 . |
| . |
| Sri Lanka |
| . |
An island country in the Indian Ocean off southeast India. Inhabited originally by the Vedda, the island was later invaded by the Singhalese (6th century b.c.) and the Tamil (11th and 12th centuries a.d.). The lucrative spice trade on the island was controlled successively by Arab, Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders from the 12th century. It became a British colony in 1798 and achieved independence in 1948. In 1972 the island was declared a republic, and it adopted the Singhalese name of Sri Lanka. Colombo is the capital and the largest city. Population: 20,000,000. |
| more info |
|
|
| . |
 |
| Anuradhapura - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Anuradhapura, a Ceylonese political and religious capital that flourished for 1,300 years, was abandoned after an invasion in 993. Hidden away in thick jungle for a long time, the splendid site, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, is once again accessible. |
| |
|
more info |
|
| Polonnaruwa - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + |
| |
|
|
 |
|
The city of Polonnaruwa like any other ancient South Asian city, consisted of a citadel within which the royal precinct was located, a defense wall system and moats, monastic and devale complexes which were the ritual centres and a well laid out market complex. In the periphery of the city were centres of craft production and beyond them the agricultural hinterland. |
| |
|
more info |
|
| Sigiriya - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Nothing in Sri Lanka captures the imagination more than a 200 meter lump of granite that rises starkly above the flat central plains. Sigiriya has it all -- a blood-stained history full of intrigue, astonishing frescos of bare-breasted maidens painted 15 centuries ago, a wall covered in graffiti that is more than 1,000 years old and, to top it all, Asia's oldest surviving landscape garden. |
| |
|
more info |
|
| Golden Temple of Dambulla - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Dambulla is about 12 miles south west of Sigiriya, on the Matale-Anuradhapura Road. The largest cave carries some 48 statues of Lord Buddha alone, with statues of some Hindu gods, (Vishnu and Saman). The statues of the Hindu gods date back to the 12th century, when Hinduism took root in Sri Lanka and started influencing the arts. The history of the caves themselves dates back to the 2nd or 1st century B.C., when King Valagam Bahu who was escaping the invading army that drove him out of Anuradhapura, took refuge in these caves. |
| |
|
more info |
|
| Kandy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + |
| |
 |
|
In 1592 Kandy became the capital city of the last remaining independent kingdom in the island after the coastal regions had been conquered by the Portuguese. Several invasions by the Portuguese and the Dutch (16th, 17th and 18th century) and later by the British (most notably in 1803) were repelled. Portuguese invasions in the 16th century and 17th century were entirely unsuccessful.
The kingdom tolerated a Dutch presence on the coast until 1761, when King Kirti Sri Rajasinha attacked and overran most of the coast, leaving only the heavily fortified Negombo intact. When a Dutch retaliatory force returned to the island in 1763, Kirti Sri Rajasinha abandoned the coastline and withdrew into the interior. When the Dutch continued to the jungles the next year, they were constantly harassed by disease, heat, lack of provisions, and Kandyan sharpshooters, who hid in the jungle and inflicted heavy losses on the Dutch. The Dutch launched a better adapted force in January of 1765, replacing their troops' bayonets with machetes and using more practical uniforms and tactics suited to jungle warfare. Though initially successful in capturing the capital which was deserted, the Kandyans withdrew to the jungles once more, refusing to engage in open battle. The Dutch, worn down by constant attrition, came to terms in 1766.
|
| |
|
more info |
|
|
| . |
|
 |
| 08/31/2010 |
| Ari Margolis & Family - Israel |
We just came back from 2.5 weeks in Sri Lanka. Gorgeous country, great people, beautiful landscapes and great food. Took me 3 months to organize the trip together with Nande, emailing back and forth. Nande managed to arrange us a great trip with lovely accommodations exactly what we were looking for. He is very knowledgeable, has the right answers to every question, great and safe driver and very very honest.
We have only warm words and great memories from our time together.
Any Israeli planning to go to Sri Lanka and has any questions regarding Nande, his service and Sri Lanka overall please feel free to give me a call 052-6255555 or email me.
THANK YOU NANDE!
From all of us, Odelia, Ari, Hili, Yoni & Oded Margolis. - more info |
| + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + |
| 08/07/2010 |
| Gaye & Anna - New zealand |
Dear Nandi, - Anna and I really enjoyed our time in Sri Lanka ……. I would recommend Nande as a tour guide whom coming to this country. I found him to be a honest and reliable person who could be trusted traveling as a woman and a daughter safety was a concern of mine- my fears were seem put to rest on the very first day. I have learn so much about this wonderful tiny country. Nandi has a fountain of knowledge those he readily shows, not only about the content, but his knowledge of different places to visit, eat and stay. I am 100 per cent satisfied – and the very best driver I have ever seen – simply amazing!! Thank you , Gaye and Anna – New Zealand
- more info |
| + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + |
| 05/21/2010 |
| Samantha Hodgson & Kevin Childs - England, UK |
Dear Nande, We would like to thank you for making our time in Sri Lanka special,We have loved everything about our stay here & you have given us lots of interesting knowledeg & facts about your wonderful country & helped us create lots of happy memories. We would also like to thank-you for been so understanding when we decided to change our itinerary. You are a really genuine warm person & we have enjoyed getting to know you & spending time with you, and will be definatley be using you to help us explore even more of your beautiful island on our return visit. We will also be reccomending you to any of our family & friends who decide to visit Sri lanka after hearing our wonderful stories. Also as a travel agent I will be passing on your details to any customers who book a holiday to Sri Lanka
Best Wishes to you & Your family!
Lots of love & Thanks,
Sam & Kev from England - more info |
| + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + |
|
| . |
|
| . |
|
| . |
|
| . |
|
| . |
|
