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

12 November, 2016

SRI LANKA - WOOD CARVINGS [ENTWINED SWANS]

Intricately carved wooden door depicting entwined swans.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

27 September, 2016

SRI LANKA - ADAM'S PEAK

Adam's Peak, photographed at dusk from Avissawella-Hatton road.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

16 August, 2016

SRI LANKA - MARITIME ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM

The Maritime Archeology Museum of Galle is housed in a Dutch warehouse built in 1671, this two storey building with its 3 foot thick walls withstood the impact of the 2004 tsunami.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

30 July, 2016

SRI LANKA - UNAWATUNA BEACH [PUPPET SELLER]

I came across this puppet seller at a beach diner in Unawatuna.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

21 July, 2016

SRI LANKA - JEWELRY SHOPS OF GALLE

Galle, on the Southern coast of Sri Lanka, is a very popular tourist destination - this is a glimpse into a jewelry shop window.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

03 May, 2016

SRI LANKA - BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES [ELLA GAP]

Gaze into infinity, Ella Gap is situated 3,415 feet above sea level, covered with lush green vegetation, tea plantations and cloud forests, this location is foremost as a tourist destination.

Click on pic to enlarge

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

28 February, 2016

SRI LANKA - AQUARIUMS [DIYATHA UYANA]

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

10 February, 2016

SRI LANKA - POTTERY

Dayawathy in action at the Molagoda Pottery in Sri Lanka. Watch the dextrous

hands of this unassuming village woman turning out an oil lamp out of clay, with amazing speed and skill.

Video by: Sanjaya

Samsung Galaxy core

16 January, 2016

SRI LANKA - PHILATELY [FIRST DAY COVERS]

The Sri Lanka Postal Department issued a stamp to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the visit of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov to Sri Lanka.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

07 June, 2015

SRI LANKA - COLOMBO - ON TOP OF THE WORLD!

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

22 April, 2015

SRI LANKA - PICTURES FROM VICTORIA PARK [NUWARA ELIYA]

The 27 acre park in the middle of Nuwara Eliya town, 1868 meters above sea level, was named after Queen Victoria in 1897, to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

27 November, 2014

SRI LANKA - ERADICATION OF SLUMS IN COLOMBO

The capital city of Colombo has 1499 slum areas covering 900 acres or 10% of the City area and the number of families living in these unhygenic dwellings have been identified as 68,812. The Ministry Of Urban Development plans to utilize 300 acres for new housing projects, 150 acres for urban beautification and 450 acres for projects under direct foreign investment once these high value spaces are cleared.

Nearly 4000 units have been completed and given to shanty dwellers, free of charge. A 450 sq.ft. unit consists of 2 bedrooms, living room, pantry, bathroom and a balcony. The high-rises are equipped with elevators and have recreation areas, 26,000 units will be constructed under Phase 1 and Phase 2.

03 July, 2014

SRI LANKA - PHOTOGRAPHY [GREEN MISTY MORN]

The lush green vegetation, against a misty backdrop, pierced by streaks of virgin light. Sights so common in my beautiful Island, Sri Lanka!

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Canon EOS 600 D

13 June, 2014

SRI LANKA - BIRD SONGS

A misty dawn in Polonnaruwa in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, listen to the wake up calls of many a bird.

Video by: Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

07 March, 2014

The Minneriya National Park is home to a herd of over 300 wild elephants, roaming in the lush greenery and cool waterways of this nature reserve. This gathering of gentle giants, young and old, was filmed close to the Minneriya tank.

Filmed by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

06 February, 2014

SRI LANKA - VANDA [ ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KANDY ]

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

14 November, 2013

SRI LANKA - BOY AND SWAN FOUNTAIN, KANDY

The Victorian cast iron " Boy and Swan " fountain [early 19th century] at the Royal Palace Park [Wace Park] in Kandy, Sri Lanka is a copy of the " Boy and Swan " fountain made by Coalbrookdale [Shropshire]. Research has revealed that only five copies of it have been found in the world.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Historical information, by courtesy : Sergio Orozco [ Costa Rica ]

24 June, 2013

SRI LANKA - RIVERS AND WATERFALLS

The Island of Sri Lanka, which has an area of 65,610 sq/km, is blessed with 103 rivers, flowing to the coastline from the central hills. 53 waterfalls are created as a result of these rivers flowing through high elevation regions.

Bambarakanda Falls

Pic by Ashan

Little Adventures

07 May, 2013

SRI LANKA - BAMBARAKANDA FALLS

The Bambarakanda Falls is the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, formed by the Kuda Oya, it has a height of 863 feet [ 263 m ] and adorns the mountains of Kalupahana in the Badulla District.