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For a tiny island nation, Sri Lanka sure does have an impressive past. Some of the remnants of this glorious past are housed within the National Museum of Sri Lanka, which is actually an artefact itself.
Where is it?
Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. This is where you will first be arriving in the country as the Bandaranaike International Airport is located here. The museum is about an hour away from the airport in Colombo 07 which is one of the most affluent of neighbourhoods in the country. This area is home to many a luxury Sri Lanka apartment the likes of Cinnamon Life as well as hotels, shopping malls like ODEL to other heritage sites like the Independence Memorial Hall.
History
The founder of the National Museum of Sri Lanka is a British Governor of then Ceylon by the name of Sir William Henry Gregory. Established in 1877 and was built in the graceful Italianate, colonial-style.
Visitor Information
You need to pay a small fee to gain entrance to the museum. For locals it’s just Rs. 25 (0.16 USD) while foreign visitors have to pay Rs. 500 (3.25 USD). The museum is open all 7 days except public holidays like poya days; from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
What’s There to See?
A lot! The National Museum of Sri Lanka has an amazing collection of artefacts not just from the days of kings and queens but also of the pre historic age of the country. Here’s a few of its most important attractions.
Royal Regalia
This magnificent bejewelled throne, crown and sword belongs to the last King of the Kandyan Empire, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.
The Skeleton of a Beloved Elephant
This is a skeleton of the noble Heiyantuduwa Raja, who carried the casket of the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha at the Dalada Perahera for 11 years. He was so loved by the people of the country that his skeleton is thus preserved at the museum. There’s even a complete museum dedicated to this magnificent beast at the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) in Kandy.
Much More!
In addition to the above, the National Museum holds many other wondrous artefacts such as jewel encrusted decorative royal swords and knives, beautiful jewellery worn by Sri Lankan queens and princesses, cave-paintings by Veddahs, the indigenous people of Sri Lanka; and the gigantic jaw bone of a blue whale, to name just a few.
| Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+ |
