Monday, December 27, 2010

Pinnawela

Pinnawela

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage and breeding ground for wild elephants which is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, Sri Lanka and is around 90 km from the capital, Colombo. It was established in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife Conservation on a 25-acre coconut plantation on the Maha Oya River. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2008, there were 84 elephants. The elephants are taken to the river twice daily for a bath, and all the babies under three years of age are still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers. Each animal is also given around 76 kilograms of green manure a day and around 2 kg from a food bag containing rice bran and maize. They get access to water twice a day, from the river. The orphanage is very popular among local and foreign tourists. The main attraction is the opportunity to observe the bathing elephant from the broad river bank as the herd interacts socially, bathing and playing. The orphanage is open to the public daily, and all admission fees are used to look after the elephants. Visitors to the park can view many different aspects of the care and daily routine of the elephants, such as bottle feeding of elephant calves, feeding of all other elephants, and bathing.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kegalle

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Siripada

Adam's Peak (Siripada)

Adam's Peak (Siripada), is a 2,243 metres (7,359 ft.) tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well-known for the Sri Pada "sacred footprint", a 1.8 m rock formation near the summit, in Buddhist tradition held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Shiva and in Muslim tradition that of Adam.

The mountain is located in the southern reaches of the Central Highlands, in the Ratnapura district of the Sabaragamuwa Province - lying about 40 km northeast of the city of Ratnapura. The surrounding region is largely forested hills, with no mountain of comparable size nearby. The region along the mountain is a wildlife reserve housing many species varying from elephants to leopards, and including many endemic species.

Access to the mountain is possible by 6 trails (Ratnapura-Palabaddala, Hatton-Nallathanni, Kuruwita-Erathna, Murraywatte, Mookuwatte & Malimboda). Out of these the Nallathanni & Palabaddala routes are the most popular. Kuruwita-Erathna road is somewhat popular as well. The other 3 roads are almost obscure. It joins the Palabaddala road midway through the ascent. Buses connect the final nodes of Nallanthanni to Hatton, Palabaddala to Ratnapura & Erathna to Kuruwita. There after it's a difficult journey through the forest on foot. Most of the pilgrims use Hatton route as the journey on foot can be reduced by more than five kilometres even though the slope of this route is much greater than other routes. Sri Pada is the term, derived from Sanskrit, used by the Sinhalese people in a religious context. This name is also understood in Pāli, and may be translated roughly as "the sacred foot". It refers to the footprint-shaped mark at the summit, which is believed by Buddhists to be that of the Buddha. Other traditions assert that it is the footprint of Adam, left by his first entrance into the world.

Shivanolipatha Malai and Shiva padam are two Tamil names holding similar meanings, but both refer to the footprint as being that of the Hindu deity Shiva rather than that of the Buddha.

The Sinhala name of the mountain is Samanalakanda, which refers either to the deity Saman, who is said to live upon the mountain or to the butterflies (samanalayā) that frequent the mountain during their annual migrations to the region.

It is revered as a holy site by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. It has specific qualities that cause it to stand out and be noticed; including its dominant and outstanding profile, and the boulder at the peak that contains an indentation resembling a footprint.The hollow in the lofty rock that crowns the summit is said by the Brahmans to be the footstep of Siva, by the Buddhists of Buddha, by the Muslims of Adam, whilst the Portuguese Christians were divided between the conflicting claims of St Thomas and the eunuch of Candace, queen of Ethiopia. The footstep is covered by a handsome roof, and is guarded by the priests of a rich monastery half-way up the mountain, who maintain a shrine on the summit of the peak.

It is an important pilgrimage site, especially for Hindus and Buddhists. Pilgrims walk up the mountain, following a variety of routes up thousands of steps. The journey takes several hours at least. The peak pilgrimage season is in April, and the goal is to be on top of the mountain at sunrise, when the distinctive shape of the mountain casts a triangular shadow on the surrounding plain and can be seen to move quickly downward as the sun rises.

Climbing at night can be a remarkable experience, with the lights of the path leading up and into the stars overhead. There are rest stops along the way. The mountain is most often scaled from December to May. During other months it is hard to climb the mountain due to very heavy rain, extreme wind, and thick mist.

Buddhists say that the footprint mark is the left foot of the Buddha, left behind as he strode away, the right footprint being (depending on legend) in Amphoe Phra Phutthabat, Saraburi Province, located about 150 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, Thailand. This place is called in Thai Phra Bat or Phra Phutthabat.

Tamil Hindus think it is the footprint of Shiva.

