Wherever you go, you will
find the traditional welcome -"Ayubowan"-
may you live long
IMAGES FROM SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka's
splendid beaches are among its main attractions. Her offers you
endless miles of perfect golden sand fringed by swaying coconut palms.
Favorite resorts like Negambo, Mount Lavinia, Beruwela, Bentota and
Hikkaduwa (on the west and south coasts) plus Trincomalee, Nilaveli and
Kalkudah (on the east) are everyone's idea of a tropical paradise with
temperatures in the middle 80's F.(29C.) virtually all year
round. On some beaches here you can walk
a mile into the sea.
Sri Lanka's
capital upto recent times, Colombo, is a fascinating city, not only
for a comfortable blend of east and west, but also for a cosy mixture of
the past and present. It is still the commercial centre of the country.
Situated 34 km. from the International Airport, Colombo has been a
flourishing seaport for centuries. Today the bustle of the harbour mingles
with the activity of its busy commercial, banking and shopping areas. A
half day tour covering 40 km. and including visits to a Buddhist Temple,
Hindu Temple, the Zoo and the residential areas will cost around US $ 18
for a car with a chauffeur guide.
Kandy
- The Hill Capital of Sri Lanka nestling among the misty hills in
the central region of this paradise island is undoubtedly one of
the most beautiful cities in the world. It was here once
the Sinhala kings ruled majestically. As the shrine holding the
sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is placed in the heart of the city,
it's also the most venerated city in Sri Lanka. Kandy is also the venue of the Esala Perahera, easily the most
colourful pageant of Asia, held in July/August each year, in honour of the
tooth Relic. As the pagentry of the Esala Perahera unfolds through ten
nights each year, the city takes on the air of a torch-lit dreamland,
complete with a hundred or more colourfully caparisoned elephants,
drummers, dancers, and chieftains in the rare colourful trappings of the
old kingdom.
The jungles of Sri Lanka abound in
a variety of wildlife, which is surprising for an island of its
size in the tropics. From ancient days the elephants and peacock from the
Sri Lankan jungles were prize exports to the Kingdoms of East and West.
But apart from these well known examples of the fauna, a visit to the Sri
Lankan jungles is to enter a whole new world where nature has largely
stayed still. There are four majour national parks.Of these the best known
is Ruhunu National Park,at Yala,in the deep South of the island.The other
well known national park,at Wilpattu,is at present closed due to the
prevailing conditions in the North of the island.There are also two other
national parks at Inginiyagala and Udawalawe.
Sigiriya, in fact, should have been classed as one of the
Wonders of the Ancient World, long ago, and there is now a proposal to
name it as the Eighth Wonder of the world. Perhaps, it is better late than
never!. Sri Lanka's ancient architectural tradition is well portrayed at
Sigiriya, the best preserved city centre in Asia from the first
millennium, with its combination of buildings and gardens with their
trees, pathways, water gardens, the fusion of symmetrical and asymmetrical
elements, use of varying levels and of axial and radial planning.
Sophisticated city planning was at the heart of Sigiriya, this royal
citadel of ancient fame from the days of Sri Lanka's memorable
past.
Discover Sri
Lanka's rich culture in her ancient cities as follows; Polonnaruwa
is the archeologist's paradise. Sigiriya known as the Lion Rock is an
ancient citadel. Anuradhapura, the Sri Lanka's first capital, founded in
the 5th century B.C. is situated 206 km. from Colombo. Attractions worth
seeing are:- The Sacred Bo Tree, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanaramaya, Brazen
Palace, Thuparama Dagaba, Samadhi Buddha, Kuttam Pokuna and Mirisavati
Dagaba. Mihintale Situated 11 km. east of
Anuradhapura, regarded as the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Like
Sigiriya, Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here that King
Valagam Bahu took refuge in the 1st century B.C.
Anuradhapura
205 km from Colombo is Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first capital
founded about the 4th century BC. According to the Mahavansa, the Sinhala
Buddhist chronicle, the city was a model of planning. Precincts were set
aside for huntsmen and scavengers and even heretics and foreigners.This
sacred city was established around a cutting from the "tree of
enlightenment", Buddha's fig tree, brought there in the 3rd century B.C.
by Sanghamitta, the founder of an order of Buddhist nuns. Anuradhapura, a
Ceylonese political and religious capital that flourished for 1,300 years,
was abandoned after an invasion in 993. Hidden away in thick jungle for a
long time, the splendid site, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments,
is once again accessible.
Halt! A large
herd of sixty two elephants crossing the main road! A herd of sixty
two? Yes. It is true. It is the Pinnawala herd proceeding to the river for
its daily dip in water; You see the largest herd of elephants in captivity
in the world just now. This is a unique experience for a visitors becouse
it is the only place in the entire planet earth where one can see such a
large herd of captive elephants comprised of weeks old babies to fifty
year parents and grand parents. Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage, deep in the
tropical hill country, the motherless calves are raised by dedicated human
foster parents who ply them with bottled milk five times a day, and an
occasional swig of beer, in an effort to help preserve Asia's dwindling
wild-elephant population.
Sri Lanka has
a rich and varied heritage of traditional arts and crafts. The
Products of age -old techniques, tools and of Natural, indigenous raw
materials. Sri Lanka's handicrafts are fashioned in the cortèges of
craftsmen and women or in rural craft centres and incorporate a legacy of
centuries of inbred skill. The ancient Indo-Aryan social system of Sri
Lanka assigned certain trades and pursuits to specific socio-economic
groups or castes; it was within these castes that traditional skills were
preserved with a high degree of purity and a distinct ethnic
identity.
