Sri Lanka is a country that has also been the home for one of the greatest ancient civilizations

in the world. Historians may differ in opinion about the continuity of that civilization and its relation to the men and women inhabiting these lands today, but what is certain is that the glorious Stupas, gigantic hydraulic system not seen anywhere else in the world, and the vast range of scattered ruins tell us a story about one of the most developed parts of the world over two thousand years ago.

Anuradhapura According to the legend, the origin of the great Sinhala civilization begins in 377 B.C. when a young prince, named Pandukabhaya, unites the country establishing the line of kings that runs up until the European colonialism expanded in the island during the late 17th century. Today, though, it is the capital city of the North-Central province of Sri Lanka. Perhaps, the single most important attraction in the city is the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a Sacred Fig tree that the Buddhists believe it to be the southern branch from the historical Bodhi tree Sri Maha Bodhi at Bodh Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. Today it is one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world. Anuradhapura is also the home to the majestic Stupas, a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the ashes of deceased, used by Buddhists as a place of meditation. These are without a doubt one of the largest buildings of the ancient world that can rival Egyptian pyramids or great Roman buildings, in their size as well as in their imposing splendor. They are also a witness to the rich cultural life of this civilization, and the fact that Sri Lanka has been a center of the early expansions of Buddhism. Anuradhapura also marks the amazing irrigation and hydraulic system that stored water in gigantic tanks that are known by the Sinhala term Wewa. Some of the largest Wewas were built by kings of this Anuradhapura era and they continue to inspire and astonish hundreds of thousands who visit them every year. Polonnaruwa After the fall of the Anuradhapura kingdom, the ancient Rajarata civilization has moved to Polonnaruwa now a major city in the North Central province of Sri Lanka. It is widely believed that era in which the Polonnaruwa kingdom ruled over the country, from the 8th century to the 14th century, is the most developed age of this country, economically, culturally and militarily. It is the home to the largest Wewa in Sri Lanka, Parakrama Samudraya, built during the reign of King Parakramabhahu the most venerated of the ancient Sri Lankan rulers. Potugal Vihala Monastery, one of the key centres in the establishment of Theravada Buddhism in the ancient world, is also located in Polonnaruwa. Some of the most innovative architectural work of the ancient world including Vatadage, a circular building about 18m in diameter with a beautiful structure,

probably the oldest monument in Polonnaruwa which houses four seated Buddha images, can be found in this historic site.

Kandy Kandy, the main city in the Central Province of the country, is the site of the last Kingdom in Sri Lanka before the British took control of the entire island in 1815. Located in the beautiful hill country, surrounded by misty mountains, it contains the Temple of the Tooth Relic, one of the key monuments for Buddhists the world over. Buddhists believe that the tooth relic of Lord Buddha is guarded in the shrines of the temple. As the last major city under the rule of a Sri Lankan king, it contains the last royal palace of that king although only a part of the original palace complex remains. The Temple of the Tooth was part of this complex, due to the ancient tradition that stated that the monarch is the protector of the relic though which the ruler of the land. It today houses the National Museum Kandy which holds an extensive collection of artifacts from both the Kandy Kingdom and the British colonial rule.