A blue sky, dark-green sea and beryuzovoe fringe of coconut palms on the beach strip of yellow-eye of the traveler so called Coast of the island of Sri Lanka. The Europeans, this island has always seemed a paradise. It is no accident chain of islands, crossing Adam's Bridge. That's it, kakglasit legend, expelled from paradise forefather of mankind came to earth.
Sri Lanka (up to 1972 - Ceylon) - an island nation in South Asia, 800 kilometers north of the equator. Official capital - Sri Dzhayavardenepura-Kotte, here is the parliament and the supreme court. However, actual capital is Colombo, where the government and the presidential residence. This is a country with a thousand-year history has preserved many cultural monuments, architecture and religion. In addition, there is - infinite possibilities of active, environmental, medical and other types of recreation, though at affordable prices. Tourism is 9% of GDP.
The island of Sri Lanka is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. Separated from the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent Manarskim Polkskim strait 50 kilometers wide. Adam's Bridge (the chain of islands in the Strait Polkskom) once fully connected Sri Lanka to the mainland, but, according to the chronicles, was destroyed by an earthquake around 1481.
The width of the island - 180 miles, the length - 350 km, the size of the island is similar to Ireland and Tasmania. The total area of the country - 65.6 ths. km, most of which is occupied by tall plain not more than 100 meters above sea level. Mountains are located in the central part.
The top of the mountain Pidurutalagala is at 2524 meters, it is - the highest point of the island. Among the other high mountains - Kirigalpotta (2395 meters) and Totopolakanda (2357 meters). The magnificent Adam's Peak (Sri Pada-) high in the 2243 meter is especially popular among tourists.
It is not recommended to drink tap water and water in the proposed food service places. It is best to quench their thirst with water bottling factory. It is also worth paying attention to the ice in soft drinks served in cafes and restaurants: for the most part, it is made from local tap water. When ordering a drink from the ice should be abandoned.
Electricity
To use electrical appliances in Sri Lanka need an adapter plug as here - the English type (three-pin flat). In good hotels adapter you can ask at the reception, or he will be installed in the room when staying in cheap places of accommodation will have to decide this question independently.
Power supply 220/240 V, 50 Hz.
The more famous ...
Sri Lanka is rich in cultural achievements, which were created by ancient civilizations of the island. This set of monuments of painting, sculpture and architecture, monasteries, gardens and palaces.
In 1978, the Sri Lankan government appealed to UNESCO to include the country into a worldwide program of assistance for the restoration and preservation of ancient monuments. In the same year the project was approved, and the monuments of Sri Lanka declared a world cultural heritage.
Foundation of the Cultural Triangle
Cultural triangle formed by three main points - the ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy fortress. One of the objectives of the foundation of the Cultural Triangle - a detailed study of the history of Sri Lanka.
Anuradhapura is situated in 208 km north of Colombo. The first human settlements in the area of Anuradhapura emerged at about the fifth century BC. The town was named after the star of the constellation Scorpius Anuradha, Indo-Aryan on the astrological tradition. King of Anuradhapura Pandukabhaya approved capital of the first Sinhalese state in 380 BC.
Anuradhapura remained the capital for 1,400 years and was replaced by 113 kings. The city's population amounted to several tens of thousands of people and an area of greater than 52 square kilometers. In the first century AD in the town came running water, as well as palaces, monasteries, hospitals, churches, cemetery, roads and bridges. In the 993 because of the constant intervention of South India Anuradhapura was burned and destroyed. The ruins of the city were found in 1820, and in 1912 there began archaeological excavations.
The city is considered holy and is annually visited by thousands of pilgrims. The ancient Jetavana monastery complexes and Abhayagiriya included in the plan for the restoration fund of the Cultural Triangle. The monastery was built Abhayagiriya for a group of monks, who created a new trend of Mahayana Buddhism.