Until the 1860’s the main crop produce on the island of Sri Lanka,
then Ceylon, was coffee. But in 1869, the coffee-rust fungus, Hemileia
vastatrix, killed the majority of of the coffee plants and estate owners
had to diversify into other crops in order to avoid total ruin. The owners
of Loolecondera Estate had been interested in tea since the late
1850’s and in 1866, James Taylor, a recently arrived Scot, was selected to
be in charge of the first sowing of tea seeds in 1867, on 19 acres of
land.
The gems of
Sri Lanka are woven in to his history. The Mahavansa, the ancient
chronicle of Sri Lanka too mentioned about gems and jewellery.
Indeed, the lord Buddha himself is sad to have had to come to Sri Lanka
from India to settle a dispute between two kings, Chulodara and Mahodara,
over a throne of gems. King Solomon is reported to have had gems brought
from this island to win the heart of beautiful Queens. The great traveler,
Marco Polo, Was said to have been so awe struck by a priceless ruby in the
possession of the king of Sri Lanka that he recorded it as been “ span in
length, with out a flaw, brilliant beyond compare.
[104 km
towards the countryside from Colombo] takes one to one of the remaining
rain forests in the world; Singha Raja Forest. It holds an
incomparable value in preserving the most patriarchal trees in the world.
There are trees that are estimated to be more than 200 years of age. A
hike to the summit of the Singhe Gala would inevitably be a great
experience. A view from the top gives a glorious spectacle of the adjacent
areas of the thick jungle. The best known gateway to the forest, starts
from Rathnapura [101 km from Colombo.] the City of Jewels.
Sri Pada
(Adam's Peak) Is a holy mountain (7,362 feet) and pilgrims climb to
worship the hollow foot print set on an oblong platform claimed to be
human. It is venerated by the Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists.The pilgrims
follow a number of unique traditions in their ascent. They climb through
the night to reach the summit at dawn to view the spectacular sunrise. At
the summit a bell clangs unceasingly, reverently tolled by an old man.
The area identified as the South
closely resembles that of the ancient Ruhuna - the centre of a
flourishing civilization.. It comprises the Southern Province, a large
part of the Uva Province and small parts of the Sabaragamuwa & Eastern
Provinces. It covers 44 DS Divisions. A vast potential for the development
is provided by the outstanding diversity of the physical and human
resources in the South, much of which has yet to be fully utilised. The
biggest potential of the South, however, is the highly educated and
enterprising human resource. The region of Ruhuna was in ancient times the
centre of a flourishing civilization. The cultural and economic centres of
ancient Sri Lanka, Magama, Tissamaharama and Mahanagakula were established
here.
The road
from Colombo to the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa passes
through Kurunegala. The special about Kurunegala is the huge rocks
that encroach on the city from all sides and the city is centered on a
lake. Kurunegala is best known for its large coconut plantations, paddy
fields.
(more about)
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Nuwara
Eliya [193 km from Colombo] is the wooded basin of the mountain
Piduruthalagela, and even today after many decades since the British had
left, it looks like a piece of the English Lake District with Tudor Style,
Victorian homes across a pretty blue lake. Superb walks, drives and
exceptionally good golf on the 18 hole course is one of the best in Asia.
Its average temperature is around 10 degrees Celsius. Ever-stretching
greeny gardens sunned with flowers
(more about)
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[398 km]
From Colombo, the country's northern tip. Jaffna peninsula has many
scenic beaches, coraline coast, off shore islets which is vastly different
from the rest of the island. The best known beaches are Casuarina,
Santhakulam and Thondaimannar. Manalkadu - a miniscule desert is a place
not to be missed.
(more about)
IMAGES FROM SRI LANKA
238 km from
Colombo] Its cascade is a spectacular scenery in the hill country. Flower,
fruit and vegetable gardens are scattered around the town. Few kilometres
away from Bandarawela the Hakgala Strict Natural Reserve is set. It
contains several unique species of animal and bird life. At the very foot
of the peak of Hakgala lies the famous Hakgala Botanical Gardens. Dunhidha
falls smokes its water in secluded wilderness few miles away from the town
of Bandarawela.
(more
about)
IMAGES FROM SRI LANKA
On the high
way of Colombo- Pollonnaruwa, just after Dammbulla, there lies a thick,
dense jungle called Habarana. It holds many important animal lives,
typical of a temperate region.
(more
about)
IMAGES FROM SRI LANKA
The famous
turtle hatchery operated by the Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka is
situated at Kosgoda in the southwest coast of the country. The
vulnerable eggs of several endangered species of turtle are hatched
under suitable conditions to minimize the attacks of the predators if left
to be hatched on the shore.
(more
about)
E C O - T O U R
I S M
Visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is becoming one
of the most popular places for vacationing of eco-tourism.
Tourism is changing
rapidly as nature, heritage, and recreational destinations become more
important, and as conventional tourism is forced to meet tougher
environmental requirements.
Eco-tourism focuses on
local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and
learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. It is typically
defined as travel to destinations where the flora, fauna, and cultural
heritage are the primary attractions
Visit Sri Lanka
Visit Sri Lanka
Visit Sri
Lanka
About Me,
I'm Thilak Edirisinghe
from Sri Lanka. I'm an Web site Designer & Developer, Living in
Panadura very close by the city of Colombo.
This is the my one of the successfully attempt of developing the web site
and to visit my another development sites pls. visit my home page www.oocities.org\eadthilak.
I'm working computer field in the private organization & in the
mean-time very interesting to web related activities.
My hobbies are Cricket, Singing, traveling, making friends and
social services, like helping to poor people to build up their lives.
If you need, you can contact me for any type of requirement relating to the
Sri Lanka. My favorite one is Tour Guiding of Sri Lanka.
(my Country)
