KANDY
(THE HISTORIC HILL CAPITAL)
Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination. ( 115kM from Colombo at 465 meters above sea level). Famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many other temples the city could be called the cultural capital of the island. Kandy Perahera, the pageant of the temple of tooth where Buddha's tooth is kept is held either in July or August each year to parade the golden caskets is a must see itenary if one is visiting Sri Lanka during these months. The final night procession is the most spectacular event of the country. More than 50 elephants parade the city accompanied by the drummers, dancers and chieftains.
he city established in the 15th century was the last royal capital where 2500 years of royal rule ended. This bustling market town is rich in cultural diversity has plenty of iteneries to offer to the tourists from songs dances and handy crafts to ancient temples and adventure activities. Kandy is a good transit point to the cultural triangle to the north or hill country to the south. The city is also a good source of souvenirs or to experience many cultural performances at it's various hotels in the city. |
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"THE SACRED CITY"
Kandy, the third world heritage capital city of Sri Lanka, is regarded as one of the most sacred places for Buddhists locating in the beautiful lush green hill country, a very contrast with dry flat land of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Similar to Anuradhapura, the center of Kandy is the sacred city, but for Kandy, its sacred area is quite small only comprise of the former royal palace complex and nearby associated shrines and temples.
The most important place of the sacred city is the famous Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Holy Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha. The temple is actually a part of the Kandyan royal palace, so the temple is a good example of Kandyan architecture, a Sri Lankan national style. Not only the temple, the nearby four small Hindu shrines for local gods and goddesses are also very interesting for study local belief that use Hindu gods as the protectors of Buddhism.
The Tooth relic is very important for Sri Lankan as it is the symbol of sovereignty over Ceylon, so every time Sinhalese move their capital city, the Tooth will go with them except Colombo. Even today the president has to come to pay respect the Tooth every year and become state tradition. Apart from local Sri Lankan, all Buddhist around the world especially Thai and Japanese come and make lots of donations to this temple as part of their pilgrimages.
Every visitor to the Temple of the Tooth has to walk on bare foot and pass security checkpoint as in Anuradhapura, but the atmosphere here is much more relax. Inside the complex is decorated with many beautiful objects from annual temple parade. The shrine that is housing the Tooth is very small but its decorative wall is truly a masterpiece of art. Hundreds of worshippers put their flower to make beautiful flower carpet liked in front of the shrine, praying and chanting for their good lives was an indescribable moment. After visit the shrine, do not forget to admire the beautiful golden roof donated by the Japanese government to protect the whole complex from rain and sun.
To be honest, if you are not Buddhist, this place is just another temple that has more beautiful decoration and lots of worshippers. But in terms of world heritage site, I will not question its spiritual value, this is the only place you can admire the last authentic of Kandyan royal architecture which can not be compared with any other place in this world, and this reason alone can make this place to be a world heritage site. I think this place is deserved to be protected by UNESCO more than many other European site that using only criteria IV for inscription.
The most important place of the sacred city is the famous Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Holy Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha. The temple is actually a part of the Kandyan royal palace, so the temple is a good example of Kandyan architecture, a Sri Lankan national style. Not only the temple, the nearby four small Hindu shrines for local gods and goddesses are also very interesting for study local belief that use Hindu gods as the protectors of Buddhism.
The Tooth relic is very important for Sri Lankan as it is the symbol of sovereignty over Ceylon, so every time Sinhalese move their capital city, the Tooth will go with them except Colombo. Even today the president has to come to pay respect the Tooth every year and become state tradition. Apart from local Sri Lankan, all Buddhist around the world especially Thai and Japanese come and make lots of donations to this temple as part of their pilgrimages.
Every visitor to the Temple of the Tooth has to walk on bare foot and pass security checkpoint as in Anuradhapura, but the atmosphere here is much more relax. Inside the complex is decorated with many beautiful objects from annual temple parade. The shrine that is housing the Tooth is very small but its decorative wall is truly a masterpiece of art. Hundreds of worshippers put their flower to make beautiful flower carpet liked in front of the shrine, praying and chanting for their good lives was an indescribable moment. After visit the shrine, do not forget to admire the beautiful golden roof donated by the Japanese government to protect the whole complex from rain and sun.
To be honest, if you are not Buddhist, this place is just another temple that has more beautiful decoration and lots of worshippers. But in terms of world heritage site, I will not question its spiritual value, this is the only place you can admire the last authentic of Kandyan royal architecture which can not be compared with any other place in this world, and this reason alone can make this place to be a world heritage site. I think this place is deserved to be protected by UNESCO more than many other European site that using only criteria IV for inscription.
