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| Welcome to the Horizon Voyages
in Sri Lanka |
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| Love the nature, be a nature lover..........Sri
Lanka the finest island on the earth where you can enjoy the
real nature..... |
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| Cultural
Triangle |
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Travellers who dream for
a destination where they can have very close approach
to peaceful nature and rich culture, Sri Lanka will be
one of the best selections. Because most of the historical
monuments are situated in excellent nature. The Buddhist
philosophy itself has very strong relationship with the
nature. Classic examples are Buddha’s birth, enlightenment
and “parinirvana” (death) took place under
the trees and most of his life, he spent in the jungles
with animals, especially the nature helped him to understand
the reality and the eternal truth. His first sermon and
many important incidents took place in the nature. Since
Sri Lanka had very strong bond and links with the pure
Buddhism, in the past many monastic sites were constructed
in loving nature, among many such monuments, Medirigiriya,
Ritigala, Wessagiriya, Reswehera, Sigiriya, Dambulla,
Pidurangala, Mihintale are good examples you can find
in the cultural triangle. During the ancient period, this
land “belonged” to the Sri Lankan kings and
the tremendous work that they had done for the nation,
island and for its philosophy were unbelievable and marvelous.
Thousands of man made reservoirs which enrich islands
beauty and the culture still silently express about country’s
proud history. Today these reservoirs whilst give us unforgettable
scenic beauty, help country’s cultivators by there
advanced irrigation systems. You will require more than
five days stay in Sri Lanka to explore this region where
you can see many ruins with pagodas, vestiges, museums,
temples, statues, villages and wildlife, etc…
For your stay, Horizon Voyages has a fine selection of
eco hotels, luxury hotels, classic hotels, little charming
hotels and even guest houses, depending on your personal
taste and desire you can choose a one, for this we will
give you complete and correct description of each place.
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| 1. Anuradhapura |
| Island’s first
capital. Well planned urbanized city from 3rd century
BC to 11th century AD, declared as a world heritage
and supposed to be one of the greatest monastic
cities of the ancient world. This was the royal
capital for more than 120 Sri Lankan kings, and
it gave shelter to thousands of Buddhist monks and
protection to many different monasteries under the
king’s care and supervision. This is a vast
area and to visit entire city and its different
sites and museums, you need minimum a day, you may
find scattered vestiges all over the city. Amongst
those, most important sites are Sri Maha Bodhi (Bo
tree considered as the oldest tree in the world)
Isurumuniya, Ruwanweliseya, Brozen Palace, Thuparamaya,
Moon Stone, Abeyagiriya, Jetawanaramaya, Kuttam
Pokuna, Samadhi Statue. For those who are interested
to learn in detail, can visit all four museums or
at least one of the followings: Archeological museum,
Abayagiri museum, Jetewana museum and Folk museum. |
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| 2. Mihintale |
| One of the fantastic
examples, where the philosophy and the nature meets.
This monastic site’s history goes back to
3rd Century BC and this was the world’s first
declared sanctuary. Mihintale is considered as the
cradle of the Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Buddha’s
great philosophy was introduced to Sri Lanka’s
king by Arahath Mahinda here and then this rock
became a holy place. Arahath Mahinda, the son of
great Indian king Ashoka, was fascinated by the
Sri Lankan people, nature and the environment and
therefore, he and his disciples had decided to stay
in Sri Lanka and the rest of their lives they spent
in this island.
To reach to the summit, you have to climb up
through a granite stair way and these steps are
one of the wonders at Mihintale. The picturesque
view from the top is laid to the eternity.
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| 3. Aukana |
| Good example for
Sri Lankan skilled craftsman work. In Aukana, you
can see a fine, perfect and elegant statue of free
standing Buddha carved in a block of huge rock facing
to the east, its height is fifteen meters and history
goes back to the fifth century AD. You will be enchanted
by the lake “Kalawewa” and its attractive
nature found around the site, if you visit this
site in the morning you can see once again the relationship
linked with the nature and the Buddhism, because
the artists and the king “Datusena”
wanted the sun worships the statue every morning
and the rays of the morning sun illuminate the entire
statue and in turn, the Buddha bless the sun and
the whole world. Impression given is no fear, no
threat be calm and cool yourself, develop your compassion.
Buddha is not alive today but the artists wanted
to keep Buddha alive and convey this message to
the world. |
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| 4. Sigiriya |
| One
of the island’s most attractive and visited
sites. Declared as a world heritage, and unofficially
named as world’s 8th wonder. This rock monolith’s
history goes back to 3rd century BC and
those days this place was frequented by enlightened
Buddhist monks and the old caves scattered every
where gave shelters to the monks meditated in the
sanctuary. Subsequently during the 5th
century AD this unique place taken over by king
Kassayapa, known as island’s playboy king.
Being a strong nature lover and a good artist, he
created his dreamy paradisiacal palace on the summit.
However the king Kassayapa’s creation was
wonderful and he had the maximum security using
three moats, traps, and other strategics. On the
other hand the technology he adopted to have water
in the water gardens, fountains, which enriched
the beauty and coolness around the palace was unbelievable.
Above all, the elegant damsels painted in their
correct size and palace on the summit surrounded
by clouds give real picture of king’s artistic
knowledge.
