Joanna James
Sri Lanka is teeming with diversity, and many attractions in Sri Lankans are left undiscovered. Here are some places to visit if you are adventurous to venture off the beaten track.
There are several islands in between Northern Sri Lanka and India's Tamil Nadu that belong to Sri Lanka. Delft is the most popular of these known as Neduntheevu in Tamil. The wild horse population is the star attraction on the island, they happen to be the ancestors of the horses left behind by the Dutch. There is a thousand-year-old Chola Period temple as well as the ruins of an old Dutch Fort to explore.
Richmond Castle in Kalutara is an Edwardian style mansion built by Mudaliyar Don Arthur Siriwardena in 1900- 1910. You can easily hire a car for a nice day trip while in Colombo, from a place such as Malkey rent a car. The mansion is located on a hill close to the Kalu Ganga (river) on 42 acres of land. The building now comes under the purview of the Public Trustee and visitors are allowed to visit.
This temple is located in Wellawaya in the Moneragala District. It is unique as it depicts Mahayana Buddhist imagery. The statues at the temple date back to the 10th century CE. The massive Buddha statue is the main attraction and fading's of the original painted statue is visible. There are depictions of the Mahayana Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and his female counterpart Tara depicted in the rock drawings.
Ritigala is a rock mountain and an ancient meditation monastery and nature reserve. It is hidden away in a dense jungle 43 km away from Anuradhapura. Many legends abound this place, all the back to the Ramayana period. Explore the beauty of the lush tropical forest and the remnants of an ancient monastery with over 70 caves are to be found here.
Situated in the Kandy District the temple is built on an uneven surface and elevates to almost 80 feet in height. The temple is a great example of the beauty of Kandyan style architecture, with graceful arches and thick columned pavilions adorning the structure.
The temple is located 11 km away from Pottuvil in Arugambay. The site is situated in the northern periphery of the Lahugala National Park. The temple commemorates the marriage of King Kavantissa and Princess Viharamahadevi. The surroundings of the temple are well maintained and extends over 10 000 acres. You can find ruins such as those of a palace, ponds, moonstones, and stupas. The temple and surroundings are all a part of the Lahugala National Park, where many wild animals such as elephants, deer, bears and leopards make their home.
The ruins of the royal palace are from the kingdom of Polonnaruwa belonging to those of King Parakramabhahu 1153 CE to 1186. This massive construction is over 31 meters and used to house seven stories, and 50 rooms, all of which supported by 30 large columns. At present only a few of the walls are left remaining, and the holes that used to support the floor beams are still visible.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
