Architecture of Sri Lanka

Sinhala

Ancient name of Sri Lanka

Southern tip of India

Where Sri Lanka located?

Wet Areas

Clay for bricks, roof tiles and pottery is for dry areas?

Wet Areas

Stones (Granite, limestone, laterite and sandstone)

Wet Areas

Soft and hardwood timber, bamboo, grasses, for thatch and mats, and coconut trees

Dry Areas

Teak, satin, and other beautiful hardwoods

Cool and invigorating

What climate has central wet region

Heavy rainfall and high humidity

What kind of climate has low-lying hot wet zone in the south and southwest

Dry hot zone in the north and east

Early civilization vast irrigation tanks were built to conserve rain water

Low-lying hot wet zone in the south and southwest

Buildings were solid-walled with wide projecting eaves and verandahs and steep pitched roofs (rain and sun)

BUDDHISM

Known as Dharma-Dipa, the island of the Buddhist doctrine.

Mahinda Thera

Introduced by the missionary son of Ashoka, ____________________ in the reign of King Devanampiyatissa 3rd c. BC.

Sacred Bodhi Tree

Planted in Anuradhapura by Sanghamitta Thera (daughter) considered as one of the oldest trees in the world.

Sacred Bodhi Tree

Considered as one of the oldest trees in the world.

Sanghamitta Thera (daughter)

Who planted Sacred Bodhi Tree?

Adam’s Peak

Vertical and unmoving, established as the stable pivot around which the universe revolves — AXIS MUNDI

Axis Mundi

Vertical and unmoving, established as the stable pivot around which the universe revolves

Mountain

It is also the horizontal axis, grounding the gathered creative cosmic energy radiating it out in all direction

Adam’s Peak

Mountain is also the horizontal axis, grounding the gathered creative cosmic energy radiating it out in all directions.

Sree Padafoot (Sacred Foot Print)

Mark of Lord Shiva; for Buddhists, it is the foot print of Lord Buddha; Muslims and some Christians believe Adam first stepped down onto earth.

Sinhalese

Claim to be the earliest colonizers of Sri Lanka, first settling in the dry north-central regions as early as 500 BC

Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa

Between the 3rd c BC. and 12th c AD. - developed a great civilization centered around the cities of ________________ and ____________________.

Hydraulic Engineering

Construction of water tanks (reservoirs) and irrigation canals.

Anuradhapura Period

First capital

Anuradhapura Period

One of the most progressive centers of political power and urban life in South Asia - popular as ritual and administrative center.

Sigiraya

Sinhalese King Kassapa I (6th c.) created a city in a rock hill, _____________.

Anuradhapura Period

Abandoned in 1017 AD.

Anuradhapura Period

Significant in Hindu legend as the fabled capital of the Asura King Ravana in the Ramayana

Polonnaruwa Period

Invaded and occupied by Cholan (South India).

Polonnaruwa Period

Capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 AD to reunite the country.

Polonnaruwa Period

Also called as Jananathamangalam during the short Chola reign.

Polonnaruwa Period

is Anuradhapura Period called as Jananathamangalam?

Polonnaruwa Period

City was built by King Parakrama Bahu “The Great” (12th c.).

Polonnaruwa Period

Palaces, monasteries, temples, parks, lakes and irrigation works

Polonnaruwa Period

Series of impermanent settlements (13th -15th c.)

Kandyan Period

Divided into several kingdoms with its capital at Kandy.

British

Succeeded in annexing the Kandyan kingdom in 1815 until 1947 (Independence)-Colonial Georgian and Colonial Classic

Natural

Architectural Character

Rock Cut

Architectural Character

Based on Buddhist Principles

Architectural Character

Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa

Relationship between building and landscape very important

Polonnaruwa

Expansion of temple to enshrine colossal Buddha statue

Polonnaruwa

Temples with interior corridors and processional areas

Kandyan

City placed on a hill

Anuradhapura

• Brick work

• White Plastered Walls

Polonnaruwa

• Red Brick

• Lime Plastered

Kandyan

• Mostly Timber

• Painted Walls

Dwarapalas

Door Keepers

Polonnaruwa

Windows with lacquered wood bars, carved timber doorways

Anuradhapura

Earliest remains are natural rock chambers built for hermits -with drip ledges to carry away rainwater; these later developed with walls to form enclosure (rock temples)

Rock Temples

Earliest remains are natural rock chambers built for hermits -with drip ledges to carry away rainwater; these later developed with walls to form enclosure.

Polonnaruwa

Development of a STUPA covered by a roof.

Kandyan

Roofs high pitched with wide eaves, slightly curved; finished with terra cotta tiles and eaves tiles with bas reliefs.

Kandyan

Is Polonnaruwa has a high pitched with wide eaves roof?

Anuradhapura

Square or Octagonal Sections

Anuradhapura

Capital is hexagon vase and abacus.

Polonnaruwa

Pillared Buildings

Polonnaruwa

Lotus Motifs

Kandyan

Timber columns

Polonnaruwa

4 entrances for a stupa at cardinal points

Polonnaruwa

Colossal Statues of the Buddha

Kandyan

Richly carved with traditional motifs: lions, lotus, geese, etc

Dagoba/Dagaba

Places to store ashes of monks who were cremated

Paddy-heap

Bell

Bubble

Pot

Sigiraya

Rising 200 m. from the plain Sigiraya - most remarkable of all of Sri Lanka’s former cities

Sigiraya

Palace was build surrounded by boulders and water gardens. A unique fortress with 1200 steps

Sigiraya

Series of paintings of beautiful women underneath the ruins of a magnificent palace on the top of an enormous rock.

Monastery Of Mahintale

Stands on a hill top 300 m.

Monastery Of Mahintale

Mahinda Thera, Emperor Asoka’s son preached to the court in 3rd c.

Monastery

Regarded as cradle of Sinhalese Buddhism

Monastery Of Mahintale

Large number of large steps were constructed to climb Mihintale. Stairway has 1840 steps made of granite, leading to the summit.

Courtyard

Which is not part of Buddhist Monastery

• Temple

• Dagoba – Focal point of the monastery

• Bhodi-gara – shrine enclosing a sacred Bodhi Tree

• Halls for ceremonies, meditation and preaching

• Courtyard

• Priory

• Ponds and bathing places for drinking and ablution

Stupa

Is Dagoba/Dagaba called?

Tagong Temple

Which one is not of Temple in Sri Lanka

• Lankatilleke Temple

• Tagong Temple

• Embekke Temple

• Dalada Maligawa

Bodnath

Which one is not part of Dagoba/Dagaba?

• Thuparama

• Ruwanveliseya

• Abhayagiri

• Jetavanaram

• Bodnath

• Kiri Vihara

• Watadage

Adam’s Peak

Religiously significant mountain.