Ancient Cities
Sri
Lanka's so-called cultural
triangle stands on its point on Kandy,
the last Singhalese capital. Within this area are the great sites of ancient
Lanka: at top left is Anuradhapura,
the first capital, where centuries of kings built ever-larger domed monuments
to Buddha. Nearby is Mihintale, a monastic city that grew up around the cave
that sheltered the first disciple of Buddhism, Mahinda. The medieval capital,
Polonnaruwa, is further south. It contains complete buildings and colossal rock
sculptures. In the middle is Sigiriya, where a usurper built his royal palace
on top of a loaf-shaped rock. Any one of these four sites is enough to impress
even the most worldly traveller, taken together they are overwhelming.
