The old kingdom Sri Lanka are the heart of the island. They have rock fortresses, old capitals that are ruined and monasteries that are very old. These places are called the Cultural Triangle. They show us what life was like for the family of Sri Lanka over two thousand years ago. When you visit these places you will see engineering, big Buddhist buildings and the culture of Sri Lanka.
The First Cities of the Cultural Triangle
If you want to learn about the past of Sri Lanka you should start in Anuradhapura. This city was the big capital of the island. It was important for politics and religion for over a thousand years. Anuradhapura is a place because of its big brick stupas. One of these stupas called Jetavanaramaya was one of the buildings in the old world. When you walk around this city you will see monasteries, pretty pools and a special tree called the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. This tree is special because it grew from a part of the tree that Buddha sat under when he became enlightened.
After Anuradhapura the royal family moved to Polonnaruwa. This city was built a time ago and it shows us what life was like back then. It is easy to get around this city on a bicycle. There are interesting things to see, like big stone statues of Buddha, old palaces and a big lake that was made by people. This lake is still used today to water the rice fields.
Citadel Fortresses and the Final Kingdom
There is a rock in the middle of the forest called Sigiriya. It was built by King Kasyapa a time ago. Sigiriya is very famous. Many people visit it. To get to the top you have to climb up the rock and pass through two stone lion paws. When you get to the top you will see paintings on the walls and a special wall that is shiny like a mirror. Many people wrote on this wall a time ago. Near Sigiriya there is a temple with caves. These caves have over one hundred and fifty statues of Buddha.
The last kingdom of Sri Lanka was in Kandy. This city is in the mountains. It is very pretty. It has a lake and a special temple that has a tooth of Buddha. When you visit Kandy you can see people playing drums, old buildings and traditional dances. The people of Kandy kept their customs and arts alive for a very long time.
Essential Tips and Logistics for Royal Tours
If you want to visit these kingdoms you need to plan ahead. You have to buy tickets for each place. And You should wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. You also have to take off your shoes and hat when you enter the temples. It is an idea to wear thick socks to protect your feet from the hot sun.
The best time to visit these places is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. It is also an idea to stay in a hotel that is close to the places you want to visit. You can hire a guide who knows a lot about the history of these places. This will make your trip more interesting. You will learn a lot, about Sri Lanka and its royal past. The Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka is a place to visit if you like history and culture. Sri Lanka has old kingdoms and each one is unique and interesting.
