Travel Journal

 

  Sri Lankan sambar deer  ගෝණා   Sambar deer is the most common large mammal found in Horton Plains National Park in Nuwara Eliya. Sambar deer is native to South and South East Asia. Horton Plains became a Sambar deer hunting ground between 1831 and 1948 when the  Kandyan Kingdom came under the British in 1815. The original name of the area was Maha Eliya Thenna ( මහ එළිය තැන්න  - "great open plain"). When British discovered the central highlands they renamed after the British governor of Ceylon Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton. 

  The picture is of Ambasthala Dagaba in Mihintale, with Mahaseya in the background.   A moderate climb of 1840 steps to the top of Mihintale mountain peak take you to the Ambasthala Dagoba on the mountain plane. It is a small stupa which is surrounded by stone pillars on which a wooden roof once stood upon known as "vatadage". Vatadage is a circular structure built around a stupa where a wooden roof was built on decorative stone pillars.    This stupa has been converted to a  vatadage style stupa in the 2nd or 3rd century. Vatadage is a unique architectural style of ancient sri Lanka found in Buddhist religious sites.      The Ambastala Dagoba is built on the spot  King Devanampiyatissa of Anuradhapura saw Buddhist monk Arhat Mahinda  for the very first time. Arhat Mahinda was standing on the "Aradanagala" peak with his group of emissaries,above the summit the king stood.   Arhat Mahinda, Emperor Ashok...

  Aradana Gala is where the Arhat Mahinda arrived from India.   Aradanagala is a  boulder on the summit of Mihintale mountain. This is from where Arhat Mahinda addressed king Devanampiyatissa for the first time. King was  hunting deer below the rock in the mango forest on the mountain plateau. Arhat Mahinda, the missionary and son of Emperor Ashoka of India, came to Mihintale to officially inaugurate Buddhism in the country in 263 B.C. Ashoka became an emperor  in India 218 years after Lord Buddha passed away. He converted to Buddhism  after seeing the mass deaths of Kalinga war which he won. Emperor Asoka promoted the spread of Buddhism across Asia.    The historical meeting of Monk Mahinda and the king 2,329 years back is commemorated annually in June on a full moon day by Buddhists across the country with Mihintale being the focal point. They make an annual pilgrimage to Mihintale summit and other historical locations i...

  Mihintale temple is located 13 Km east of Anuradapura . This is the historic place where Emperor Asoka's son, Arahant Mahinda thero preached his first sermon to King  Devanampiya Tissa  in 236 B.C in Sri Lanka.  This historical event occurred on a full moon day in the  month of June. Mihintale is considered the cradle of Sinhalese Buddhism.   The first attraction the visitor see at the  temple premises is the ancient stairway at the foot of the  temple  premises  leading to the top of the Mihintale plateau. There are over to 1o00 wide steps to the top of the plateau and the climb is not very steep. Some steps are carved out of the rock and others ae granite slabs. You can also drive halfway up the mountain. However, the rock climbing experience is more rewarding with the view of the surrounding countryside as you climb up and the ancient attractions to see on the way up.   The path along the stai...

  World Rainforest Day This year, the theme of this day is ‘Protected Together. Now. Forever’. World Rainforest Day falls on 22 June 2021. The day is observed to raise awareness about preservation of rainforests.   Mahauskanda rainforest is a regenerated tropical rainforest bordering  Bambaragala forest reserve in Deniyaya, Rathnapura in  Sri Lanka. This land was a degraded  rubber estate  before the project to convert the plot of land to  regenerate a tropical rainforest by an environmentalist.   The reason to initiate World Rainforest Day in 2017 was to protect rainforests across the world as they are an integral part of the ecosystem. Rainforests play an important role in balancing climate change, providing fresh water and clean air to people. Deforestation, is the biggest threat to protect the forest reservation.   Attached picture is of Mahauskanda, captured in 2011.

 

 

 

  World Ocean Day is observed on 8th June every year since 2009. This years theme is, The Ocean : Life and Livelihoods. Ocean day is observed to increase awareness and knowledge about the importance of the ocean on earth and the role it plays on our lives. The idea of a World Ocean day was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit held in Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, but the day was officially established by the United Nations only in 2008. This year also marks the beginning of the UN decade of ocean science for sustainable development from 2021 to 2030.  Ocean plays a major role in sustaining life on earth. Initiating discussions on the conservation and protection of the ocean is important as much as other ecosystems on the planet, because larger part of our survival depends on the ocean and related activities. The Ocean provides around 50% of the oxygen we breath and absorb 30% of the carbon dioxide on planet earth. The Ocean is earths largest habitat and covers 70% of the ear...

General Grant Tree 8th August 2020. .  The General Grant tree in Kings Canyon National park in California. It is the he largest giant sequoia in the Grant grove section and the second largest tree in the world. The sequoia tree is 1650 years old.  

