Corridors - Dambulla, Sri Lanka

 

I came across this little stupa at the end of a corridor near the entrance to one of the caves. I thought the row of windows made the composition a bit more interesting. Thoughts?

Statues - Dambulla, Sri Lanka

Dambulla on a quiet day is great experience. These statues were in the second cave (from memory) and I was fortunate to be able to take my time photographing them as there weren't too many other people around. A tripod is essential and flash photography is not allowed. The main statues are lit but the paintings on the walls are in relative darkness.

Agrasen Ki Baoli - New Delhi, India

Agrasen Ki Baoli is a little known step well in New Delhi. I was surprised that not too many people had heard of it and I had to use google maps to find the place. Although there are no historical records, the step well is said to have been built by King Agrasen. The present architecture suggests that it was re-built in the 14th century. 

Hindagala Raja Maha Viharaya - Hindagala, Kandy

The Hindagala Rajamaha Viharaya, located close to the university of Peradeniya, has been dated back to the 7th Century AD. The temple is known for its paintings that can be seen on the outer facade of the temple. However, the oldest paintings are within the cave itself. 

Ambalama - Godamunne, Sri Lanka

Ambalama's are old buildings that were setup as wayside rests to be used by travels and can be found throughout the country. The ambalama in Godamunne is said to have been built using pillars from the Hanguranketha Palace which was destroyed by the  Dutch in the 17th century. The pillars themselves have ornate carvings on them but they have been damaged over time. 

The Temple of the Tooth - Kandy, Sri Lanka

I thought I'd get to the temple early in the morning and photograph it's exterior before pilgrims and tourists started arriving. I was surprised when I had issues finding parking after a 5.00am start! It was impossible to compose a shot of the building without including people so I had no choice but to come up with a composition that included pilgrims. 

Veherakanda - Kotte, Sri Lanka

The Veherakanda archeological site consists of a rectangular platform with two buildings shaped like stupas. These are said to be the tombs of Parakramabahu IV and his wife. However, there isn't much information on the site and this could be wrong. The base of the platform, the base of the bigger tomb/stupa and the smaller tomb/stupa are built out of laterite. The ruins are about a 20 minute drive form Colombo.

Stone Bridge - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

The remnants of a stone bridge dating back to about the 5th century. The bridge crosses the Malwathu Oya and was part of a well established road network that connected the capital city to other areas of the island. The roads were used by carts to transport goods.

Vatadage - Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

The Vatadage at Polonnaruwa is said to date back to the rule of King Parakramabahu in the 12th Century. It is one of 10 Vatadages that can be found in the country. This photograph was taken on an overcast morning and shows one of 4 entrances to the inner section of the building.

Lankatilaka Temple - Hiyarapitiya, Sri Lanka

The Lankatilaka temple is said to have been constructed by King Bhuvenekabahu IV in 1344. It is relatively close to the Embekke and Gadaladeniya temples. Its probably best to visit the temple early in the morning or late in the afternoon as it is built on a rock which heats up during the day. 

Abhayagiriya Complex - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

A section of the Abhayagiriya monastery which once housed over 5000 monks. The monastery complex has a number of interesting sites including the "buth oruwa", the Elephant's pond, a moonstone and the Samadhi Buddha statue. It is spread out over a large extent of land and quite often, you have the place to yourself. 

Council Chamber - Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

The council chamber of King Nissanka Malla can be found on the banks of the Parakrama Samudra in Polonnaruwa. The kings throne is said to have stood in front of the lion but has now been moved to the museum in Colombo. Each of the 48 columns are inscribed with the names of the ministers who made up the council.

Vatadage - Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

The Vatadage in the city of Polonnaruwa is supposed to be one of the best preserved Vatadage structures in the Country. This photograph was taken from the first platform of the structure and shows the north facing entrance to the second platform on which the stupa was built. As shown in the photograph, a Buddha statue is positioned facing each of the 4 entrances to the second platform.

City views - Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy, a city in the central highlands, was the last Sri Lankan kingdom to fall to the British in February 1815. It is the second largest city in Sri Lanka and the capital of the central province. Attractions in the area include the Temple of the Tooth, the Peradeniya botanical gardens and the Kandy lake and the King's Palace.

Company - Galle Fort, Sri Lanka

The fort at Galle, originally built by the Portuguese and then extensively fortified by the Dutch, has become a must visit location on the Sri Lanka tourist trail. It has had a face lift over the last decade and now plays host to a number of events including the Galle Literary Festival, held every January. It is also home to a number of restaurants, boutique hotels and shops. 

Safdarjung Tomb - New Delhi, India

Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan, popularly known as Safadarjung, was the ruler of Awadh. He was appointed Vazir (Prime Minister) of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Mohammed Shah Ahmed Shah and moved to Delhi in 1748. He was exiled from the capital shortly prior to his death due to his cruel treatment of the Emperror's family. His tomb was built by his son and is the last monumental tomb garden of the Mughals.

Hamilton Canal - Negombo, Sri Lanka

The Hamilton canal, named after Gavin Hamilton, the British agent for revenue in 1802, was initially built by the Sinhalese under King Parakramabahu. It was then extended by the Dutch and the British. It forms part of the canal network that connects the Keleni river to Puttalam in the north via the Negombo and Chilaw lagoons. The canals were built as a flood control measure and to transport goods.

A morning spent at Medirigiriya - Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

The watadage complex at Medirigiriya in Polonnaruwa is an architectural marvel and is one of seven such stupa houses that remain in Sri Lanka. Brahmi characters have been found in engraved in bricks and in stone carvings which indicate a rich history dating back to the pre-christian era. I spent a morning photographing the temple with a deer and a troupe of macaques for company.