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 *****

10 December, 2012

SRI LANKA - BUTTERFLIES

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

07 December, 2012

SRI LANKA - DUTCH BAY [ KALPITIYA ]

All wheel drive Jeeps pushed to their limits on the dunes of Dutch Bay, Kalpitiya - an unforgettable experience for the rugged drivers.

Pics by : Ashan

Little Adventures

04 December, 2012

SRI LANKA - PHILATELY [ FIRST DAY COVERS ]

The first Ceylon stamps were issued on 1st April, 1857 during British colonial rule. Photographs from a collection of First Day Covers.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

First Day Covers : By courtesy, Ana

Pictures optimized by : Gerrit van Pommeren, Belgium

01 December, 2012

SRI LANKA - TEMPLE DRUMMERS [ VIDEO ]

Temple drummers performing at a religious ceremony, playing centuries old traditional tunes.

Filmed by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

27 November, 2012

SRI LANKA - KANDY SOUVNIRS

The city of Kandy is frequented by travelers throughout the year as it is the most popular city in the Island. Shops with oodles of souvenirs are many in number.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

24 November, 2012

SRI LANKA - SORABORA WEWA [ FISHING BOATS ]

Freshwater fishing in the Sorabora wewa [ tank ] is a source of income for the people living in the vicinity, the catch is sold by vendors on motor bikes.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

21 November, 2012

SRI LANKA - FLOWER POWER [ MACRO ]

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

18 November, 2012

SRI LANKA - FEEDING FINCH

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

15 November, 2012

SRI LANKA - MAMMOTH TREES [ SORABORA ]

Sorabora tank was built 2114 years ago by King Dutugemunu to irrigate the surrounding low lands for the cultivation of paddy, these centuries old mammoth trees can be seen on the tank bund.