WHAT EFFECTED TO THE CULTURE OF SRI LANKA

MUSIC AND DANCE

Sri Lankan music has been influenced over time by Buddhism, colonization and Indian culture. The Portuguese brought ukuleles, guitars and cantiga ballads with them as well as a style of music called baila. Kandyan dance is one of the most popularly seen dances. This Sacred form incorporate elements of Hinduism and Buddhism, elaborate costumes, rhythm and mime. The dancers are a highlight of the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival (July / August), but can also be seen in cultural performances in the city all year round.

RELIGIONS

All around Sri Lanka you will see Buddhist temples, brightly painted Hindu Kovils, mosques and churches that give a glimpse into the spiritual vibrancy of Sri Lankan life. The island is particularly fascinating during religious festivals where everyone seems to join in. Buddhism is the major religion in Sri Lanka and some believe that Lord Buddha visited Sri Lanka three times during his lifetime. The most important Buddhist sanctuaries to be explored are at the top of Sri padha Mountain (Adam’s Peak) in Hill country, the temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy and Anuradhapura, Mihintale and Dambulla Rock Temples in the Cultural Triangle. 

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WATERFALLS IN SRI LANKA

01. Asupini Ella – Kegalle, Sri Lanka.

Also known as `Asupini Falls`.

This is a beautiful Waterfall which can be found in Aranayake, Kegalle District and has a height of 30m. If you are planning to visit Sri Lanka for a Holiday, I suggest that you should definitely visit this historic place. As in the folklores, 33 queens and a King of Sri Lanka have committed suicide in this place. That is a story which can be written in a separate post. So I am not going to post it here. :)

02. Bambarakanda Falls – Kalupahana – Belihuloya, Sri Lanka.

This waterfall located about 18 km from Belihuloya. One has to reach Kalupahana on Belihuloya-Haputale road and then travel about another 4 km away by a small motor able road off Kalupahana. This is the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, which is 790 ft in height. It will be a pleasant experience to have a dip in the pool at the base of the fall. This base pool can be reached by walking about a kilometer through the forest. It would take 1-1/2 – 2 hours to travel the 18km from Belihuloya to get to the waterfall.

03. Doovili Ella – Kalthota – Balangoda, Sri Lanka.

This water fall situated in Kaltota

The name of this 40m waterfall is derived from the Sinhala word for dust – duvili, as it appears to raise a cloud of dust at the base.

To reach this waterfall one has to turn off Kaltota (28 km from Balangoda) and walk about 2km through very difficult terrain where sometimes even wild elephants prowl. The distance from Belihuloya to this waterfall is about 45km and would take about 3hours to reach it.
also known as Duvili Ella, Duwili Ella.

04. Doovili Ella – Knuckles, Sri Lanka.

This is an 80 meters height waterfall situated in the Knuckles Mountain Range.

also known as Duvili Ella, Duwili Ella.

04. Galaboda Falls – Galaboda – Nawalapitiya, Sri Lanka.

The only access for this fall is by train. You have to get down at Galaboda Railway station and then trek to water fall.

05. Galagama Falls – Belihuloya, Sri Lanka.

This 500ft waterfall is in a deep gorge in Belihuloya covered with large slippery rocks. To reach this, one has to travel up to Ihalagalagama along a small motor able road for about 5km and walk about 6 km through paddy fields and scrub jungle. It will take about 2 hours to reach this waterfall.

06. Gerandi Ella – Knuckles, Sri Lanka.

Gerandi Ella is one of the beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka, which originates from the Knuckles mountain range. I will add more fascinating facts about this place when I get them. Don’t forget to add your ideas in the comments so that everybody would get something to know about the place.

08. Huluganga Falls – Panwila – Kandy, Sri Lanka.

This is another nice waterfall, in the Kandy district and originated from the Knuckles mountain range and flows to the Victoria Reservoir. Elliyadda and Aratthana are two villages which make use the water from this waterfall. The measured height of the waterfall is about 75 meters. 

