At the top of the mountain fortress of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. Photo by Paul Mannix
The recorded history of Sri Lanka starts from 3rd century BC and starts with
King Kassapa, who killed his father for the throne, and built the
'Sigiriya' castle by hewing it out of rock on the top of a rock plateau. It is now a world heritage site because of its architectural splendor.
Unatuna Beach. Photo by indi.ca.
Sri Lanka, with its unhurried lifestyle welcomes visitors with its pristine azure-gold beaches, amazing vistas, and ancient temples woven into a rich and tolerant cultural tapestry. The central hilly region is home to tea plantations and is rich in British colonial architecture. There are also spectacular cave temples at
Dambulla and the rock fortress of
Sigiriya in the central hills. If you visit a national park you will be treated to an abundance of wild life, like monkeys, elephants, bears and leopards. You can even visit the picturesque coast in the south where you can stay at a fishing village or unwind at a beach resort. A holiday here will be an unforgettable experience in a tropical island paradise.
Photo by De kleine rode kater
Agriculture and irrigation were developed before 300 B.C. by the
Yaksha and Naga tribes, and then Buddhism influenced the culture and lives of the people in the early second century B.C. Subsequent Indian, Portuguese, Dutch and British rule have influenced and diversified its culture, and made it varied like its natural beauty.
A smile tells a thousand words.
Photo by ImageBang!
Lankan people are known throughout the world as happy people, as they have a way of life which is simple, humble, art centric, entertaining and heart warming, with a hospitality that is world renowned. However,Sri Lanka has been transformed by the process of globalization as it came into contact with global cultures. Foreign countries which have had a high level of economic growth have expanded overseas to smaller lesser developed countries like Sri Lanka. This has often affected cultures in a way that many claim to be detrimental or even a loss of identity for that particular culture. You can find examples of this in the food sector very easily as you can now find a strong American presence, duly represented by chains like McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and pizza chains. This reflects both an opening up of markets as well as a shift in the tastes of the common populace.
REAL curry. Photo by locket479
Photo by geraintwn
However, Sri Lanka has proved to be a melting pot of cultures, and till today coconut curry and Big Macs are consumed with equal relish. In no way will you fail to catch the quintessential Sri Lanka should you take the plunge and go for a
Sri Lankan cultural holiday.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand by
