At Kandy, we also happened to see a cultural show organised for tourists showcasing the various dance and music forms. The picture here is traditionally that of the soldiers before going for a war. I should say the "Mayillatam" - yes the same we have back in south India was awesome. It is the dance form derived majorly from the fact that Lord Karthikeyan travels on a peacock. "Mayil" in tamil stands for peacock. The ladies displayed amazing flexibility and the gents breathtaking agility. Pictures are not enough to do justice here, human eyes need to see it to feel it.
P.S:
In my earlier snap, I missed out on a trivia. At a buddhist temple or monastery, you never show your back to the Lord. Dont know the reason exactly, probably some kinda respect.
And this post completed my plan of Sri Lankan pictures and am kind of finishing it off fast. Quebec-Montreal trip pictures are coming soon.
I do have a lot of pictures from Sri Lanka, yet I hope I gave a taste of what Sri Lanka has to offer with the choice of my pictures here.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Tooth Temple
The last part of our Sri Lankan trip was to Kandy - its a hill station and is quite a target of LTTE activists. This city houses the Tooth Temple. It is so called because Lord Budha's tooth is being held as a sacred relic.
Find more info here
They used to take it out for procession once a month but the recent bombings(including a part of the temple) has mandated to stop all that. Infact it is pretty ironic that the LTTE (Tamil Liberation tigers) do not see the fact that at Dambulla, the cave temple has not only buddhist artifacts, but also their own god Lord Karthikeyan in total harmony. It is only possible as Buddha was born a Prince in northern India and attained this state after enlightenment. Therefore, the origin of the race do not really differe much.
Find more info here
They used to take it out for procession once a month but the recent bombings(including a part of the temple) has mandated to stop all that. Infact it is pretty ironic that the LTTE (Tamil Liberation tigers) do not see the fact that at Dambulla, the cave temple has not only buddhist artifacts, but also their own god Lord Karthikeyan in total harmony. It is only possible as Buddha was born a Prince in northern India and attained this state after enlightenment. Therefore, the origin of the race do not really differe much.
dagoba_inside
Last in the series of Dambulla - a dagoba inside the cave temple. Absolutely no flash allowed here !!!
Statues
This one again captures the squares in the paintings on the roof and sides and the statues inside the cave !
Ther were a huge number of statues all throughtout the inside of the caves. Havent still found what their significance is all about for that many statues there !!!
Ther were a huge number of statues all throughtout the inside of the caves. Havent still found what their significance is all about for that many statues there !!!
Flowers
Another work of art !
Flower patterns all along the sides of the rocky cave inside !!! Look at the symmetry of the paintings on uneven surfaces and the painfully time consuming effort that wld ahve gone in painting them, unless of course they had easier ways of doing that we dont know yet.
*Me is thinking of hiring the artist to paint my den *!!! *wink*
Flower patterns all along the sides of the rocky cave inside !!! Look at the symmetry of the paintings on uneven surfaces and the painfully time consuming effort that wld ahve gone in painting them, unless of course they had easier ways of doing that we dont know yet.
*Me is thinking of hiring the artist to paint my den *!!! *wink*
The complete painting
Well, when I wrote abt sigiriya paintings, I had asked you to wait for Dambulla pictures. Here they are in their full grandeur. My camera was not enough to take a complete picture. I have few other ones but chose this picture to depict the intricacies of the same.
These paintings as to what we imagine are right on the roof above our head. I wonder how they would ahve painted it. have you ever tried painting a roof at your house. Your neck pains like hell after some time. But click on the picture and look close. You have a wonderful lining of intricate details painted all clearly. And add to the fact that it was painted on roof, it was painted on uneven surface as is visible. Nevertheless, the paintings did not ahve a shear or torn effect but the uneven surfaces were smoothly accounted for - as if someone drew it on a canvas and pasted it up like a well laid wall paper. Do any of you have any thoughts abt how they wld ahve done it? Another proof to my belief in
"The key to our future lies in our past" !!!
