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Wildlife safari, Yala national park |
Wildlife safari, Yala national park |
<ul>Wildlife safari at Yala national park would be the most famous activity done by the most foreign travelers to Sri Lanka. Yala national park is located 310 km from Colombo in Hambantota and Monaragala district.<br>
<br>Yala national park comprises five blocks of which block 1 has been the most frequented due to its accessibility and the terrain of open glades. Due to its high population of wild aminals, Yala national park block 1 is the most frequented area of travelers. The small and large herds of elephants and leopards are roaming often around this area. That provides the best chance to take photographs of them in your interesting pose. The Sloth bear, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Sandbur and saltwater crocodile, and birds and turtles are frequent in Yala national park.<br>
<br>You have a 99% chance to witness those wild animals during your Yala safari.<br>
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Bird watching, Wilpattu national park |
Bird watching, Wilpattu national park |
<ul>Bird watching in Wilpattu national parks is a unique experience because the villus, the natural sand-rimmed water basins in the park provides a haven for birds. Thus bird watchers can easily access the birds. They have the chance to study and take photographs of them easily.</br>
<br>The most common birds can be seen there are Black-backed yellow woodpecker, Golden-backed woodpecker, Rufus woodpecker, White-bellied sea eagle, Grey-headed fish eagle, Crested hawk eagle, Crested serpent eagle, Brown-capped babbler, Ceylon grey hornbill, Pintail snipe, Great stone plover, Little-ringed plover, Ceylon green pigeon, Orange-breasted green pigeon, Malabar pied hornbill, Racket-tailed drongo, Forest eagle owl, brown fish owl, Hoopoe, Common kestrel, Ceylon jungle fowl, Black-tailed godwit, Ceylon frog mouth and many more. |
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Kudiramalai, Wilpattu national park |
Kudiramalai, Wilpattu national park |
<ul>At the western border of the Wilpattu national park, there is an area called “Kudiramalai”. It has a unique terrain with red-colour soil which is not found anywhere else on the island. This type of soil gives evidence to the belief of meteor falling, which has, though, not been proven.</br>
<br>The red soil and clay structures are made out of red and dark-brown earth. They are also made of rocky structures, with the blue-grey surface, studded with stunning vegetation of trees and shrubs. The vegetation holds onto their lives in the forceful wind and limestone reef on the beaches of the Kudiramalai area. The place will take you to a different world of wonder and awe.
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Pomparippu, Ancient burial ground |
Pomparippu, Ancient burial ground |
<ul> “Pomparippu” is a Mesolithic burial ground. It is located near the Kudiramalai point within the Wilpattu national park. The archeological evidence confirms that the Kudiramalai area had been populated from the Mesolithic period. Archeologists believe that the site may contain about 8,000 burial sites of remains of about 10,000-12,000 people. |
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Horton plains national park, World heritage site |
Horton plains national park, World heritage site |
<ul>Horton plains national park is situated 2,300 m above sea level, spreading across Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura districts, and 190 km away from Colombo, 29 km away from Nuwara Eliya, and 50 km away from Ella.<br>
<br>Maha Eliya Thenna, literary meaning in Sinhala “the great open plain,” was the original name of the area and it was renamed after Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton, the British Governor of Ceylon from 1831 to 1837.<br>
<br>It was nominated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and upgraded to a national park in 1988. Peak wilderness sanctuary adjoining the west with Horton plains national park together with Knuckles mountain range has called “the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka” is a World Heritage Site.
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Bird watching, Horton plains national park |
Bird watching, Horton plains national park |
<ul>Bird watching is very common in Horton plains national park because birds living freely everywhere in the park. The place called "Áranga pool" is the best place to spot endemic bird species of Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka whistling thrush, Sri Lanka white-eye, Dull-blue flycatcher, and Sri Lanka bush warbler.</br>
<br>Most of the highland bird species such as Sri Lanka wood pigeon, Scaly Thrush, Spotted-winged Thrush, Sri Lanka rufous babbler, Ceylon blue magpie, Ceylon hill white-eye, Black-winged Kite, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Pied bush chat, Kashmir red-breasted flycatcher, Common buzzard, Brown baza, Black eagle, Mountain Hawk-eagle and many more can be seen in the Horton plains national park.
