Mainly named as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka as a small island has many names which people call; Serendib, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma, Pearl of the Orient are some of those beautiful names. This colorful collection reveals its richness and beauty, and the intensity of affection which it has evoked in visitors.
Head for the rolling hill country to escape the heat of the plains in the cool of tea plantations. The entire island is abundantly filled with bird life, and intriguingly unusual animals like Elephants and leopards are not uncommon. The most important thing is, the people are friendly, very hospitable, the food is delicious and costs are low.
?Sri Lanka the finest island of its size in the entire world? ? Marco Polo
This will be true to you if you explore the country?s authentic ecstasies. What ever it takes to amuse you in you?re your holiday in Sri Lanka is just a breath away. If it is, Beaches; the coastal stretch south of Colombo offers palm-lined sandy expands as far as the eye can see. If it is, Culture; Try the Kandyan dances, a procession of elephants or the masked devil dances. Or if it is the Ruins; you?ll find enough ancient and inspiring architecture in the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa to satisfy that inner archaeologist.
Sri Lanka; A Land Like No Other ! Highlights
Location & Physical Features
Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean is located to the south of the Indian subcontinent. It lies between 5O 55' and 9O 55' north of the equator and between the eastern longitudes 79O 42' and 81O 52'.
The total land area is 65,610 sq. km. and is astonishingly varied. A length of 445 km. and breadth of 225 km. encompass beautiful tropical beaches, verdant vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand delights to please all tastes. The relief features of the island consist of a mountainous mass somewhat south of the centre, with height exceeding 2,500 meters, surrounded by broad plains. Palm fringed beaches surround the island and the sea temperature rarely falls below 27 Celcious.
Climate & Seasons
In the lowlands the Climate is typically tropical with an average temperature of 27OC in Colombo. In the higher elevations it can be quite cool with temperatures going down to 16OC at an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters.
Bright, sunny warm days are the rule and are common even during the height of the monsoon - climatically Sri Lanka has no off season. The south west monsoon brings rain mainly from May to July to the western, southern and central regions of the island, while the north-east monsoon rains occur in the northern and eastern regions in December and January.
Seasonal Events
Sri Lanka has an enormous range of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim festivals. The KandyEsala Perahera (July/August) is the country's most important and spectacular pageant, with 10 days of torch-bearers, whip-crackers, dancers, drummers and Elephants lit up like giant birthday cakes.
It climaxes in great procession honoring the Sacred Tooth Relic of Kandy. Second in importance is the Duruthu Perahera (January), held in Colombo, which celebrates a visit by Buddha to Sri Lanka.
Other celebrations include National Day (February), which is celebrated with parades, dances and national games; New Year (March/April), celebrated with elephant races, coconut games and pillow fights; Vesak (May), a sacred full moon festival commemorating the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha;
The Hindu Vel festival (July/August) in Colombo, where the ceremonial chariot of Skanda, the God of War, is hauled between two temples; and the predominantly Hindu Kataragama festival (July/August) in Kataragama, where devotees put themselves through the whole gamut of ritual masochism.
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