11 Things to Know About Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle

The Cultural Triangle is so called because it includes three major sites that form a triangle. Anuradhapura to the north, Polonaruwa to the east and Kandy to the south-west. Inside the triangle, there are other places of interest; Mihintale, Ritigala and Dambulla.

The northern part of the triangle is called Rajarata in Sinhalese, meaning King’s Land. This area was where the old Sinhalese kings lived, some constructions date back as far as 2000 years. The southern section of the triangle is Kandy where the Kandyan empire ruled between the 14th and 19th centuries. The two kingdoms are not directly related but were both Buddhist and their beliefs and religious structures permeate through history.

The ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were once capitals of the ancient Sinhalese kingdom. The first and most important was Anuradhapura, which was built in 380 BC and was abandoned due to Indian invasions in the 10th century AD. The jungle took over the building for many years until it was cleared in the 1800’s. Polonnaruwa is the second ancient capital of Sri Lanka but is much small than its predecessor. The structural remains at Polonnaruwa are in a better state as well. Both ancient Buddhist capitals are a marvel to behold and are quite different from each other. Both of these ancient capitals are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Dagobas, or stupas are large dome constructions built to house ancient relics of Buddha. There are three major dagobas in Anurhadapura, one of which is almost 3000 years old and only second in size to the pyramids of Giza. Walking next to the largest of the dagobas makes you feel small and part of the fabric of the universe. These are quite spectacular constructions that ironically just sit there as a means of contemplation.

In Sri Lanka, tanks are rainwater reservoirs either used for water collection or as bathing pools. There is a large reservoir near Polonnaruwa and several smaller ones throught out the central plains. In Sigiriya, there are plenty of tanks of all sizes, some covered in lotus flowers.

It is common for the Buddhist people of Sri Lanka to go on pilgrimage in the Cultural Triangle. Either from temple to temple inside the city of Anuradhapura or from point point in the triangle, visiting all religious sites. Foreign visitors can also undertake this pilgrimage to some extent, but they will need to dress accordingly and preferably be accompanied by a local to properly partake in the ritualistic customs.

The southern most tip of the triangle is the city of Kandy. It is in Kandy that the sacred tooth relic is kept at the Temple of the Tooth, a large temple complex full of sculptures and paintings depicting Gautama Buddha. The Temple of the Tooth and the city of Kandy are the key players in one of the most magnificent festivals of Sri Lanka, the Poya Perahera.