Muslims and Christians in Sri Lanka ascribe it to where Adam, the first Ancestor, set foot as he was exiled from the Garden of Eden. The legends of Adam are connected to the idea that Sri Lanka was the original Eden.

A shrine to Saman, a Buddhist "deity" (People who have spent spiritual life during their life on earth and done pacificism service to regions are deified by Sri Lankan Buddhists) charged with protecting the mountain top, can be found near the footprint.

Adams's Peak, Maskeliya - Sri Lanka

Adams's Peak, Maskeliya - Sri Lanka

Adams's Peak, Maskeliya - Sri Lanka

Adams's Peak, Maskeliya - Sri Lanka




View My Saved Places in a larger map



Sunday, December 19, 2010

Riverstan


One of the hill top of Knuckles, located in Matale district, 142 kilometers from Colombo. The middle of Rattota – Pallegama road. The path from Rattota, consists of 14 bends up to Riverstan. It is one of several hill tops in the Knuckles range being located in a windy gap on a range of scenic mountains with frequently changing climate; Riverstan was highly popular with foreign & local travelers. Two telecommunication towers were setup on the both summits of the Riverstan Mountain. The access road for them was a private one and no vehicles were allowed beyond the Riverstan gap. The climate was changed in every minute, Sometimes it brought little sun rays, and sometime cool wind, but most of the time with a thick mist & the wind was blowing briskly, really that was an amazing. The forest was consisted with pigmy trees. “Maha rewla” (Old man’s beard) and many orchids were driven out their loneliness. The mist was gained them a fresh & wet look for ever. It was an eye-catching view of Pitawala pathana & paddy fields of lonely villages in the Knuckles range. Since the surrounding was covered with a shawl of mist, there is a tiny waterfall in Bamarakiriella village close to Riverstan.

Riverstan, Matale

Riverstan, Matale

Riverstan, Matale

Riverstan, Matale

Riverstan, Matale

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Sri Lanka Nature Screensaver

Sri Lanka Nature Screensaver includes beautiful images of Mountains, 
Rocks, Rivers, Waterfalls, National Parks & Botanical Gardens








Friday, December 10, 2010

Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya

Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya is one of the best botanical gardens in Sri Lanka, and one of the most beautiful in Asia. It is located just 6 km from Kandy, the second largest city in Sri Lanka. The botanical gardens is huge & well-organized gardens, It is renowned for the collection the variety of Orchids, and has more than 300 varieties of Orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palms trees attach it is the National Herbarium. Total land mass of the botanical garden is 147 acres; it is managed by the Division of National Botanic Gardens of the Department of Agriculture. The origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back. The Classical Avenue of Palms is located in this Garden. One tree with a significant history is the Cannon ball Tree planted by King George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary in 1901. The tree is bent with their fruit which looks like Cannon Ball, which is how it came to be named.
 
More Images

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Victoria Dam Spills

Victoria dam spilling its water because of the heavy rain in Sri Lanka ,

The Victoria Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in Sri Lanka. Power is generated by three 70 MW francis turbines, totaling the installed capacity to 210 MW, thus playing a significant role on the national grid. At a length of 520 m, and a height of 122 m, it is also the tallest dam in the country, while possessing the largest power station as well. The dam is located across the Mahaweli River immediately upstream of the Victoria Falls rapids.

Victoria Dam - Sri Lanka

Victoria Dam - Sri Lanka

Victoria Dam - Sri Lanka

Victoria Dam - Sri Lanka

Victoria Dam - Sri Lanka



Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Ratnapura

Ratnapura

Ratnapura is the name of the provincial capital of Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka and the Ratnapura District in which the town is situated. The palm candy produced traditionally in this region, but the more common explanation in Sri Lanka is that it comes from the Sinhala "ratna" meaning gems and "pura" meaning city. Located 101 km south east of Colombo, it is the center of a long-established industry of precious stone mining including rubies, sapphires, and other gems. Apart from gem mining, the town is known for rice and fruit cultivations. Large plantations of tea and rubber surround the town. Tea grown in this region is called low-country tea. There is a well-established tourism industry in Ratnapura. Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Udawalawe National Park, Kitulgala and Adam's Peak are especially popular among tourists.


Ratnapura - Sri Lanka

Ratnapura - Sri Lanka

Ratnapura - Sri Lanka

Ratnapura - Sri Lanka

Ratnapura - Sri Lanka


View My Saved Places in a larger map

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Bogawantalawa






Bogawantalawa is covered with Tea estates, Mountains and beautiful Waterfalls