Dambadeniya
Dambadeniya ( Sinhala දඹදෙණිය ) is an archaeological site in the Northwest Province (Wayamba) of Sri Lanka . The fortified city, which can still be visited today as a ruin, served as the capital of Sri Lanka in the middle of the 13th century. The site is located 31 km from Kurunegala , today's capital of the Northwest Province, on the main Kurunegala – Negombo road .
history
Dambadeniya gained influence in the 13th century. King Vijayabahu III. (1232-36) chose the city as the capital, as Polonnaruwa was repeatedly threatened by invasions. He had fortifications, walls and gates built on the top of the Dambadeniya rock. The city was also protected by a moat, swamp and other ramparts around the royal palace. Under King Parakramabahu II (1236–70), the Dambadeniya kingdom reached the height of its short-lived power. Parakramabahu poetic masterpieces " Kavisilumina " and " Visuddi Marga Sannasa " also mark a turning point in Sinhala literature.
architecture
All that remains of the palaces are ruins and foundations. Excavations have partially uncovered the remains of the Temple of the Tooth Relic of the Buddha , the King's Palace, gardens, moats and city walls. In the two-story Tooth Temple there are still some Buddha statues in the shape of the Vijayasundararamaya and wall paintings from the 18th century.
Individual evidence
literature
- Amaradasa Liyanagamage: The decline of Polonnaruwa and the rise of Dambadeniya. Department of Cultural Affairs, Government Press, Colombo, Sri Lanka 1968.
Web links
Coordinates: 7 ° 22 ′ 2 ″ N , 80 ° 8 ′ 48 ″ E