With Buddhism introduced in Sri Lanka during the 3rd Century BCE, heritage sites with cultural significance are present in this island nation. Buddhism is one of the major religions in the world and was instilled by Gautama Buddha, which was introduced in Sri Lanka by the son of the Great Emperor Asoka.
Buddhist shrines
Kandy in Sri Lanka has at least eight Buddhist shrines. Travel & cultural enthusiasts flock to Buddhist monasteries and temples to know more about Buddha, his disciples & Buddhism. These are referred to as Buddhist heritage sites due to their cultural significance.
Interesting facts………
Have you heard of Pali?
Disciples of Buddha along with Buddhist monks used to inscribe information & knowledge obtained from lessons, in Pali literature on rocks and leaves. These can be still seen here on the heritage sites. One famous temple which houses a majority of Pali literature is Aluvihare Rock Temple.
Let’s meet Theravada Buddhist Monks
Theravadas are the largest sect of Buddhist monks as this was formed by merging three subdivisions. The sect of Buddhist monks seen in Sri Lanka belong to this class. Since, they are around for a very long time, right from the inception of Buddhism these monks are the best to know anything & everything about Buddhism.
Exploring Caves, a fun thing to do
There are several Buddhist temples inside caves, with a peaceful environment attached to it. These caves used to be meditation places for Buddhist disciples & all those who loved to practice Buddhism. Meditation is a way of life for them, and during the initial days of Buddhism, people used to meditate to gather divine knowledge and attain salvation. These cave temples are mostly seen in Dambulla. UNESCO has recognized these as World Heritage Sites.
How high can be a temple?
The Buddhist temples in Bandagiriya, Hambantota are atop the highest peaks of mountains in this region. Travel enthusiasts come to this place very often as these temples are quite old and are considered to be some of the early temples of Buddhism.
Serene royal tranquility
Several Buddhist meditation caves built-in the form of one temple on top of a big rock called Pindurangala awes the travelers with the beautiful serene natural environment that engulfs this temple & caves. People attain a tranquil state, which helps them to know more about themselves and can do a proper soul search. This cave temple is a must-visit for everyone.
Haven of temples
A spiritual site known as Minhtale is home to several temples that are big and small. This is a true spiritual site in Sri Lanka, which gives proper evidence of Buddhism achieving its peak.
Tooth temple
A temple with Buddha’s teeth remains. This place is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Wesak
Wesak is a festival for celebrating the entire life of Lord Buddha, who is the founding father of Buddhism.
With our dedicated team in Sri Lanka, we at Shorexcursions ASIA makes sure you enjoy these heritage sites & much more, on your one day trip to this beautiful island nation.