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Nature trail, Kirigalpotta |
Nature trail, Kirigalpotta |
<ul>Nature trails to Kirigalpotta (2,389 m), the second-highest mountains of Sri Lanka, located west of Horton plains national park is one of the best nature trails in Sri Lanka.</br>
<br>The hikers can experience all aspects of the unique and fragile eco-system of the Horton plains national park on the nature trail to Kirigalpoththa Mountain. The trail goes through areas of wet grassland, cloud forests, and scrubs at the summit. A wide variety of beautiful wildflowers and hundreds of birds can be seen during the hike. If you are lucky enough, you will be able to see wild boar, deer, and leopard.
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Nature trail, Thotupola kanda |
Nature trail, Thotupola kanda |
<ul>Thotupola Kanda 3rd highest mountain in Sri Lanka with a height of 2,357 m has located north of Horton plains national park. Nature trail to Thotupola Kanda is a fairly easy trail comparing other nature trails in Sri Lanka. It is a 4 km trail and takes about 1 hour to reach the summit. You will be able to experience the montane forest ecosystem during your hike. The surrounding view is spectacular at the summit. |
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Baker's falls, Horton plains national park |
Baker's falls, Horton plains national park |
<ul>Baker’s Fall, located inside the Horton plains national parks, originally known as Gonagala falls, was named after British explorer Sir Samuel Baker. It is 20 m in height and gives different views when you are looking at it from different angles. Baker's falls formed by the Belihuloya river, a tributary of the Walawe river. </ul> |
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Bird watching, Bundala national park |
Wildlife safari, Bundala national park |
<ul>Bundala national park is heaven for bird watching enthusiasts during the months from September to March. It is consists of thorny scrub, sand dunes, and five shallow brackish lagoons. The park and the adjoining Bundala saltern is harbors 197 species of birds including thousands of migrant waders during the season.</br>
<br>Bundala national park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and designated as a national park in 1993. It is located 246 km Southeast of Colombo and 16 km from Tissamaharama. Bundala national park was the first Ramsar Wetland and fourth Biosphere Reserve in Sri Lanka.
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Kalpitiya beach |
Kalpitiya beach |
<ul>A sandy headland of Kalpitiya is a peninsula, that separates Puttalam lagoon from the Indian Ocean. It has a diversity of flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangrove swamps, salt marshes, and sand dune beaches. Kalpitiya is located 168 Km north of Colombo and is a stunning place for underwater and above water adventure.<br>
<br>Alankuda beach is a newly developed stretch of beach in Kalpitiya peninsula with guest house type hotels.<br>
<br>Kalpitiya beach is one of the world’s best locations for Kite surfing. It is also the best place in the world to witness the pods of dolphins. Due to the “Bar Reef”, the largest coral reef in Sri Lanka, Kalpitiya become a heaven for Scuba Divers and Snorkelers. </ul> |
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Namal Uyana, Rose quartz mountain |
Namal Uyana, Rose quartz mountain |
<ul>Namal Uyana is located at Madatugama, 20 km northwest of Dambulla. South Asia’s largest Rose quartz mountain range is located within the Namal Uyana premises. This Rose quartz mountain range surrounded by a large Ironwood forest. Hike to Rose quartz mountain through ironwood forest is an extremely serene and calming hike.
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Little Adams Peak, Ella |
Little Adams Peak, Ella |
<ul>Little Adams Peak in Ella is about 1,141 m in height, not that much of height as the famous Adam’s Peak recorded 2,243 m in height. Therefore hike is not that difficult and it takes only 3 hours for both up and down. If you are witnessing the sunrise at the top of the peak you would be mesmerized by the scenic beauty of the surroundings.
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Ella rock |
Ella rock |
<ul>Ella rock, a famous cliff located near the Kital Ella railway station would be a stunning place to hike. At the summit, the view of the surrounding landscape is panoramic. The hike is about 8 km long and will take 4 hours for the entire hike.
