The Sri Lanka consists of the island of Ceylon and small adjacent islands, is an island country in South Asia and is situated in the Indian Ocean. It has an area of 65,610 km 2. Its climate is tropical with very similar characteristics of the equatorial climate, especially in the southwest of the island of Ceylon. The economy of Sri Lanka is mainly based on tea, textiles and tourism.
Sri Lanka is a place where history seems to fade in a haze of mystical legends. Adam's Peak is known in legend for being the place where Adam first set foot on land after being expelled from paradise! It is not that his footprint squarely on top of the mountain can prove it, or will the footprint of Buddha on Sri Lanka? And is not Adam's Bridge (the chain of islands linking Sri Lanka to India) the very series of stepping stones stone, aided by his faithful ally, the monkey God Hanuman, stepped across his mission to rescue Sita Rawana from the clutches of the king of Lanka in the epic Ramayana?
The first entries in the Mahavamsa - or "Great History" - date back to 543AC, which coincides with the arrival of Prince Vijaya to Sri Lanka. About 300 years later, began to Anuradhapura Period, with King Devanampiya Tissa as the first ruler. During that time the Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka. The Anuradhapura Period, which began in the year 459, lived in the reign of Kasyapa, and the construction of Sigiriya. The Polonnaruwa period, witnessed the transfer of capital from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa in 1073. The famous explorer Marco Polo arrived in Sri Lanka, between 1254 and 1324, and 1505, the Portuguese landed, and occupied the coastal regions of the island.
Portuguese Influence
During this time Sri Lanka had three main kingdoms - the kingdom of Jaffna in the north, the Kingdom of Kandy in the central highlands and Kotte, the most powerful in the southwest. In 1505 the Portuguese through Lorenso de Almeida established friendly relations with the king of Kotte and gained, for Portugal , the monopoly of the spice trade and cinnamon, which soon became of great importance in Europe . Kotte by attempts to use force and the protection of the Portuguese only resulted in Portugal to win the power not only in their regions, but the rest of the island, beyond the central highlands around Kandy. Because the high mountains were remote and inaccessible, the kings of Kandy were always able to defeat the attempts of annexation by the Portuguese, and on several occasions the Portuguese returned to the coast.
Influence of Dutch and Great Britain
Attempts of the Kingdom of Kandy to join to help expel the Dutch and the Portuguese only resulted in the substitution of one European power to another. From 1658, 153 years after the first contact Portuguese, the Dutch took control of Galle Fort and on the coastal areas of the island. During its 140 years of rule by the Dutch as the Portuguese, were involved in repeated unsuccessful attempts to bring Kandy under their control. In 1802, Sri Lanka became a colony of Great Britain in 1818 and now has a unified administration for the island.
Independencia
Between the 1st and the 2nd Great War, politicians started to push Sri Lanka to eventual independence from Britain, with a battle for independence, with a considerably reduced number of casualties in relation to India. At the end of the 2nd Great War was evident that independence would come very soon, following the independence of the neighboring country of Sri Lanka to India. In February 1948 in Sri Lanka or Ceylon as it was still known independence was declared, and became an independent member of the Commonwealth.
For a small island, Sri Lanka has many nicknames: Serendib, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, resplendent island, Island of Dharma, Pearl of the Orient. This collection of colorful nicknames reveals its richness and beauty, and the intensity and affection that is transmitted to your visitors.
The beach may be a cliché, but not to lose them. Start the hills to cool off amidst tea plantations and ancient cities. The island has an impressive animal life and you will find exotic birds, and occasional encounters with elephants, and leopardos.As people are friendly, the food is delicious and costs are low.
World Heritage
The sacred city of Anuradhapura 5 BC
The medieval capital of Polonnaruwa 10 AC
The cave temples of Dambulla a DC
The stone fortress of Sigiriya 5 DC
The royal city of the kingdom of Kandy 15 DC
GALLE 17 Dutch fortifications DC
Sinharaja forest reserve real and sacred cities, colonial strongholds, temples, caves and virgin forests, with no less than seven statements of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka is one of the richest treasures of Asia alive with natural wonders and manmade .
Six of these wonders have more than 2500 years of history - from the sacred city of Anuradhapura and the cave temples of Dambulla, to the magnificent temples and palaces of the royal city of Kandy. The Dutch fort of Galle has the distinction of being World Heritage Site.
But the seventh crown jewel of the heritage of Sri Lanka owes nothing to man, and all nature: the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, an astonishing biodiversity of animals, with its own unique eco-system consisting of protected birds, flora and fauna . The country's ancient royal capital of Kandy, and the archaeological sites in Polonnaruw, the palace of Sigiriya elders form the Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle in a world of ancient wonders.
Spiritually inspiring, year after year, visitors from around the world make their personal pilgrimages to the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.
How to enter
The only way to enter Sri Lanka is by plane. Exists in the capital Colombo international airport with direct flights from Europe, Asia, Australia and Middle East. Cheap flights are available between Colombo and Madras, Trichy, Trivandrum and Bombay.
Entry formalities and visa: For most countries, visas are issued on arrival for 30 days.
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coded by nessusLanka , Teardrop of India , Temple , Tourism , UNESCO , Travel , Travel , Travel , Visit
beautiful
Hello:
Very interesting (and explanatory) this site!
The found the image of a 'beach waves' after search for SRI LANKA.
imagine to be a beautiful place! Oh, and the images with "things Oriental" (statues of Buddhas, etc.) are really nice too ...
That's it.
Greetings "tourist"
Rodrigo Rosa (Porto Alegre)