These paintings as to what we imagine are right on the roof above our head. I wonder how they would ahve painted it. have you ever tried painting a roof at your house. Your neck pains like hell after some time. But click on the picture and look close. You have a wonderful lining of intricate details painted all clearly. And add to the fact that it was painted on roof, it was painted on uneven surface as is visible. Nevertheless, the paintings did not ahve a shear or torn effect but the uneven surfaces were smoothly accounted for - as if someone drew it on a canvas and pasted it up like a well laid wall paper. Do any of you have any thoughts abt how they wld ahve done it? Another proof to my belief in
"The key to our future lies in our past" !!!
Painted Buddha !!!
Well, at Golden Temple, you got to climb upto to reach the cave temple on the top. The painted Buddha on the right is a picture inside the cave temples.
Again, I must say that there were a lot of guys who clicked with flashes. All they wanted was to take pride in the fact that they were there, take pics with them to be boasted abt to friends and relatives. But it was clearly warned that the pictures would be damaged by flash lights - its all natural pigments used to paint them.
Again, I must say that there were a lot of guys who clicked with flashes. All they wanted was to take pride in the fact that they were there, take pics with them to be boasted abt to friends and relatives. But it was clearly warned that the pictures would be damaged by flash lights - its all natural pigments used to paint them.
Golden Temple
From Poonurwala, we reached Dambulla !!! This place is known for its Golden Temple and cave temple. On the right you see the golden temple at Dambulla. I remember having heard that this statue is visible from the flight when you come to Sri Lanka. But I must admit that the statue was so gaudy and bright in its appearance as is seen on the photo - a grandeur is all I can say !!!
Sleeping Buddha
As promised to MoN, here is the sleeping version of the rock sculpted buddha from the excavations at Ponnurwala !
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
excavations
This is one of the sites that was excavated. Unfortunately, this is a whole stretch of place where the ruins are scatterred arnd kms. And as you guessed it, the tickets were outrageously priced. We skipped a lot initially but had made arrangements to reach the palce without any tickets and paying some money and even ended up in fight bargaining !
Well, that was something that was not ethical to do, but taking a vacation, travel all the way only to see everything is priced in dollars (God, we still earn in rupees whish is 50 times lesser than the Dollar), cldnt prevent it. A mistake consciously made !!!
Parakrima Prabhu
This is Parakrima Prabhu - a ruler well known for his kind hearted rule. He was pioneer in many things at his time including a vast library !!!!
ruins
A part of the ruins. The ruins of historic forts ahve always fascinated me....An era of bygone generations. Wonder how it would have been amidst all that grandeur !!!
Standing Buddha
Ok, I had earlier told my next posts would be about Dambulla....actualyl our detinsation was Dambulla from sigiriya, but on the way was ponnurwala - archeological place. This country has a wide influence of Buddhism ...you can see statues of Buddha all along everywhere - the roads etc...and this one was captured on our way - standing alone on a highway !! Wonder who built it !!!
Reservoir
Now, we finally reached the top after paying 2500Rs/head and burning the fat of our butt and Hola !!! wasnt it splendid? The picture you see here is right on top of the rock, the water reservoir for the palace...
Who do you think were the ones up there next to the reservoir. It was me....but unfortunately, I was being threatened to be drowned in that hue reservoir by two she-devils with a he-devil watching over it !!!
another one of DV's who was way over the top when he took the snap !!!
Who do you think were the ones up there next to the reservoir. It was me....but unfortunately, I was being threatened to be drowned in that hue reservoir by two she-devils with a he-devil watching over it !!!
another one of DV's who was way over the top when he took the snap !!!
Paws
After strenous climbing, this is the rest place. Now, wait, this isnt een half the total height....
And this is where you actually realise what the sigiriya rock resembles - it is also called the Lion Rock and that what you see int he pictures - the gigantic paws. In fact the whole fort was constructed so as to enter the palace via a stoneway that leads right into the mouth and throat....Talk abt architecture those days.....
You can learn a lot more about the Rock here
You will also find some interesting information here
about early settlements of Sri Lanka - namely the Dravidians (south Indian inhabitors)
And this is where you actually realise what the sigiriya rock resembles - it is also called the Lion Rock and that what you see int he pictures - the gigantic paws. In fact the whole fort was constructed so as to enter the palace via a stoneway that leads right into the mouth and throat....Talk abt architecture those days.....
