Discover-SriLanka: nature

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 nature. Show all posts

23 August, 2012

SRI LANKA - VIBRANT SKIES

In Sri Lanka it's summer all year round and clear blue skies can be seen during the day. The celestial dome turns into a multitude of colors such as orange, purple, red and blue during sunsets.

In beautiful Sri Lanka even the sky is special.

Pics by : Mohan

Nikon D 7000

21 August, 2012

SRI LANKA - MONKEYS

The toque macaque (Macaca sinica) is a reddish-brown-coloured Old World monkey endemic to Sri Lanka.

Pics by : Ashan

Little Adventures

19 August, 2012

SRI LANKA - VIEW FROM BIBLE ROCK

The sprawling mountains and valleys seen from Bible Rock, the 360 degree view is amazing.

Pics by courtesy : Ashan

Little Adventures

25 July, 2012

SRI LANKA - DEER [ WILLPATTU NATIONAL PARK ]

Pics : Ashan Seneviratne

Little Adventures

16 July, 2012

SRI LANKA - COMMON OUTDOOR SIGHTS

Common outdoor sights in beautiful Sri lanka where nature is teeming with vibrant life forms, depicted below water monitors, butterflies and birds.

Pics by : Druvi Weliwita

Cannon SX 30 IS

07 July, 2012

SRI LANKA - CORAL REEFS

There are two coral reef National parks in Sri Lanaka, at Hikkaduwa and Kalpitiya, these reefs serve as buffers obstructing erosion. There are over 60 species of corals and over 150 species of reef fish in these habitats. The ornamental fish add color to the coral gardens on the shallow seabed.

Pics by : Ashan

Little Adventures

05 June, 2012

SRI LANKA - BALD EAGLE

Pics by courtesy : Little adventures

24 May, 2012

SRI LANKA - WILD LIFE [ WILPATTU NATIONAL PARK ]

Pics : Courtesy, Ashan Seneviratne

Little Adventures

06 May, 2012

SRI LANKA - SPOTTED DEER

Living in herds, sometimes up to 100, deer can be seen frequenting water holes of National parks.

Pics by : Ashan

Little Adventures

03 May, 2012

SRI LANKA - CORAL REEFS

Pics by : Ashan

Little adventures

01 May, 2012

SRI LANKA - WILD FLOWERS

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

17 April, 2012

SRI LANKA - ELEPHANTS OF WILPATTU

Wilpattu National Park has close to sixty lakes (Willu) and tanks spread throughout the 131,693 hectares. It is the largest and one of the oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka. These elephants are enjoying a dip in one of the tanks.