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Ravana falls |
Ravana falls |
<ul>Ravana falls located 6 km from Ella is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka specially in the wet season. It is about 25 m in height but not for a hike. Because it is quite dangerous to climb towards the head of the waterfall. The fall creates from the Ravana Ella wildlife sanctuary. |
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Lipton's seat, Sir Thomas Lipton |
Lipton's seat, Sir Thomas Lipton |
<ul>Lipton’s Seat is the summit point of the Poonagala Mountain often used by the Scottish tea baron, Sir Thomas Lipton, to view his tea plantation empire. If you are there you will have a birds-eye view of Handapanagala Lake, Chandrika Lake, Udawalawe Lake, and the Hambanthota harbour as far as the southern coast. It is located 27 km southwest of Ella. The hike goes through the beautiful tea plantation up to the summit. </ul> |
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Lipton tea, Dambatenne tea factory |
Lipton tea, Dambatenne tea factory |
<ul>Lipton tea is manufacturing in the Dambatenna tea factory, the longest tea factory in Sri Lanka. Dambatenna tea factory offers a tea tour that demonstrates the full process from fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving, and grading of tea. </ul> |
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Adisham Bungalow, British Gothic Architecture |
Adisham Bungalow, British Gothic Architecture |
<ul>The Adisham bungalow, a country house built in 1931 by an English aristocrat and planter Sir Thomas Villiers. This is a masterpiece of British gothic architecture design in Sri Lanka. </ul> |
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Thangamale sanctuary |
Thangamale sanctuary |
<ul>Thangamale sanctuary is a small forest patch situated adjoining the Adisham Bungalow, 28 km from Ella. The trekking through this forest along the neighbouring villages in Haputale is an interesting experience. You would be able to witness some great views along the valley.<br>
<br>You can took the path to the left of the Adisham bungalow and walked through the sanctuary and dropping down onto the train tracks and ended up in Idalgashinna railway station. The total distance is about 5 km and the last 500 m is along the rail track. It takes only about 1 and a half hours. </ul> |
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Dhowa rock temple |
Dhowa rock temple |
<ul>Dhowa rock temple is located 7 km southwest of Ella. The unfinished Buddha statue carved on the rock face and cave temple paintings belong to the Kandyan era are interesting things to see in this temple. |
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Diyaluma falls |
Diyaluma falls |
<ul>Diyaluma falls, 220 m in height is ranked the 2nd highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. It is located 6 km away from Koslanda on the Colombo - Batticaloa, A4, highway and 38 km south of Ella. <br>
<br>It is multiple falls. Lower Diyaluma can be seen from the Colombo - Batticaloa highway however you have to hike up through the jungle to see the upper Diyaluma falls. There are natural pools at every level of the falls, you can chill and flip into the refreshing water. The hike takes only 20 min. to reach the top of the falls. </ul> |
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Galway's Land national park |
Galway's Land national park |
<ul>Galway's Land national park is located within the Nuwara Eliya city area. A well-preserved patch of montane forest which offers habitat for many species of hill birds. Many ornithologists consider that the Victoria Park of Nuwara Eliya and the Galway's Land as two of the most significant bird watching sites in Sri Lanka. Galway's Land harbours more than 30 species of native and migratory birds. Apart from the avifauna, hundreds of blooming trees and flowers are common in this park.<br>
<br>The most common birds are the Black bird, Ceylon warbler, Yellow-eared bulbul, Dusky blue flycatcher, Grey-headed Flycatcher, Ceylon hill white eye, Kashmir red-breasted flycatcher, Grey tit, and many more. </ul> |
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Moon Plain |
Moon Plain |
<ul>Moon Plain or "Sadathenna" is classified as an agriculture and environment tourism zone by the Municipal Council of Nuwara Eliya. It is located within the Nuwara Eliya town and covered with lush green grass and occasional pygmy trees. |
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Hakgala Botanical Garden, Ashok Vatika |
Hakgala Botanical Garden, Ashok Vatika |
