Negombo
Negombo also known as Punchi Romaya (Little Rome) and Meepura (city of bees), is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in the Western Province, 38km from Colombo.
Negombo is one of the major commercial hubs in the country. Negombo has a population of about 140,000.
Negombo is known for its long sandy beaches and centuries old fishing industry. Negombo has a large bilingual (Sinhala/Tamil) population with a clear Roman Catholic majority.
Negombo was an important port during the colonial periods. In the late 17th century, the Dutch built a network of canals, over 100 kilometres in length, that was used to transport cinnamon and other spices from inland plantations to the coast.
Negombo
Negombo, takođe poznat kao Punchi Romaya (Mala Rim) i Meepura (grad pčela), je znacajan grad u Šri Lanki, smešten na zapadnoj obali i na ušću lagune Negombo, u Zapadnoj provinciji, 38 km od Kolomba. Negombo je jedno od glavnih trgovačkih središta u zemlji. Negombo ima populaciju od oko 140.000 stanovnika.
Negombo je poznat po dugim peščanim plažama i vekovima staroj ribarskoj industriji. Negombo ima veliku dvojezičnu (sinhalese/tamilska) populaciju sa jasnom većinom rimokatolika.
Negombo je bio važna luka tokom kolonijalnih perioda. Krajem 17. veka, Holanđani su izgradili mrežu kanala dugih preko 100 kilometara, koja je korišćena za transport cimeta i drugih začina sa plantaža u unutrašnjosti do obale.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress located near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of granite approximately 180m high.
Hill was selected by King Kashyapa (CE 477–495) for his new capital. He built his palace on top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure Sinhagiri, the Lion Rock.
The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.
Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.
It is likely that the area around Sigiriya was inhabited since prehistoric times. There is clear evidence that the many rock shelters and caves in the vicinity were occupied by Buddhist monks and ascetics from as early as the 3rd century BCE. The earliest evidence of human habitation at Sigiriya is the Aligala rock shelter to the east of Sigiriya rock, indicating that the area was occupied circa 3000 BCE during the Mesolithic Period.
Sigiria, tvrdjava na steni
Sigirija je drevna stena-tvrđava smeštena u blizini grada Dambulа u Centralnoj provinciji Šri Lanke. To je mesto istorijskog i arheološkog značaja koje dominira ogromna granitna stena visine približno 180 m.
Kralj Kašjapa (l. e. 477–495) je izabrao brdo za njegovu novu prestonicu. Na vrhu ove stene izgradio je svoju palatu i ukrasio zidove šarenim freskama. Na malom platou oko pola puta uz stranu ove stene izgradio je kapiju u obliku ogromnog lava. Naziv ovog mesta potiče od ove strukture – Sinhagiri, Lav stena.
Prestolnica i kraljevska palata su napušteni nakon kraljeve smrti. Mesto je korišćeno kao budistički manastir sve do 14. veka.
Sigiriya danas je lokalitet koji se nalazi na UNESCO-vom popisu svetske baštine. To je jedan od najbolje očuvanih primera drevnog urbanog planiranja.
Verovatno je da je područje oko Sigirije bilo naseljeno još od praistorijskih vremena. Postoje jasni dokazi da su mnogi stenski zakloni i pećine u okolini bili naseljeni od strane budističkih monaha i asketa već od 3. veka pre nove ere. Najraniji dokazi o ljudskom naseljavanju u Sigiriji predstavljaju stenski zaklon Aligala na istoku Sigirija stene, što ukazuje da je područje bilo naseljeno oko 3000. godine pre nove ere tokom mezolitskog perioda.
Polonnaruwa
Poḷonnaruwa is the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993. It comprises, besides the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century.
Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second ancient capital of Sri Lanka, renowned for its well-preserved ruins, grand monuments, and sophisticated urban planning.
Polonnaruwa is celebrated for its well-planned urban layout and a combination of Buddhist and Hindu monuments. Key sites include:
- Gal Vihara: A rock temple with massive Buddha statues carved from granite.
- Parakrama Samudra: A vast reservoir supporting agriculture and urban life.
- Royal Palace and Audience Hall: Remnants of the Sinhalese royal complex.
- Vatadage and Thuparama: Circular relic houses and stupas reflecting Buddhist architecture.
Chola Brahmanic Monuments: Temples and inscriptions from the Chola period.
Polonaruva
Polonnaruva je kraljevski drevni grad Kraljevine Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa je bila druga prestonica Šri Lanke nakon uništenja Anuradhapura 993. godine. Ona obuhvata, pored brahmanskih spomenika koje su izgradili Čole, monumentalne ruševine bajkovitog grad-ulska vrta koji je stvorio Parakramabahu I u 12. veku.
Polonnaruwa je mesto svetske baštine UNESCO-a i druga drevna prestonica Šri Lanke, poznata po dobro očuvanim ruševinama, veličanstvenim spomenicima i sofisticiranom urbanističkom planiranju.
Polonnaruwa je postala istaknuta u 11. veku nakon pada Anuradhapure, prvobitno pod južnoindijskom dinastijom Čola, koja ju je preimenovala u Jananathamangalam i koristila je kao strateški vojni i administrativni centar. Godine 1070, kralj Vijayabahu I iz singalskog kraljevstva je povratio grad, čineći ga prestonicom i označavajući početak njegove zlatne ere. Grad je dostigao svoj vrhunac pod kraljem Parakramabahom I (1153–1186), koji je razvio opsežne sisteme za navodnjavanje, izgradio velike rezervoare poput Parakrama Samudre i sagradio veličanstvene zgrade i parkove. Kasniji vladari, kao što je kralj Nissanka Malla, pokušavali su da imitiraju ova dostignuća, iako često uz velike finansijske troškove.