If anybody is interested to visit this place, the location of the waterfall is below the town of the Hulu River, near Panwilla, (Kandy District).

09. Kirindi Ella – Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.

Kirindi Ella is a 116 meters height waterfall in Rathnapura District which originates from the Kuttapitiya Mountain (Actually the source of this fall, the Kirindi Ella River originates here, about 940 meters above). The fall flows to the Kaluganga River located within a jungle in Bambarakotuwa. The approximate length of the waterfall is 13 KM approximately.

10. Kurunduoya Ella – Kandapola, Sri Lanka.

Kurundu Oya falls is situated at the High Forest Estate, Kandapola. You have go walk along the footpath in order to reach the foot of this mighty and beautiful waterfall. First part of the trek goes through the tea plantation. From the half way it will move through the jungle.

11. Pahanthuda Ella – Belihuloya, Sri Lanka.

This water fall is situated close to Belihuloya. To get to this beautiful fall, one has to travel along the Ihalagalagama road for a kilometer and walk down the mountain for half a kilometer.

This waterfall, about 15ft in height is situated one and a half a kilometers from Belihuloya.

The base of this waterfall, carved out of the rock bed is shaped like an oil lamp. Hence it has earned the name Pahanthuda Ella from the Sinhala word “pahana” for lamp.

The time taken would be about one hour from Belihuloya.

12. Ratna Ella – Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

Ratna Ella is a scenic waterfall located 10 km away from the Mahiyanganaya (A historic city in Sri Lanka). Height is 111 meters. If you wish to have a bath in the bottom of a waterfall, this is the best place :)

13. Surathalee Falls – Belihuloya, Sri Lanka.

Eight kilometers from Belihuloya, one can see this waterfall, from the Colombo-Badulla main road at Halpe. In true sense of the word, this is not a waterfall but a water-slip. The water, slides down along a rock wall on the eastern slope of Mountain Ellamana for about 65 ft, forms this water-slip and joins the Weli Oya later. This waterfall can be reached in about 20 minutes.

14. Dunsinane Falls – Pundaluoya (Elpitiya Plantations), Sri Lanka.

Duncinane falls are located in Duncinane estate off Pundaluoya about 16 km from Nuwara Eliya town.           

There are 3 nice water falls located at Duncinane estate.

15. Dunhinda Falls – Badulla, Sri Lanka.

This gigantic yet beautiful, waterfall is situated close to Badulla, an ancient hill capital.

It is about 63m (208ft), fed by Baduluoya, a tributary of Mahawelli Ganga. To reach the waterfall one has to walk about 2km from the Badulla - Mahiyanganaya road.

Please leave a comment if you appreciate this post. It will be a great support to continue this blog. 

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ARCHITECTURE, ARTS & CRAFTS OF SRI LANKA

9:11 PM Nimeshka Srimal

Image Credit : www.geoffreybawa.com

Geoffrey Bawa is Sri Lanka’s most prolific and influential architect. His work has had a tremendous impact throughout Asia. Bawa was a genius at blending buildings with their natural environment, interconnecting outside spaces with the inside. You can see his work at the Parliament of Sri Lanka and hotels such as Lunuganga (his own garden in Bentota that he designed over a 40-year period), Club Villa, the Villa Bentota, the Heritance Ahungalla, Jetwing Lighthouse, and Heritance Kandalama. You can also enjoy a guided tour of Bawa’s Colombo Residence, still as he left it.

Among the most historic forms of Sri Lankan art are the rock paintings found on the Sigirya rock fortress and the religious paintings found in the Dambulla’s rock temples and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. Villages and towns boast their own skilled artisans: lace makers, woodcarvers, Bras-etchers, reed weavers  Batik painters, mask makers and jewelers. The National Crafts Council runs centers in Battaramulla (Colombo), Sigiriya and Galle where you can learn more about (and buy) traditional Sri Lankan crafts.

