Sunday, October 28, 2012

'Kapruka Pooja', Mahiyangana Chaithya, Sri Lanka.


The Chaithya.
Carrying the stitched cloth aloft
Surrounding the Chaithya with the cloth.
The completed effort.
A 'Kapruka Pooja' - Wish fulfilling pooja - is made by surrounding the sacred Chaithya with a string of Buddhist flags stitched lengthwise. The Chaithya at Mahiyanga is said to contain the hair relic and a neck bone of Lord Buddha.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Gmwhl4h8M

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Sorabora Wewa seen from the 'look-out point' past Madugoda, Sri Lanka.

View of the Mahiyangana valley with the Sorabora Wewa.
'Look-out point'
Vehicle park
The other side of the road.

The highway leading from Hunnasgiriya to the 'look-out point' before the descent to Hasalaka by the 18 hairpin bends is a scenic panorama not to be missed. Spend some time at the 'look-out point' feeling the force of the cold wind which will drag your clothes away. Then drive down past the 18 hairpin bends leading to Hasalaka. If you want to appreciate the scenery tell the driver to go slow even though the surface of the road might tempt a higher speed.
Videos:-
Hunnasgiriya - Madugoda

An elephant  getting a ride

The 18 hairpin bends after the 'look-out point'


Friday, October 26, 2012

Hunnasgiriya, Sri Lanka.

The wayside town of Hunnasgiriya.
Looking down into the Mahiyangana valley.
The highway from Kandy to Mahiyangana on the left side of the Mahaweli Ganga crosses the Ganga at Kundasale. It goes past Pallekale, Theldeniya and climbs up to Hunnasgiriya. Then it goes downhill past Madugoda, Hasalaka to Mahiyangana. This is a beautiful drive and on a sunny day is like being in Paradise.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Statue on a hill overlooking the Dumbara valley, Sri Lanka.

Statue of Lord Buddha on a hill seen from Hunnasgiriya town  on the Kandy - Mahiyangana road.
The statue seen with the 30X zoom in operation on my Fuji HS 20 and the camera 'hand-held''.
Hunnasgiriya town is the highest point on the highway from Kandy to Mahiyangana. I saw this statue close to Madugoda, far away on the top of a hill - see the first photo. I used the 30X zoom on my camera to get a close-up - second photo

Video:-

Ascent to Hunnasgiriya from Theldeniya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U2gdcYyKKM

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Gangaramaya Raja Maha Vihara, Lewalla, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

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Bordering 'Udawaththekale' on the road to Lewalla this historic temple has a few old buildings and temple paintings of the 'Kandyan Era' of Sri Lankan history.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The Dalada Maligawa environs, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The 'Queens bath' bordering the Kandy lake across the road.. 
The promenade bordering the Kandy Lake.
The Queens bath was the building where the female members of the royal household of the Kandyan Kings went for bathing. It housed a library but is now used as a Police Station.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka, scenes.

The Audience Hall.
Incense-stick burners.
Smoke from burning incense-sticks.
Entrance and exit stairways.
The average worshipper at the Maligawa does not pause to see these sights. If you linger you will see beauty at every turn.