Srilanka 5[ contd ]

From Dambula-Sigiriya we left for Anuradha pura-which is the most celebrated of the ancient ruined cities of the island the most treasured are the Dagbas- monastry's consrtucted with small sundrues bricks hemisphrical in shape the most notable is the Ruvanaveli which dates back to the 2nd century BC & i9s 300 ft in diameter. The Jetavanarama is 370 ft& the Thuparama which enshrines the collar bone of of the Buddha

the cities most renowned is the sacred BO tree grown from the original branch of the tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment brought from India by Sangamitra -daughter of King Ashok

She was also responsible to introduce Buddhism to the island it was planted 2200 yrs ago but in the recent Bomb blast by the LTTE the tree got destroyed

we stayed overnight at Hotel in Anuradha pura

The Government plans to bring another branch from the original tree from India & replace it.

PINNAVALA 05/09/10

This ia a elephant orphanage established on n1975 & has more than 65 elephants grand parents children & their babies It was fun watching then having a bath in the rivers the babies are bottle fed -the visitors can feed then by buying tickets They are fed 7 litres of milk at a time 5 times a day apart from solid food too it was fun watching them

to be contd