Monuments to visit Sri Lanka

The fortress of Sigiriya is registered with the world heritage of UNESCO since 1982. The visit is recommended early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the heat.

History. In the^5th century, Dhatusena ruled over Anuradhapura. He had two sons, Mogallana and Kasyapa. In order to obtain the throne which was to be rightfully his elder brother's, Kasyapa first plotted against his father, murdered him, and then expelled Mogallana. Mogallana found refuge in India after swearing that he would return to avenge his father's death. Tormented by this idea, the regicide king quickly decided to leave Anuradhapura and settle in Sigiriya, where he built an impregnable fortress and lived a reclusive life in fear of his older brother's return. Eighteen years later, Mogallana returned at the head of an army and, despite the magnificent work, Kasyapa and his troops were unable to withstand the siege that was inflicted on them. Starving and exhausted, Kasyapa resigned himself to surrender to his brother who executed him. After having taken back the usurped throne, Mogallana abandoned Sigiriya, ephemeral capital from 477 to 495.

The royal gardens.

The path that leads to the foot of the fortress crosses pleasant gardens (water gardens, stone gardens and terraced gardens). Past the magnificent basins, one discovers fallen rocks as well as several cavities undoubtedly intended formerly to shelter monks. One of the most famous is called "Cobra Hood Cave" because of the shape of the rock that overhangs it. All these caves were recently uncovered by excavations conducted by UNESCO.

The Demoiselles of Sigiriya. These very famous rock frescoes are to be deserved, they are reached by taking an iron spiral staircase in which it is sometimes necessary to wait patiently, because the number of people who can use it simultaneously is limited. Drawn on the wall of an under-rock shelter, they represent those who were called the Damsels of Sigiriya - if it is said that Kasyapa was surrounded by a thousand courtesans, it is probably more a representation of asparas, these celestial nymphs of the Hindu religion known for their great beauty. Originally, there were some five hundred portraits of young women in the gallery halfway up the hill. Only twenty-one remain today, protected from light and weather, of which a dozen are in a remarkable state of preservation.

The mirror wall.

Continuing towards the top, one passes along a "mirror" wall (the stucco that covers it was originally so perfectly polished that one could look into it). This wall is covered with graffiti, some of which are actually prose and poems written between the 7th and 18th centuries by illustrious visitors.

The door of the lion.

We then reach a plateau where the lion's gate is located. Of the giant statue of the lion which stood guard and undoubtedly terrified the visitors, it remains only the imposing legs resting on both sides of a first staircase. It is then necessary to take again the ascent by climbing the steps of a metallic staircase sealed in the rocky wall.

The summit.

By reaching the top of the rock, at a height of 180 m, we notice that there is only little left of the palace: some foundations and a part of the staircase... Only the royal swimming pool is perfectly preserved.

A must in Jaffna, the central market offers an incomparable choice of scents and colours. This is where the heart of the city beats! Many stalls and merchants offer fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, sweets, handicrafts, clothes and utensils of all kinds. And, of course, you can taste some local specialities on the spot. Don't hesitate to deepen your visit by strolling the neighbouring streets up to Stanely Road, including the part of Kasthuria Road nicknamed Street's Jeweller: the street of the jewellers.

The four main buildings in the holy city are Thuparama Dagoba, Ruvanveliseya Stupa, Abhayagiri Dagoba and Jetawanarama Dagoba. Access and ticketing is located near the archaeological museum. There are several other ticket booths located at the various intersections around the city, and if you need a guide, please contact the museum. The distancesare relatively large between the northern part, located in Mahamevuna Park, and the central and southern part of the sacred city. It is worth considering renting a bicycle.

This viaduct, which is supported by nine massive arches, is designed for train traffic. It is located at Gotuwala, between Ella and Demodara stations. It was built in 1921, during the British colonial period and is 91.5 m long, 7.5 m wide and 24 m high. A real postcard of Sri Lanka, tourists flock to admire it and, if possible, to see a train passing by... The access from the east is relatively easy, except for the last few meters with a rather steep descent not recommended for people with reduced mobility.

Negombo is one of the largest fishing centers in the country. The morning fish market here is worth getting up early to visit. In fact, there are two markets located about 1 kilometer apart. This one is the newer of the two, the more popular one too. It was inaugurated in 2008 with the aim of developing the tourist aspect of the city. And it works, because you won't be alone wandering through its alleys from early morning. It's an exotic sight that will delight photography enthusiasts in particular.

Located on the south-eastern tip of the fort, this lighthouse is maintained by Sri Lanka Authority Ports. The original lighthouse, built in 1848 and which was the oldest in the country, was destroyed by a fire in 1934. It was rebuilt in 1938 and overlooks 27 meters sea level. It was rebuilt in 300 metres from the old lighthouse, on a rocky promontory, formerly occupied by the bastion of Utrecht. From there, it is impossible to miss a boat entering the port of Galle. A pedestrian path along the lighthouse leads to a small beach below.

It occupies an area of 22 ha and is one of the most fortified in Asia. Before it was ravaged by war, it housed a beautiful Dutch Reformed church (Groote Kerk), also in ruins.

Built in 1619 by the Portuguese on the edge of the lagoon, this fort is the second most important on the island. When Colombo was taken by the Dutch, it was here that the last Portuguese took refuge. The fort nevertheless fell on June 24, 1658, after a three and a half month siege. The fortress was reoccupied by the Dutch and underwent several successive phases of development, including the construction of the inner pentagon. The inscription 'Anno 1680' engraved above the main entrance indicates the year in which the Dutch began their reconstruction. The work lasted until 1792. On 28 September 1795, Jaffna came under the control of the British. The first operations to overthrow the Dutch began on 18 August 1795 with the capture of Trincomalee, followed by Batticaloa, Point Pedro, Jaffna and Mannar. However, 1796 is recorded as the historic year in which the British took possession of the island. The fort remained in its original state until the 1970s, despite its continued use by the British and then the Ceylon government. During the civil war, the fort changed hands several times. It was occupied by the LTTE from 1986 to 1995 and then taken over by the army in 1995, after a 50-day siege. In the end, a large part of the fortress was destroyed

The old Parliament of Colombo is a neo-baroque building inaugurated in 1930, located at the entrance of the Fort district, facing the sea. It was built during the British colonial period and was inaugurated in January 1930. Today it houses the Presidential Secretariat. It housed the Legislative Assembly until 1983, when the Parliament was moved to a new building in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. The garden in front of it houses bronze statues of Sri Lankan statesmen.

The World Trade Center (WTC Colombo or WTCC), consisting of two twin towers of 40 floors each, was the tallest building in Sri Lanka until 2017 at 152 m tall. The LLTE suicide bombing in January 1996 that killed 91 people and injured over 1,400, damaged the towers, which were under construction at the time. Inaugurated in 1997, the WTCC is the most important business centre in Colombo and the headquarters of several major national and international companies.