Galle is the capital of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Galle - the capital of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka Roaming or local connection
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte - a city with such a long and almost unpronounceable name is the official, nominal capital of Sri Lanka. In fact, the capital is located in the city of Colombo. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is officially the capital with the longest name in the world!
This city is located in the southern suburb of Colombo and is part of the Greater Colombo metropolitan area. The name of the city in translation from Sinhalese means "blessed city-fortress of the coming victory". This name was given to him in the 13th century by Alagakkonara, the founder of the city, who began the construction of a local fortress. By the way, locals they call the city simply Kotte, which means - "fortress".
In 1415-1565, Kotte was the capital of the Sinhalese state, and already the Portuguese, who seized the island, moved the capital to Colombo. In 1979, the city was returned to its former, historical name and in 1983 Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte became the official capital of the state.
Today Kotte is handsome, quiet city, with a population of about 115 thousand people, an extensive infrastructure, in which a large number of universities, colleges and higher schools are located and, accordingly, there are always a lot of students.
The capital is now the seat of the parliament and the Supreme Court. For the parliament in 1982, a huge, luxurious new building was built here, which is located on the island of Duva in the center beautiful lake... Some government agencies and structures were also moved here.
The city of Kotte is an original mixture of colonial European architecture, modern skyscrapers and traditional oriental temples. The city has a huge number of religious buildings, both Buddhist, Muslim and Christian. They attract tourists and pilgrims here. In the very center of the city, there are remains of medieval fortifications, a moat and a rampart, which are gradually overgrown, leveled and simply disappear.
The city is also famous for its numerous magnificent beaches, which are not oversaturated with visitors and are famous for their cleanliness. There are also several interesting museums, art galleries and a beautiful zoo here.
Various festivals and funny carnivals are often held on the streets of the city, in which brightly and beautifully dressed elephants - the symbol and pride of Sri Lanka - take part.
Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean located south of the Indian subcontinent. The total area is 65610 sq. Km, the length from north to south is 445 km, and from west to east is 225 km. The Central mountain range is located in the center of the island.
The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level, but some peaks rise higher.
The highest point of the island, Mount Pidurutalagala, has a height of 2524 m. However, the most famous is the majestic Adam's Peak (2243 m).
Typically, on weekdays, shops are open from 9:30 to 17:00, and on Saturdays from 9:30 to 13:00. Shop addresses recommended by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Tourism can be found in many of the island's travel guides.
In addition to tea, which, by the way, is allowed to be exported in quantities of more than three kilograms as a souvenir, items made of silver and copper are considered traditional souvenirs. These products are manufactured in the Kandy area. Beautiful pottery is also produced in the Kandy area. They are painted mainly in red tones, decorated with various patterns. In the south of the island, various demon masks are made.
The oldest folk crafts include wood carving and the manufacture of various fabrics. Sri Lanka is famous for its rich selection of precious and semi-precious stones and silk.
Tipping is optional. However, the hotel receptionist or the restaurant waiter will be happy with a few extra rupees.
It is recommended to wear light cotton clothing and a hat. Be sure to stock up sunscreen and lotion from sunburn... There are no strict dress requirements in the country, however, you should not visit temples in shorts, in clothes with an open back and shoulders, and you should also take off your shoes when entering the temple.
Climate
Equatorial, with monsoon seasons.
Almost 95% of all precipitation falls during the summer rainy season. The rest of the months are pretty dry. Only in the northeast of the island does it rain in autumn, when the northeast monsoon passes over Ceylon.
The air temperature on the island practically does not change and all year round is 26-28 C. In the mountains of the central part of the island it is cooler, and in the coldest point, the mountain resort of Nuwara Eliya, located at an altitude of 1880 meters above sea level, about 15 C.
Sri Lanka has high air humidity, and this is felt when leaving the plane, when it feels like you are being doused with a warm, "bath" jet of air.
Language
The official languages are Tamil, Sinhalese and English. The total population is 15 million people. The ethnic composition of the country is multinational, the population consists of Sinhalese, Tamils, burghers (descendants of the Portuguese and Dutch) and Moors (descendants of Arab merchants).
Currency
From Monday to Friday, banks are usually open from 9.00 to 13.00-15.00. They are closed during the holidays and on Saturday and Sunday. Money exchange is allowed only in banks and organizations that have received permission to do so. The list of these organizations includes most of the hotels.
Transport
Left-hand movement.