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COLONIAL HERITAGE OF SRI LANKA

8:42 PM Nimeshka Srimal

From the 10^th century, trading posts sprung up for Arab and Chinese traders 

attracted by gems and spices such as pepper, cinnamon and cloves in Sri Lanka. By the time the Portuguese arrived in the 1500s to colonize Sri Lanka, Colombo and Galle were important ports. The Portuguese legacy lives on in their descendants and in traditions such as “Baila” dancing, lace – making and the Catholic faith. Fort Fredrick built by the Portuguese in Trincomalee, which is in the North East of Sri Lanka, contains many interesting colonial buildings. The Dutch East India Company took over many of the settlements in the 1650s and had built some impressive coastal fortified towns in Sri Lanka by the time they ceded to the British in 1976. Kandy was the last of the Central Kingdoms to surrender to the British in 1815 and the Empire took full control of the renamed “Ceylon”, until Sri Lanka obtained independence in 1948. The “British Era” saw the arrival of British-style planters’ bungalows, landscaped gardens, Cricket, Strawberries and the recreational hill resort of Nuwara Eliya. A legacy of large scale plantations, railways, roads, government offices and palatial hotels were left behind. For Sri Lanka, the most important legacy of British rule is undoubtedly Ceylon tea (although some will say it is cricket!). For a taste of colonial times of Sri Lanka, stay at Amangalla Hotel in Galle, St. Andrews in Nuwara Eliya, Mahaweli Reach in Kandy or Regency at the Galle Face in Colombo. 

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ABOUT ANCIENT CIVILIZATION OF SRI LANKA

12:50 AM Nimeshka Srimal

ABOUT ANCIENT CIVILIZATION OF SRI LANKA

The central area of Sri Lanka, approximately 120 km from Colombo, is home to three ancient capitals (Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa) and Dambula Temple, spanning 2,500 years of history. By 377 BC, the capital city of Anuradhapura had been established complete with the first man-made reservoir. In 246 BC, the son of an Indian Buddhist Emperor arrived in Sri Lanka to spread Buddha’s teachings, successfully converting Anuradhapura’s king on a nearby hill at Mihintale. A collection of Buddha’s relics were presented to the king including a sapling from the sacred bo tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The tree grown from that same sapling still stands in Anuradhapura today. Buddhism spread quickly and Anuradhapura became an important center for Buddhist learning in Asia. In 313 AD, one of the Buddha’s teeth was brought to Anuradhapura, to be housed centuries later in Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth. Apart from a brief interlude when the capital moved to Sigirya RockFortress, Anuradhapura remained the seat of Sinhalese power until 993. The new capital at Polonnaruwa became one of the greatest cities in Asia until the 1400s when it moved to Kotte, near Colombo. Whether you stay for a week or just a day in Cultural Triangle, the rewards are immense. 

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HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF SRI LANKA

3:31 AM Nimeshka Srimal

Serendib, the Arab name for Sri Lanka, means full of surprises and this island is certainly that, as every corner you turn reveals something new, a glimpse through Sri Lanka’s heritage reveals ancient civilizations that were well ahead of their time and a heady mix of cultural influences shaping a modern Sri Lankan culture that has Buddhism at its core. It is little wonder that Sri Lanka has no less than eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites waiting to be explored.

HERITAGE

The heritage of Sri Lanka falls into two distinct aspects; the ancient civilization dating back to hundreds of years BC and then the colonial heritage which has a more recent history, from the 10^th to the 20^th centuries.

CULTURE

Experiencing the fascinating cultural aspects of Sri Lanka provides one of the most rewarding reasons to visit this country. From arts, crafts, architecture through music, dance, food and drink to sport, Sri Lanka’s culture is distinctive and inviting.

We will discuss about each of these sections in details in future posts.

