Discover-SriLanka

DISCOVER - SRI LANKA: PROLOGUE

IN PRAISE OF MY BEAUTIFUL ISLAND,

INFORMATION, PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO.

THE 13th CENTURY VENETIAN TRAVELER MARCO POLO DESCRIBED THE ISLAND AS 'THE JADE PENDANT IN THE INDIAN OCEAN'. THE ABUNDANCE OF GEMSTONES, SPICES, RAIN FORESTS AND WILDLIFE; THE MAGNIFICENT BEACHES, ANCIENT RUINS AND A WRITTEN HISTORY OF OVER 2500 YEARS MAKE THIS ISLAND A TOURISTS' PARADISE.

THE RUINED CITIES OF ANURADHAPURA AND POLONNARUWA ILLUSTRATE THE GLORY OF THE ANCIENT KINGDOMS. THE GIGANTIC STUPAS AND BUDDHA STATUES ARE AMONG THE BIGGEST MAN MADE STRUCTURES OF THE WORLD. THE MASSIVE RESERVOIRS, BUILT BY ANCIENT KINGS TO IRRIGATE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND, ARE MARVELS OF HYDRO ENGINEERING. THERE ARE EIGHT UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN SRI LANKA

THE ISLAND WAS KNOWN TO THE GREEKS AS 'TAPROBANE' AND TO THE ARABS AS 'SERENDIB'. EARLY MERCHANTS VISITED THE ISLAND IN SEARCH OF GEMSTONES AND SPICES, MAINLY CINNAMON AND PEPPER. COFFEE AND TEA PLANTATIONS WERE STARTED BY THE BRITISH COLONIAL RULERS. CEYLON TEA IS FAMOUS THE WORLD OVER.

TOURISM INDUSTRY IS A MAJOR MONEY SPINNER FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND. THE VAST EXPANSE OF BEACHES, RAIN FORESTS AND NATIONAL PARKS WITH HERDS OF WILD ELEPHANTS, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WITH LITHE WATER FALLS, BRING IN THE TOURISTS. THE ISLAND IS DOTTED WITH HUNDREDS OF HOTELS TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAVELER. AN ISLAND OF 25,000 SQ; MILES HAS 103 RIVERS AND 25000 RESERVOIRS, MOSTLY MAN MADE. WITH VARYING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS THIS IS TRULY A 'SMALL MIRACLE'.

" THE ISLAND OF SRI LANKA IS A SMALL UNIVERSE, IT CONTAINS AS MANY VARIATIONS OF CULTURE, SCENERY AND CLIMATE AS SOME COUNTRIES A DOZEN TIMES ITS SIZE........I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY COUNTRY WHICH SCORES SO HIGHLY IN ALL DEPARTMENTS - WHICH HAVE SO MANY ADVANTAGES AND SO FEW DISADVANTAGES. LOVELY BEACHES, BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, IMPRESSIVE RUINS, A VIBRANT CULTURE AND CHARMING PEOPLE- NO WONDER SRI LANKA IS A SMALL MIRACLE ".***** Arthur C. Clark *****

29 August, 2015

SRI LANKA - SHARP EYES [COLOMBO ZOO]

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6, 55-210mm

23 August, 2015

SRI LANKA - PHOTOGRAPHY [DOVE COURTSHIP]

The Spotted dove makes a flutter when flying off the ground and likes to glide down to a perch. This bird, with white spots on the back of the neck and wings, is common to many parts of the Island

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6, 55-210mm

11 August, 2015

SRI LANKA - FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY [CANNAS]

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

01 August, 2015

SRI KANKA - SOMAWATHIYA STHUPA

The Somawathiya sthupa, on the banks of the Mahaweli river, lay in ruins 40 years back, today it stands gleaming after reconstruction at great cost.

Wild elephant, just ten feet away from the road, on the way to Somawathiya.

Reconstructed Somawathiya sthupa.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Canon 600D

18 June, 2015

SRI LANKA - 650,000 PAGEVIEWS FOR DISCOVER-SRI LANKA

Discover -Sri Lanka reached 650,137 Pageviews on 17th June, 2015 - publishing 565 Posts since 25th July, 2009.

Thank you for your patronage.

07 June, 2015

SRI LANKA - COLOMBO - ON TOP OF THE WORLD!

Colombo has been selected as the fastest growing city in the World!

14 May, 2015

SRI LANKA - GRIZZELD GIANT SQUIRREL

The National Animal of Sri Lanka, the Grizzled Giant Squirrel, is a regular visitor

to the mango trees in the garden, enabling me to capture these 'Pictures from my window'.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6 - 55-210mm Zoom

13 May, 2015

SRI LANKA - NEWLY CONSTRUCTED ROAD TO JAFFNA ACROSS THE KILAI LAGOON

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

04 May, 2015

SRI LANKA - LAKE GREGORY

Facilities at Lake Gregory in Nuwara Eliya were improved recently for the convenience of visitors who like to enjoy the salubrious weather. The lake also serves as a waterdrome for sea planes carrying tourists, to and from, Nuwara Eliya.