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Sri
Lanka
Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean is located to
the south of the Indian subcontinent. It lies between
5O 55'
and 9O 55' north of the equator and between
the eastern longitudes 79O 42' and 81O
52'. The total land area is
65,610 sq. km. and is astonishingly varied. A length of
445 km. and breadth of 225 km. encompasses beautiful tropical
beaches, verdant vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand
delights to please all tastes. The relief features of
the island consist of a mountainous mass somewhat south
of the center, with a height exceeding 2,500 meters,
surrounded by broad plains. Palm fringed beaches surround
the island and the sea temperature rarely falls below
27OC.
People
As beautiful as is much of Ceylon, and interesting as
are its historical remains, the Singhalese themselves
are what
makes the island an unforgettable and cherished memory,
says Raven Hart (1964). The Sri Lankan people are one
of
the main attractions of Sri Lanka. This is a nation of
ever smiling people and the visitors find them adorable,
hospitable
and always willing to help. The life of the majority of
Sri Lankans is influenced by the compassionate teachings
of the
Buddha. Even the roots of those Sri Lankans who follow
other faiths would in all probability have been nurtured
by those teachings, for it was Buddhism that was the religion
of all Sri Lankans before.
Christianity and Islam were introduced to the Island in
more recent times. This has made them a nation of tolerable
and hospitable people. When you travel in the little Island
you will meet friendly people; the children will wave
from
their doorsteps at the passing
vehicles or at the visitor trekking on foot.
The population is approximately 19 million. This multi-ethnic
population comprises:
• Singhalese - 72%
• Tamils - 19%
• Muslims - 8%
• Burghers (descendants of Dutch and
Portuguese) - 1%
Religion
The four major religions are:
• Buddhism - followed
by 69% of the population
• Hinduism - followed by
15% of the population
• Islam -
followed by 8% of the population
•
Christianity - followed by 7% of the population
Languages
The most commonly-spoken languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhala,
Tamil and English.
Climate And Seasons
In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with
an average temperature of 27OC
in Colombo. In the higher
elevations it can be quite cool with temperatures going
down to 16OC
at an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters. Bright,
sunny warm days are the rule and are common even during
the height of the monsoon - climatically Sri Lanka has
no off-season. The southwest monsoon brings rain mainly
from May to July to the western, southern and central
regions of the island, while the northeast monsoon rains
occur in the northern and eastern regions in December
and January. |
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| Temperature Chart |
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Jan-April
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May-August
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Sept-Dec
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Max.
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Min.
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Max.
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Min.
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Max.
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Min.
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| Colombo |
30OC
|
22OC
|
30OC
|
24OC
|
29OC
|
22OC
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| Kandy |
31OC
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17OC
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29OC
|
21OC
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28OC
|
18OC
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Nuwara
Eliya
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21OC
|
14OC
|
18OC
|
16OC
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18OC
|
15OC
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Trincomalee
|
32OC
|
24OC
|
33OC
|
25OC
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33OC
|
23OC
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History
Recent excavations show that even during the Neolithic
Age, there were food gatherers and rice cultivators in
Sri Lanka.
Very little is known of this period; documented history
began with the arrival of the Aryans from North India.
The Aryans introduced use of iron and an advanced form
of agriculture and irrigation. They also introduced the
art of government.
Of the Aryan settlements, Anuradhapura grew into a powerful
kingdom under the rule of King Pandukabhaya. According
to traditional history he is accepted as the founder of
Anuradhapura.
During the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, a descendent
of Pandukabhaya, Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka
of India, introduced Buddhism in 247 B.C. This is the
most important event in Sri Lankan history as it set the
country on the road to cultural greatness. As a new civilization
flourished Sri Lanka became rich and prosperous.
In the mid 2nd century B.C. a large part of north Sri
Lanka came under the rule of an invader from South India.
From the beginning of the Christian era and up to the
end of the 4th century A.D. Sri Lanka was governed by
an unbroken dynasty called Lambakarna, which paid great
attention to the development of irrigation. A great king
of this dynasty, Mahasen (3rd century A.D.) started the
construction of large 'tanks' or irrigation reservoirs.
Another great 'tank' builder was Dhatusena,
who was put to death by his son Kasyapa who made Sigiriya
a royal city with his fortress capital on the summit of
the rock.
As a result of invasions from South India the kingdom
of Anuradhapura fell by the end of the 10th century A.D.