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SHOPPING IN SRI LANKA

1:44 AM Nimeshka Srimal

Popular purchases include tea, gems, jewelry, wooden carvings, ornaments and furniture, spices, batik paintings and clothes, handloom fabrics, bags and purses made from rush and reed, and painted, masks used for dances and drama. Laksala are the government-run craft shops that are meant to guarantee a fair price to the producer. The National Craft Council of Sri Lanka has centred in Sigiriya, Battaramulla (near Colombo) and Galle, where you can see craftsmen and craftswomen at work and buy handicrafts. You will find many simple craft stalls by the roadside, though you cannot always be sure where the items were made. The local markets are fascinating but don’t tend to sell handicrafts.

Kandy also has workshops and sales centers for brassware, lacquer ware and musical instruments, whilst most of the lace is made in South between Galle and Dickwella. Ambalangoda (Between Bentota and Galle) is the center for mask making.

Colombo is the mecca for smart shopping malls and Sri Lankan designer shops, where Sri Lankans and foreign visitors love to shop. Sri Lanka’s thriving garment Industry means that you can find the latest international designs at cheap prices. There are also some good quality handicraft shops. 

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ABOUT HERITAGE, BEACHES AND WILDLIFE OF SOUTHERN SRI LANKA

9:03 PM Nimeshka Srimal

The town of Galle lies on Sri Lanka’s south west tip, with its incomparable Dutch Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The fabulous beaches continue along the south coast, becoming quieter and more remote the further east you go. Towards the south-east in the dry Zone are three of Sri Lanka’s most important national parks, Yala, Bundala and Uda Walawe, a chance to see elephants in the wild, possibly also leopards and sloth bear.

SRI LANKA’S CENTRAL DRY ZONE

The dry central plains reveal a world of wildlife and nature, rice paddies and lilies, wild elephants and reservoirs. This area between kandy and Anuradhapura boasts three ancient capitals and a history spanning 2,500 years, Little wonder there are 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Don’t miss Sigiriya, a 5^th Century fortress built on a 600 feet high granite rock, and the Dambulla Rock Temples. If you have time, visit the ruined medieval city of Polonnaruwa and ancient Anuradhapura, the spiritual home of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with its Dagobas, Ruins and sacred fig tree, believed to have been brought from India as a sapling in the 03^rd Century BC.

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SOME MORE INFO ABOUT AREAS OF SRI LANKA

1:59 AM Nimeshka Srimal

High Tea country and Mountains of South Central Sri Lanka

High tea country in the southern central highlands is a maze of hill stations and tea plantation linked by impossibly twisting roads – dramatic mountain scenery, fresh air and rolling mists. The market town of Nuwara Eliya, Little England, is a journey back in time, with a race course, tea rooms, planters club and quirky shops. Walk on the geologically unique plateau of Horton Plains National Park, or make the arduous climb up Sri Padha, Adam’s Peak.

Kandy and the Kandy Hills: Sri Lanka’s Heart

Kandy is the Royal and Cultural capital of Sri Lanka, and home to the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Skirting the mighty Mahaweli River and surrounded by majestic hills, it is Sri Lanka’s heart, the gateway to the high tea country to the South, to the Cultural triangle in the north and to the wild Knuckles mountain range. To the east lies the Victoria Dam and the breathtakingly scenic Victoria Golf Course.

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REGIONS OF SRI LANKA

9:59 PM Nimeshka Srimal

WESTERN SRI LANKA

Negombo, an interesting coastal fishing town and tourist beach resort with significant Dutch heritage, and Colombo, the island’s commercial capital, are often used as 1 or 2 night stopovers at the beginning or end of  a holiday in Sri Lanka as they are close to Colombo International Airport. Stay Longer in Negombo to enjoy the luxuries of the Jetwing Beach Hotel. Colombo is great for culture, shopping and the magnificent Galle Face Hotel (Guest list reads Mountbatten, Hirohito, Nixon…..) 

