura. The hilltop site is worth the climb, even in 95 degrees. The triple hills you struggle up give you superb views, one hilltop has a modern Buddha which is beautifully carved, another has an impressive dagoba and temple and the other is a climb up stone cut grooves to a meditation rock outcrop. We finish the day visiting Anuradhapura; the 1st ancient capital of Sri Lanka [6th Century AD]. The sacred city of Anuradhapura, now in picturesque ruins, was once a major center of Sri Lankan civilization. The fascinating ancient ruins include huge bell-shaped stupas built of small sun-dried bricks, temples, sculptures, palaces, and ancient drinking-water reservoirs. The city also had some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world. Most of the great reservoir tanks still survive today, and some many be the oldest surviving reservoirs in the world. Today, the splendid sacred city of Anuradhapura, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, draws many Buddhist pilgrims and visitors. The Sri Maha bodhiya is perhaps the oldest living tree in the world. Around 245 BC, Sanghamitta Theri brought with her a branch of the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha attained enlightment. The tree was planted on a high terrace about 21 feet (6.5 m) above the ground and surrounded by railings. Today, the tree is one of the most sacred relics in Sri Lanka, respected by Buddhists all over the world. A wall was built around the tree during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha, to protect it from wild elephants. We went just in full moon day that allows us to see all the movement in the temple with peregrines and devotes practicing their prayers, where the white dress compulsory to go to the temple match in perfectly harmony with the colorful Buddhist flags.
Amaya Lake hotel is much nicer at daylight. The big open view from the restaurant over the lake is astonish and serene. A stay at Amaya Lake lets you discover Sri Lanka's unique heritage once it is ideal jump-off point to witness the ancient wonders of the historic Cultural Triangle, this four-star resort is located along the shores of Kandalama Lake, surrounded by lush nature, and filled with inviting treats that we had no time to try. We leave the hotel after early breakfast to visit in first place Dambulla. Dambula is a part of the Cultural Triangle declared by UNESCO is on the main road from Sigiriya to Kandy about 19Km from Sigiriya. There are over 80 caves in the surrounding and some of them have been used by the monks as meditation locations. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain the statues and the paintings. As a sign of respect we took our shoes at the entrance, something that we will repeat so many times over the next days. Since it's founding in the 1 century BC by King Valagamba, many improvements and additions have been carried out to the sculptures and paintings over the years. Hindu statues are believed to be of the 12 century AD and the latest paintings are of the late 18-century. The temple is a perfect location to view evolution of the ancient Sri Lankan arts. Worthy of a detour is the Aukana Buddha 50km (30miles) south of Mihintale. This isolated colossus is the most perfectly preserved ancient statue in Sri lanka, though it is often wrongly dated. For many years it was attributed to the reign of the 5th century King Dhatusena, but the style of carving points to a later date. Whatever the date, it is a magnificent image, carved out of the living rock with supreme assurance. Although it stands erect, firmly planted on both feet, the body is graceful. This effect is helped by the beautifully flowing drapery which appears almost diaphanous. The Buddha's heavy right hand is raised in the posture of blessing; his other hand delicately touches his shoulder, as if holding his pleated robes in place. His expression is serene, and from his curled hair there sprouts the flame signifying super-enlightenment. It is only when you lower your gaze to the massive feet resting on the vastness of this statue. It rises to 13 meters (42ft) canopied by a reconstruction of the brick image house said to have contained it when it was first built. We proceed to Mihintale [3rd Century BC], situated 12 kilometers east of the ruins of the great city of Anuradhapura. The hilltop site is worth the climb, even in 95 degrees. The triple hills you struggle up give you superb views, one hilltop has a modern Buddha which is beautifully carved, another has an impressive dagoba and temple and the other is a climb up stone cut grooves to a meditation rock outcrop. We finish the day visiting Anuradhapura; the 1st ancient capital of Sri Lanka [6th Century AD]. The sacred city of Anuradhapura, now in picturesque ruins, was once a major center of Sri Lankan civilization. The fascinating ancient ruins include huge bell-shaped stupas built of small sun-dried bricks, temples, sculptures, palaces, and ancient drinking-water reservoirs. The city also had some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world. Most of the great reservoir tanks still survive today, and some many be the oldest surviving reservoirs in the world. Today, the splendid sacred city of Anuradhapura, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, draws many Buddhist pilgrims and visitors. The Sri Maha bodhiya is perhaps the oldest living tree in the world. Around 245 BC, Sanghamitta Theri brought with her a branch of the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha attained enlightment. The tree was planted on a high terrace about 21 feet (6.5 m) above the ground and surrounded by railings. Today, the tree is one of the most sacred relics in Sri Lanka, respected by Buddhists all over the world. A wall was built around the tree during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha, to protect it from wild elephants. We went just in full moon day that allows us to see all the movement in the temple with peregrines and devotes practicing their prayers, where the white dress compulsory to go to the temple match in perfectly harmony with the colorful Buddhist flags. 
1 comentário:
Fantástico, mais uma vez! PJV
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