Vijayabahu I repulsed the invaders and established his
capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th century A.D. Other
great kings of Polonnaruwa were Parakrama Bahu the Great
and Nissanka Malla both of whom adorned the city with
numerous buildings of architectural beauty. Invasion was
intermittent and the capital was moved constantly until
the Portuguese arrived in 1505, when the chief city was
established at Kotte, in the western lowlands. The Portuguese
came to trade in spices but stayed to rule until
1656 in the coastal regions, as did the Dutch thereafter.
Dutch rule lasted from 1656 to 1796, in which year the
British displaced them. During this period the highland
Kingdom, with its capital in Kandy, retained its independence
despite
repeated assaults by foreign powers who ruled the rest
of the country. In 1815 the kingdom of Kandy was ceded
to the
British and thus they established their rule over the
whole island. Modern communications, western medical services,
education in English, as well as the plantation industry
(first coffee then tea, rubber and coconut) developed
during British rule. By a process of peaceful, constitutional
evolution, Sri Lanka won back her independence in 1948
and is now a
sovereign republic, with membership in the Commonwealth
of Nations and the United Nations Organization.
Economy
Sri Lanka is mainly an agricultural country. The chief
crop is rice with which the country is almost self-sufficient.
Tea, rubber and coconut are also important agricultural
crops, with tea being a major foreign exchange earner.
In addition, other crops of importance are cocoa and spices
such as cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, pepper and cloves.
Fruit and vegetables, native to both tropical and temperate
regions, grow well in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is also a major
exporter of precious and semi-precious gem stones. In
the last few years, remittances from Sri Lankans employed
abroad have contributed a large share of foreign exchange
earnings.
The last three decades have seen tourism emerge as an
important industry. There has also been a rapid growth
in manufacturing industries, which offer a wide range
of export goods such as petroleum products, leather goods,
ready-made garments and electronic equipment.
Festivals
Festivals are a part of Sri Lankan culture and are observed
in grand scale. Sri Lanka being a predominantly Buddhist
country, Buddhist festivals are more frequent. Full moon
day of each month, called Poya day, is a day of religious
observance for the Buddhists. On every Poya day there
is some form of festival in the village temples. However
the
major full moon days are Duruthu (January), Vesak (May),
Poson (June), Esala (August) and Unduvap (December)
observed with greater pomp and colorful pageantry of elephants,
dancers, drummers and whip crackers. It would be a delightful
experience if one can coincide their holiday with the
festival dates.
Handicrafts
Objects carved in wood, made of brass and silver, decorated
with lacquer, hand woven cloth and lace, beautiful
reed mats, attractive batiks, pottery, and masks are among
the handicraft items made by the traditional craftsmen
of
Sri Lanka. Our tours would ensure that you have opportunities
to shop for these in reliable and reputable stores.
Ancient Cities
Sri Lankan civilization is more than twenty centuries
old. Its history is recorded in Mahavamsa, the Great Chronicle
written in the 5th century AD. Remains of this
ancient civilization reflecting the character, imagination,
culture, philosophy,
and the faith of its people are seen in the form of ruined
cities, buildings, palaces, reservoirs, parks, dagobas
(dome
enshrining sacred relics or the bodily remains of the
Buddha, or articles used by Him), Buddha images, temples,
sculptures
and paintings throughout the little island. However, it
is at the major archaeological sites of Anuradhapura,
Mihintale, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy that
the glory of the island's past can be seen in its true
form still living
among the several ruins. These ancient cities can be reached
easily from Colombo in a comfortable morning's drive
through green paddy fields, acres of coconut palms and
alongside deep jungle where wild animals roam.
Anuradhapura: About 205 kms north of
Colombo is Anuradhapura, the first capital of Sri Lanka
established in the
4th century BC that remained the royal capital for over
ten centuries. Several magnificent dagobas, buildings,
monasteries, ponds, irrigation tanks spanning one thousand
five hundred years bear testimony to a glorious and technically
advanced civilization. Ruvanveli, Jetavana, and Abhayagiri
are huge dagobas that stand majestically having withstood
the battering
of elements for over fifteen centuries. Foremost among
the numerous historical monuments in Anuradhapura is the
Sacred Bo Tree - Sri Maha Bodhi, grown from a branch of
the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment
and one of the oldest historically recorded trees. A mass
of stone pillars close to the Sri Maha Bodhi, identified
as the
Brazen Palace, was once a nine-storied building. Isurumuniya
is famous for its beautiful stone carvings. Samadhi Buddha
image is a masterpiece of sculpture. Among the extensive
ruins covering the city of Anuradhapura are Buddha images,
temples, palaces, bathing ponds, monasteries, hospitals,
alms halls, beautiful stone carvings and irrigation tanks.
