They say an elephant never forgets, but what happens when an elephant is forgotten? In Sri Lanka, ab

Is a town, situated on the west coast of the island of Sri Lanka near Negombo city and close to the commercial capital of Colombo city. It is the site of Bandaranaike go direct travel International Airport, go direct travel the primary international air gateway to Sri Lanka. With the change of government in 1977 and the introduction of the open economy policy a large area was allocated to create go direct travel a free trade zone (currently known as the Export go direct travel Promotion Zone). This created a large amount of job opportunities for the local youth and has contributed substantially towards the country s economy. SriLankan Airlines is headquartered on the grounds go direct travel of the airport in Katunayake.
Spend an afternoon exploring the capital city searching out historic colonial gems. Visit Colombo Fort, the old administrative and business center where the leading banks are housed. In Pettah there are numerous oriental bazaars, many streets large number of gold smiths, In Slave Island you may visit Sri Murugan Hindu Temple. go direct travel From thereon you may proceed to view Colombo Town hall and Viharamahadevi Park.
Visit Colombo go direct travel 07 also known as the Cinnamon gardens where the affluent of Colombo society reside. Drive past the independence square, BMICH the International conference hall. Visit Dutch Hospital- A unique shopping go direct travel experience in this 400 year old Historical monument. Here one will find a very relaxing atmosphere and unique gifts to take home to near and dear ones. Also the SPA CEYLON in must to attend. Here one can indulge in a relaxing spa ritual or simply buy some of their world renowned products to take home
They say an elephant never forgets, but what happens when an elephant is forgotten? In Sri Lanka, abandoned elephants who cannot survive in the wild find refuge go direct travel at the Elephant Farm at Pinnawala (near Rambukkana).
People feed, groom and care for 46 elephants on the farm. The babies drink milk warmed to body temperature from super-size bottles, seven per feeding.The farm supports itself in part through tourists, who come for a rare close-up view of the animals.The orphans arrive from across the country, rescued from remote villages go direct travel where they have lost their mothers to quarry accidents, shootings or lynch mobs.At go direct travel the Elephant Orphanage, deep in the tropical hill country of central Sri Lanka, the motherless calves are raised by human foster parents who ply them with bottled milk five times a day and give them an occasional swig of beer in an effort to help preserve Asia s dwindling wild-elephant population.
In Sri Lanka and throughout Asia, some of the world s larger remaining wild-elephant herds about 50,000 animals across the continent face threats to their survival from burgeoning human populations that are bulldozing forests into farmland and severing centuries-old migration routes go direct travel with highways and urban development.
In recent months go direct travel the competition for space between man and beast has led to unprecedented go direct travel clashes as the giant pachyderms, squeezed out of their native habitat, have attacked villagers, raided farm crops and, recently, stormed the outskirts of Calcutta.
In the last 19 years, the number of deserted, maimed and impaired elephants that are provided foster care has jumped from about 10 a year to 56 last year. Some of the orphans raised in the sanctuary of palm groves and rolling grassland are now rearing their own babies at the orphanage.
TEMPLE OF THE SACRED TOOTH Located go direct travel in the royal palace complex in Kandy, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic houses Sri Lankans most important Buddhist relic; go direct travel a tooth of the Buddha. Said to have been snatched from the flames of the Buddha's funeral pyre in 483 BC, the tooth was smuggled into Sri Lanka during the 4th century AD, hidden in the hair of a princess.
Over the years the tooth has gradually go direct travel grown in importance as a symbol of sovereignty, and it was generally believed that whoever had custody of the tooth, had the right to rule the island. Today, the temple acts as a pilgrimage site for Sri Lankan Buddhists who will pay at least one visit to the temple during their lifetime.
Monks still conduct worship in the inner chamber of the temple, go direct travel performing rituals three times daily. On Wednesdays, a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic take place with a herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed amongst those present.
Surrounded by the remains of an extensive go direct travel network of gardens and reservoirs, Sigiriya is steeped in history. From the 5th century BC, the fortress was used as a rock shelter mountain monastery, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the Buddhist Sangha.
