Victoria Dam (Sri Lanka)

The Victoria Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in Sri Lanka. Power is generated by three70 MW francis turbines, totalling the installed capacity to 210 MW, thus playing a significant role on the national grid.^[1] At a length of 520 m (1,706 ft), and a height of 122 m (400 ft), it is also the tallest dam in the country, while possessing the largest power station as well.^[1] The dam is located across the Mahaweli River immediately upstream of the Victoria Falls rapids

History

The construction of the dam was ceremonially inaugurated on the 14th of August 1978, by the former President Jayewardene. It commenced operations on the 12th of April 1985, and is still operating today. The main contractors were Balfour Beatty, responsible for the dam construction, and the Costan International, responsible for the construction of the power station. The dam is currently managed by the Mahaweli Project, headed by the Ceylon Electricity Board along with the Ministry of Power and Energy

Specifications

This arch dam consists of eight radial gates, each with a width and height of 12.5 m (41 ft), which automatically opens when water levels are high. The dam's gates, which needs power only to close, won an award for Innovative Design in Civil Engineering by the Institution of Civil Engineers. The total effective width of the spill-gates is 100 m (328 ft), which allows a maximum discharge capacity of 8,200 m³/s (289,580 cu ft/s). Two low-level sluices are constructed at the reservoir bed across the dam to pass silts which may accumulate behind the dam.

Kandy

Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination. ( 115kM from Colombo at 465 meters above sea level). Famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many other temples the city could be called the cultural capital of the island.

Kandy Perahera, the pageant of the temple of tooth where Buddha's tooth is kept is held either in July or August each year to parade the golden caskets is a must see itenary if one is visiting Sri Lanka during these months. The final night procession is the most spectacular event of the country. More than 50 elephants parade the city accompanied by the drummers, dancers and chieftains.

he city established in the 15th century was the last royal capital where 2500 years of royal rule ended. This bustling market town is rich in cultural diversity has plenty of iteneries to offer to the tourists from songs dances and handy crafts to ancient temples and adventure activities. Kandy is a good transit point to the cultural triangle to the north or hill country to the south. The city is also a good source of souvenirs or to experience many cultural performances at it's various hotels in the city.

Hindu Shrines

Adjacent to the Temple of the tooth are three of the four major Hindu shrines taking part in the Kandy Perahera. Shrines are dedicated to Gods Vishnu and Natha and Goddess Patthini. The forth shrine is further towards the town. Visitors to these shrines could witness the Hindu religion customs though most of the worshipers today are Buddhists. Hindu shrines taking part in the Buddhist pageant is a good example of the Sinhala and Tamil co-existence that lasted for centuries. Four of the last Sri Lankan kings were of south Indian origin. The Temple of Tooth The main attraction of the city and also the most sacred Buddhist establishment in Sri Lanka is where one of Buddha's tooth is being kept. Built in the 16th century but improvements and additions have been done to this structure until the fall of the Kandy kingdom. A golden canopy was added recently. Daily rituals are being carried out at various offering times to the shrine. A dress code applies for entering the temple. The magnificence has been enhanced by the octagonal pavilion. Other Temples Kandy is surrounded with many major Buddhist temples. On the shores of the lake are Malwaththa and Asgiri temples. Fine painted murals of Buddhist stories in these temple buildings are a good example of the arts in the Kandy period while paintings of the Hindagala temple at Peradeniya are of the 7th century. The Old Royal Palace compound Old place buildings are just beside the temple of the tooth. Among them are the old royal palace, quarters of the royal concubines; queen's chambers the council chambers and the armoury. Some of these are now being used as museums depicting the exhibits of the Kandyan era. The council chambers built in 1784 is a unique example of wooden architecture of the Kandyan period. The Kandyan Convention was signed here ceding the country to the British in 1815. the arts in the Kandy period while paintings of the Hindagala temple at Peradeniya are of the 7th century.                                                Lankatilaka Temple Lankatilake temple is a magnificent building built on rock at a scenic location which also has fine paintings. The Royal Botanical Gardens Once a pleasure gardens of a Kandyan Queen this 40ha land is a beautiful park with numerous tropical foliage and the best in the island. The Commander of the allied forces in Southeast Asia Earl Mountbatten had the headquarters in the garden during the Second World War.  Gadaladeniya Temple This 14 century temple is situated about 15Km from the town. The structure of the temple is influenced by the South Indian architecture and built on a rock. The stupa is on a high stone platform. Embekke Temples The main attraction is the intricate wooden carvings of this 14th century shrine dedicated to God Kataragama. There is also a Buddhist temple on location. Almost the entire structures of some wooden buildings are decorated with dancers, musicians, wrestlers, legendary beasts and birds. Nearby are the ruins of an ancient rest house with similar pillars carved in stone. Arts and Crafts Kandy is synonymous with arts and crafts of Sri Lanka than anywhere else in the country. It is probably because the Kandy is where all elite who patronised these crafts survived during 300 years of war with the Europeans. Kandy is probably the best place to buy most of the handicrafts produced in Sri Lanka because there are number of shops catering to the tourists. Tourists could watch local crafts coming into life at the At the Kandyan Art Association. At Kundasale, about 4km from Kandy, a village has been established recently to settle local craftsmen and their families. Visitors could watch craftmen at work and purchase their products on site. To and From Kandy Kandy is served by bus from almost all parts of the county with many intercity busses. Travel time from Colombo is about 2.5hrs and about 2 hours form Nuwara Eliya and an hour and a half from Sigiriya.  Distances From Kandy in km Colombo 116 Anuradhapura 138 Nuwara Eliya 77 Trincomalee 182 There is an intercity train service from the Colombo fort railway station and the travel time is approximately about 2 hours.There are several car rental companies operating from Kandy should your prefer to hire a car from Kandy