Temple of the Tooth Relic
According to legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu armies besieging her father's kingdom in India.
It immediately became an object of great reverence and was enshrined in a series of nested jeweled reliquaries. The tooth was brought out for special occasions and paraded on the backs of elephants, which are sacred to the Buddha. where it survived numerous attempts to capture and destroy it.
When the capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was taken to the new city and placed in temples built to honor it. The temple was originally built under Kandyan kings between 1687 and 1707, but later severely damaged during the 18th-century colonial wars against the Portugese and Dutch. After the wars, the original wooden structures were restored in stone.
In January 1998 Hindu Tamil separatists bombed the temple, damaging its facade and roof. Restoration began immediately afterward
It immediately became an object of great reverence and was enshrined in a series of nested jeweled reliquaries. The tooth was brought out for special occasions and paraded on the backs of elephants, which are sacred to the Buddha. where it survived numerous attempts to capture and destroy it.
When the capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was taken to the new city and placed in temples built to honor it. The temple was originally built under Kandyan kings between 1687 and 1707, but later severely damaged during the 18th-century colonial wars against the Portugese and Dutch. After the wars, the original wooden structures were restored in stone.
In January 1998 Hindu Tamil separatists bombed the temple, damaging its facade and roof. Restoration began immediately afterward
Magulmaduva
The "Magul Maduwa" of the Palace is where the king met his ministers and and carried out his daily administrative tasks. This was also known as the "Maha Naduwa" (high court) by the local residence as this building was used by the king as the court. This building is also called the Assembly Hall or the Audience Hall. The construction of this finely carved wooden structure has been started by the king Rajadhi Rajasinhe (1779 - 1797) in 1783. but was unable to complete it within his reign.
Image : www.greatmirror.com
A number of key events in our history has taken place in this "Magul Maduwa". The major one being the handing over the last Sri Lankan kingdom to the British throne in 1815 ending over 2500 years of sovereignty. It was at this place that the British handed over the death sentence to the sri lankan patriots, Madugalle Disave and the Keppatipola Disave.
The "Magul Maduwa" we see today is a extension to the original made by the British to facilitate the welcome of prince of wales in 1875. They pulled out 32 carved wooden columns from the building called "Pale Vahale" (which was the Queens living quarters during the last king of Kandy, now the National Museum building) and replaced them with brick pillars. Out of these, 16 pillars. were used to extend the "Magul Maduwa" with 8 pillars. on each side and the old decayed bases have been replaced by new wooden bases.
WIth this addition, building has two rows of elegantly carved pillars. each row having 32 columns. A Kandyan style roof rests upon these columns.
Image : www.greatmirror.com
A number of key events in our history has taken place in this "Magul Maduwa". The major one being the handing over the last Sri Lankan kingdom to the British throne in 1815 ending over 2500 years of sovereignty. It was at this place that the British handed over the death sentence to the sri lankan patriots, Madugalle Disave and the Keppatipola Disave.
The "Magul Maduwa" we see today is a extension to the original made by the British to facilitate the welcome of prince of wales in 1875. They pulled out 32 carved wooden columns from the building called "Pale Vahale" (which was the Queens living quarters during the last king of Kandy, now the National Museum building) and replaced them with brick pillars. Out of these, 16 pillars. were used to extend the "Magul Maduwa" with 8 pillars. on each side and the old decayed bases have been replaced by new wooden bases.
WIth this addition, building has two rows of elegantly carved pillars. each row having 32 columns. A Kandyan style roof rests upon these columns.
Natha Devalaya
Natha Devalaya is one of the Hatara Devale in the Kandy, the other three being the Vishnu, Kataragama and Patini. These four Devalayas have a long association with the Royal Palace ( Maha Vasala) and the Temple of Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) and has been venerated by Buddhists and Hindus alike from the inception. During the Kandy period, Natha was was the highest ranking deity, and then is was Vishnu, Kataragama and Patini in that order. It is also believed that the “Natha” appeared in many forms in Sri Lanka in different regions and during different Eras. One of these forms is “Avaloktheeshvara” Bodhisattva who is a highly worshipped Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism.
