Srilanken Tea

The tea sector in Sri Lanka has always been a vital component of her economy. It is also the country's largest employer providing employment both directly and indirectly to over one million people. It also contributes a significant amount to Government revenue and to the gross domestic product.

Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka, acclaimed as the best tea in the world has its inherent unique characteristics and reputation running through more than a century. The influence of climatic conditions of its plantation imparts to the product a variety of flavors and aromas, synonymous with quality.

Sri lanka as the 3rd biggest tea producing country globally, has a production share of 9% in the international sphere, and one of the world's leading exporters with a share of around 19% of the global demand. The total extent of land under tea cultivation has been assessed at approximately 187,309 hectares.

Sri Lanka produces tea throughout the year and the growing areas are mainly concentrated in the central highlands and southern inland areas of the island. They are broadly grouped under these headings according to their elevations, with high growns ranging from 1200 m upwards, medium growns covering between 600 m to 1200 m. and low growns from sea level up to 600 m.

High grown teas from Sri Lanka are reputed for their taste and aroma. The two types of seasonal tea produced in these areas Dimbula and Nuwara Eliya are much sought after by blenders in tea importing countries.

Uva teas from Eastern Highlands contain unique seasonal characters and are widely used in many quality blends particular in west Germany and Japan. 

The medium grown teas provide a thick coloury variety which are popular in Australia, Europe, Japan and North America.

Srilanken Handicrafts

The most characteristic and clichéd Sri Lankan souvenirs are brightly painted masks, originally designed to be worn during kolam dances and now found for sale wherever there are tourists. Masks vary in the size from the tiny to the huge; the vast majority depicts either the popeyed Gara Yaka or nthe bird demon Gurulu Raksha, though if you hunt around you may find other designs – the excellent display at the National Museum in Colombo gives a good overview of the range of masks which have traditionally been made, even if you won’t find as wide a selection in any of the island’s shop. Some masks are artificially but attractively but attractively aged to resemble antiques a lot easier on the eye than the lurid colours in which most are painted. The centure of mask production is at Ambalangoda where there are couples of large shops selling a big range of designs.

Second is popularity are elephant carvings. These range from small wooden creatures painted with bright polka – dot patterns, to the elegant stone carvings sold at the Gallery Café and Paradise Road in Colombo. Batiks are also widespread. Designs are often stereo – typical, though a few places produce more usual and interesting work. More entertaining are the puzzle boxes offered for sale around Sigiriya – delicately carved little wooden boxes which can only be opened bay series of Rubik – cube – like maneuvers. Also fun are the beautifully made wooden modals of tuktuks and other vehicles – wonderful souvenirs or children’s toy. They’re most commonly found in Negombo, but also increasingly available in Colombo and elsewhere on the island.

A number of other traditional crafts struggle on with a little help from the tourist trade. Metalwork has long has been produced in Kandy area, and intricately embossed metal objects such as dishes, trays, candlesticks and other objects can be found in all the island’s handicraft emporia, though they’re rather fussy for most foreign taste. Leatherwork can also be good, boots and footrests. Lacaqureware can also be good sometimes be found, along with kandyan – style drums and, occasionally, carom boards.

 

National Parks in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is famous for its wildlife. There are many National parks and sanctuaries where one can see animals in their natural habitat. Major animals that roam in National Park include elephants, leopards, sloth bears, deers, monkeys, wild buffalos, wild boars, porcupines, civet cats, jackals, mongooses, several varieties of lizards, squirrels, reptiles and amphibians.

Yala (Ruhuna) National Park: Yala National Park with an area of 1259 sq km is the biggest National Park in Srilanka. The Park is located 309 km south of Colombo on the southeast of the island. The national park is divided into Yala West (also called Ruhuna) and Yala East. Yala West or Ruhuna National Park is one of the best parks in the world to observe and photograph leopards. There are about 35 leopards in the park, which probably is the highest density anywhere in the world. Other animals that can be seen in the park are elephants, sloth bear, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer, toque monkey, mongoose and crocodiles. Yala East contains a large variety of water birds.

Gal Oya National Park: Gal Oya National Park is located 314 km away from Colombo in Inginiyagala district. Park has an area 260 sq km and is surrounded by the largest tank in Sri Lanka-Senanayake Samudra. The park is renowned for its elephant population. There are about 150 elephants in the park. The best time visit the park is between March and July.

Uda Walawe National Park: Situated 170 km southeast of Colombo, the Uda Walawe National Park lies within the Ratnapura and Monaragala districts. It is largely inhabited by elephants, spotted deer, sambhur, water buffaloes, mongoose, bandicoots, foxes, water monitor lizards, crocodiles, wild boars, toque monkeys, grey langur, leopards and various varieties of snakes.

Wasgamuwa National Park: Situated approximately 200 km away from Colombo, the Wasgamuwa National Park lies within the Polonnaruwa and Matale Districts and has the Mahaweli River and Amban River as its eastern and western boundaries. The wildlife includes elephants, wild buffaloes, spotted deer, leopards, sloth bears, water monitors and crocodiles.