You can learn a lot more about the Rock here
You will also find some interesting information here
about early settlements of Sri Lanka - namely the Dravidians (south Indian inhabitors)
Lost mountain
From atop the sigiriya, I looked around and found this small mound standing totally lost from the rest of the stretch of land masses.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Frescoes - contd II
Damaged ones ....there are only 20 out of close to 500 of them !!!!
Well, it isnt easy to paint on these surfaces - I'll show you soon examples of well preserved frescoes from Dambola !!!in my next sequewnce !!!
Well, it isnt easy to paint on these surfaces - I'll show you soon examples of well preserved frescoes from Dambola !!!in my next sequewnce !!!
Cave paintings !!!
The next few pictures would be that of the cave paintings in Sigiriya. They are guarded so close important because these paintings are too old and the exposure to camera lights even would damage them. Ofcourse, there were few guys who were more interested in clicking them with flashes than preserving them. Without flash, it has come out well in mine.
Ok, I just rememdered that you actually call them frescos - cave paintings seem to be really ancient term *wink*
Well, these fresoes are obviously painted using natural pigments.
You shd look at the following site to
learn more about sigiriya
Ok, I just rememdered that you actually call them frescos - cave paintings seem to be really ancient term *wink*
Well, these fresoes are obviously painted using natural pigments.
You shd look at the following site to
learn more about sigiriya
Steep
Well, thats sigiriya rock for you...Enormous as you go near it. What was interesting to me was that along the steep rock, I found grooves exactly like the ones that you see during rock climbing practice places etc. And I'm sure there wld have been people who used it those times and to use that, they must have been extremely agile !!!
In the rain @ sigiriya
Well, I need to tell you something. When we planned for this vacation/tour whatever - something that we back in India are just not accustomed too and no affordable too - we had set up a certain budget - anything beyond that would bite us real hard. You sure wouldnt want to take a flight and go there and see nothing. But when we reached sigiriya in all earnest, we were shocked that we had to pay SL Rs 2500/ person. Well, we had not expected a ticket to cost us INR 1000/- for one person. For a shortwhile we decided we wld skip it...but what is the purpose of visiting. WE decided to bet on our credit card if nothing is there and we went in. Till then, it was happily shining and soon after we crossed the gates, from no where, a huge torrent of rain poured like mad as if mocking at us. The picture you see is when we sought shelter with two umbrellas for five people. However, we had decided to climb the rock no matter what and soon, rain relented to our determination.
But the place was amazing green with moss on the ruins of the fort !!!
But the place was amazing green with moss on the ruins of the fort !!!
Sigiriya
The rock you see in the back ground of this picture is the sigiriya rock. Beleive me that an amazing well planned fort was on top of it. When we had booked for the package tour, we thought we might be staying in mediocre hotels. At sigiriya, we stayed in Hotel Sigiriya with such a view of the rock from the swimming pool side.
Sigiriya is yet another world heritage center by UNESCO. There aint many announced by UNESCO and Sri Lanka has a good share of it :-p
Now, I am always amazed at the capabilities of our ancestors that we have seemed to forget. They were able to conceive and vision what we now term as impossible/most difficult and wonder at the mysteries ( Pyramids for example) of the construction.
On top of that rock was a neatly designed capital city by King Kasappa !!!
Here is where you will find much more
about Sigiriya !!!
Sigiriya is yet another world heritage center by UNESCO. There aint many announced by UNESCO and Sri Lanka has a good share of it :-p
Now, I am always amazed at the capabilities of our ancestors that we have seemed to forget. They were able to conceive and vision what we now term as impossible/most difficult and wonder at the mysteries ( Pyramids for example) of the construction.
On top of that rock was a neatly designed capital city by King Kasappa !!!
Here is where you will find much more
about Sigiriya !!!
Sad porcupine
Our next destination was a place called Sigiriya. It actually used to be a kingdom and a fort on top of a mountain and amazingly the mountain - well, my following posts will show you them.
