Tag: Anuradhapura period

Special Feature – IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAIN OF A GOD: a Visit to the Temples of Saman

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The legends disagree on the exact method in which Sumana Saman became a god, but what is clear is that Adam’s Peak, or Siripada, is believed to be his earthly home, and the centre of his influence and protection.”

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The Mountain of Saman, Sumanakuta, also known as Siripada and Adam’s Peak, as seen across the Kuru Ganga Valley, close to Ratnapura.
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Special Feature — THE FORGOTTEN TEMPLE: Dakkinagiriya & the Other Kaludiya Pokuna

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A thousand-year-old ‘mountain monastery’, lost in the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, east of Dambulla; forgotten by the tour guides, and seemingly by time itself. For the visitor seeking something literally off the beaten track, the Dakkinagiri Viharaya is an intriguing but serene detour away from the well-trodden sites of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle.”

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The stupa of the 9th century Dakkinagiri Viharaya, with Erawalgala behind it.
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Horn of Ivory #2

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Detail of a 12th century ivory and silver medicine horn from Anuradhapura. Shot on assignment for Serendib, the inflight magazine of Sri Lankan Airlines, at the National Museum in Colombo. My photo story on the museum, ‘Katu Ge‘, ran in the October 2017 issue.

No Other Gods Before Me

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Grey langur (Semnopithecus priam) in the ruins of the holy city of Anuradhapura. December 2016.

Transcendental Rise

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The Forgotten Temple, Sri Lanka #40 - A thousand-year-old flight of stone steps lead up to the elevated precincts of the Dakkinagiri Viharaya.
A thousand-year-old flight of stone steps lead up to the elevated precincts of a ‘pabbata viharaya’; a suburban or rural Buddhist monastery, architecturally distinct from the better known ones within the ancient cities. In addition to the characteristic elevated rectangle, ‘pabbata viharayas’ are distinguishable by four structures on this raised area, and the moat surrounding it. Shot on assignment for Serendib, the inflight magazine of Sri Lankan Airlines, as part of my cover story on Dakkinagiriya, a 9th century ‘pabbata viharaya’ from the Late Anuradhapura period, located in the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, east of Kandalama. ‘A Mountain Monastery Forgotten by Time‘ ran in the March 2018 issue.

The Steps of Viriya

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The Abhayagiriya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka #6 -- steps leading up the stupa.
Concrete blocks set into the face of the 117m Abhayagiriya stupa serve as footholds for maintenance workers needing to climb to the top of the dagaba. It would take an electrician with nerves of steel to replace the light bulbs at the pinnacle. Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. December 2016.
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Rising to Emptiness

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Stairs at Medirigiriya, Sri Lanka #2. Stairs lead up to the ruins of an image house at the 7th century Buddhist complex of Medirigiriya
Stairs lead up to the ruins of an image house at the 7th century Buddhist complex of Medirigiriya, close to Polonnaruwa, in north-central Sri Lanka. Built in the Late Anuradhapura period, all that is left of this image house is the massive stone base, and some columns. Little of the soft brick walls have withstood the elements, and nothing remains of what would have been a wooden roof. At the base of the stairs is a moonstone, worn almost completely smooth by time. Shot on assignment for ‘Serendib’, the inflight magazine of Sri Lankan Airlines. My photo story, ‘Circles within Circles‘, ran in the May 2018 issue.

Tank & Temple #5

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Dawn touches with its first light the sky over the Basawakkulama tank and the floodlit Ruwanwelisaya.
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Crumbling Guardian

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The Forgotten Temple, Sri Lanka #51 by Son of the Morning Light on 500px.com
A carved Nagaraja guards the steps to the ruined stupa of the 9th century Dakkinagiri Viharaya, in the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, east of Dambulla. Shot on assignment for Serendib, the inflight magazine of Sri Lankan Airlines. My photo story, “A Mountain Monastery Forgotten by Time“, was the cover feature of the March 2018 issue.
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Medirigiriya Vatadage, Sri Lanka #8

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The Medirigiriya Vatadage, Sri Lanka #8 by Son of the Morning Light on 500px.com
Built by King Aggabhodhi IV of Anuradhapura, in the 7th century, the Medirigiriya Vatadage is probably the oldest example of a circular relic house in Sri Lanka. Shot for my photo story, “Circles within Circles”, which was the cover feature of the May 2018 issue of Serendib magazine.
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