Worldwide Nepalese Students' Organisation
Sri Lanka
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Important Cities of Sri Lanka
Colombo
While in Colombo attractions worth seeing are:- Buddhists temples, Hindu
temples, Mosques, Christian churches, Parliament building, Parks, Zoo,
Museums and Art Galleries. A half day tour covering 40 km. and including
visits to a Buddhist Temple, Hindu Temple, the Zoo and the residential
areas will cost around US $ 18 for a car with a chauffeur guide.
Sri
Lanka's capital upto recent times, Colombo, is a fascinating city, not
only for a comfortable blend of east and west, but also for a cosy mixture
of the past and present. It is still the commercial centre of the country.
Situated 34 km. from the International Airport, Colombo has been a flourishing
seaport for centuries. Today the bustle of the harbour mingles with the
activity of its busy commercial, banking and shopping areas. The original
trading settlers - the Portuguese, Dutch and the British have all left
in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, costumes and
food and smatterings of their languages which have been absorbed into the
speech of the Sri Lankans. Colombo, with its population of over half a
million is divided into fifteen zones.
Kandy
Nuwara Eliya
Bridle paths will take you to the precipice known as World's End - a
sheer drop of 1050 metres. Acres and acres of tea with its lush green foliage
extend miles across the hills and no visit to the hill country is complete
without a visit to a tea estate and the chance to purchase some of the
world's finest flavoured tea - our major export crop. (Dist.
from Colombo: 180 km).
Ratnapura
Anuradhapura
Mihintale
Polonnaurwa
Sigiriya
Dambulla
Arthalanthaya
Yapahuwa
Aluvihara
Part of the information is Courtesy of www.nirvanatour.de
Sri Lanka's hill capital, stronghold of the Sinhala Kings, is our most
beautiful town. It is 488 metres above sea level and next to Colombo is
Sri Lanka's most visited place. The focal point of the town is, without
doubt, the golden roofed Dalada Maligawa where the Sacred Tooth Relic of
the Buddha is enshrined. Major restoration work is in progress here by
the UNESCO - aided Central Cultural Fund. The highlight of the year is
the Esala Perahera, when a replica of the relic casket is taken in procession
accompanied by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and about 80 to 100
elephants during ten glittering nights in July/August. Visit Kalapuraya
in the beautiful Dumbara valley 8 km. from Kandy, where descendants of
the ancient craftsmen still create items of rare elegance in metal and
wood. There are many shrines and temples in and around Kandy, where you
will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings. Don't miss
the Peradeniya Gardens begun as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala King, with
its amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. Kandy is an exciting
place for shopping with souvenirs in wood, copper, silver, brass, ebony
and bronze. Ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery and rush
and reed-ware can also be purchased. (Dist. from
Colombo: 116 km).
Set in the heart of the tea-country, this beautiful town is where the British
succeeded in creating an English countryside with homes in styles from
Georgian to Queen Anne. Well-kept lawns with hedges, an Anglican church
and the famous golf course and beautiful parks give the place an air of
nostalgia. Situated at 1890 metres above sea level, the air here is cool
and fresh - a serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of Colombo. Close
to Nuwara Eliya are Horton Plains, Sri Lanka's highest and most isolated
plateau. Nature lovers will revel in this wide, patna grass covered plain,
the haunt of many wild yet harmless animals and the home of many species
of birds.
Sri Lanka's "City of Gems" and the centre of its gemming industry.
The gems found include sapphire, ruby, cat's eye, alexandrite, topaz, amethyst,
aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet and zircon. Visits to gem mines may be arranged
through travel agents. Gem collections can be seen at the National Museum,
Ratnapura and a number of private museums, rubber and tea estates and scenic
landscape are found in plenty. (Dist. from Colombo:
101 km).
Sri Lanka's first capital, founded in the 5th century B.C. is situated
206 km. from Colombo. Attractions worth seeing are:- The Sacred Bo Tree,
Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanaramaya, Brazen Palace, Thuparama Dagaba, Samadhi
Buddha, Kuttam Pokuna and Mirisavati Dagaba.
Situated 11 km. east of Anuradhapura is Mihintale, regarded as the cradle
of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The rock is dotted with shrines and rock dwellings.
A grand stairway of 1840 steps made of granite slabs, 5 metres wide, leads
to the summit with its splendid view of the surrounding countryside. (Dist.
from Colombo: 217 km).
The island's medieval capital (11th to 13th century A.D.) is situated 216
km. from Colombo and rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. The
largest of the man made reservoirs, the huge Parakrama Samudra, is larger
in size than the Colombo harbour. See also the ruins of the King's Council
Chamber, the Royal Citadel, the Kumara Pokuna, Royal Pavilion, the Vatadage
Relic House lavished with moonstones, guardstones and sculptured railing,
Kiri Vehera - the best preserved of all Sri Lanka's un-restored dagabas;
Gal Vihare - the most impresive sculptures are the colossal Buddha images
carved on the face of a granite boulder. The recumbent Buddha measures
14 metres and the standing figure is 7 metres in height.
This rock fortress was built by king Kasyapa in the 5th century A.D. and
was a royal citadel for more than 18 years. In a sheltered pocket, approached
by a spiral stairway, are the famous frescoes. The summit of the rock,
with an area of nearly one hectare was the site of the palace, the outer
wall of which was built on the very brink of the precipice. The UNESCO
- sponsored Central Cultural Fund has restored Sigiriya's 5th century Water
Gardens to their former glory. (Dist. from Colombo:
169 km).
Like Sigiriya, Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here that
King Valagam Bahu took refuge in the 1st century B.C. He later turned the
caves into a rock temple. Some of the frescoes are over 2,000 years old
and there is a colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the
living rock, some 14 metre long. (Dist. from Colombo:
148 km).
Situated beneath sprawling trees and amongst rocks and boulders, Arthalanthaya
brings tranquillity to the tired eyes, ears, limbs and minds. It combines
indigenous classical craftsmanship with the state-of-the art technology
to provide visitors wholesome entertainment and education through a multitude
of Theatres, Play houses, Aremas, Amusement, Galleries, Alleys and Kiosks
and employing both traditional and radically new formats.
An ancient fortress and capital built in the year 1301, approximately 145
km. from Colombo, Yapahuwa is a rock rising to a height of 90 metres. Many
traces of the ancient battle defences can still be seen, while an ornamental
stairway remains its biggest showpiece.
26 km. from Kandy is the Matale district. An ancient rock temple of
great significance in the history of Buddhism. The Buddhist canon and its
commentaries, which were till then handed down orally, were written for
the first time at Aluvihara Temple. (Dist. from Colombo:
142 km).
WNSO Sri Lanka is part of Worldwide Nepalese Students' Organisation (WNSO)