<ul>Hakgala Botanical Garden area together with strict nature reserve above the garden was offered as a pleasure garden to Queen Seetha by King Ravana according to the Ramayana. It is believed that the place mentioned as “Ashok Vatika” was the present Hakgala Botanical Garden. Hakgala was converted into a botanical garden in 1884. Before that, it was used as an experimental cultivation of Cinchona and Tea. It is located 16 km from Nuwara Eliya.<br>
<br>There are over 10,000 floral plants in the garden. It has many sections naming Rose garden, Upper flower garden, Glasshouse, Fernery, rock garden, Arboretum, Central pond, Bulb garden, and many pathways in the garden. It is famous for roses and orchids specially from march to May. </ul> |
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Mahiyangana temple |
Mahiyangana temple |
<ul>Lord Buddha has visited Mahiyanganaya nine months after his Enlightenment on a Duruthu full moon poya day as the first visit to Sri Lanka. He visited the country to settle the dispute between Yakka and Naga tribes who inhabited this area. The Yakka leader of the area named Sumana Saman (later become the god Sumana Saman) and his followers listen to the preaching of the Buddha and become the follower of Buddhism.</br>
<br>As per the request of the people Buddha has given a handful of hair from his head to worship. Sumana Saman placed those in a golden casket and built the Mahiyangana stupa by deposited them. The original stupa was reconstructed over it 7 times.</ul> |
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Dambana, Vedda's native village |
Dambana, Vedda's native village |
<ul>Dambana a jungle area has located16 km east of Mahiyanganaya. The Sri Lankan native hunter-gathering people, the Veddas, are living there. However, they were unable to live with their traditional hunting life due to resettlement projects, development of the area, and civilization influences. More or less they were absorbed into mainstream society and mainly cultivating fields. But all of them are protecting their cultural identity, retained their own religion, a kind of spirit cult, wearing their traditional weapons of axe, bow, and arrow, and performing their traditional rituals.</ul>
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Sorabora Wewa |
Sorabora Wewa |
<ul>The ancient “sea of Bintenna” now known as Sorabora Wewa was a unique ancient reservoir built in the 1st century BC during King Dutugemunu’s period. It is said that this reservoir was built by the giant in the area called “Bulatha” and his men.
Sorabora Wewa containing a 485-meter embankment. But it does not have the structure called “Bisokotuwa’’ that all the other reservoirs have to protect the embankment from erosion and maintain the water pressure from inside the tank to the sluice gate (“Sorowwa”). The 2 gigantic natural rock closing each other was utilized as the structure of Bisokotuwa to control the outward water flow.</ul>
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Off-road Adventure, Kalpitiya lagoon |
Off-road Adventure, Kalpitiya lagoon |
<ul>4W Jeep tour along the kilometers long sand dunes on the Kalpitiya Lagoon is a thrilling experience that will never forget. During your adventure drive, you will reach the little fishing village of Kirimundal at the northernmost tip of the peninsula. Kalpitiya lagoon is famous for herds of donkeys. On your return, you can have a sea bath and witnessing the beautiful sunset.</ul> |
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Kalpitiya Dolphin watching |
Kalpitiya Dolphin watching |
<ul><p>Kalpitiya is one of the prime locations for Dolphin watching in the world. The pods of the spinner, bottlenose, and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are submerging and re-emerging from the sparkling water in Kalpitiya during the season. The Sperm Whales and the occasional Blue Whale are also can be seen in Kalpitiya.</p><p><br></p></ul><table class="table table-bordered"><tbody><tr><td><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px;">Best Season</b><br></td><td><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px;">November to April</span><br></td></tr><tr><td><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Tour started at</b><br></td><td><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Between 7.00 - 8.00 am from Kalpitiya whales and dolphin watching operations Centre</span><br></td></tr><tr><td><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px;">Tour duration</b><br></td><td><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px;">3-4 hours</span><br></td></tr></tbody></table><ul><p><br><br>
