Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C. when Emperor Asoka of India sent his son, Mahinda to the island and introduced Buddhism to the reigning Sinhalese king Devanampiya Tissa. The king eventually became a powerful patron of Buddhism and established temples and monasteries. Buddhism became an integral part of Sinhalese culture and civilization. The ancient temples of the Cultural triangle consist of forest monasteries, cave temples, Dagobas and Viharas. The Dagobas (stupas) are probably some of the largest brick structures known to the pre-modern world. The ancient Jetavana dagoba considered to be the third tallest building in the ancient world following the Egyptian Pyramids rises over 120 metres in height and has a diamtere of 367 feet. The foundations of this dagoba run 28 feet deep. These dagobas were built to enshrine sacred relics of Lord Buddha. Anuradhapura’s Ruvanwelisaya, Mahavihara monastery, and Thuparamaya; Polonnaruwa’s Gal Viharaya; Ritigala forest monastery, Dambulla cave temple, Aluvihara cave temple, Temple of the Tooth in Kandy; Tissamaharama’s Dagobas and Mulgirigala rock temple in Tangalle are all interesting temples to visit.

Hinduism has a deep rooted history in Sri Lanka with several ancient Hindu Kovils scattered across the country. The Kovils consists of a prayer hall and the shrine room with a symbolic image of the principal god that the particular Kovil is dedicated to as well as images of other gods. One of the main Hindu shrines is the Maha Devalaya in Kataragama dedicated to God Skanda. Other Kovils include the Kathiresan Kovil and Sri Kailawasanthan Swami Devasthanam in Colombo, Munneswaram Kovil in the North West town of Chilaw, Konesvaram Kovil overlooking the Trincomalee’s harbour, and the Sita Amman Kovil in Nuwara Eliya.

Images of old Ceylon
landscape, and images of old Ceylon - Click Here

'The architecture of an Island – the living legacy of Sri Lanka'
By Ronald Lewcock, Barara Sansoni, Laki Senanayake, 1998

'Vihares & Varandas Ceylon'
By Barbara Sansoni & Ronald Lecock, 1978

'Mulgirigala rock of ages'
By Richard Boyle, Travel Sri Lanka