It is thought that the entire complex was built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD) and most of the elaborate constructions on the rock summit date back to this period as well as defensive structures, go direct travel palaces and gardens. There was even a royal bathing pool on the summit, which still fills with rain water.
An interesting feature of Sigiriya is the Mirror Wall. Made of a kind of porcelain, go direct travel this wall was originally so well polished that the King could see his reflection as he walked go direct travel alongside it. Today, go direct travel the wall is partially covered with verses scribbled by visitors to the rock, some of which date from the 8th century. Similarly, the wall frescoes are clouded in mystery go direct travel and the subject of many a legend.
Sigiriya is a half day tour and generally go direct travel best visited during the early morning or the late afternoon, when the sun is at its least fierce. It s a spectacular trip. Due to the spiral staircase and flat rock surface the trip may be challenging for anyone without a head for heights.
Dating back to the 1st century BC, the cave temple at Dambulla is one of the most impressive in Asia. Consisting of five caves overhung by a vast rock towering 160 meters over the surrounding plains, go direct travel the temple was embellished with arched colonnades and gabled entrances in 1938 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Each of the five caves at Dambulla house ancient statues of the Buddha and historic artwork depicting the Buddha's life. The grounds surrounding the cave temple also feature a functioning Buddhist Monastery which dates back to the second and third centuries BC.
Whilst all five of the Dambulla Cave Temples go direct travel are worth exploring, three really stand out. These are the Cave of the Divine King (home to a carved rock Buddha statue reaching 14 meters high), the Cave of the Great Kings (home to 56 statues of the Buddha), and the Great New Monastery (contains 50 statues of the Buddha as well as a statue of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha, the reigning King at the time of the painting of the walls and ceiling).
is a city, located in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. The city name meaning is cityon the plain (table land) or city of light . The city is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate.
It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka. The city is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka.Blessed with salubrious climate, breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains and greenery; it s hard to imagine that Nuwara Eliya is only 180 Km from the hot and humid Colombo. Temperatures are 14C-21C (Jan- April) 16C-18C go direct travel (May-Aug) 15C- 18C (Sept-Dec).
The city was founded by Samuel Baker, the discoverer go direct travel of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile in 1846. Nuwara Eliya s climate lent itself to becoming the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters go direct travel in Ceylon. Nuwara Eliya, called go direct travel Little England then, was also a hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse in their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket.
Although the town was founded in the 19th century by the British, the whole district is today visited by native travellers, especially during the month of April, the season of flowers, pony races, go cart races and auto rally.
Many of the buildings retain features from the colonial period go direct travel such as the Queen s Cottage, General go direct travel s House, Grand Hotel, Hill Club, Town Post Office and even new hotels are often built and furnished in the colonial style. Anyone who visits the city can wallow in its nostalgia of bygone days by visiting these landmark buildings. Many private homes still maintain their old English-style lawns and gardens.
Due to the high altitude, go direct travel Nuwara Eliya has a much cooler climate than the lowlands of Sri Lanka, with a mean annual temperature of 16 °C. But the temperature changes and sometimes it can be as low as 3°C. In the winter months it is quite cold at night, and there can even be frost. Although it rapidly warms up as the tropical sun climbs higher during the day.
The town really comes alive in April for the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, and it is difficult to find accommodation as Sri Lankans holiday in the region during this period. The festive season starts on April 1 annually in a ceremonial manner. The ceremony consists mainly of a band show in which all the local school bands participate.
Main attractions during April season include go direct travel the numerous motor racing and horse racing events. Motor racing comes alive with the Mahagastotte and Radella Hill Climbs, the former being run since 1934. The Nuwara Eliya Road Race and the 4X4 Lake Cross on edge of Lake Gregory attract a fair share of enthusiasts. Parties are held nightly in the hotels, and the season culminates go direct travel in the nine furlong (1811 m) Governor s Cup, Golf Tournaments and the flower show at the end of the month.
The town s attractions go direct travel include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers at quieter times because of the good opportunities it gives to see various species, particularly the Indian Blue Robin, Pied Thrush or Sc