Historical places in Sri Lanka: what people don't know

We all have heard of Ruwanwelisaya, the temple of the sacred tooth, and Adam’s Peak. But have you heard about Isurumuniya and Kitulgala? Today we’ll be talking about some historical places in Sri Lanka that most people don’t know, but are amazing nevertheless.

Kitulgala Belilena (cave)

First up, we have the Kitulgala Belilena. This is famous for being the residence of prehistoric humans in Sri Lanka. Many pieces of evidence of human life such as skeletons and remnants of edible plants and animals. The cave is said to belong to the lowland wet zone. Twelve skeletons were found in this cave, and it was found that these were of the Balangoda Man (homo sapiens balangodensis). Furthermore, evidence has been found that these humans baked and ate seeds of “wild breadfruit”. And the remnants of lagoon oysters mixed with salt from coastal areas have been discovered as well.

The amount of evidence this place gives for archeologists to discover the truth about human existence thousands of years ago is what makes this place important. As of now, it’s open for the public to visit, but since it’s located in a hilly area and it’s hard to reach the cave, not many people go there. But it’s definitely worth a visit as not only will you be learning about the History of Sri Lanka (and the world), but you’ll also be visiting a beautiful place with amazing scenery.

Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya (Temple)

Located in Anuradhapura, this is one of the must-visit places if you ever visit the northern part of Sri Lanka. It was built in 3BC and used to be a monastery for Buddhist monks. It was built from stone on a stone and has an amazing view of the surrounding area. It is said that Sangamitta Theri used this temple as a one-day stop on her way to bring the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya. At present this temple is surrounded by a forest, and most of its buildings are in ruins. But the stone creations still prevail. The most famous sights are the Samadhi Buddha statue and the reclining Buddha statue. Both these statues have been used by historians to analyze the craftsmanship of Sri Lankans back in the day. Many stone ponds also remain to this day, making this place worth visiting.

Samadhi Buddha Statue

Reclining Buddha Statue

Nuwara Eliya Post Office

This is quite different from the two places we discussed earlier. Located in Nuwara Eliya, a town in the highlands and is said to be the “Little England” of Sri Lanka, this is one of the must-visit places in Sri Lanka. Even though it functions like a regular post office, what makes this place special is that it’s one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka. It’s a Tudor-style building built by the British colonizers in 1894 and hence adds character to the town. The red brick walls, bright orange roof, and the clock tower make this place a sight for sore eyes, and its unique architecture makes it stand out from most of the historical buildings in Sri Lanka.

Kandy Lake (Kiri Mununda)

Even though this is a well-known place, not many people know that this lake has historical significance. Located at the heart of the city, in front of the temple of the sacred tooth, this lake was built in 1807 by the last king of Sri Lanka. It was formerly a paddy field and was turned into a lake by King Sri Wikrama Rajasinge. It was reduced in size over the years for the lake's protection. It is said that the island in the middle of the lake was used as the king’s personal Harem and later was used by the British as an ammunition store. At present this lake is surrounded by a white wall, and there’s a walking path around the lake. Many residents of Kandy like to take walks along the lake in the evenings to wind down and experience the peacefulness of nature. The ducks, geese, fish in the lake, and the various kinds of trees surrounding the lake also contribute to the serenity of this area.

Isurumuniya

Finally, let’s talk about my favorite place to visit, the Isurumuniya temple. Famous for its stone carvings, this temple is located in Anuradhapura and is said to be the first home of the tooth relic. The famous carvings of “Isurumuni lovers”, “the royal family”, and “the horse head and the man” can all be found here. Since this temple was built in around 300BC, how such amazing cravings were done remains a mystery even to this day. Apart from the carvings, this temple consists of a pond near the entrance, a cave that is said to be home to many bats, and a small cliff that can be reached by a stone staircase. The view when you climb to the top of the cliff is amazing, as you see the diversity of the city, ranging from paddy fields and tanks to schools and homes. The diversity of the temple itself makes it a beautiful place.

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