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 *****

14 September, 2011

SRI LANKA - LAKES AND RESERVOIRS

Kurunegala lake in the heart of Kurunegala town was made by ancient kings.

Randenigala reservoir, adding a cool breeze to the Randenigala wildlife sanctuary.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

12 September, 2011

SRI LANKA - WORLD HERITAGE SITES [COLLAGE ]

THE RUINED CITIES OF ANURADHAPURA AND POLONNARUWA ILLUSTRATE THE GLORY OF THE ANCIENT KINGDOMS. THE GIGANTIC STUPAS AND BUDDHA STATUTES 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

Pics by : Gerrit,Netty,Hans and Hanneke [ Belgium ]

Sri Lanka Tour, May 2011

10 September, 2011

SRI LANKA - PHILATELY [ ELEPHANTS ]

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

First Day Cover : By courtesy, Ana

Pics optimized by : Gerrit van Pommeren [ Belgium ]

08 September, 2011

SRI LANKA - WIND SURFING [ KALPITIYA ]

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

07 September, 2011

SRI LANKA - ELEPHANT CENSUS AUGUST, 2011

The skeleton of a young elephant on display at Pinnawela, Sri Lanka. Note the absence of trunk bones - the trunk is made up of muscles only [over 40,000 ]

The elephant census conducted in August, 2011 revealed the latest figures - 5879 elephants living in the wild. The count was done at 1553 centers, manned by 3500 personnel comprising of wildlife officers, university professors, police and army officers and villagers.

Among the wild elephant population there had been 122 tuskers and 1107 calves and the animals were found to be in a very healthy condition.

Pics : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H 7

06 September, 2011

SRI LANKA - ABORIGINES [ COLLAGE ]

The original inhabitants of the Island, Aborigines or Veddas, have been absorbed into the mainstream Sinhalese society, as a result dwindling jungles due to rapid development. Their deep knowledge of the forest and ancestral beliefs will be lost for ever in time to come. Today only a few clans of these ancient people live scattered in remote jungles.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

05 September, 2011

SRI LANKA - NATURE [ THE SKY FROM MY WINDOW ]

The first streaks of light at daybreak, on the Eastern skies in the central hills of Sri Lanka, captured from my window. Twelve hours later, when the sun dips in the West, an explosion of color on the Eastern skies, captured from the same angle. Enchanting - Sri Lanka.