Ayubowan Welcome,as the Sri Lankans say, with a slight nod of the head and folded hands – Greetings, may you have a long life., Ayubowan, Wanakkam. Sri Lanka, the resplendent island, is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Indian subcontinent. It offers an abundance of greenery and rich flora and fauna, a vibrant culture, and 2,500 years of history. The Greeks and Romans knew it as the paradise Taprobane, with the well-known phrase: '100 miles from paradise.' The Arabs called it Serendib, the Europeans Ceilao or Ceylon. This island (with its original name) was called Sri Lanka by its inhabitants. Sri Lanka called. It is truly an island worth discovering.
Natural paradise – winding paths and biodiversity
On moderate hikes you can explore the famous Lion Rock in Sigiriya (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the end of the world in Horton Plains National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the fantastically beautiful mountain landscape near Ella. In the mountain region of the Knuckles Range (UNESCO World Heritage Site) you can also enjoy a fantastic natural backdrop, far away from the usual tourist paths. On one of the country largest lakes, the Sea of Kings go on a boat tour in a fishermans catamaran, while observing the native bird life. After exploring wildlife-rich Yala National Park in an open-top 4×4, relax on beautiful Bentota Beach.
Geographical Location
Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean at the southeastern tip of the Indian subcontinent. It lies between 5°5539; and 9°5539 north of the equator and between east longitudes 79°4239 and 81°5239. The Paik Strait and the Guld of Mannar separate Sri Lanka from India. The Arabian Sea lies to the west, the Bay of Bengal lies to the northeast, and the Indian Ocean to the south. Due to Sri Lanka geographic location, it enjoys a sunny climate all year round. It is in this beautiful tropical landscape that ancient settlements arose, and recent excavations have shown that dwellings have existed in this land since the Neolithic era. The successive blending of cultures has been a boon to the people of Sri Lanka, opening them up to the benefits of cultural exchange – East and West. The island has been known as the Gateway to Asia since ancient times.
The Country
The total land area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq km. and is surprisingly diverse. A length of 435 km (270miles) from north to south and a width of 240 km (150 miles) from east to west encompasses beautiful tropical beaches, lush vegetation, stone monuments from ancient times and a thousand delights for all tastes. The land area of Sri Lanka can be divided into three geographical zones corresponding to the respective altitude: the central highlands, the lowland plains and the coastal belt. The central highlands are clustered just south of the center and include some mountains, plateaus and valleys surrounded by broad plains. Pidurutalagala, the highest point in Sri Lanka, lies at 2,524 m (8,281 ft) in the central highlands. In contrast, the surrounding plains range from 90m to sea level. The plains are widest in the northern and north-central areas. A number of rivers flow from the highlands to the sea. The Mahaweli is the longest river at 331 km and the Bambarakanda is the highest waterfall at 240 m and one of the beauties of Sri Lanka. Palm beaches ring the island and the coastline stretches for 1300 km. The water temperature rarely falls below 27°C. Lagoons, sandy beaches, sand dunes and marshes dot the coastline, although steep and rocky cliffs can also be found in the north-east and south-west.
Climate
In the lowlands, the climate is typically tropical with an average temperature of 27°C in Colombo. It can get quite chilly at higher elevations, with temperatures dropping to 16°C at 2000m. Bright, sunny warm days are the norm and occur even during the monsoon. Climatically, Sri Lanka has a season throughout the year. The southwest monsoon brings rain mainly from May to July in the western, southern and central regions of the island. while the December and January northeast monsoon rains occur in the northern and eastern regions.
Language & Religion
Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages of Sri Lanka. Sinhala is the language of the majority of the population and Tamil is mainly spoken by the Tamil minority. English is the connecting language with the rest of the world. Place names and lettering on buses and trains are commonly found in all three languages. Even if Sri Lanka is a country of religious diversity, the Buddhists make up the majority with 69.3%. Other religious groups are Hindus at 15.5%, Muslims at 7.6% and Christians at 7.5%. Sri Lanka is a country of religious freedom and tolerance. Wherever you travel, you will encounter a Buddhist temple or dagoba, a Hindu kovil, a Christian church or a mosque, each with its own distinctive architecture.
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