Polonnaruwa je poznata po svom dobro planiranom urbanom rasporedu i kombinaciji budističkih i hinduskih spomenika. Ključna mesta uključuju:
- Gal Vihara: Stenoviti hram sa ogromnim buda statuama urezanim u granitu.
- Parakrama Samudra: Ogroman rezervoar koji podržava poljoprivredu i urbani život.
- Kraljevska palata i sala za audijenciju: Ostaci singalskog kraljevskog kompleksa.
- Vatadage i Thuparama: Kružno obložene kuće relikvija i stupi koji odražavaju budističku arhitekturu.
• Čolanski brahmanski spomenici: Hramovi i natpisi iz perioda Čola.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura; a wonder of the ancient world: Once one of the tallest buildings in the world.
Anuradhapura was the first capital of the island. Even today, it is one of the holiest cities in the Buddhist world, known as the first place outside India to adopt Buddhism.
Sri Lanka's greatest pride is the stupa (a monument of Buddhist sacred architecture) Jetavanaramaya, which at the beginning of the 4th century, when it was built, was one of the largest human-made buildings in the world.
More than 93 million baked clay bricks were used to make the dome reach a height of 122 meters. Today, after centuries of collapse and restoration, it is 71 meters high but still remains the largest brick building ever constructed by volume.
Before construction, the soil was intentionally flooded to check whether it absorbs water and whether it is solid enough for such an undertaking. The hollow space in the shape of a pipe shows that the builders already knew at that time how important it was for air to be able to circulate.
Time, however, has taken its toll – earthquakes, heavy monsoon rains, and long periods of neglect have led to the building's collapse.
The last major renovation was in the 12th century. In more recent times, cement was used in the restoration, but experts today believe that it may have done more harm than good. In the past, a natural mixture of crushed stone, sand, and clay was used to bind the bricks.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura; cudo starog sveta: Nekada jedna od najviših građevina na svetu.
Anuradhapura je bila prva prestonica ostrva. I danas je jedan od najsvetijih gradova budističkog sveta, poznata kao prvo mesto van Indije koje je prihvatilo budizam.
Najveći ponos Šri Lanke je stupa (spomenik budističke sakralne arhitekture) Jetavanaramaja, koja je početkom 4. veka, kada je sagrađena, bila jedna od najvećih građevina podignutih ljudskom rukom na svetu.
Upotrebljeno je više od 93 miliona pečenih opeka od blata da bi kupola dostigla visinu od 122 metra. Danas, nakon vekova urušavanja i obnova, visoka je 71 metar, ali i dalje ostaje najveća građevina od opeke po volumenu ikada sagrađena.
Pre gradnje tlo je namerno poplavljeno kako bi se proverilo da li upija vodu i da li je dovoljno čvrsto za ovakav poduhvat. Šuplji prostor u obliku cevi pokazuje da su graditelji već tada znali koliko je važno da vazduh može da kruži.
Vreme je ipak učinilo svoje – potresi, jake monsunske kiše i dugi periodi nebrige doveli su do urušavanja građevine.
Poslednja velika obnova bila je u 12. veku. U novije vreme pri obnovi se koristio cement, ali stručnjaci danas smatraju da je možda više štetio nego pomagao. U prošlosti su za vezivanje opeka koristili prirodnu mešavinu drobljenog kamena, peska i gline.
Hotel HERITANCE, Kandalama
Built in the jungle, leaning against the edge of a hill so that the natural rocks are part of the hotel's interior, mainly in the corridors and restaurants. The number of floors varies depending on the position. It is about 1 km long. All rooms overlook the lake. The reception is open, as are all the corridors leading to the rooms. Actually, these are not corridors but galleries which in some places turn into walkways that go through the jungle. Our room is on the 5th floor, but when you reach it via the walkway, on one side it looks like it is on the ground floor, and on the other – normally, the 5th floor. It has 3 swimming pools, 2 restaurants, cafes...
Monkeys are everywhere and often come onto the balcony, so there are warnings to keep the balcony locked.
Hotel HERITANCE, Kandalama
Izgradjen u dzungli,naslonjen na obod brda tako da su prirodne stene deo enterijera hotela uglavnom u hodnicima i restoranima. Broj spratova varira od polozaja. Dugacak je oko 1km. Sve sobe gledaju na jezero. Recepcija je otvorena kao i svi hodnici koji vode do soba. Ustvari, to i nisu hodnici vec galerije koje se na nekim mestima pretvaraju u pasarele koje prolaze kroz dzunglu. Nasa soba je na 5. Spratu ali, kada se stize do nje pasarelom, sa jedne strane izgleda kao da je u prizemlju a, sa druge – normalno, 5 sprat. Ima 3 bazena za kupanje, 2 restorana, kafe...
Majmuni su svugde okolo i cesto dolaze na balkon tako da su opomene da se balkon drzi zakljucan.
Minneriya National Park (Jeep Elephant Safari)
Jeep Elephant safari at Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National Park spreads over 8800 hectares, it’s a sanctuary for elephants and home to herds of deer and ample birdlife, This is the largest elephant gathering in the world, over 300 at a time
Minerija Nacionalni Park (Jeep Elephant Safari)
Džip safari sa slonovima u Nacionalnom parku Minnerija
Nacionalni park Minnerija prostire se na 8800 hektara, to je utočište za slonove i dom čoporima jelena i obilnom ptičijom faunom. Ovo je najveće okupljanje slonova na svetu, preko 300 istovremeno.