Sri Lanka Information

Sri Lanka Information Here is all general information about Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Know about the area, capital, monetary unit, population, government, national flag, anthem, flower, population, literacy rate, ethnic blending, climate and industries. This info would help you to better understand the country when you tour it. Best Time To Visit Best time to visit Sri Lanka differs in various regions. However in most of the country the best time to tour is November to April. This time is also considered the tourist season in Sri Lanka. In the hill country and the south west coast the ideal time would be in these months. In these regions several places of tourist interest and some of the best beaches are located. For visiting east coast the best time is May to September. It can be said that Sri Lanka is a round-the-year destination. At least some part of the country is suitable to visit in every month of the year. Sri Lanka is a country with plenty of tourist options. Whichever time of the year you visit, Sri Lanka would have something or the other to offer. If you visit the country in summer you have the hill stations where the climate in summers is pleasant. The coastal areas would be eager to entertain you any season. One can relax or sunbath, or if wants, indulge in water sports. Sri Lanka has places which are deeply rooted in history. People having interest in history can visit destinations like Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. Mount Lavinia would reward you with its superb beaches and resorts. this section deals in aspects of Sri Lanka tourism like culture, art, food, music, people and tea. Sri Lanka has its own specialities in all these aspects of its tourism. Sri Lanka which has adopted Therawada Buddhism has also been influenced by various other religiouns. Mixing of various types of people has ensured the evolving of an intriguing culture. Any visitor in Sri Lanka would get solace in the tranquil surroundings of Buddhist monasteries. ART Sri Lankan arts have continuously evolved during the course of history. Every art form such as dance, music, sculpture, paintings

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and architecture have seen development. Basis of Sri Lankan arts are the religious beliefs of people. Festival People of Sri Lanka celebrate their festivals with loads of enthusiasm. Grand festival of Esala, celebrated in Kandy in the month of July or August, symbolises Sri Lanka. Sinhala and Tamil New Year events are also celebrated with fervor. Handicrafts Age old technique are applied for making handicrafts. Raw materials provided abundantly by nature are used for making handicrafts. Batiks, ebony and brass work are some of the handicrafts in Sri Lanka. Fine handicrafts are made using the hard kernel of black wood. People Sinhalese and Tamils are two major ethnic groups of Sri Lanka. Muslims and Burghers are other groups. With religion as base followers of Buddhism form the largest community in Sri Lanka. Modern education in the country is not widespread. Culture Culture in Sri Lanka is the gallery of diverse cultural patterns. Many of the cultural characteristics of Sri Lanka are indigenous while several have been derived by the influences of migration, trade, religions and western colonisation. Tourist Places Adam's Peak Adam's Peak is considered sacred by the adherents of all four major religions: Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims. At the top of peak is a platform where a Buddhist temple and the shrine of Saman is located. All people in Sri Lanka have regard for Adam's Peak. No matter whether the person is Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist or Christian, they have regard for Adam's Peak. The mountain which is also known as Sri Pada, enjoys reverence all over Sri Lanka.

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Beaches Prominent beaches of Sri Lanka are Mt. Lavinia, Negombo on West Coast and Beruwala, Bentota and Hikkaduwa on South Coast. Underwater beauty makes Hikkaduwa attractive. Mt. Lavinia and Negombo are popular among tourists. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is among the biggest herds of captive elephants in the world. Elephants are taken to the river everyday for bathing. Baby elephants are fed and bathed by their human proctectors. Photos Sri Lanka has so much to offer to the visitors. Pristine beaches, verdantg landscapes and intriguing culture. Beaches are at par with any other beaches of the world. Mountaineering experience is all fun-filled. Temple of Tooth Buddhists in Sri Lanka give highest regard to the Temple of Tooth. Visited by hundreds of pilgrims everyday, the temple was built in decades. The shrince holds the tooth relic of Lord Buddha. The shrince has been refurbished. Archaeological Wonders Archaeological past of Sri Lanka manifests itself in the colossal stupas and stone structures. The country has seen several phases of history and with every phase it witnessed some new monuments.

Museums Museums give us insight into the past of Sri Lanka. They tell us how the country has evolved since ancient times. Particular for the people interested in history these museums are source of joy. Tour these museums.

Pilgrimage

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Popular pilgrimage centres among the people of Sri Lanka are Temple of Tooth, Adam's Peak, Bogoda Bridge and Temple, Buduruwagala, Down Cave Temple and Muthiyangana. First two are most popular. Sinharaja Forest Sinharaja Rain Forest, lying over the area of about 11187 hectares, has always been a preferred destination of the eco lovers. Having great diversity of flora and fauna, the forest is the home of several beasts.

Pakistan Pakistan formerly a part of Indus civilization, is purity epitomized. Influenced by Persian and Indo- Greek civilizations. A tourist can feel each and every constituent of the ambiance. Pakistan has an exemplary heritage . It is the birthplace of world renowned genre of music -Sufi Music. It beckons the nerdy travelers and calls for excavation of Harrapa, Mohenjodaro and Taxilla. The culture of Pakistan is crafted in the most intricate manner that attracts even a stranger towards itself. The rich literature covers all genres of imagination and architecture reflects the Mughal spirit. It asserts the tourist to indulge into adventure at Chiral valley, sight seeing at Swat valley and witness the Gandhara Sculpture. Rawal Dam is a popular picnic spot . Mausoleums, minarets, forts and mosques embody the soul of Pakistan. Each and every city of Pakistan has it's own reasons to mystify the tourist. The major cities of Pakistan are Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Peshawar. Islamabad- the capital of Pakistan, is a cosmopolitan. It is the perfect amalgamate of the rich heritage and modern technology which is substantiated by Saudi Pak- tower. National Monuments Heritage Museum and Hills National Park are some of the tourist spots. Lahore, referred to as “Heart Of Pakistan” is also called as “The Cultural Capital” of the nation. It has a vibrant nightlife and harbors the connoisseurs of Pakistan. There's much to see and much to do here.