Horton Plains National Park: The Horton Plains National Park is situated some 200 km away from Colombo, amidst hills in Nuwara Eliya district. The most amazing feature of the park is the `World's End' where the southern part of the plains comes to a sudden end and drops almost straight down for 700 m. The park contains a rich variety of birds and animals.

Waterfalls In Srilanka

Sri Lanka is blessed with innumerable waterfalls. In fact the island nation has highest waterfall density (number of waterfalls per unit area) in the world. There are some 103 rivers and streams in Sri Lanka. Radiating from the hills, fed by two half-yearly monsoons, these rivers rush down the rocky precipices and form spectacular waterfalls. Only some of these picturesque waterfalls can be viewed with ease, while others are located inside thick forests and around tea plantations.

Bambarakanda Ella: Bambarakanda Ella is the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka with a height of 263m (865 feet). It is a seasonal waterfall and is at its peak capacity October to March. The main access to the falls is along a minor but motorable road via Haputale and Kalupahana. Kalupahana is 22 km from Balangoda or 32 km from Wellawaya. From Kalupahana proceeding 3 km along a narrow road through Weerakoongama one can reach the fall. The beauty of the fall is that the whole stream sways to and fro due to the very strong winds blowing across it.

Diyaluma Waterfall: Diyaluma is the 2nd highest waterfall of Sri Lanka with a height of 559 foot. Fed by the Poonagala Oya, the fall is13 km from Wellawaya town and 6 km from Koslanda in the Hills. The fall has a folklore attached to it. According to a legend Gods, seeing the heartbreak of a prince whose runaway romance ended in the death of his sweetheart whom he had tried to haul over the Diyaluma precipice, created this beautiful cascade to weep forever in the wilderness.

Duhinda Falls: Duhinda is a spectacular waterfall situated close to Badulla, an ancient hill capital. Fed by Baduluoya, a tributary of Mahawelli Ganga, the fall is 210 foot high. To reach the fall, one has to travel about 5 km from Badulla along the Mahiyangana road, and trek for another 2 km, away from the main road.

Galagediyana Ella: This waterfall is very close to Colombo can be reached off Dedigama-where the famous Kotavehera Dagoba is located. The fall is 35 foot high and presents a breathtaking sight. Literally Galagediyana means large number of stones and it is one of the widest falls in Sri Lanka.

Ravana Ella: Ravana Ella is one of the widest falls in Sri Lanka. The fall is connected to the legend of Ramayana. The cave hidden behind the falls is believed to be one of the places where Ravana hid Sita. The fall is fed by a tributary of River Kirindi and is visible from the Ella-Wellawaya road. The fall has a height of about 30 foot and plunges over a series of steps into the valley.

Bopath Ella: Bopath Ella is a spectacular waterfall situated close to Colombo. The fall has a height of 100 foot. The name Bopath Ella derives from its perfect heart-shaped head, much like the leaf of the sacred Bo tree. Due to its proximity to Colombo, the fall is a favorite picnic spot .

Saint Claire Waterfall: Saint Claire is the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka. It is composed of two waterfalls-"Maha Ella" and "Kuda Ella". "Maha Ella" is 80m high and falls in three cascades down to Kothmale fall. "Kuda Ella" is 60m high and flows to the Kothmale fall too. The fall can be seen clearly from A-7 road, 3 km off Thalawakalle.

Devon's Waterfall: Devon's waterfall is one of the most famous waterfalls of Sri Lanka. The fall is situated in the Devon estate, named after Devon-a pioneer coffee planter. It is gigantic fall, 318 ft high and has several cascades that add to its beauty. The clear space in front of the fall magnifies the gigantic nature of the fall. It can be reached via Hatton-N'Eliya road and it is off Lindula by the roadside.

Alupolla Ella: Alupolla Ella fall has a height of 200 ft and is composed of three parts. The fall is located 25 km away from Ratnapura in the Wewalwatte village.

Museums in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's rich cultural heritage is depicted through various museums scattered all over the country.

National Museum, Colombo: It is the oldest and largest Museum in the country, established in 1877. Housed in a fine colonial-era building, the museum is famous for collection of ancient royal regalia, Sinhalese artwork (carvings, sculptures et al.), antique furniture, china, and Ola manuscripts. The museum contains: more than 4.000 palm leaf manuscripts; ancient and medieval jewelry; rare collection of traditional masks; wood and ivory carvings; temple frescoes; ceramics objects including VOC plates of the Dutch period; stone sculpture and lithic inscriptions. The museum is open daily from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs except on Fridays.

National Museum of Natural History, Colombo: It is located in the same premises as the National Museum. This museum depicts natural heritage of Sri Lanka. It displays birds, mammals, reptiles, sea-mammals, insects, botanical plants, gems and geological specimens of Sri Lanka. The museum is Open daily from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs.

The Dutch Period Museum, Colombo: The museum is housed in the old `Dutch House' on Prince Street, Pettah, which was earlier the residence of Count August Carl Van Ranzow. The museum displays Dutch legacy through artifacts such as furniture, ceramics, coins, arms etc. The museum is open daily from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs except on Fridays.