Anuradhapura

The history of Anuradhapura is a stirring saga’ remarked historian Lorna Dewaraja. “From a small beginnin‘g it rose to be one of the largest cities in South Asia. It was the centre of a great civilisation whose fame spread all over the civilised world. For its longevity alone it deserves serious study.’

Siran Deraniyagala says that it is unlikely that Anuradhapura started as a simple village. It was a ‘Sophisticated imposition’ on the landscape. Excavations showed that Anuradhapura was at least 10 hectares in extent, by 900 BC, probably much more. This was a considerable size for an early Iron Age settlement.

By 700-500 BC the settlement was at least 50 hectares and could be called a town. This spectacular increase in size suggests that Anuradhapura was the ‘main’ settlement of the island at the time. By 200 BC, Anuradhapura was nearly 100 hectares in extent. It was the tenth largest city in India and Sri Lanka. It was the largest city South of Ujjain. Arikemadu in Tamilnadu was a fraction of its size.

Anuradhapura was well situated. It was equidistant from the seaports to its East and West. It was within reach of the mineral rich zones of the hinterland and also of Seruwila which had copper and iron deposits. It was surrounded by irrigable and fertile reddish brown earth which could be worked by iron tools. It had deep forests right up to the coast making it defensible against invaders.

There was an advanced civilization in Anuradhapura by 900 BC. High quality pottery, iron tools and copper artifacts have emerged during excavation.

Findings indicate that there was cultivation of rice and the breeding of cattle and horses. In 100-300 centuries AD, they were using large, uniform burnt bricks for construction instead of mud, wattle and daub. A piece of pottery dated to 600-500 BC with ‘Anuradha’ written on it indicates that Anuradhapura had writing 200 years before India.

Anuradhapura became the capital of Sri Lanka during the time of Dutugemunu (161-137 BC). It was the first capital of the Sinhala Sovereign State. It continued as the capital up to the reign of Mahinda V (982-1017 AD). This means that Anuradhapura was the capital of the Sinhala king for an unbroken period of about 1,200 years. I think that this makes Anuradhapura the longest serving centre of political power in South and Southeast Asia. Maybe in the entire world.

Anuradhapura was the political and administrative centre of the Sinhala State. It was also a centre for foreign trade. Excavations in Anuradhapura have unearthed foreign coins, Mediterranean ceramics and Sassanian glazed ware. Jetavana excavations unearthed over 500,000 beads of 300 different types. There was a direct route to the main port of the island, Mantota, located near the mouth of Malvatu Oya.

Anuradhapura blossomed after it became the seat of the Sinhala king. Royal buildings came up. The ground plan of a palace near Abhaya Vava can be seen today. The royal pleasure garden, Ranmasu uyana, had summer houses, pavilions and baths. One bathing place had stone couches and water jets. Anuradhapura went on to become a cosmopolitan city. Foreign merchants and emissaries from foreign countries were housed in a separate residential quarter.

Anuradhapura was a well planned city. Roads were constructed on a grid pattern. There was a good supply of water. The entire city was served by subterranean channels connected to reservoirs. There were scavengers and sanitary assistants (‘nagara guttikas’). There were facilities such as hospitals. There were elite residential areas as well as working class suburbs. The outer city and suburbs had markets, fairs and bazaars.

Anuradhapura was the main centre of Buddhist worship in Sri Lanka. The Tooth relic and the alms bowl used by the Buddha were at Anuradhapura. The king was considered the protector of Buddhism and Buddhism was considered a protection for the king. Therefore these two sacred items were housed in a temple adjoining the royal palace. Anuradhapura contained Stupas such as Abhayagiri, Jetavana, Mirisavati and Ruvanvelisaya.

These housed relics of the Buddha. Mahavamsa makes special mention of these Stupas. They were of colossal proportions. Jetavana had a diameter of 367 feet at its base and in its ruined condition stood at a height of 232 feet. Thuparama was originally in the shape of a heap of paddy.

The Sri Maha Bodhi was brought and planted in the Mahamegahvanna garden. The leading monasteries, Mahavihara, Abhayagiri and Jetavana were in Anuradhapura.

They were internationally recognised seats of Buddhist scholarship. These monasteries also had the distinction of preserving the Upsampada tradition brought from India. Anuradhapura was an important place of pilgrimage not only for the local Buddhists, but for all Theravada Buddhists in South and Southeast Asia.