Archeological remains of Anuradhapura spanning over ten
centuries are too vast to be listed in full. However,
the place
is a treasure house where one can delightfully loose oneself
amongst the stupendous relics of a bygone Golden era
of a great civilization.
Request detailed information for places of interest in
and around Anuradhapura.
Mihintale:
Thirteen kilometers from Anuradhapura is Mihintale, the
site of introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the
year 247 BC. The King of Sri Lanka having embraced Buddhism
established the world's first fauna and flora sanctuary
at Mihintale in the 3rd century BC. Monasteries, an ancient
hospital, dagobas, ponds, and caves in which Buddhist
monks
lived are among the many places of interest that the visitor
should see.
Polonnaruwa:
The glory of mediaeval
Sri Lanka is seen at Polonnaruwa, the mediaeval capital
of the Island
about 216 km south east of Anuradhapura. Polonnaruwa
used by the Sri Lankan kings as a 'country residence'
from the 7th century became the Island's capital in
the 11th century AD. Within the ramparts of the Royal
Citadel
are the ruins of the King's palace, the Council Chamber
and the Royal Bath. The Buddha images at the Gal Vihara
or the Rock Temple are masterpieces of stone sculpture.
Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama is a
giant man made
irrigation reservoir. A visit to Polonnaruwa is incomplete
without visiting the new archaeological
museum opened by the Central Cultural Fund where the
ancient glory of the city has been recreated in scale
models.
Sigiriya:
A city, palace and a garden complex centering
a 200-meter high rock. Sigiriya, is a glowing tribute
to the
vision of King Kashyapa who created this 'Palace in the
Sky' in the 5th century AD. On the summit of the Sigiriya
rock
(meaning the 'Lion Rock') that is over 1.5 hectares in
extent are the remains of a large palace, the earliest
surviving royal palace in Sri Lanka, with several chambers
and a bathing pond. In a sheltered pocket of the giant
rock are the celebrated paintings of 5th century AD, a
few which are remaining from around 500 paintings that
once covered the rock surface. Meticulously planned water
gardens at the foot of the rock are the earliest such
gardens found in Asia. The boulder
gardens are a fine example of landscaping while conserving
the environment. The Mirror Wall, which had been exposed
to elements for over fifteen centuries still carry some
of the original sheen that has given it the name. This
archaeological site unparalleled in South Asia has been
declared a World Heritage Site.
Dambulla: Rock Temple is a magnificent gallery
of Buddha images and wall and ceiling paintings not seen
anywhere
else in the Island. It is a complex of five cave temples
with its origin going back to the Anuradhapura period
(1st century BC). However due to additions and restorations
done by various rulers over the past two thousand years
what now remains
are mostly the works of the Kandyan period (18th century).
Kandy: The Hill Capital of Kandy was the last
bastion of the Sinhala kings and is a charming city offering
a living record
of a magnificent past. The center of attraction in Kandy
is the Dalada Maligawa, the temple housing the sacred
Tooth Relic
of the Buddha. Kandy Lake enhances the charm of the City.
Kandy is a romantic city any time of the year, but in
August,
this ancient capital becomes the venue of one of the most
legendary festivals in Asia, the Festival of the August
Moon
when thousands of people from all parts of the country
and from foreign countries throng to the Hill Capital
to witness
the magnificent spectacle. The King's palace, audience
hall, King's bath, and the archaeological museum must
not be
missed by any visitor to Kandy.
Hill Country: The Central
Highlands of Sri Lanka offer a salubrious cool climate.
The mountain slopes are covered with
acres of tea with its fragrant aroma mingling with the
fresh air. Nestled among the mist covered central hills
in a cool basin
is Nuwara Eliya, the hill resort, resembling a little
English village. Road leading to this hill station winds
through miles
and miles of 'green carpet' of tea bushes where tea pluckers
are seen busily picking the 'bud and two leaves' that
go to
form the most popular brew in the world, the 'Ceylon Tea'.
Waterfalls:
Beautiful waterfalls cascading down the mountain
slopes enhance the beauty of the hill country. The geographical
formation of the Island with the central highland sloping
down to the coastal plains has resulted in several
rivers and streams starting from the central region flowing
down the hilly slopes in a radial pattern, creating beautiful
waterfalls in several places in the hill country. Ramboda
Falls (100 meters) is seen on the way to Nuwara Eliya.