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Sinharaja forest reserve, World heritage site |
Sinharaja forest reserve, World heritage site |
<ul>Sinharaja forest reserve has been nominated as a Biosphere reserve and a World heritage site by UNESCO due to its’ biodiversity importance. It is located 73 km west of Udawalawe, 77 km east of Galle, and 78 km north of Tangalle.<br>
<br>This last extensive patch of virgin rainforest in Sri Lanka has covered 8,864 ha. It is only 21 km from east to west and a maximum of 7 km from north to south. However, the endemism of this small forest patch is extremely high. The bird endemism is the highest, 29 endemic birds in Sri Lanka out of 34 have been recorded in Sinharaja. Endemism among amphibians, mammals, and butterflies is also greater than 50%. The endemic reptiles of green pit viper and hump-nosed vipers can be found in this forest reserve. There are few elephants (3-4) and about 15 Leopards have recorded in the forest reserve but due to dense vegetation, wildlife is not easy to trace. However, the endemic mammal purple-faced langur can be seen commonly in the reserve. The inevitable leeches are common in the Sinharaja forest reserve.<br>
<br>Sinharaja forest receives between 3000-6000 mm of rain and has between 18-27° C mean temperature throughout the year and the humidity is between 75% - 90%. All these conditions favours Sinharaja to have a wild profusion of flora. The top canopy trees layer has a height up to 45 m and the next layer down topping 30m. Out of 217 woody trees and lianas in Sinharaja 139 are endemic.<br>
<br>Sinharaja has an intricate network of streams. The Napola Dola and Koskulana Ganga from the north, Maha Dola, and Gin Ganga from the south-west and the Kalukandawa Ela and Kudawa Ganga from the west crisscrossed each other. These waterways are formed beautiful waterfalls in Snharaja. Some of them are Duwili Ella, Kekuna Ella, Thattu Ella, Pathanoya Ella, Malmora Ella, Brahmana Ella, Uran Wetuna Ella, and Galdoruwa Ella. Among them, Duwili Ella would be the most beautiful.
The forest reserve has a rolling terrain that encompasses a series of ridges and valleys spread over a broad elevation range from 300 m to 1150m. Hinipitigala (1150 m), Tibbottagala (904m), Kosgulana (797m), Dotalugala (769m), Moulawella (760m), Sinhagala (742m), and Kohilearambe (575m) are the significant ridges in Sinharaja.<br>
<br>The lifetime experience of the real beauty of nature catch with a glimpse of rare flora and fauna can only be accessible by trekking inside the Sinharaja with an excellent guide. You will be able to explore the mystery of the virgin rainforest and indulge in once-in-a-lifetime photography. That may avoid the strain uncounted in challenging trails.</ul> |
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Ancient City of Sigiriya, World heritage site |
Ancient City of Sigiriya, World heritage site |
<ul>Sigiriya was no mere fortress, gloomy and forbidding, as others are. It is one of the best-preserved ancient cities where the layout of the buildings, gardens, and pathways are still clearly evident. It displayed the collective effect of the science of town planning and water management, architecture, construction and landscaping, and arts in the 5th century AD in Sri Lanka.<br>
<br>The name “Sigiriya” literally means “Lion Rock” has a history far beyond the 5th century. Some caves in the base of the rock contained drip-edged inscriptions belongs to the 2nd century BC to 1st century AD describing the donation of those caves to Buddhist monks. History from the 1st to 4th century not clearly mentioned in the ancient chronicles.<br>
<br>However, from 477 to 495 BC, Sigiriya was in its zenith under the kingship of Kashyapa who built it as a well-planned glorious city and citadel and the political hub of Sri Lanka.<br>
<br>If you can imagine the stupendous sight of the rock that was crowned with the palaces, the marble white walls and brazen roofs and jewelled finials reflecting the blinding light of the sun, and the great mural emblazoned on the rock-face carried the maidens it depicts halfway to the clouds as though they were in truth “apsaras”, heavenly damsels, inhabitants of the sky region where the gods dwell in radiant light.<br>
<br>Since King Kashyapa’s reign was ended in 495, Sigiriya becomes a monastery and lasting until the 12th century. From the 13th century capital of the country shifted towards the southwest of the country allowing the whole Rajarata region including Sigiriya become abandoned and swallowed by the forest. Since 16th-century colonial power start arising over the country nobody interested in the Sigiriya.<br>
