Sri Lanka

“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 that scores so highly in all departments – which has so many advantages and so few disadvantages. Lovely beaches, beautiful landscapes, impressive ruins, vibrant culture, and charming people, no wonder Sri Lanka is a small miracle.” – Arthur C. Clarke

 

 Kandy

The true religious and cultural heart of Sri Lanka, Kandy is the 2nd largest city & was the last stronghold of the ancient Sinhala Kings against the British Empire. . It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha)

The geographical location of Kandy was  a natural defense strategy. 

City was built in a valley surrounded by three mountain ranges and encircled by the Mahaveli river.

The name Kandy was given to the city of Kanda Uda Rata by the British. Its present day Sri Lankan name is Maha Nuwara while the historical name is Senkadagalapura.

 Wood carving sri lanka 

According to “Mahawamsa” the prevailed arts and crafts were innovated with the arrival of Buddhist Nun “Sanghamitta” to Sri Lanka from India. The history records that crafts men belong to sixty different castes arrived to Sri Lanka along with her on her visit that brought the Sacred Bo- Tree to Anuradhapura.

National Anthem  of Sri Lanka

After independence was granted to Sri Lanka in 1948, the need for a national anthem arose. As a result of a contest, Ananda Samarkone’s contribution, written in Sinhalese, was chosen as the new anthem. The Tamil lyrics have the same meaning as the Sinhalese lyrics. It was first performed on the fourth anniversary of 

 Enjoy a once in a lifetime whale & dolphin watching safari in Mirissa

Mirissa is located in the south of Sri Lanka, between major cities of Galle and Matara.Historically, Mirissa is one of the largest fishing ports at Sri Lanka‘s south coast.

Mirissa is one of the only places in Sri Lanka where you get to see blue dolphins dancing around and occasionally jumping  ​and it is probably the only place where you have chances to spot both blue whales and sperm whales on the same tour. 

 

Anuradhapura

One of the greatest and oldest civilizations in the world. the first capital, ruled by 113 kings for over 1000 years and is famous for its Dagobas (Temples), Reservoirs, and beautifully landscaped gardens, the ruins of which still remain to this day. There are many examples of town planning, irrigation and many large constructions that rival the Egyptian pyramids.  The most significant are the great Stupas which are dome shaped buildings over a hundred meters tall.  An ongoing archaeological site and a living pilgrimage destination for Buddhists from around the world.

 Polonnaruwa

The Medieval Capital of 10th Century. Polonnaruwa today remains among the best planned archaeological sites in the country. Due to its archeological prominence and the ancient technological superiority UNESCO declared Polonnaruwa as a World Heritage in 1982.

   Buduruwagala

1,000-year-old rock-cut Seven  Buddhist statues which belongs to the Mahayana school of thought dating back to the 10th century. The gigantic Buddha statue still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe and a long streak of orange suggests it was once brightly painted. The central of the three figures to the Buddha’s right is thought to be the Buddhist mythological figure-the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

 Belilena cave

Belilena is a very large cave, in which the 12,000-year-old skeletal remains of the prehistoric ‘Balangoda man’ (Homesepiens Balangodensis) have been found.The Homo sapiens balangodensis or the Balangoda Man refers to hominins from Sri Lanka’s late Quaternary period.

 Wilpattu National Park-

the largest wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka

Wilpattu National Park, the largest wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka is among the oldest and most important of protected areas in Sri Lanka.

It also contains a number of important cultural sites.  

Wilpattu National Park and its surroundings are of history that runs as far as back to the arrival of Prince Vijaya in Lanka from East India in 543 BC. The landing beach of prince Vijaya is believed to be the area today known as Kudriamali. Kali Villu is said to be location of the palace of Kuveni, a princess of a native tribe in the island.

Wilpattu National Park span an area of no less than 131,693 hectares with altitude ranging between the sea-level and 152 meters.

Wilpattu National Park is situated in the dry zone, and is unlike any other wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka. A unique complex of over 50 wetlands called “Villu” is the most prominent topographical feature of the national park. ‘Villu’ are shallow natural lakes filled with rainwater surrounded by open grassy plains amidst the dense scrub jungle. 

Annual temperature in the Park is around 27.2 Celsius and its annual rainfall is approximately 1000 mm. The best time to visit Wilpattu National Park is during the months of February and October. .

Three types of vegetation can be distinguished : Littoral vegetation including salt grass and low scrub immediately adjacent to the beach, a 5-10km coastal belt of monsoon scrub of very low stature; and further inland, monsoon forest with tall emergent.

Among the species are 31 mammals. The biggest draws in Wilpattu are Leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) and Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus). Apart from those two mammals are Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus), Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, jackals, sambhur, barking deer, mouse deer Wild Pig, Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and Mugger Crocodiles.

Butterflies recorded include the Great Eggfly, Blue Mormon, Common Mormon, Common Rose Great Orange Tip, Glad-eye Bushbrown, Blue Mormon, Common Mormon, Common Rose and Crimson Rose.

Countless species of birds can be found and the park plays host to numerous winter migrants from November to March, while menacing crocodiles top the list of reptiles.

 The Nine Arch Bridge