 

 

  West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone -28.09.2020 West Thumb Geyser basin is located in the Yellowstone National Park. It is a hot Spring situated along the southern western border of the Yellowstone lake shore and extends few feet in to the lake. The spring look like a miniature pool and the water is so clear that you could see several feet below from the surface. The scenic view from the West Thumb Geyser is spectacular. It gives you a view of the geyser with the lake and the mountains surrounding the lake as the backdrop. . . You can walk around the thermal and the lake along the wooden foot path, but make sure you never go off the recommended trails as the West Thumb and other springs along the lake are active hot springs and boiling hot. The West Thumb was created from a small eruption created 150, 000 years ago and the heated water from the West Thumb Geyser continues to flow in to the Yellowstone lake. It is the first thermal spring in the area that was described in a ...

 

General Grant Tree 8th August 2020. . The General Grant tree in Kings Canyon National park in California. It is the he largest giant sequoia in the Grant grove section and the second largest tree in the world. The sequoia tree is 1650 years old.

  Grand Teton national park's most photographic location is the Oxbow bend. It is the most iconic image of the park with the meandering snake river with the Mount Moran las the perfect backdrop and the aspen trees that line along the snake river bank. It is a must see place if you visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone. If you visit Yellowstone via Jackson Hole your route will be through Teton National park and you can pass scenic overlook on your way. The Oxbow bend overlook is along highway 89 close to Jackson lake junction and Moran junction. . The Oxbow bend is a photographer's ideal place to capture fall colors in Autumn as the aspen trees change to yellow, gold and red during end of September. You could capture the reflection of the mount Moron on Snake river surface water giving you the mirror look. It is a spectacular view not to be missed. . The Oxbow bend scenic over look at Teton provide a breathtaking view of the landscape with the Teton mountain range as the bac...

  Abhaya Wewa in Anuradhapura was built by King Pandukabaya in 400B.C.  This is the first irrigation tank known  and recorded in the history of Sri Lanka. The Abhaya Wewa is located close to Ruwanweliseya in ancient city of Anuradhapura. The length  of the embankment is little more than one mile and covers 1235 acres of land filled with water. Captured 30 December 2019.

Gangaramaya Temple is located in NawamMawatha in Colombo 2, Sri Lanka.  Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala  Thero founded the temple in the early 19th century during the buddhist revival period. The temple is famous for the Navam Maha Perahara held annually in the month of March. Beautiful sunset can be witnessed at the Beira Wewa  section of the Gangaramaya temple with looming skyscrapers as the backdrop.  Perehera : Annual cultural pagent The temple is famous for the Navam Maha Perahara held annually in the month of March since 1978.  The Bo Tree and Stupa Located at the centre of the main temple is the sacred Bo tree, the Stupa and the Buddha statue. Parrots In the hall that is used for offerings and poojas the visitors can witness a flock of parrots. A sight not to be missed when visiting the temple. Relic Chamber The sacred relics of Buddha and his discipleArhat Seevali can bee seen and worshiped at the temple. the Sacred Buddha hair relics were donated by the Chittag...

  (1) Ruwanweliseya Ruwanveliseya Dagoba was constructed by the Great Emperor Dutugamunu in 161 BCE and is located in the city of Anuradhapura which is a UNESCO world  Heritage site. It is also referred to as Ratnamali Mahaseya, and Svarnamali Seya. The Ruwanveliseya enshrines a Drona of Buddha's relics is a sacred place of worship to Buddhists. (2) Kuttam Pokuna The said pair of pools were built by the Sinhalese in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura. These are considered one of the significant achievements in the field of hydrological engineering and outstanding architectural and artistic creations of the ancient Sinhalese (Wikipedia). Location: Anuradhapura. August 2018 (3) Mahawilachchiya Reservoir Mahawilachchiya reservoir was constructed by Prince Saliya, the son of king Dutugemunu (161-131 BC) in the 140 BC. The village was recreated around the Mahawilachchiya reservoir.Mahawilachchiya village is located 40 kilometers away from Anuradhapura city.  The village ...

  What to see in Kandy (1) Dalada Maligawa Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. (2) Magul Maduwa “Lotus flowers carved in the pillars of Magul Maduwa” The intricate carvings at the Audience Hall of the Kandyan Palace – මගුල් මඩුව – Kingdom of Kandy. The construction of this finely carved wooden structure has been started by the king Rajadhi Rajasinhe (1779 – 1797) in 1783. Image captured from camera phone. (3) Queen's Hotel An iconic historic hotel in Kandy, situated in the heart of Kandy, facing the beautiful Kandy Lake. It has a history of over 160 years and was the British Governor’s residence and is very Colonial style spaning 80 rooms.