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The Galle Fort.
The majestic edifice in the Southern port city of Galle, the largest fort in the country. it was build by the Portuguese in 1587 at point de Galle, after they seized control of the town from the Sinhala kings. The Dutch captured the city from the Portuguese in 1640, and exp
anded and strengthened the Fort and it is their influence and architecture that is most prominent in the Fort today. The Dutch remained for almost 150years,until the city was taken by the British in 1796. The Fort and its surroundings were declared a World Heritage site in 1988.
The Galle Fort covers an area of 36 hectares and encloses several museums, a clock tower, churches, mosques, a light house, hotels and many private residences. There are two entries to the fort-the main gate, build by the British in 1873 which pierces the main ramparts between the sun and moon bastions, and the old gate, further to the east on Baladaksha Mawatha (customs road) .Just beyond the old gate stands the Zwart Bastion (Black Fort)-the oldest fortification surviving in Galle, and thought to be of Portuguese origin. The interior if Galle Fort strongly speaks of the Dutch period. Several of the narrow streets still bear Dutch names.
Many of the streets are lined with formerly extravagant buildings characterized by large rooms, arched verandahs and windows protected by heavy, wooden –louvered shutters. The northern part of the Fort is dominated by the British-built Clock Tower and a small roundabout located immediately within the Main Gate. The National cultural Museum and National Maritime Museum are nearby.
Marine National park in Trincomalee
Nilaweli beach in Trincomalee is one of the most wonderful places of this island nation, the Pigeon Island, the realm of Rock Pigeon. The import of this island is that is one of two marine national parks Sri Lanka owns. The pigeon Island which was declared as a sanctuary in 1970 under the Fauna and Flora protection ordinance got transformed in to a National Park on June 24,2003. The National Park spread approximately over 430 hactares. The island is named after its endemic inhabitant the blue rock pigeon that take roost in the island in hundreds.
According to historical records it is believed that this island was used as a centre where official letters were transported using pigeons during king’ time. The surrounding coral fringe is rich with over 100 species of coral and over 300 species of coral fish. The pigeon island a divers paradise. A visit to the island could incorporate swimming in the sea,diving and sun bathing. now the visitors can buy tickets from the Wildlife Conservation Department counter, established on the Nilaweli beach at a very reasonable rates. Though this is identified as one island in fact it is two. the large island and small island. The Large pigeon island is fringed by a coral reef and the small pigeon island is surrounded by rocky is lets. Hawksbill turtle, green turtle and olive ridley are the visiting sea turtle of the coral reef. The island is an important breeding ground for the Rock pigeon. The large pigeon island’s coral reefs vegetation is dominated by Acropora spp. With some Montipora spp. Rains are predicted from Octomber and March and during the rest of the year it is extremely warm. The sand and rock mixed geography is covered with cactus varieties and Lantana shrubs in addition to the variety of flora that colour the land.
THE PARAKRAMA SAMUDRAYA
The crowning glory of king Parakramabahu 1, the magnificent reservoir Parakrama Samudra which is also known as the sea of Parakrama is situated in Polonnaruwa.It is a shallow reservoir which is about is 2430 hectares (6000 acres)
In extent and is the oldest and northern most reservoir in the country. The Topawewa, along with Dumbuthulu wewa and Erabudu wewa,were combined by Parakramabahu 1,to create this great reservoir.
The three separate reservoirs are connected only by narrow channels at low water. The middle section is Eramudu
Wewa and the southernmost portion at the highest elevation is Dumbutula wewa.It is recorded that Topa wewa was built around A.D. 386.and the other
Sections were added and the reservoir expanded during the reign of King
Parakramabahu the Great,and hence it is also called the Topawewa by some.
This ancient ,intricate and sophisticated water
Storage system which provided the irrigation for the rice fields in the country at that time was abandoned with the collapse of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom. It was
Restored to its present ststus in the recent past.
THE MOONSTONE
The moonstone (Sandakada pahana) is a stone carving found in the
Ancient ruin cities of Sri Lanka. Its name been derived. From its
Shape of a crescent (half moon) and it is found at the foot of a series of steps leading to temples, monasteries or palaces.
Although this stone slab did not depict any carvings during the early Anuradapura era, it later acquired very ornate carvings and turned into a work of art. The carvings include a lotus at the centre, a line
of swans, a line of animals comprising lion, horses, elephants and bulls, and another line of decorative leaf work (liyawel) .Although this line-up continued to be the same during the Polonnaruwa era.
The moonstone of the Polonnaruwa era is
Considered to be less artistically desingned than that of the Anuradapura era.
The best moonstone of the Anuradapura era is found at the ruins of the Mahasen Mandapa close to the AbhayagiriVihara while the best moonstone of the Polonnaruwa era is found at the northern entrance to the watage ge.
The moonstone has attracted many visitors and continues to attract many.
