Mankulam to Murikandy on the A9 highway, Sri Lanka.

A9 highway past Mankulam.

Road hazard cattle, A9 highway past Mankulam.

'Murikandy Pillayaar Kovil'.

Rubbing the dried log of a 'Sandal-wood' tree to obtain paste to apply a 'Pottu' on the forehead. This is a part of the ritual of worship at this temple. 

'Murikandy' (breaking the journey to Kandy from Jaffna in the old bullock cart days) acts even now as a place where travelers break their journey. An offering and 'poosai' is made to 'Lord Pillayaar' the guardian diety who prevents obstacles (hence his name 'Vikkinaraasaa')

Click on the web-link below to see more photos:-
http://youtu.be/9imAkTN4kJ4

Vavuniya to Mankulam, a 'photo-journey', Sri Lanka..

Carrying chopped firewood by bicycle on the A9 highway.

A Hindu Kovil being renovated.

The train to Kilinochchi from Colombo Fort.

A school being rebuilt at 'Kanakaraayan Kulam'.

Click on web-link below to see a series of stills taken by me on this stretch of the journey:-

http://youtu.be/wNl4Z0S9jeY

Photo-journey, Mihinthale to Vavuniya.

Turn off to Mihinthale on the A9 highway.

Medhawachchiya town.

Bullock cart in Medhawachchiya.

A9 highway

Click on web-link below to see more photos:-

http://youtu.be/Tc_Oqy-_Vx4

At the Museum, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka.

Stamps depicting Sigiriya and its artifacts.

Post-card and Currency notes depicting Sigiriya.

Currency notes and wall calenders depicting Sigiriya.

Pidurangala monastery, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka.

Sign post directing to Pidurangala.

Sigiriya rock seen from 'Pidurangala Monastery premises.

Entrance to the cave temple.

Ruins of the old monastery.

A couple of kilo

'A couple of kilometres north of Sigiriya, another large rock outcrop is home to the Pidurangala Royal Cave Temple. According to tradition, the monastery here dates from the arrival of Kassapa, when the monks who were then living at Sigiriya were relocated to make room for the king’s palace; Kassapa constructed new dwellings and a temple here to recompense them. It’s a pleasant short bike or tuktuk ride to the foot of Pidurangala rock: head down the road north of Sigiriya and continue for about 750m until you reach a modern white temple, the Pidurangala Sigiri Rajamaha Viharaya (about 100m further on along this road on the left you’ll also find the interesting remains of some old monastic buildings, including the ruins of a sizeable brick dagoba). Steps lead steeply up the hillside behind the Pidurangala Viharaya to a terrace just below the summit of the rock (a stiff 15min climb), where you’ll find the Royal Cave Temple itself, although despite the rather grand name there’s not much to see apart from a long reclining Buddha under a large rock overhang, its upper half restored in brick. The statue is accompanied by figures of Vishnu and Saman and decorated with very faded murals'.

http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/sri-lanka/cultural-triangle/sigiriya-around/pidurangala-royal-cave-temple/

Sigiriya, parts of the terraced garden, Sri Lanka.

The plan of the terraced garden below the rock.

A gateway using the natural contour of large rocks.

A stone stairway.

Steps cut on rocks.

Sigiriya is an archelological site in North Central Sri Lanka. It contains the ruins of an ancient palace complex, built during the regin of King Kasyapa (477AD – 495 AD). It is one of the 7 world heritage sites in Sri Lanka and is one of it’s most popular tourist destinations. The Sigiriya site consistes of a 180m tall granite rock, whose sides are so steep that at some points the top overhangs the base. At the top of the site there is a palace complex. The ruines of various chambers, stairways and pools can be seen at the top. There is a stone stairway leading from the base to the top of the mountain. About half way to the top, there is a pair giant pair of lions paws which is infact the ruind of a huge head of a lion whose open mouth served as the entrance to the royal palace. Surrounding the palace complex are the ruins of a garden complex consisting of two moats, various pools. http://amazinglanka.com/wp/sigiriya/

Click on the web-link below:-

http://wikitravel.org/en/Sigiriya

My photos:-

http://youtu.be/4AgiKN4HEGg

Sights inside 'Hotel Sigiriya', Sri Lanka.

Flower petals in a stone basin.

A corridor.