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The city of Batticaloa got its modern name during the period of British colonial rule. Originally the city was called Madakalapuwa (the first "M" changed to "B" at the time when the Dutch owned the island), which means "muddy lagoon" in Sinhalese. This name, in turn, comes from the Tamil Madurankerniculam. Batticaloa is located on the east coast of Sri Lanka, on a flat, flat spit that separates the lagoon from the ocean. The city rises above sea level by an average of only 5 meters. Near
Ella is a small beautiful town in the southern part of the highlands of Sri Lanka. It is located in the middle of a picturesque countryside, with small vegetable gardens in the valleys, tea plantations on the hillsides and forests that cover the mountain slopes. The climate is typical of the Sri Lankan highlands for most of the year, with hot midday sun but moderate temperatures. It may rain in the afternoon, but it usually lasts for an hour. You may need a jumper at night or
Trincomalee or simply Trinco is the main port city and administrative capital of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, located on the east coast of the island, about 180 kilometers south of Jaffna. The population of the city is 99135 people. The city is built on a peninsula that separates the inner and outer ports. Trincomalee is one of the main centers of Tamil linguistic culture on the island. The famous city was built ancient temple Koneswaram, who is mentioned in the Tamil chronicle Thirukonamalai,
Colombo is the largest city in Sri Lanka. Located in the Western Province, Colombo County. Population - 672.7 thousand inhabitants (2007), the population of Greater Colombo (which also includes the large cities of Moratuwa, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte - the capital of the country) - 5,648,000 people. History The name of the city comes from the Sinhalese "Kola-amba-thota", which means "mango harbor". Arab, Chinese, Roman merchants visited Colombo harbor over 2000 years ago. In the VIII century A.D. NS. Arabs settled here for a long time, who controlled almost the entire sea
Ratnapura is a city in the southwest of Sri Lanka, at the foot of Mount Adam's Peak, the administrative center of the Sabaragamuwa province. The population is about 48 thousand people. (2002). Trade and transport center in the area of plantations of rubber plants and tea plantations. Connected by rail with Colombo and Badulla. Ratnapura is famous for its precious stones. Here, since the Middle Ages, stones such as "cat's eye", aquamarines, amethysts, sapphires have been mined. The largest sapphire, weighing more than 400 carats, "Blue Beauty of Asia" was found near Ratnapura. Also near the city
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official capital of Sri Lanka (since 1982). Located in the southern suburb of Colombo. The population is about 115 thousand people. (2002). The name Jayawardenepura means "city of the coming victory" in Sinhala. This name was given to the city by its founder Alagakkonara. The name "Kotte" comes from the Tamil "kottey" - a fortress: fortified structures appeared on this place in the XIII century. Historically, the part of the city, bounded by the moat, was called Etul Kotte (inner fort), and outside it - Pittacotte (outer
Badulla is a city in the southwest of Sri Lanka, the capital of the province of Uva and is considered one of the most ancient settlements Sri Lanka. It is located at an altitude of 680 meters above sea level. The city is surrounded on almost all sides by the Badulla River and mountains. As a result, a special microclimate is created in the city and its environs, characterized by high humidity and frequent thick fogs, as well as relatively low average temperatures for this region. Population - about 43 thousand people (2004).
Negombo is a popular resort town known for its historical heritage and scenic beauty. Negombo is a beautiful resort town along the beautiful west coast Sri Lanka. The close proximity of the city to International Airport Sri Lanka has made it popular with tourists who usually start or end their travels in Sri Lanka here. Exuding Old World charm, Negombo has a rich historical heritage and is widely known for its magnificent and picturesque beaches. Here in Negombo, there are many attractions that make from
According to the economic situation, the city of Kandy, with a population of about 100 thousand people, ranks second in the republic after Colombo. Located in a mountain range at an altitude of 488 meters above sea level, the city is very picturesque. Its original necklace is the Mahaveli Ganga river with shady banks. The city was founded in the XIV century. At the end of the 16th century, when the Portuguese captured the southwestern and northern coasts of the island, the Sinhalese rulers went to the mountains and founded a state with a capital in
Kandy is another historical capital of Sri Lanka that we managed to visit. This is the last city of Sri Lanka, which remained a stronghold of independence from the British until 1815. Unlike the dead, Kandy, although it lost its official status, still holds the title of the spiritual center of Sri Lanka. And all because here is the main shrine of the island's Buddhists - the tooth of the Buddha.
