Citadel

'Citadel' is another word I love, like 'dilapidated' (and there's plenty of that here too). It's one of those terms that feels loaded with historical intrigue, like 'labyrinth,' 'catacombs' and 'Maharajah.' Or maybe these words just take me back to early-90s dungeon quest Amiga games. Either way it felt very satisfying to be wading through overgrown fields and discovering parts of Anuradhapura's forgotten city.

At least it feels forgotten compared to the likes of Angkor in Cambodia. I didn't have to make use of odd angles and strategic cropping to avoid the tourists this time - no one was here except me and my monkeys.

Ancient Citadel,

Anuradhapura

This place was the capital of the Sinhalese Kingdom for the best part of 2,000 years, so they got through plenty of kings. A lot of them wanted their own palaces, so you can't walk too far inside these sixteen square miles without bumping into palace ruins and baths. Boy, did these guys like taking baths.

This one even seems to have been custom made

Royal baths at Magul Uyana

Twin baths at Kuttam Pokuna

Royal palace at Thuparamaya

Vessagiri

Gedige

Original Temple of the Tooth, before this sacred relic that definitely exists was relocated to Kandy, where it now definitely resides inside that casket that no one's allowed to look inside ever

Buddha at Asokaramaya, the ancient... um...

Sorry, I got distracted by the peacock

Still distracted

First class dilapidation at Asokaramaya

Old stone bridge across the Yodha Ela. (Yodha? Dagoba? Looks like someone lazily leafed through a book on ancient Sinhala civlisation when writing The Empire Strikes Back)

Note: Do not drive over this, you will drown

This will have been something or other.

I've told you before, I'm not Tony Robinson

UNESCO likes to put its stamp down, but I never see them doing very much

Another work-in-progress

Western monastery

Monks' toilet. Amusing, obviously, and interesting, but a little strange just how much time and care has clearly been put into restoring this, compared to other structures.

I'm not insinuating that someone involved with UNESCO and the Department of Archaeology's restoration efforts is a massive pervert or anything

Termite palace. While the transient splendour of humanity's mightiest citadels crumble into ruin, nature's overlooked... fortresses... I don't know what point I'm making

Oh look, langurs