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Abode of Peace or Dal-e Aman is synonymy for Multan. It has a regal history. One can find the vibrancy of different ethnicities here. Multan is supposed to be the birthplace of Sufism- the way to reach god. Karachi is the city of lights in Pakistan. Karachi jubilates in the form of music conference, Kara film festival and National arts center. Thus Pakistan Awaits the excursionist with open arms. Pakistan Tourism Pakistan exhibits some of the earliest human settlements, it is home to an ancient civilization rivalling those of Egypt and Mesopotamia, and the crucible of two of the world's major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. It's far more unimaginable and contains some of Asia's most mind-blowing landscapes, extraordinary trekking, a multitude of cultures and a long tradition of hospitality. Places

Islamabad Islamabad, city and capital of Pakistan, northern Pakistan, in the Capital Territory, on the Potwar Plateau, near Rawalpindi. In 1959 the site of Islamabad was chosen to replace Karachi as the capital of Pakistan. Constantinos A. Doxiadis and other internationally known urban planners were commissioned to design the new city, and construction began in 1961. In 1967 Islamabad was officially made the capital, and work on the city's principal buildings, streets, and facilities was completed by the mid-1970s. The city is divided into eight largely self-contained zones, each characterized by its predominant usages (such as for government, commerce, light industry, or residential areas). Notable structures in Islamabad include the National Assembly Building, designed by Louis I. Kahn. The city is the site of Quaid-i-Azam University (1965). Population (1998) 524,500.

Peshawar

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Peshawar, city, northwestern Pakistan, capital of North-West Frontier Province, near the entrance to Khyber Pass. The city is a commercial center and the traditional terminus of caravans from Afghanistan. Industries include handicrafts and the manufacture of processed food, footwear, silk, and cotton textiles. Peshawar University was established here in 1950. Also in the city is Peshawar Museum, which houses important collections of sculpture of the ancient Gandhara civilization. An ancient trading center known as Purushapure, the city was a target for invaders of the Indian subcontinent because of its strategic location near the pass. In the early 19th century Peshawar came under the control of the Sikhs, and in 1849 it was captured by the British. It has been the capital of the Pakistani North-West Frontier Province (except for 1955-70) since 1947. Population (1998) 988,055.

Karachi Karachi, city in southern Pakistan, capital of Sind Province, on the Arabian Sea, at the northwestern edge of the Indus River delta. The hub of a sprawling metropolitan area, Karachi is the nation's largest city and its chief transportation, financial, commercial, and manufacturing center. Most of the international trade of Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan pass through the city's busy modern port, centered on the island of Kiamari. Major highways and railroads focus on the city, and the modern airport here is a stopover and refueling point for intercontinental flights. Among the many products of Karachi are steel, textiles, chemicals, refined petroleum, footwear, machinery, handicrafts, and processed food. The city also is an important banking center and has a stock exchange. The University of Karachi (1951) and NED University of Engineering and Technology (1922) are here. The tomb of Muhammed Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, is a landmark. An old settlement, Karachi was a small fishing and trade center when captured by the British in 1839 and annexed three years later. Under British rule, it became the chief outlet for Indus Valley cotton and

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grain exports. Karachi was the capital of newly independent Pakistan from 1947 until 1959, when it was replaced by the provisional capital of Rawalpindi (Islamabad became Pakistan's permanent capital in 1967.) During the early years of independence Karachi grew rapidly as the chief port and industrial center of West Pakistan, and many Muslim refugees from India settled here. Since the 1980s the city has been the site of violent eruptions between the rival political, religious, and ethnic groups. Population (1998) 9,269,265

Lahore Lahore, city, northeastern Pakistan, capital of Punjab Province, on the Ravi River. It is the principal commercial and banking center of the province. Although little industry is located in the city proper, Lahore serves as a distribution Manufactures

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glassware, and leather and rubber goods. An educational and cultural center, the city is the site of the University of the Punjab (1882), the oldest university in Pakistan, and the University of Engineering and Technology (1961). An atomic energy research center is located in the city. Lahore is the site of architecturally significant buildings and monuments, many dating from the Mughal Empire (circa 1526-1707), during which the city achieved great prominence. In 1849, Lahore fell to the British. When India was partitioned in 1947, Lahore was made capital of West Punjab. Population (1998) 5,063,499. Multan Multan, city, eastern Pakistan, capital of Multan Division, on the Chenab River in the Punjab. The leading manufactures are silk, cotton, carpets, glazed pottery, and enamel work. Multan is an important center of trade where the products of the division, chiefly cotton, wheat, wool, sugar, indigo, oil seeds, and manufactured articles, are shipped by railroad to other parts of the country. The city is the home of Bahauddin Zakariya University (1975). Population (1981) 722,070. 7