Discover-SriLanka: Sri Lanka

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 *****

Showing posts with label Sri Lanka. Show all posts

09 November, 2011

Sri Lanka - Photos: Best of the World -- National Geographic

Sri Lanka Photos: Best of the World -- National Geographic

09 August, 2011

SRI LANKA - ABORIGINES [ VEDDAS ]

The late aborigine leader Thisahamy positioning the bow.

The traditional greeting, a firm clasp of both hands.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Year : 1983

31 July, 2011

SRI LANKA - ABORIGINES [ VEDDAS ]

The Vedda people of Sri Lanka are descendants of the original inhabitants of the island. These communities were scattered throughout the Island even before the arrival of the Aryans from North India in 543 BC. The Dambana Vedda tribe was led by Thisahamy who gained prominence as the chieftain of all the Vedda communities.

Thisahamy died in 1996 at the age of 96, his son leads the clan today. In the pictures - Thissahamy standing in front of his hut and showing his prowess with the bow and arrow - 1983.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Year : 1983

17 June, 2011

SRI LANKA - THE SKY FROM MY WINDOW

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

10 February, 2011

SRI LANKA - SPOTTED DOVE

The Spotted dove is commonly found throughout
the Island and very often seen in close
proximity to human dwellings

Pix : Nelsonlanka

Sony cybershot DSC H7

13 January, 2011

SRI LANKA - HISTORICAL MAP OF CEYLON 1623

Map of the island Sri Lanka,. “Ceilan insula.”

Beautiful old-colouring, Latin edition, Amsterdam, 1623

[Published in: "Atlas sive Cosmographicae meditiones de Farbrica Mundi..."]
copper engraving

Cartographers
Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) was a Flemish cartographer. He was born in

Rupelmonde in East Flanders in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation

to parents from Gangelt in the Duchy of Jülich (modern Germany). Since 1552 he

lived in Duisburg. He is remembered for the Mercator.Jodocus Hondius

(* 1563; † 1612) was a Flemish artist, engraver, and cartographer.

Description
This is a very beautiful, old-coloured and heightended in gold copper engraving

map out of a Latin edition of the “Atlas sive Cosmographicae…” from

Mercator-Hondius.
This interesting map shows the island Sri Lanka, former also Ceylon.

Early Map of Ceylon, Ceilan c.1623

INS. CEILAN QUAE INCOLIS TENARISIN DICTUR. An early engraved map of the

the country orientated with east at the top. Embellished with three

decorative cartouches. Animals on the land area.

Source : Historical Images of Ceylon [ Sri Lanka ]
http://lankapura.com/2008/08/map-ceylon-ceilan-1630/

25 July, 2009

SRI LANKA - SMALL MIRACLE [ BY ARTHUR C. CLARKE ]

" THE ISLAND OF SRI LANKA IS A SMALL UNIVERSE,IT CONTAINS AS MANY VARIATIONS OF CLUTURE,SCENERY AND CLIMATE AS SOME COUNTRIES A DOZEN TIMES ITS SIZE........I FIND IT HARD TO BELEIVE 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.CLARKE.

RENOWNED AUTHOR.

http://www.aitkenspencetravels.com