Polonnaruwa is situated 214 km north-east of Colombo. From 1070 to 1293 the city was the capital of Sri Lanka, and before that was the summer residence of the rulers of Anuradhapura and a refuge in times of foreign intervention. Archaeologists believe that in the second century BC, people lived in Polonnaruwa. When the city was born, its inhabitants have cleared the jungle, built a dam to collect water and are equipped to grow rice fields. Stone Temple Gal-Vihara is the main attraction of the city and the most famous in Sri Lanka temple. In the granite rock in the twelfth century carved four lifelike statues of the Buddha of colossal dimensions, where the sage is depicted in various poses.
The city of Kandy lies at an altitude of 488 m above sea level, 115 km north-east of Colombo. "Candy" is translated as "mountain", but the locals call the city of Maha Nuwara, which, in turn, translates as "great city". Now the economic situation of Kandy is the second largest in Sri Lanka.
Here, on the shore of the lake is Dalada Maligawa, - the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Since 311, when the tooth has appeared on the island in the hair of Princess Hemamaly, heirloom has become a symbol of sovereignty. In 1590, for a sacred relic in the royal palace was built two-story temple. It is decorated with wood carvings, painted ceilings, doors, decorated with silver and ivory.
Since the temple was in the royal palace, he had access only to the king and the chief priests. Now, during the hours of service room door opened, and we can observe distant shrine.
With the tooth of Buddha is connected one of the most colorful processions in the East - Esala-Perehera. Every year before the full moon in August shrine submitted for public display. In the procession passing through the streets of the city, involving dozens of elephants, dancers, acrobats and musicians. Thousands of people flock to the temple to see this magnificent sight.
Sigiriya (translated from the Sinhala "Lion Rock") - towering 370 meters of the plateau in the center of the island. In the last quarter of V century BC Kasap king gave the rock fortress, around which were created by water-filled ditches, and around the rocks were split vast gardens, where they beat perhaps the world's first fountain. For a long time on the rock there was a Buddhist monastery.
In the fortress from ancient times to preserve the "mirror room" lined with porcelain, numerous murals, occupying 140 meters in length and 40 meters in height. A favorite motif sigiriyskoy mural - nude female dancers. Now the giant carved into the rock figures of the lion, whose jaws had once served as the entrance to the fortress, survived only a foot, but on the surface of the rocks are still preserved curious inscriptions left by the visitors to Sigiriya, from the VIII century.
12 km south-west of Sigiriya, a 350-meter-high mountain top is Dambulla - a Buddhist temple, consisting of five caves. Here gathered the largest collection of Buddha statues, many of which are already over 2,000 years. Individual attention frescoes depicting the life of the main points of the Buddha. Earlier, the temple was a solid gallery of paintings, reminiscent of what is now the remnants of plaster with traces of paint.
The temple dates back to I c. BC, but then completed and reconstructed several times. In the XII century, 73 Buddha statues were covered with gold, after which the temple was named "Golden Cave". And one of the wonders of Dambulla is a cave where the walls, framed by unique stone carvings, water flows ... straight up.
Because of its varied history, almost every town in Sri Lanka has attractions. And they are not necessarily connected with the antiquity and religion. Thus, the city of Halle, the third largest city in Sri Lanka, located 116 km south of Colombo - a monument to the colonial period. Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya near Kandy - the treasury of the local flora. A "capital of the North", Jaffna - only one of the city, recently opened to tourists by the end of the Civil War.
In addition, the country is famous for its beaches, stretching for hundreds of kilometers along the coast, tea plantations, rich opportunities for diving, safaris and many other interesting activities.
What to do
The island is surrounded by beaches around the perimeter, so the choice of location depends solely on the rainy season. Beach area of Mount Lavinia makes it possible to resort to the rest of the country's business capital, Colombo. This is - the most famous in Sri Lanka since the British colony of recreation area.
At a distance of about one hundred kilometers from Colombo, Hikkaduwa is a picturesque resort. He is considered a center of tourism in Sri Lanka, comfortable, quiet and friendly. Smart surfers will enjoy this as well, thanks to the incredible diversity of the underwater world and scuba divers. Because of its proximity to a large coral reef Hikkaduwa even got a second name - "City of Coral."