<br>During the colonial period in 1831, Jonathan Forbes, a Scottish officer heard about Sigiriya and decided to search it with the help of locals. After several attempts, he was able to find the surrounding gardens and the moat at the base of the rock. Finally, two British civil servants A. Y. Adams and J. Bailey were able to reach the top of the Sigiriya rock in 1853.<br>
<br>Under the leadership of H.C.P.Bell, the first Archaeological Commissioner in Ceylon, Systematic archaeological excavations have begun in 1895.<br>
<br><b>The Site</b><br>
<br>Sigiriya city and citadel has a very complex rampart system. The city was laid out in a large square area, walled with a moat in the west and a walled rectangle in the east. At the centre stood the great rock - the citadel. Within the fortifications, terrace upon terrace from wall to citadel’s foot clustered and climbed the dwelling places and ancillary buildings of a city fair as peace. To the south lay further fortified outworks.<br>
<br>At the top of the flat rock upper palace was located. At the middle-level terrace Lion gate, the mirror wall and frescoes located. Lower palaces were located behind the lower gardens, moats, and ramparts at the ground level. At the entrances, there were five gates were placed.<br>
<br>The main areas to explore at present are:<br>
<br><b>The Gardens</b><br>
<br>The Gardens of Sigiriya can be rank among the ancient gardens of the Romans such as the gardens of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The three distinct gardens of water gardens, cave and boulder gardens, and terraced gardens were linked together to form such a unique landscaped gardens in the world. Those are well preserved and can be seen as it is, even today. The most sophisticated hydraulic technologies used in the water garden were unique and most importantly some of them are still working today.<br>
<br>The Macrosystem of the water garden consists of Sigiri Maha Wewa, the man-made lake starting south of the rock, and a series of moats fed from the lake. The microsystem consists of the water control and retaining systems at the summit and horizontal and vertical drains cut into the rock and underground conduits made of cylindrical terracotta pipes at various levels.
The higher level from the water garden is Boulder Garden. Every rock and boulder had buildings of brick and timber. The pathways are winding through natural boulders. This boulder garden has interesting places to explore. Those are;<br>
<br><i><b>Cistern Rock:</b></i> that has a large cistern made of huge slabs of granite.<br>
<i><b>Audience Hall Rock:</b></i> that has a 5 m long throne carved out of the rock.<br>
<i><b>Cobra Hood Cave:</b></i> It is named due to the shape of this boulder and used by the Buddhist monks.<br>
<i><b>Preaching Rock:</b></i> The tiered platforms of this boulder are believed to be used by orating monks.<br>
<br>The Terrace Garden at the base of the rock is fashioned out of the natural hill, made with rubble retaining walls, each terrace running in a concentric circle around the rock, each rising above the other.<br>
<br><b>The Mirror Wall</b><br>
<br>On the way to Lion's Platform, a highly polished plaster wall called Mirror wall can be seen. It is believed that the wall was coated with polished lime, egg white, and honey. It still has a reflective sheen. There are nearly about 1500 items of graffiti on this mirror wall composed by the monks and pilgrims who flocked to Sigiriya from around the country during the 7th to 12th centuries. Those prose or poetry were written on varying subjects such as love, irony, and experiences, and most of them written in Sinhalese, but some are written in Sanskrit and Tamil.<br>
<br><b>Frescos</b><br>
<br>During King Kasyapa’s period, Sigiriya was decorated with hundreds of pictures of graceful female figures and appears to be a gigantic picture gallery. After King Kasyapa’s demise Sigiriya has converted into a monastery again. As a result, most of the paintings were wiped out in order to minimize the distraction for the meditation. However, a total of 21 surviving frescoes are still intact just above the mirror wall, on the way to Lion's Platform.<br>
<br>Though those are classified as the Anuradhapura era paintings, the painting style in Sigiriya is unique. It is closely resembling with Ajanta Cave paintings in India. There are two broad opinions about the identity of graceful female figures in the frescoes among the archaeologist. The first opinion is they portray human beings either queens, princesses, and maids of the court of King Kasyapa in a secular or religious ambiance. The second opinion is they portray celestial beings as either semi-divine nymphs called “apsaras” or a class of divine beings like goddesses.<br>
