Polonnaruwa - The second kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka

 

Rich with sea like irrigation reservoirs, magnificent monuments reflecting workmanship in ancient Buddhist culture, the city of Polonnaruwa is full of graceful sceneries. It is the second kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka. In addition, Angagammadilla, Dimbulagala, Somawathi Chethiya, are picturesque sites.

By capturing the king Parakrama Pandu and removing his eyes alive and torturing him to death, the invasive South Indian king Kalinga Magha destroyed and burnt the mediaeval capital to the ground.  Many ancient books were dragged out, piled up and burnt. The Portuguese who came after 1505 too looted, what was left in the city.

Polonnaruwa was known to have had human settlements, long before Prince Vijaya landed on the shores of the island.

Kings of Polonnaruwa

Vijayabahu 1 (Vijayaba)                                                                    1055 – 1110

Jayabahu                                                                                            1110 – 1111

Wickramabahu                                                                                   1111 – 1132

Gajabahu                                                                                            1132 – 1153

Parakramabahu                (The Great)                                                1153 – 1186

Vijayabahu 11                                                                                     1186 – 1187

Nissankamallala                                                                                  1187 – 1196

Wickramabahu                                                                                    1196

Chodaganga                                                                                        1196 – 1197

Leelawathi queen (Queen of Parakramabahu)                                    1197 – 1200

Sahassamallala                                                                                     1200 – 1202

Kalyanawathi (Queen of Nissankamallala)                                         1202 – 1208

Dharmashoka                                                                                       1208 – 1209

Anikanga Mahadipada                                                                         1209

Queen Leelawathi                                                                                1209 – 1210

Lokeshwara                                                                                          1210 – 1211

Queen Leelawathi                                                                                1211 – 1212

Parakrama Pandu                                                                                 1212 – 1215

Kalinga Magha (Kalinga Vijayabahu)                                                 1215 – 1236

The King Parakramabahu was an erudite person, an expert statesman, and great ruler of mankind and a warrior, with an extra ordinary energy and discernment, and also a brilliant physician. He established the peace and harmony in the country. It was a golden era of architecture and many of his architectural creations have not yet identified.

 

The Vatadage (Circular Relic House)

Vatadage is one of the most remarkable architectural monuments to be seen in Polonnaruwa.  

Siva Devale

The South Indian architecture Cola style kovil built in the 13^th century.

Parakramasamudraya (Sea of Parakrama) is the unique creation of king Parakramabahu the Great.

Butterflies of Sri Lanka - Red Pierrot

This video was published by me in my YouTube channel. Its about the Red Pierrot butterfly. 

The Kandy Esala Perahera 2020 Fourth Kumbal Procession | කන්ද උඩරට ඇසළ ප...

Hakgala Botanical Garden - Sri Lanka

Nuwara-eliya Post office - නුවරඑළිය තැපැල් කාර්යාලය

This iconic building was built in 1894 by the British according to Tudor style. Its a red brick two storied building with a clock spire. 

Crested serpent eagle attacked by Black Hooded Orioles

#Naturalist #NishanthaKamburugamuwa #TravelSriLanka

Crested Serpent Eagle - Spilornis cheela spilogaster - සිලූ සරපකුස්සා

Even though the name suggests that its a reptile eater, it is prey on birds, amphibians, mammals, and fishes. Commonly can be observed where there is forest or tree cover. Crested serpent call is very distinctive and can be heard from a distance. #crestedserpenteagle #naturalist

Toque Macaque - Macaca sinica sinica ශ්‍රී ලංකා රිලවා

By enforcing dominance hierarchies among both males and females, Toque macaque society is very structured.Changes in the composition in troops are normally done by the females. Wild living Toque Macaques like to eat flowers, insects while their main dietary preference is fruit.
#toquemacaques

Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel - Ratufa Macroura ශ්‍රී ලංකා දඩුලේනා

Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel is the National Animal of Sri Lanka.This animal is active mostly during the cooler part of the day mean from dawn to about 9am in the morning and from about 4pm to until dusk in the evening. There are three sub species has identified in Sri Lanka. They are Ratufa Macroura Macroura (Distribution - from the highest peaks to the down about 1200 m), Ratufa Macroura Dandolena (Distribution - Dry Zone lowlands), and Ratufa Macroura Melanochra (Distribution - Low country wet zone, The Kelani River Valley, Sinharaja Rain Forest, and forested parts of Kalutara, Galle, and Matara districts). #Squirrels #Wildlife #Adventure

Diyasaru park, Thalawathugoda

Diyasaru park, Thalawathugoda offers a great  opportunity for the nature lovers in the heart of Colombo including a butterfly garden. Most of the birds including some migrants, butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, and some mammals like purple faced leaf monkey can observed in this park. In addition, it is the home for some fishing cats and otters. This valuable 65 acres of land is a hidden gem in the capital city of Sri Lanka.

#DiyasaruparkThalawathugoda #Wetlands  #SriLanka

Lime butterfly (Papilio demoleus)

Lime butterflies mostly abundant in dry scrubland habitatas and also can be commonly observed in the wet zone. #butterflypictures