TROPICAL BEACHES AND RAINFOREST OF SOUTH WEST SRI LANKA

A string of fabulous beaches run all the way along the south-west coast. A variety of hotels blend in with fishing village with two exquisite boutique hotels. Bentota and Beruwela together from Sri Lanka’s principal beach resort. Lush tropical landscapes around inland, including Sinharaja rainforest, Sri Lanka’s only surviving virgin rainforest (also a World Heritage Site)

we will discuss more about these areas in future posts.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF SRI LANKA

11:09 PM Nimeshka Srimal

• Sri Lankans play wherever and whenever they can, so it is quite often possible to join in an impromptu game on the beach or on a local pitch. Tickets are usually obtainable to watch

• The national Sri Lankan Cricket team play international matches in Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy or Galle.

• Experience local festivals such as Vesak full moon in May and Poson full moon in July and the famous Esala Perahera Festival in Kandy in July/August.

• Visit the national parks and see the wildlife such as elephants, Leopards and bears and many species of birds.

• Ayurveda is widely used in Sri Lanka to treat a range of ailments (many hotels offer Ayurveda treatments), Spices such as cinnamon and turmeric.

• ‘Sri Lankan Rice and curry' (traditional meals with four or five curry dishes): specialties such as Kiribath (rice boiled in milk) which is served at all auspicious occasions and Kavun, a cake made from rice flour, treacle and deep-­fried.

• Tea tasting in the hill country.

• Masked drama and dance performances, in the hotels or during local festivals, and nightly in Kandy.

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FACTS ABOUT SRI LANKA!

11:20 PM Nimeshka Srimal

“Undoubtedly the finest island of its size in all the world – A land like no other” 

- Marco Polo

Location

A tropical, pear- shaped island off the southern tip of the India, 650 KM north of the equator

Time Difference

GMT + 5.30 Hours

Official Language

Sinhala

Other Languages

Tamil, English (English is widely spoken)

Population

21 Million

Size of the Island

Area  - 65,525 Sq. Km 

From North to South (From Point Pedro to Dondra Head) – 430 Km

From East to West – 225 Km

Currency

LKR (Sri Lankan Rupee),  1 USD  = LKR 125 approximately

Capital City

Sri Jayawardenapura – Kotte

Commercial Capital

Colombo

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ALL ABOUT SRI LANKA

1:44 AM Nimeshka Srimal

ALL ABOUT SRI LANKA

Rich in beauty, diversity and warm hospitality. Even seasoned travelers are surprised by the rich diversity of experiences found in Sri Lanka, an Indian Ocean island off the southern tip of India. On a land mass not much bigger than Ireland, you can find beaches, a spectacular rock fortress, soaring tea-clad hills, treasured Buddhist temples, hill-top plains and wonderful wildlife parks.

Best of all it is the warmth of the people that captures the imagination. Everywhere you will be greeted by the broadest of smiles and made to feel welcome. On the coast you will find classic Indian Ocean beaches of long stretches of sand, lapped by blue Inland the countryside offers tea and rubber plantations, streams and waterfalls near Nuwara Eliya, known as ‘Little England' and highland areas of rhododendron, tropical rain forest of teak and ebony, and national parks of scrub and Lagoons, All home to abundant wildlife from birds to Leopards and of course, elephants.

Sri Lanka has some outstanding Buddhist cultural and archeological sites of which the Dambulla cave temples and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy are world-famous. Pilgrimage centers and religious festivals are very important to the people with several sites being sacred to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims alike. It must not be forgotten that it was the spices of this island that attracted the Europeans and today are not only the spices prevalent in Sri Lankan cuisine but the influences of the Portuguese, Dutch and most recently the British can be seen in the country. Sri Lanka is really a land wailing lo be discovered by people who will appreciate not only the variety, the scenery, the wildlife, the culture and the history but also the inherent quality of this country and its people.

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