This post is about our travel to Sigiriya. We were travelling through nice roads, greenery on both sides and what seemed like a way through the forest with minimal inhabitation. On our way, we stopped to buy some water and thats when we saw this porcupine. Look carefully at his eyes - those were crying for freedom. Though coming from a place where I have been exposed to small wild animals I have never seen a porcupine except for in zoos and hre I saw it captured and tied with a thick chain. The most atrocious part was when the guy asked us to pay money for taking a snap of it. well, I cld ahve crushed his balls right there. Why do we humans do this always. Is there any one animal on the planet that captivates/hunts the other for pleasure ??
we dont deserve the Earth.
This post is about our travel to Sigiriya. We were travelling through nice roads, greenery on both sides and what seemed like a way through the forest with minimal inhabitation. On our way, we stopped to buy some water and thats when we saw this porcupine. Look carefully at his eyes - those were crying for freedom. Though coming from a place where I have been exposed to small wild animals I have never seen a porcupine except for in zoos and hre I saw it captured and tied with a thick chain. The most atrocious part was when the guy asked us to pay money for taking a snap of it. well, I cld ahve crushed his balls right there. Why do we humans do this always. Is there any one animal on the planet that captivates/hunts the other for pleasure ??
we dont deserve the Earth.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Bunkers
This is on the way to the Anuradhapura buddhist temple. A careful look at the picture would reveal a lined columns. They are supposedly the remains of what used to be sleeping bunkers I guess. I'm not dure and I hate for not noting it down about it when our driver/guide told us about it. DV/chikuado, do u remember?
Anuradhapura
This is Anuradhapura - one of UNESCO's world heritage site. This is the closest you can get (unless u want to take some risk) to the tamilians part of Sri Lanka. You could see the influence of the buddhism in this part of the country. It is a errily calm place and it was late evening when we finished our visit here. In a buddhist temple, you can see structures called the Dagobas - these are closed inverted bell shaped structures with no entrance or anything. They are supposed to contain relics of buddha and buddhist saints. Anuradhapura was founded in 5th century B.C and is the first capital city. It is amazing fact that the city's reservoir systems that supply water are considered complex engineering designs till day. It is an example of clearly envisioned city built by great human minds thus reiterating my belief once again in the line - " The key to our future lies in pur past" !!
Anuradhapura is an example!
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Morning Blues
From Colombo after exhausting our free dinner coupons at Hotel Amaravati - they were really accomodating to order anything from the menu for the coupons - we headed to Bentota, the beach resort.
It is a pristine beach and a wonderful place to enjoy your vacation. We wanted to get up before the sun showed up on this side of the planet....sky blue is not my fav color except when the color is on the sky itself :-)
P.S
This beach resort is one of the worst hit during tsunami I heard. :-(
It is a pristine beach and a wonderful place to enjoy your vacation. We wanted to get up before the sun showed up on this side of the planet....sky blue is not my fav color except when the color is on the sky itself :-)
P.S
This beach resort is one of the worst hit during tsunami I heard. :-(
Doomsday ???
The shore at colombo seemed to be captivated by a sudden rush of dark clouds hastening to bring down the fall of the whole place. It was surprising that ppl were so calm abt the imminent rain to follow and few of the couples were happily kissing under the protection of an umbrella to shield them from onlooking passers by.
what? u r asking me if I took one of the snaps....che che....I'm decent !!!
:-)
what? u r asking me if I took one of the snaps....che che....I'm decent !!!
:-)
Engulfing clouds
The engulfing clouds are mesmerising !!!
Place: Colombo, November 2004.
It was the evening we landed up in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is much like our own Kerala, but you are just not sure when it wld rain. Minutes earlier, it was warm and humid and suddenly the whole place transformed with the clouds engulfing the whole place !
I would be posting a series of pictures from our trip to Sri Lanka late last year, just before Tsunami. The pictures are not necessarily taken by me but by us. The posts following this is to share the trip to Sri Lanka.
Place: Colombo, November 2004.
It was the evening we landed up in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is much like our own Kerala, but you are just not sure when it wld rain. Minutes earlier, it was warm and humid and suddenly the whole place transformed with the clouds engulfing the whole place !
I would be posting a series of pictures from our trip to Sri Lanka late last year, just before Tsunami. The pictures are not necessarily taken by me but by us. The posts following this is to share the trip to Sri Lanka.
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