<br>Whatever the opinion would be, the Sigiriya frescoes, the most remarkable objects of Sri Lankan artistic heritage provide glimpses of how impressive Sigiriya at its zenith.<br>
<br><b>Lion’s Paws</b><br>
<br>While you are climbing Sigiriya you will pass the water garden, boulder garden, mirror wall, and frescoes and emerge to a platform at the northern end of the rock. At this platform, two huge paws of a lion towering against the rock can be seen. It is the only remains of the opened mouth giant brick lion where the staircase leading to the palace garden. The steps leading between the paws of the lion into his mouth. It is believed that the name Sigiriya for this rock has derived due to this gigantic figure.<br>
<br><b>Upper Palace on the Summit</b><br>
<br>The flat summit of the rock covering an area of around 1.2 hectares would have been completely covered with buildings and gardens. The remains of the foundations have confirmed that. The multi-story palace with a bathing pool on the top of a rock with the comprehensive view of reservoirs, mountains, and forests around would suggest that Sigirita was not a fortress and would have been a royal palace of pleasure. It is remembering that the modern-day rooftop pool when you see the pond scooped out of solid rock measuring 27m x 21m in size.<br>
<br>According to the foundation, the layout of the ground plan has clearly visible. The palace occupies the lower eastern sections where the palace gardens at the south. There was a large rock-cut pool covering both the palace and the garden. At the palace, there was a granite throne, dancing terraces, a small pool, drinking water tanks, rooms for concubines, a small flower garden, and precariously positioned platforms for guards, the king's audience chamber, and his anteroom. Also, there is a huge throne in a semicircle where his advisors would sit.</ul> |
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Bird watching, Sinharaja forest reserve |
Bird watching, Sinharaja forest reserve |
<ul>The mixed-species feeding flocks are common in rainforests. The Sinharaja rainforest mixed-species feeding flocks of birds are been studied since 1981. This longest-running field study of the world has revealed that Sinharaja mixed bird species flocks are the largest in the world with an average attendance of 41 individuals. They have observed 59 individuals belongs to 21 species participate in feeding flocks. Around 20 of the 33 endemic birds of Sri Lanka can be seen in Sinharaja and sometimes 6 of them are in feeding flocks.</br>
<br>The birds can be seen in a flock including species such as the Ceylon Hanging-parrot, Green-billed Coucal, Red-faced Malkoha, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, Ceylon Rufous Babbler, White-faced Starling, Ceylon Crested Drongo, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Rufous Babbler, Spot-winged Thrush, Ceylon Hill Myna, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Scaly Thrush, Ceylon Jungle Fowl, Ceylon Spurfowl, Crimson Backed woodpecker, Ceylon Crested Drongo, Layard’s Parakeet, Ceylon Green Pigeon, Ceylon Lorikeet, and many more.</ul> |
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Wildlife, Knuckles Mountain Range |
Wildlife, Knuckles Mountain Range |
<ul>Knuckles mountain range covering 18,512 ha. of central high lands in Sri Lanka has an amazing diversity of fauna and flora. Despite its size, it has a higher percentage of the island’s biodiversity. Due to its own climatic microcosm, five types of vegetation can be found at Knuckles. They are semi-evergreen forest, sub-montane forest, montane forest, riverine forests, and the pathana and savannah grasslands.<br>
<br>There are 31 species including four endemics and nine nationally endangered mammals are found in the Knuckles wilderness. The toque monkey and the purple-faced leaf monkey, Wild Buffalo, Wild boar, Black-Naped Hare, Jackal are common in Knuckles.<br>
<br>A high composition of birdlife can be found in the Knuckles range. Over 130 bird species are recorded in Knuckles and 17 of them are endemic. There are 20 amphibians including 12 endemic and 53 reptiles including 23 endemic recorded in Knuckles. The endemic Leaf-nosed Lizard has found only in the Knuckles region whereas half of the Agamid lizard species in Sri Lanka are found in the Knuckles. The water streams in Knuckles has recorded 25 species of freshwater fish. Among them, 8 are endemic.</ul>
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