In the northeastern part of the island, a distance of 254 km from Colombo, in the beautiful bay, lies the town of Trincomalee, meeting a tourist calm sea and sunny weather all year round. It is a paradise for divers with mask, snorkel and flippers and experienced divers. Among other attractions - fishing, walking, watching flocks of birds arriving here for the winter, migration of blue whales and sperm whales.
Bentota - a famous resort on the southwest coast of the island, one of the most romantic places in Sri Lanka, where the couple loved to travel and love.
Among the emerging tourist destinations - region Kalpitii, located on the west of the island, 150 kilometers north of Colombo. Here the active construction of hotels. In total, the region plans to build about 17 hotels to more than 5,000 rooms. Like many other resort areas on the island, Kalpitiya attracts beach lovers and divers.
For those who value their health and beauty, Sri Lanka has many health centers, primarily based on the ancient teachings of Ayurveda. The island has developed a number of Ayurvedic therapy programs, from the general improvement to the rejuvenation and relaxation.
Tea plantations - another attraction of the country. Tea is cultivated all year round and are grown in areas Balangoda, Ratnapura, Valley Kelaniya, Galle, Nuwara Eliya around. Rare tourist refuses to go to tea-island regions, which enable not only learn all about tea production from its growing and finishing treatment, but also allows you to buy a real quality tea at modest prices "from the manufacturer."
Let's talk about the kitchen ...
Local cuisine of Sri Lanka is a lot like an Indian - because of the close geographical location and the same set of available products, as well as common in many cultures and some religions. In the preparation of dishes using fish, seafood, tropical fruits, lots of greens, spices.
The basis of the usual daily menu - rice, the most important correction - the curry, giving the dish a distinctive flavor and a piquant burning taste. Among the mandatory components of a mixture of curry - black pepper, coriander, hot chili, mustard seeds, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and actually leaves evergreen shrub curry.
Also, in a variety of Sri Lankan dishes include chips from the pulp of the coconut, coconut juice, coconut oil, palm nectar. Another card of the local cuisine - umbalakada (umbalakada) - powdered dry fry, which is called the Maldives and added to curries for flavor.
In addition, for the typical Sri Lankan cuisine dish made of rice flour, such as noodles or steamed fresh tortilla roti (rotti). From the Islamic cuisine is accustomed variations on the theme of pilaf, seasoned with local spices: buriyani (buriyani) and drank (pillau), and kebabs. The colonial history has left traces in the form of cakes, puddings and omelettes, and China has contributed meat in a sauce of black beans.
A major role in the preparation of various dishes and play fruit.
Smoking
On the territory of Sri Lanka, there is no official ban on smoking in public places. However, since 2006 all tobacco products imported to the island are subject to customs duty. The rule applies to the tourists. The amount of fees tied to the amount of cigarettes. Transportation of cigarettes in length from 72 to 84 millimeters will cost Rs 6.70 per unit, the passage of tobacco products as long as 84 millimeters - 7 rupees (£ 1.7).. The cost of transportation of pounds of tobacco or cigars will be 1,300 rupees (330 rubles). However, as a rule, no one at the airport does not check visitors for import of cigarettes, tobacco and cigars.
Let's talk about the population.
Population
As of July 2009, the island home to 20,238,000 people, and their number continues to grow. On average, men live 73 years, women - 77 years. 74% of the population - Sinhalese, 18% - Tamils, 7.5%. About 7% are Sri Lankan Moors (Arabs, descendants), 0.3% - Burghers (descendants of intermarriage with Europeans). The total share of other ethnic groups did not exceed 0.5%.
That this wonderful island, the donee traveler precious bouquet of the finest variety of sensations: amazing trees, and unique animals, beaches, warm sea and shady groves of coconut palms, placers of precious stones and foamy waterfall, white marble palaces, mysterious ancient ritual, fruits worthy of gourmands, and legends survivors of the Millennium ...
