Labels

Overcoming challenges for persons with disabilities through travel

 when persons with #disabilities  #travel to another location, especially if it is unknown, you are forcing your brain to deal with a continuous problem-solving process and overcoming challenges. Traveling mainly requires learning and memorizing the unknown until it becomes normal and familiar. This is a challenge for  the brain and is like intense training. It is important to train and stimulate the brain because, over time, the more connections mean the greater cognitive reserve, thus making your brain more resistant to age-related decline or the symptoms of neurological disorders.

Manique Gunaratne created the opportunity for a group of persons with #disabilities to visit the #Nishshanka Latha Mandapaya in Polonnaruwa in January 2022.

Nishshanka Latha Mandapaya is a unique structure in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. A màndapa is a pillared structure that is open on all sides and protects the person(s) inside from the sun with a roof. By definition, as of the 20th century, mándapas, as temporary structures, are built inside a house or a building and serve as recitation platform during remembrance ceremonies for the dead.

Built by King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196) and named after him, it is located near the western entrance of the Dalada Maluva, the area that contains the oldest and most sacred monuments in the city. A nearby stone inscription identifies this as the building used by Nissanka Malla to listen to pirith (chanting of Buddhist scriptures)

The structure is an elevated stone platform with a number of stone columns and surrounded by a low stone wall. These stone columns are the unique feature about the Nissanka Latha Manadapaya, since they are carved in a manner that is found nowhere else in the country. The eight granite columns are arranged in two rows, with four in each row. Presumably used to support a roof, each of them is approximately 8 feet 4 inches (2.54 m) in height. In each of these columns, the crown is carved in the shape of a blossoming lotus bud. The rest of the column is elaborately carved to resemble the stem of the flower.Unlike stone columns commonly seen in the architecture of this period, these are not straight, but are curved in three places. According to archaeologist Senarath Paranavithana, the stone columns at the Nissanka Latha Mandapaya are the best examples of this feature of ancient Sri Lankan architecture.

At the center of the platform, flanked by the stone columns, appears a small stupa. This is also made from stone, but the top part of it has been destroyed. Its base is decorated with a carved design. The platform is surrounded by a stone railing. The structure is entered through a single stone doorway. In contrast to the elaborately carved stone pillars, these have an undecorated and plain finish.

 

Ancient stone pillars and a small stupa on a raised platform, photographed against the setting sun. The pillars are weathered and irregular in shape, some with carvings visible on their surfaces. The sunlight creates dramatic shadows on the stone platform, highlighting the texture and age of the structure. In the background, there are lush green trees and a partially cloudy blue sky, enhancing the historic and serene atmosphere of the place. The overall scene suggests a sacred or archaeological site, possibly in a tropical or subtropical location.

Be My AI Be My AI: Stone staircase with uneven, weathered steps and old mossy brick walls on either side. Several people are walking up the stairs. Two men in red shirts and blue jeans are in the foreground, while a group of people wearing light-colored clothing are further up. Sunlight filters through the trees above, creating a bright, natural ambiance at the top. The setting has an ancient or historic feel.

Group of women and a young girl walking up a stone staircase outdoors. The people are dressed in modest clothing: three women in white outfits, one woman in purple, and a young girl in a pink dress with a striped skirt. Some of the women are wearing face masks, and one is carrying a colorful shoulder bag. The stone walls on either side of the steps are old and covered with patches of moss. The lighting suggests it is either early morning or late afternoon. The atmosphere appears serene, possibly suggesting a visit to a historical or religious site.

Woman standing in front of ancient stone ruins. The woman is wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and a white skirt, holding a colorful item in her left hand, and has a small black shoulder bag. She stands on a stone pathway with grass to the side. Behind her, there is a structure made of weathered stone pillars and beams, with historic architectural features. To the left of the woman, there is an informational plaque mounted on large stones. The plaque contains several lines of text in English as well as other scripts, though the sunlight partially obscures much of the writing. In the background, the sky is bright and partly cloudy, with sunlight casting a strong backlight and lens flare across the scene. Trees can also be seen in the distance. The overall atmosphere suggests a visit to a historical or archaeological site.



#Manique Gunaratne

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon,

385 J3 Old Kotte Road,

Rajagiriya,

Sri Lanka.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment