More paintings by Nihal D Amerasekera

More paintings by Nihal D Amerasekera

Another selection of Nihal's paintings. This is the first instalment of his latest paintings.

They are very usefully accompanied by a short description.

Taj Mahal

Taj mahal is a marble mausoleum on the banks of the yamuna river. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal completed around 1654. Shah Jehan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and was kept under house arrest at the Agra Fort from where he could see the Taj Mahal. Shah Jehan died in 1666, and he was buried next to his wife in the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal has become a prominent image that is associated with India, and in this way has become a symbol of India itself.

St Andrew’s Church in Haputale

Built in 1869, St Andrew’s Church is the oldest building in Haputale. This is an iconic structure consecrated by the Anglican Church. The altar is surrounded by stained glass windows imported from Scotland that depict the significant events in the life of Jesus. It has a marble baptismal font, imported from England, located at the entrance of the church. Rev W.S Senior’s ashes are buried in this church. He was a classical scholar from Cambridge who was once the Principal of Trinity College Kandy. He wrote the Hymn for Ceylon for which he will be forever remembered.

Stilt fishermen

Stilt fishermen are still a common site in Unawatuna and Weligama area. Although the history of fishing goes back 40,000 years stilt fishing is more recent and goes back to the 2^nd World War period. As there were food shortages people at first started fishing from shipwrecks and plane-wrecks in the sea. As they were able to catch many fish that way they went on to wooden stilts. They catch herring and mackerel. Now as the catch is dwindling this method of fishing may gradually stop with the passage of time. It remains a tourist attraction now. Personally, stilt fishing brings back many memories as my father worked in Weligama in the early 1960s.

Dambulla Cave temple 

 Dambulla Cave temple is a world heritage site. Statues and paintings within the caves remain the main attraction. The caves contain human remains 2700 years old and were inhabited by prehistoric humans before the arrival of Buddhism to the country. The Buddhist statues and paintings date back to the 1^st century BC and traditionally have been assigned as the work of Valagamba. Nissanka Mall of Polonnaruwa added 90 paintings in the year 1190.  Much of the later restoration work was done by the Kandyan Kings. The caves still remain a functioning monastery.

Buduruvagala temple

Buduruvagala is a temple from the 10^th century which is located about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Wellawaya in the Monaragala district. The temple belongs to the Mahayana school. Buduruvagala means "the rock of Buddhist Sculptures". There are 7 statues in all. The central statue is of Lord Buddha and this shows traces of orange colour remnants of the ancient paint. To the right of the Buddha are mythological figures and to the left is a consort. There is a flame shape carved into the rock. Within the shape there is a certain wetness with a mustard smell. How this liquid gets there still remains a mystery. This temple has remained a popular place of pilgrimage since ancient times.

Lynton and Lynmouth

Lynton and Lynmouth are quaint villages by the sea in North Devon. They are famous for the Cliff Railway, a water powered funicular railway. The towns are in the Exmoor National Park. The scenic beauty of the area is said to resemble the landscape of Switzerland. I would urge you to visit the area if ever you are in Devon. The painting shows the pleasantly old-fashioned houses of Lynton and Lynmouth facing the sea.