Gangaramaya Buddhist Monastery, Lewalla, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

A 'Dewalaya'

The 'Bo Tree'

Inside the Gangaramaya temple on the road to Lewalla, Kandy. This is a very old temple bordering Udawaththakale on the side of the Mahawely Ganga. It has a lovely view of the valley below. It also has some paintings of the Kandyan period of Sri Lankan history.

The trinket seller, Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

As an early teenager he had picked up a cigarette tin lying in the childrens' park bordering the Kandy Lake in the year 1971. As there was a rattling noise inside he had thought that there was a rat inside the tin and smashed it on a rock. The 'cigarette tin' exploded and he lost his thumb. It was the aftermath of the 1971 JVP insurgency. This must have been a hurriedly discarded 'cigarette tin hand-bomb' made by the JVP activists who used these during the insurrection of 1971.  He earns his living as a seller of trinkets on the outskirts of the Dalada Maligawa. He seemed a happy man and said that he had married off his children and his burdens in life have eased off.

Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Moat at the entrance to the Dalada Maligawa

A stone cutting on the wall - Guardian Deity

The aesthetic sense of the designer of the Dalada Maligawa is well represented by these pictures.

Scenes at the Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

A water cistern of stone donated to the Maligawa,

The 'Audience Hall of the former Kings of Kandy.

Wetting the flowers to be used as offerings.

Bell and water bowl made of brass.

The Audience Hall was where the articles of the agreement by the Kandyan Chiefs with the conquering British was signed. It was later used as the venue of the Supreme Courts.

'Dhaana Salaawa' - Alms-giving hall, Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Row of statues of Lord Buddha.

More statues.

Paintings depicting the landmarks in the life of Lord Buddha.

The size of the hall.

This hall adjoins the building housing the Sacred Tooth Relic and is used in the alms-giving ceremony to the Buddhist monks. It is filled with statues of Lord Buddha. Note the 'inverted lotus' design on the supporting columns. There are pictures depicting landmarks in the life of the Buddha lining the walls.