According to the legend, king Kassayapa killed
his father, Dhatusena, and claimed the thrown
for himself, but Kassyapa was not the direct heir,
his mother was one of the harem women and therefore
he was fearful that his half brother, Moggallana,
who really deserves the throne would return from
exile in India and claim his crown. Eventually
Moggallana returned in searching Kassyapa and
knew that the fortress in its full-glory was the
Kassayapa’s dreamy land, unfortunately despite
of building an impenetrable stronghold , Kassayapa
was defeated……Today, Sigiriya gives
maximum satisfaction to his visitor and silently
murmurs about his past history. Thanks Kassayapa
for giving as such a valuable reward ……
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| 5. Polonnaruwa |
| Travellers
who come to Sri Lanka never forget to visit island’s
second capital . This royal medieval capital was
flourishing during the 12th century AD under the
patronage of three great Sri Lankan kings, first
one was Vijayabahu 1 who was totally engaged in
chasing and repulsing the “chola” invaders,
the second king Prakramabahu and the third king,
Nissankamalla did tremendous work in Polonnaruwa.
Today for a visitor this ancient capital would be
an ideal place to have both scenic beauty and knowledge
of country’s history and archeology. Visitors
who are staying two or more days in Polonnaruwa,
can easily discover the typical villages in close
proximity. Horizon Voyages organizes bike tour to
give you a very close approach to villagers and
see their real life, and jungle tours in jeeps to
explore the wild life and the nature.
The most attractive site is “Gal Vihara”,
where you can see world famous four Buddha statues,
carved out of one block of huge rock, unbelievable
work, admire few minutes, obviously the magnetism
power of your mind would suggest you to stay more
long there. Definitely the images of these statues
would engrave in your mind forever as an identity
of your visit in Sri Lanka……
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| 6. Yapahuwa |
| Sri Lanka’s
proud product and good example of country’s
determination and self confidence that they had
during the 13th century, the statue of lion carved
on the rock is exceptional. It is a symbol of nation’s
braveness, and the dignity. After defeating Polonnaruwa,
the king escaped with the Tooth Relic which was
in his possession for a secured place to hide it
and after finding this inaccessible crags the king
decided to keep the Lord Buddha’s most worshiped
relic there. Finally the massive granite outcrop
of its height 100 m became an important fortress,
where they found especially big similarity to Sigiriya
rock fortress, eventually this massive rock gave
maximum protection to the tooth relic for 11 years,
being uncommon place this site is less visited by
travellers but it has a special individual charm.
Yapahuwa situated in the dry zone, not far away
from the main road and its calm and quite location
gives ideal environment to the proud lion on the
top. |
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| 7. Dambulla |
Known
as Golden Temple. Sri Lanka’s another world
heritage situated in the cultural triangle. Its
history also goes back to 3rd century
BC and Dambulla was an very important Buddhist monastery
from the time that Buddhism came to this island,
like other historical places in Sri Lanka, Dambulla
also proves clearly the strong bond it had with
the nature. According to the Buddhist philosophy,
to realize the eternal truth you should have clear
and pure mind. For this you have to be away from
the material life which can spoil your mind .Therefore
those days to achieve this difficult target, Buddhist
monks reached isolated places situated in the jungles
like rocks and mountains. Sigiriya, Ritigala, Pidurangala,
Mihintale and Dambulla are some such places. Peaceful
mind without any disturbances helped them to succeed
their determinations. On the summits of these places,
there were no fear and harm except for the nature
around them such as the sun, moon, clouds, vegetations,
water and animals. This environment helped Buddhist
monks immensely to develop their compassion by meditating
with a view to achieve their final goal; enlightenment.
like the Lord Buddha.
Until the first century BC, Dambulla was an hidden
mystic place but after giving refugee to king Walagambahu
for 12 years, this cave temple became very popular
in the history. According to the written history,
the king transformed these caves to a loving temple
after regaining the throne in Anuradhapura to pay
his gratitude and homage in turn where he was in
exile.
Visit five different caves where you can admire
Buddha Statues in different sizes, shapes, postures
and the frescoes which depict the Lord Buddha’s
life and island’s history.
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| 8. Ritigala |
| Well known monastery
situated on the summit, whilst climbing you can
feel different weather and hear many birds’
songs, though this site is found in the dry zone
its temperature in the jungle is strange because
you can feel mild weather inside like up-country,
another significant example of the relationship
between the nature and the philosophy, this monastery
helped hundred of monks to achieve enlightenment,
this curious site has strong blend of ecology and
archaeology, the marvelous granite paved passage,
which gives access to higher elevation is unbelievable,
their technology was beyond our knowledge today,
for a traveler, this site would give an exciting
experience of mythical adventure ….. |
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| 9. Medirigiriya |
| One of
the Horizon Voyages favorite sites. Isolated circular
shape pagoda well preserved, away from the tourist
trodden sites, the path which gives access to the
site goes through many villages, country yards,
paddy fields, canals, a traveller who goes to this
site would be happy before reaching to his terminus
because the sightseeing itself would give him a
feelings of fine discovery,
We know that you like moral satisfaction, be with
Horizon Voyages, we give maximum. |
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| 10. Na Mal Uyana |
| The largest Quartz
rock in the island, if you have spare time, worthwhile
going there to discover this pink quartz mountain,
good proof of country’s varied geological
formation, this island maintains its reputation
not only for precious stone but also other minerals
such as mica, granite, dolomite, silica and many
more, this would be an ideal place to enjoy your
leisure time by doing promenade through jungle. |
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| 11. Nalanda |
| This charming construction
is found little away from the geological centre
of the island. This is the boundary of the dry zone,
the shrine called “Nalanda” was a brilliant
temple. originally which gave relationship in between
the Hindu divinity and the material life, specially
the sculptures carved on the building had very strong
Hindu influence and the reason behind was to easily
persuade their devotees, but today it is said that
temple was a Buddhist temple. Using dolomite for
the construction was a failure because the constructors
made a mistake by using dolomite in place of marble
which is not durable. Whatever the history, a visitor
can be happy with the nice surrounding. After Nalanda
you will be entering to the famous spice region
in the island, where you can see many spice gardens.
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