The Kumara Pokuna [pond] in Polonnaruwa [1070 A.D.] is a magnificent example of an ancient Royal bath, built entirely of smoothened stone. Water was brought to the pond by two underground stone pipes and directed to the pond through two dragon head [makara] gargoyles. Ruins of an ancient changing room can also be seen nearby
Quote - Joseph Pulitzer
"PUT IT BEFORE THEM BRIEFLY SO
THEY WILL READ IT, CLEARLY SO
THEY WILL APPRECIATE IT,
PICTURESQUELY SO THEY WILL
REMEMBER IT AND,
ABOVE ALL, ACCURATELY SO THEY
WILL BE GUIDED
BY ITS LIGHT" *****
JOSEPH PULITZER *****
DISCOVER - SRI LANKA: PROLOGUE
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 *****
Over: 70 Pages, 800 Posts, 1000 Photographs and 900,000 Page views
26 February, 2014
20 February, 2014
SRI LANKA - VIDEO - FISHMONGER
The fishmonger showing off his skill and precision. This freshwater fish seller was busy selling the catch from Parakrama Samudra [ Sea of Parakrama ] in Polonnaruwa.
Video filmed by : Nelsonka
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12 February, 2014
SRI LANKA - SCORPIONS
There are 18 species of Scorpions in Sri Lanka and out of these 7 are endemic.
Pics by : Nelsonlanka
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06 February, 2014
30 January, 2014
SRI LANKA - AGAVE TEQUILANA [ ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KANDY ]
The pineapple like bulb at the base of the Agave Tequilana plant is used to manufacture the strong Mexican alcoholic drink Tequila. Also known as Blue Agave, more than 300 million plants are harvested each year for producing this famous drink of high alcohol content.
Pics by : Nelsonlanka
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23 January, 2014
16 January, 2014
SRI LANKA - SETHU COINS [ ANCIENT CURRENCY ]
Sethu coins were in circulation from the 13th to the 15th century, mainly in the northern part of the Island.
Pics by : Nelsonlanka
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Photographed at the economic History Museum
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Photographed at the economic History Museum
09 January, 2014
SRI LANKA - OLIVER [ CLOSE UP ]
4th January, 2014 8.30 a.m. Oliver posed unconcerned till I captured 200 + shots. Thank you very much, your pictures will adorn my Blog.
Pics by : Nelsonlanka
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02 January, 2014
SRI LANKA - FOUNTAINS
Erected by the coffee planters of Ceylon in 1875, this cast iron fountain is in pristine condition. One of only two in the world, made by George Smith & Company of England, can be seen in the city of Kandy.
Pics by : Nelsonlanka
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