Vahalkada (Entrance) to the Devale
image Source : "Kandy"
By Central Cultural Fund
The "Natha Devale" is situated directly facing the Dalada Maligaya and this building is the oldest surviving structure from the Kandyan Kingdom. The devale was built by King Vickramabahu III in the 14th Century. The building has a Dravidian architecture with a "gedige" style. The structure has 3 stories but the 1st and the 2nd floor levels serves no practical purpose. The roof is a dome with a shape of a stupa. The Devale has two stupas and a recent excavations have revealed a circular shape basement probably a Mandapa which has been destroyed by invaders. The stupa near the Devale is thought to contain the bowl relic of Buddha and was broken in to by Relic Hunters in 1889.
The Image house facing east contains an ancient "siripathul gala" or a foot print of Buddha engraved on a stone. The Bodhi tree in this devale is a sampling of the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. The Vahalkada or the entrance to the area is a roofed building with two guard stones on the sides and a makara thorana on the top.
This Devale also plays a key role in the appointment of a new King. All newly appointed kings would come infornt of the image of the Natha and select a name by which he is to be known.
Vahalkada (Entrance) to the Devale
image Source : "Kandy"
By Central Cultural Fund
The "Natha Devale" is situated directly facing the Dalada Maligaya and this building is the oldest surviving structure from the Kandyan Kingdom. The devale was built by King Vickramabahu III in the 14th Century. The building has a Dravidian architecture with a "gedige" style. The structure has 3 stories but the 1st and the 2nd floor levels serves no practical purpose. The roof is a dome with a shape of a stupa. The Devale has two stupas and a recent excavations have revealed a circular shape basement probably a Mandapa which has been destroyed by invaders. The stupa near the Devale is thought to contain the bowl relic of Buddha and was broken in to by Relic Hunters in 1889.
The Image house facing east contains an ancient "siripathul gala" or a foot print of Buddha engraved on a stone. The Bodhi tree in this devale is a sampling of the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. The Vahalkada or the entrance to the area is a roofed building with two guard stones on the sides and a makara thorana on the top.
This Devale also plays a key role in the appointment of a new King. All newly appointed kings would come infornt of the image of the Natha and select a name by which he is to be known.
Kandyan Paintings
Kandyan art embraces a variety of crafts and paintings that capture the many Sinhalese traditions and their distinctive characteristics. Encompassing paintings, wood carvings, stone carvings, metal work, jewellery, furniture and architecture, Kandyan art is culturally inspired and symbolic. Arts and crafts form part of the rich cultural fabric of Kandyan society and dancers, weavers, carvers, painters and musicians are revered. The knowledge and techniques were passed down from generation to generation and craft secrets were carefully protected; even marriages were arranged within the same castes so that craft and style were closely guarded.
The best artists and craftsmen were permanently employed by the royal dynasty and were given money, land and protection in return for their services. The kingdom always had a steady requirement for jewellery, utensils, household ornaments and all of these essentials were produced by them. Gifts given to other Heads of State and nobility were also designed by them and were unique and distinctive.
Kandyan paintings convey complex religious concepts in simple and narrative style. Paintings usually depict religious and secular themes that are a part of everyday life and can generally be associated with the life of the Buddha and his teachings. Kandyan paintings date from the 17th to the 19th centuries and this art form, associated with religious revival, is described as the Kandyan style due to its prevalence in the Kandyan provinces during this period. Kandyan painters used a tempera medium with a limited range of colours made from earth or vegetable substances and used line and colour to produce volume and and solidity of figures or forms. They usually depict a classical tale illustrating moral values in a pictorial narrative. The human figures and animals from various themes in Kandyan art are idealised.
The best artists and craftsmen were permanently employed by the royal dynasty and were given money, land and protection in return for their services. The kingdom always had a steady requirement for jewellery, utensils, household ornaments and all of these essentials were produced by them. Gifts given to other Heads of State and nobility were also designed by them and were unique and distinctive.
Kandyan paintings convey complex religious concepts in simple and narrative style. Paintings usually depict religious and secular themes that are a part of everyday life and can generally be associated with the life of the Buddha and his teachings. Kandyan paintings date from the 17th to the 19th centuries and this art form, associated with religious revival, is described as the Kandyan style due to its prevalence in the Kandyan provinces during this period. Kandyan painters used a tempera medium with a limited range of colours made from earth or vegetable substances and used line and colour to produce volume and and solidity of figures or forms. They usually depict a classical tale illustrating moral values in a pictorial narrative. The human figures and animals from various themes in Kandyan art are idealised.