Bandaranaike Museum, Colombo: The museum contains photographs, objects and documents of former Prime Minister Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike who was assassinated in 1959.

The National Maritime Museum, Galle: The museum is housed in an old Dutch building in the historic fort of Galle. It has on display objects connected with marine biology and botany and also some beautiful diagrams showing local fishing methods, natural coral beds, sea grass beds and deep sea fishes. The museum is open daily from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs.

Gems Museum, Ratnapura: The museum displays its collections of pre historic objects and fossile of Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus and Elephant collected from the gem pits of Ratnapura District. Other exhibits include jewelry, textiles, flags, gems and semi-precious stones. Some of the artifacts displayed here, reflect the unique art & culture of the Sabaragamuwa Province. The museum is open daily from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs except on Fridays.

Adventure Tourism In Srilnaka

Sri Lanka is an ideal place for adventure seekers. The island country offers excellent adventure sport facilities. One can enjoy windsurfing, diving, snorkeling, rafting, canoeing and trekking in Srilanka.

Windsurfing: May to September is the best period for surfing in Sri Lanka as the winds are strongest during this period. Arugam bay on the east coast is Sri Lanka's best beach for surfing. Other beaches famous for surfing are Hikkaduwa on the southwestern coast and Bentota on the western coast. Surfing gears such as surfboards, boogie boards, and wetties can be hired in the shops beside the beaches.

Diving & Snorkeling: There are several dive sites along Sri Lanka's coastline where one gets an opportunity to see fantastic marine life such as corals, ship wrecks, myriad tropical fish, coral fish, angle fish and puffer fish. Hikkaduwa and Tangalla on the west coast, Unawatuna on the south coast and Nilaveli on the east coast are wonderful places for scuba diving and snorkeling. The best time for diving and snorkeling on the west coast is from November to April and on the east coast is from April to September as the seas are calmest during this period.

Rafting & Canoeing: Sri Lanka has hundreds of rivers and small streams that originate from hills and offer excellent water sports facilities. Some of the rivers such as Kelani River in Kitulgala, southwest of Kandy, are very popular among tourists for rafting purposes. Popular sites for canoeing are the Kalu Ganga (Black River) and the Kelani Ganga.

World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

As declared by UNESCO, presently there are seven World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. These range from ancient cities like Anuradhapura to Sinharaja rainforests.

Sacred City of Anuradhapura: Anuradhapura is acclaimed as the greatest monastic city of the ancient world and has served as the royal capital of 113 kings. Located in the North-Central part of the island, Anuradhapura was originally founded by a King's minister named Anuradha in 500 BC. The 'tree of enlightenment'-the Buddha's fig tree-brought there in the 3rd century B.C. by Sanghamitta was planted in Anuradhapura. The city flourished for 1300 years. In 993 AD, Anuradhapura was fought over and abandoned when the capital was moved to Polonnaruwa. Hidden away in dense jungle for many years, the splendid site, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, was re-discovered in 19th century and is now accessible once again.

Ancient City of Polonnaruwa: Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993. In its time, a 6 km rampart protected the city. Even during the time when Anuradhapura was the capital Polonnaruwa was an important city because it strategically commanded all the crossings over the Mahaveli River and acted as a buffer against the invading armies. It comprises, besides the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century.

Ancient City of Sigriya: Sigiriya was the capital city, built by parricidal King Kasyapa who reigned from 477-495 AD. The ruins of the city lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high. The rock was transformed into a recumbent lion, which dominates the jungle from all sides. A series of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a gigantic lion constructed of bricks and plaster provide access to the site.

Sacred City of Kandy: Kandy is also known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), which is a famous pilgrimage site.

Golden Temple of Dambulla: Dating back to the 1st Century BC, this is the most impressive cave temple in Sri Lanka. The cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. Inside the caves, the ceilings are painted with intricate patterns of religious images, following the contours of the rock. There are images of the Lord Buddha and bodhisattvas, as well as various gods and goddesses.

Old Town of Galle and its Fortification: The port town of Galle is Sri Lanka's fourth biggest town with a population of around 1lakh. The town was founded by the Portuguese in 16th century. In 1598, the Portuguese built a small fort which was later extended. However, when the Dutch took over in 1640, they destroyed all traces of the Portuguese presence. In 1663, the Dutch built the 36-hectare Fort, which is now a World Heritage Site. Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve: Sinharaja is Sri Lanka's last existing tropical rainforest. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the forest is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians.

Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka

Best time to travel to Sri Lanka is between the main rainy seasons. The period from November to April is the driest season on the south west coast and up in the hills. Here, some of the best beaches and many other places of tourist interest are located. Therefore, period between November and April is the best time to visit this region and this period is also considered as tourist season in Srilanka. May to September is the best time to visit east coast, as it is dry during this period. Hence, Sri Lanka is round-the-year destination-there is always a good time to visit at least some part of the country.