Black Avatare

Extras I · The Real City Behind the Story

The imagined world in the story is based on a very real city—Kandy.

Sri Lanka has a documented history of 3,000 years, during which 9 successive kingdoms existed. The last of these was the Kingdom of Kandy.

Much of its territory lay in the center of the country, which is mountainous and densely forested. The routes to the city were kept secret, and to this day, Kandy is hemmed in with hills and forest. It's now a World Heritage Site.

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Yep, this is my city. My school's located next to that lake.

Sri Lankan monarchs are known for engineering feats—such as stupas (huge shrines), rock fortresses and massive lakes to cultivate acres of paddy fields. The kings of Kandy built the city's iconic lake, as well as the Temple of the Tooth Relic within the palace complex—one of the most sacred places in the Buddhist world.

The monarchs promoted art, crafts and literature. Temples were built with ornate wood carvings that incorporate elements such as elephants, eagles, swans, lotuses and the endemic binara flower. A common motif is the liyaval (ලියවැල්)—a graceful pattern with flowers and vines. Craftsmen engrave it into brassware, such as traditional vases and oil lamps. Another architectural feature from ancient times is the moonstone—a semicircular stone slab with intricate carvings.

Even in modern times, Kandy is famous for traditional handicraft. Artisan villages still exist in the outskirts of the city.