Devon
(86 meters) and St. Clair's (73 meters) are two waterfalls
seen close to Nuwara Eliya.
Horton Plains:
This is the island's last remaining mountain forest,
3,160 hectares in extent located in a plateau high
up on the hills at an elevation above 2000 meters. A vast
expanse of grassland interspersed with little streamlets
and
craggy trees covers the center of the plateau providing
a pleasant walk of about 5 km. leading to an awe inspiring
edge
called the 'World's End'. It is a sheer drop of over 800
meters sloping down further away over mist covered treetops
fading into the distant sea offering a breathtaking yet
most beautiful sight in the entire country. The jungle
bordering the grassland abounds with wildlife. Among the
animals that can be seen are the leopard, sambur, barking
deer, wild boar and monkeys. Horton Plains is a bird watcher's
paradise.
Sri Pada:
The hill country not only provides natural beauty
but also offers a sanctified place of veneration to people
of all faiths atop a 2,243 meter High Mountain in the
southwest corner of the highlands. It is Sri Pada which
bears the
footprint of the Buddha. People of other faiths also adore
it. Christians say it is the footprint of Adam and call
it Adam's Peak. Thousands of pilgrims of all faiths climb
this mountain during the pilgrim season (December to May).
Watching the sunrise
from the summit is an unforgettable sight.
Nuwara Eliya: In 1819, during the British colonial
era, a few Britishers on a hunting expedition in the hill
country spotted
the site where the present day Nuwara Eliya town stands
1890 meters above sea level and decided to set up a health
resort for their use. It was Sir Samuel Baker who later
converted it into a holiday resort with a touch of an
English village, which earned it the name 'Little England'
where the temperature sometimes drops down to 9°C. The
18-hole golf course
is very popular with the locals and the foreign tourists.
Haggala Botanical Gardens, a few kilometers away, is an
added attraction.
Fauna And Flora
Fauna and flora of Sri Lanka that beautify the little
island are protected and preserved in several national
parks and nature reserves offering the visitor an opportunity
to savor the natural beauty. There are eleven such National
Parks on the Island but the most popular for viewing animals
are the Ruhuna (also called Yala), Uda Walawe and Wilpattu
National Parks.
From the safety of a park bungalow or a covered jeep,
visitors can watch several species of animals and birds
roaming
freely in these extensive reserves. Horton Plains in the
hill country is a special attraction. This remote plateau
is the island's last remaining mountain forest – the home
of some fauna and flora species not found anywhere else
in the world. Sri Lanka
is the only country providing a safe haven to young elephants
orphaned in the wild. There are two such Elephant
Orphanages in the country, one at Pinnawela and the other
at Uda Walawe.
Yala National Park:
The Ruhuna (Yala) National Park is at the southeastern
corner of the Island, 288 km. from Colombo.
It is the second largest national park of the country
with an area of 97,878 hectares. A wide range of wild
animals including elephants, leopard, bear, sambur, spotted
deer and a variety of birds including the jungle fowl
and the peacock roam freely
in this jungle.
Uda Walawe: Located near Embilipitiya in the
catchment area of Walawe River bordering Ratnapura/Moneragala
Districts
is the popular Uda Walawe National Park - 30,821 hectares
in extent famous for its large herds of wild elephant.
Elephant Orphanages (Pinnawala And Uda Walawe):
Sri Lanka is the only country in the world to
open elephant orphanages to protect the destitute young
wild elephants. Young elephants left in the jungle without
care are brought
to this orphanage and tendered till they reach maturity.
Interesting time to visit the orphanage is at the bathing
time
when the herd is brought to a river flowing close by or
at feeding time to see the babies being bottle-fed.
Avian-fauna:
Sri Lanka has a wide range of both resident and migratory
birds that arrive from far away lands to their
favorite roosting places on the island. A number of bird
sanctuaries have been designated in addition to the national
parks. The most popular bird sanctuaries are at Kumana,
Bundala National Park, Wirawila and Udawattakele in Kandy.
Flora :
Nearly 4,000 species of plants constitute the
rich and diverse flora of Sri Lanka. This wide range of
plant species
is spread through the wet and dry zones of the country.
Sri Lanka's endemic flora is protected within a tropical
rain forest reserve called Sinharaja. There are three
botanical gardens in Sri Lanka at Peradeniya, Hakgala
and Gampaha displaying a large collection of tropical
and sub tropical plant species. Sri Lanka's orchids are
world-renowned. About 166-recorded
species of orchids are found on the Island of which about
66 are endemic.
Sri Lanka In a Nutshell |
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