Sri Lanka

Made by-Gopika.P.Nair

IntroductionFor centuries, Sri Lanka has been a

great tourism destination especially for European travellers

Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by sea - a perfect destination for a beach holiday

When the seas are rough on one side of the island, water is calm on the other side

Sri Lanka - a year round beach destination

Advantage of Sri Lanka as a tourism destination is threefold :

An authentic tourism destinationA compact island of 65,610

square kilometers - a tourist can travel the length and breadth of the country within a few days

Diversity of tourism is unparalleled

Sri Lanka - the finest island in the whole world - Famous explorer Marco Polo (12th

Century) For centuries Sri Lanka had been a great

tourism destination particularly for European travellers

In 2010, tourism authorities positioned Sri Lanka around 8 different areas: scenic beauty, beaches, heritage, wildlife, mind and body wellness, festivals, sports and adventure and essence (what is unique to the country – people, art and culture, tea, spices, gems)

GEOGRAPHY

Sri Lanka lies on the Indian tectonic plate, a minor plate within the Indo-Australian Plate. It is in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal, between latitudes 5° and 10°N, and longitudes 79° and 82°E.Sri Lanka is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. According to the Hindu mythology, a land bridge existed between the Indian mainland and Sri Lanka. It now amounts to only a chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea level. It was reportedly passable on foot up to 1480 AD, until cyclones deepened the channel

The longest of the 103 rivers in the country is Mahaweli River, covering 335 kilometres (208 mi). These waterways give rise to 51 natural waterfalls of 10 meters or more. The highest is Bambarakanda Falls, with a height of 263 metres (863 ft).[ Sri Lanka's coastline is 1,585 km long. It claims an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending 200 nautical miles, approximately 6.7 times the country's land area.

climate Sri Lanka’s climate is rather complicated for such a small country, due to the fact that

the island is affected by two separate monsoons – though this also means that there is usually good weather somewhere on the island, at most times of the year. It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that the basic pattern described below can vary significantly from year to year, and that global warming has disrupted these already complex weather patterns.

The basic rainfall pattern is as follows. The main southwest (“yala”) monsoon brings rain to the west and southwest coasts and hill country from April/May to September (wettest from April to June). The less severe northeast (“maha”) monsoon hits the east coast from November to March (wettest from November to December); there’s also a inter-monsoonal period of unsettled weather preceding the Maha monsoon in October and November during which heavy rainfall and thunderstorms can occur anywhere across the island. In practical terms, this means that the best time to visit the west and south coasts and hill country is from December to March, while the best weather on the east coast is from April/May to September.

Sri Lanka’s position close to the Equator means that temperatures remain fairly constant year-round. Coastal and lowland areas enjoy average daytime temperatures of around 26–30°C (often climbing up well into the 30°Cs during the hottest part of the day). Temperatures decrease with altitude, reducing to a temperate 18–22°C in Kandy, and a pleasantly mild 14–17°C in Nuwara Eliya and the highest parts of the island – nights in the hills can be quite chilly, with temperatures sometimes falling close to freezing. Humidity is high everywhere, rising to a sweltering ninety percent at times in the southwest, and averaging sixty to eighty percent across the rest of the island.

Pearl of the Indian OceanTourism - one of the main industries in Sri Lanka

Major tourist attractions are focused around the island's famous beaches located in the South and the East

Ancient heritage sites, lush green resorts located in the mountainous regions of the country, rich cultural heritages, wild life parks

BeachesSri Lanka - an island - surrounded

by sea and a perfect destination for a beach holiday

When the seas are rough on one side of the island - calm waters on the other side

Sri Lanka - year round beach destination

Rich heritageA recorded history of more than 2500 years - Sri Lanka has a rich cultural and historic heritage

There are 8 world heritage sites within the country.

There are hundreds of heritage sites in the island which are frequented by tourists

World Heritage SitesEight sites of Sri Lanka have been

inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list

Sacred City of Kandy (1988)Ancient city of Sigiriya (1982)Polonnaruwa (1982)Golden Temple of Dambulla (1991) Galle and its fortifications (1988) Sacred city of Anuradhapura (1982) Sinharaja Forest Reserve (1988) Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (2010)

WildlifeFor a small island the biodiversity

of the country is most impressiveSri Lanka is home for a wide

variety of mammals, birds, fish, butterflies and snakes

Elephant, leopard, sloth bear, blue whale and sperm whale can also be seen in Sri Lanka

Sports and AdventureDue to varying climatic

conditions and geography, Sri Lanka is an ideal destination for sports tourism

Some of the popular sports include golf, wind surfing, diving and snorkelling, hot air ballooning, rafting and canoeing, white water rafting, scuba diving, fishing, cycling, hiking, trekking and rock climbing

Colombo :-the capital of Sri Lanka-is the largest city and main port of Sri Lanka. It is also the commercial and financial center of Sri Lanka.

Bentota :- A lagoon set in the tropical greenery, River Bentara Ganga dotted with islets rich in birdlife.

Kithulgala Mirissa

Kandy

One of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka Cultural and religious city Capital of the Central Province.Is The Last Kingdom Of The Country Encompasses Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya

districts Home of The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri

Dalada Maligawa) - one of the most venerable places for Sri Lankans and foreigners

Declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1988

Sigiriya

The Citadel Of Sigiriya Or Lion Rock, When Climbed To The Top, Provides A Stunning Sight Of The Verdant Land Of Sri Lanka. A magnificent fortress situated at the center of the cultural triangleStunning frescoes and mirror wallsUsed as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from 5th century B.C.There are three gardens at Sigiriya: Water Gardens, Boulder Gardens and Terraced Gardens

Kithulgala

This is a popular spot for adventure tourism with sports like Adventure Rides And Mountainous Hikes, Water Rafting And Treks.

Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka's first capital founded during 4th century B.C. Religious places include Ruwanwelisaya, Jetawanaramaya, Abayagiriya, Mirisavetiya and Sri Maha Bodhiya (one of the oldest chronicled trees in the world)From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century A.D. It is the oldest city in the Cultural Triangle.

Trincomalee

Trincomalee Is One Of The Most Popular Weekend Getaways For Many Sri Lankans.

Famous for its water sports.Snorkeling Is The Most Favorite

Activity

Pinnawela

The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage Is Home For Many Wild Elephants.

A golden chance to bottle-feed the baby elephants is given.

Arugam Bay

Experience The Serenity In The Water And Great Surfing Spots. This Fabulous South-eastern Coastal Town Is Becoming An Extremely Popular Surfer’s Paradise Among Locals And Tourists. Savor Some Of The Best Seafood Delights, Romantic Sunsets And Relaxing Beaches here.

Galle

Major city situated in the southwestern tip of srilanka. 119 km from Colombo. 4th largest city in srilanka. Prominent landmarks in Galle include The city’s natural harbor, The

National Maritime Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral. Galle International Stadium – one of the most picturesque cricket

grounds in the world.

Nuwaraeliya

Nuwara-Eliya- It means “city on the plains” or “city of light” It offers the best both worlds advantages, of tropical abundance and pleasant cool mountain climate.The City Is Also Nicknamed As 'Little England' For Its Snowy Climate And Eras Old Architecture.This city is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in SriLanka.

PolonnaruwaCapital from 11-13 centuries A.D.A blend of South Indian Hindi culture

with Sinhala artistry Gal Viharaya - a rock shrineVatadage - a circular ruin Parakkrama Samudraya -

resembles an oceanGigantic Buddha statues and granite

sculptures are also great attractions

DambullaDambulla - situated in the Matale

district in the Central Province of Sri Lanka

Major attractions include Dambulla Cave Temple Complex, Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia, ironwood forest also known as Namal Uyana

The area is thought to be inhabited from as early as 7th to 3rd century B.C.

Horton Plains National parkOne of the world best nature

reserves and ecotourism venues was designated a national park in 1988.

The park is home to wide variety of flora and 24 species of mammals.

Other attractions Misty mountains to tropical rainforests,

wildlife sanctuaries to lush waterfalls for the nature lovers

Sinharaja - Sri Lanka's last remaining rainforest

Pidurutalagala - Sri Lanka's highest mountain, Hunnasgiriya, Knuckles and Adam's Peak are other important and famous mountains

Diyaluma - Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall and the (world's 6th highest), Bambarakande, Ramboda, Aberdeen, Devon, St. Clair, Dunhinda, Rawana Ella add dramatic beauty to the up country

Safari parks at Yala, Wilpattu, Wasgamuwa and Udawalwe, Kumana bird sanctuary and Kosgoda turtle hatchery - popular tourist attractions

Horton Plains National Park, Knuckles forest reservation, Udawattekelle are rich in biodiversity

Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya and Hakgala Botanical Gardens are two major botanical gardens

Sri Lanka is surrounded by 1600 km of beautiful tropical beaches on the southern, western, eastern and northern shores

Sri Lankan hospitalityApart from the country’s

attractions, Sri Lankans are famous the world over, for their hospitality

From North to South, people in the entire country are famous for their hospitality; rich as well as poor people like to entertain visitors in their homes

Tourists are treated well and looked after well in every part of Sri Lanka

threats The glories of early Buddhist civilization continue to provide a

benchmark of national identity for the island’s Sinhalese population, while Sri Lanka’s historic role as the world’s oldest stronghold of Theravada Buddhism lends it a unique cultural identity that permeates life at every level. There’s more to Sri Lanka than just Buddhists, however. The island’s geographical position at one of the most important staging posts of Indian Ocean trade laid it open to a uniquely wide range of influences, as generations of Arab, Malay, Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers subtly transformed its culture, architecture and cuisine, while the long-established Tamil population in the north have established a vibrant Hindu culture that owes more to India than to the Sinhalese south.

It is, however, this very diversity that has long threatened to tear the country apart. For much of the past three decades the island was the site of one of Asia’s most pernicious civil wars, as the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE, or Tamil Tigers, battled it out in the island’s north and east, until the final victory of government forces in early 2009. The island is now experiencing peace for the first time in a generation, and although the physical, political and human scars of war remain raw in many places, most Sri Lankans are now once again looking to the future with guarded optimism.

Extra info Independence from the United Kingdom - Dominion 4 February 1948 - Republic 22 May 1972 - Current constitution 7 September 1978 Capita: Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte (6°54′N 79°54′E)(administrative) Colombo(commercial) Largest city – Colombo Official languages- Sinhala Tamil Area - Total 65,610 km2 (122nd) 25,332 sq mi - Water (%) 4.4 Population - 2012 census 20,277,597 (57th) - Density 323/km2 (40th) ,836.6/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2012 estimate - Total $127 billion (64th) - Per capita $6,135 (111th) HDI (2012) 0.715[7], high 92nd

CurrencySri Lankan rupee (LKR)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIZlanot3HI

This is the link to the official srilankan tourism video

Thank you!