In the morning we drove off to the elephant nursery in Pinnawala and returned to Kandy only towards evening. There are two main attractions in Kandy: The Royal Botanical Garden and the Temple of the Tooth of Buddha. But we only made it to one of them. I am absolutely indifferent to gardens and parks, but I love temples of all religions, so the choice was obvious. After checking into the hotel, we went along the shores of Lake Kandy in the center of Kandy to the Temple of the Tooth.
An island rises in the center of a hand-dug lake. Allegedly, it housed the harem of the king of Sri Lanka. The lake was dug up by the last king of Kandy. It seems to have happened at the beginning of the 19th century, it is known that the subjects did not approve of this wasteful and useless project. But for us tourists, the lake is quite OK.
This pavilion housed the baths of Queen Kandy.
Closer to the Temple of the Tooth, there is a small market where you can buy lotus flowers, which are usually offered to the Tooth.
The fence, which runs along the entire shore of the lake to the temple, symbolizes the heavenly clouds. During the holidays, lamps are inserted into the holes so that the whole lake is in the lights around the perimeter.
In the center of Kandy there are some pretty colonial-style streets built during the English rule. Let's face it, after the British, nothing decent was built in the city. The most interesting building is the former residence of the governor, and now the Qeens Hotel, one of the oldest hotels on the island. Here is the conditional center of the city, the farther from it, the more trash and devastation.
The family of this boy ( Madduma bandara ehelapola) was sentenced to death for resisting the British. His older brother, ten years old, was afraid of the execution and hid with his mother. Then the younger brother, who was only eight years old, said: "I will show you an example of how to face death." And he boldly went to execution, however, asking the executioner to chop off his head the first time.
Well, stop walking, it's time to visit the main attraction of all of Sri Lanka.
Another monument on the way to the Tooth. The monk plucking the British flag is Wariyapola Sri Sumangala. During the uprising against the British at the beginning of the 19th century, he stole the Tooth of the Buddha from the temple and dragged it to the rebels, which greatly encouraged them. Then he was caught ... and after a couple of years in prison he was forgiven by the local governor.
The area around the Temple of the Tooth is pretty nice and well maintained. The museum complex includes not only the temple itself, but also many other historical buildings. For example, in the photo the former Royal Palace Kandy.
The most spectacular structure is the octagonal tower in the wall of the complex (many tourists, according to reports, mistake it for the temple itself).
The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy was built in the 17th century. It is believed that the upper left canine of the Buddha is located there. This precious relic attracts pilgrims in white robes carrying lotus and jasmine flowers every day. According to legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha while he was lying on a funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in the fourth century AD in the hair of Princess Hemamali, who was fleeing the Hindu army that was besieging her father's kingdom in India. The tooth immediately became an object of worship and veneration, it began to be considered one of the precious relics. It was taken out only for special occasions and carried on the backs of elephants, which are sacred animals. Countless attempts have been made to capture and destroy the tooth.
When the capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was brought there; he was placed in a temple built in his honor. The temple was built by the rulers of Kandy at the end of the 17th century, but then suffered greatly during the colonial wars against the Portuguese and Dutch in the 18th century. After the war, the original wooden buildings were rebuilt in stone. In January 1998, Tamil separatists blew up the temple, damaging its facade and roof. Recovery began immediately thereafter.
Temple buildings do not look gorgeous or ornate. White with red roofs, they cluster around Lake Kandy. A stark contrast to the simple appearance makes up the interior of the temple, richly decorated with carvings and inlays of wood, ivory, and lacquer.
Around the entire complex is a low white stone wall, with exquisitely carved holes in it. During the celebrations, candles are inserted there, illuminating the entire temple. The tooth is in a two-story sacred vault. The relic lies on a golden lotus flower, enclosed in a precious box lying on a throne.
Lotus flowers are brought to the tooth.
Even on an ordinary day, there are quite a few pilgrims and tourists here, on holidays, according to reviews, there are no crowds at all.
For me, the most interesting hall was the premises of the temple, where the history of the Tooth of Buddha was clearly depicted. Very interesting and informative.
I honestly walked around all the paintings (there are several dozen of them here) and read all the signatures. I will not torment readers with a full set of pictures, I will post only a couple for an example. Let's say this one depicts how godless Hindus tried to break a tooth with hammers. And, of course, they were put to shame. The tooth soared into the sky and shone like a bright star. Oh! Well, that’s all, I’m silent.
Until it got completely dark, we walked around the territory of the complex a little more.
