Banku Rabana

This is the One of biggest of the drums used in Sri Lanka. The special feature of this drum is that it is played at a time by two or more people. They are using  both hands during the playing instrument. This drum is commonly used for New Year festivals ,Village weddings and there are many special festivals. It is mostly played by women.it has special own cultural rhythm poem during the playing ,it’s call Raban Pada,before play the dram one women use to sing the Raban Padaya and other play the accordingly,

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Art Galleries & Cultural Centers

The following Art Galleries & Cultural Centers have an interesting collection of Articles /painting as well as exhibitions of modern artists & range of programs of cultural interest.

National Art Gallery

No 106,

Ananda Coomaraswami Mw,

Colombo 07

Tel +94 11 2 693 965

J.D.A Perera Art Gallery

Horton Place,

Colombo 07

Tel +94 11 2 693 933

Lionel Wendt Art Center

Guildford Cresent,

Colombo 07

Tel +94 11 2 695 794

Alliance Francaise De Colombo

No 11,Barnes Place,

Colombo 07

Tel +94 11 2 694 162/693 467

Kandy Branch

No 642,

Peradeniya Road,

Kandy,

Tel +94 081 2 224 432

Indian Cultural Center

No 16/2,Gregory’s Road,

Colombo 07

Tel +94 11 2 684 698

Russian Cultural Center

No 10,

Independence Avanue,

Colombo 07,

Tel +94 11 2 685 429/685 440

German Cultural Centre

Goethe Institute,

Gregory’s Road,

Colombo 07

Tel +94 11 2 694 562

Jayawardana Cultural Center,

(Archive & Library)

No 191,Dharmapala Mawatha,

Colombo 07

(Family Treasure of Late President

J.R Jayawardana)

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Air Line Service In Sri Lanka

Air Line Service In Sri Lanka

Air Sahara

No 140/A,Vauxhall Street,

Colombo 02

Tel +94 11 4 732 400

Air India Express

No 108,YMBA Buiding,

Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mw,

Colombo 01

Tel +94 11 2 422 249

Air Canada

No 6-2,East Tower,

WTC,Colombo 01,

Tel +94 11 2 542 875

Martin Air

No 65/C,

Dharmapala Mawatha,

Colombo 07,

Tel +94 11 2 439 747,

Alitalia

Hellmall Bld,

No 50/25A,

Sir James Peiris Mw,

Colombo 02,

Tel +94 11 4 880 033/6

American Airline,

No 9A,York Street,

Colombo 01,

Tel +94 11 2 348 100

Air Maldives,

Hellmall Bld,

No 50/25A,

Sir James Peiris Mw,

Colombo 02,

Tel +94 11 4 880 033/6

British Airways

Transasia Hotel,

Sir Chittampalam Gardiner Mw,

Colombo 02,

Tel +94 11 4 767 767

China Airline

No 35,Edward Lane,

Colombo 03

Tel +94 11 2 598 184

Cathay Pacific Airways

No 186,Vauxhall Street,

Colombo 02

Tel +94 11 2 334 145/8

Czech Airline

No 140A,Vauxhall Street,

Colombo 02,

Tel +94 11 4 732 452

Emirates

9^th Floor,Hemas House,

No 75,Braybrook Place,

Colombo 02,

Tel +94 11 4 704 040

Ethihad

Level 03,WTC,

Colombo 01

Tel +94 11 4 766 500

Gulf Air

No 01,Justice Akbar Mw,

Colombo 02

Tel +94 11 2 359 888

Indian Airlines

Bristol Complex,

No 04,Bristol Street,

Colombo 01,

Tel +94 11 2 326 844

Jet Airways

No 01,Justice Akbar Mw,

Colombo 02

Tel +94 11 2 475 375/260 088

Korean Air

7^th Floor,East Tower,

WTC Colombo 01

Tel +94 11 2 323 977

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines,

No 65/C,Dharmapala Mw,

Colombo 07,

Tel +94 11 2 439 747

Kuwait Airways

South Asian Travel Ltd,

Ceylinco House,No 69

Janadhipathi Mawatha,

Colombo 01

Tel +94 11 2 445 531

LTU International Airways,

Hellmall Buiding,50/25A,

Sir James Peiris Mw,

Colombo 02,

Tel +94 11 4 731 731

Mihin Lanka

No 61,EML Bldg,

W.A.D Ramanayaka Mw,

Colombo 02,

Tel +94 11 2 002 255

Malaysian Airline

No 81,York Street,

Colombo 01,

Tel +94 11 2 342 291

Northwest Airlines,

No 65/C,Dharmapala Mw,

Colombo 07,

Tel +94 11 2 439 747

Omani Air

No 400,Deans Road,

Colombo 10,

Tel +94 11 4 462 222/077 3033130

Pakistan International Airline

No 47,Anada Coomaraswamin Mw,

Colombo 07,

Tel +94 11 2 576 781

Philippine Airlines

No 45,Janadhipathi Mw,

Colombo 01,

Tel +94 11 2 424 490

Qatar Air Ways

WTC,West Tower,

2^nd Floor,Colombo 01

Tel +94 11 5 570 000

Qantas Airlines,

No 115,Trans Asia Hotel,

Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mw,

Colombo 0,

Tel +94 11 4 767 767/767 747

Royal Jordanian Airlines

No 40A,Cumarathunge Mw,

Colombo 03,

Tel +94 11 2 301 621/3

Saudi Arabian Airline Corporation,

No 466,Galle Road,

Colombo 03,

Tel +94 11 2 577 241/2/4/5

Singapore Airlines

No 315,Vauxhall Street,

Colombo 2

Tel +94 11 2 499 690

Sri Lankan Airlines

Level 19-22,East Tower,

WTC,Echelon Square,

Colombo 01,

Tel +94 019 7 335 555

Head Office,

Airline Centre,

BIA, Katunayake,

Tel +94 019 7 335 555

Swissair/Balair

No 05,Baurs Bldg,

Upper Chatam Street,

Colombo 01.

Tel +94 11 2 435 403/5

Thai Airways International Ltd

JAIC Hilton,Union Plac,

Colombo 02,

Tel +94 11 2 307 100

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National Museums Sri Lanka

The department of National Museums operating several museums according to the subject & geographically consideration which devoting to display and study the objects of cultural articles, private collectors & memorial museums operating with private ownership.Further those  gives opportunity to purchase their publications at most Museum premises,

Colombo National Museum

Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha,

Colombo 07

Tel +94 11 2 694 767/8

Natural History Museum

Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha,

Colombo 07

Tel +94 11 2 694 767/8

Dutch Period Museum

No 95, Prince Street,

Pettah,

Tel +94 11 2 448 466

Jayawardana Cultural Centre

No 191,Dharmapala Mw,

Colombo 07,

Tel +94 11 2

Kandy National Museum

Located same Premises,

Temple of Tooth Relic,

Tel +94 081 2 223 867

National Buddhist Museum- Kandy

Located same Premises,

Temple of Tooth Relic,

Tel +94 081 2 223 867

Rathnapura National Museum

Colombo Road,

Rathnapura,

(Ehelapola Walawwa)

Tel +94 045 2 223 451

Galle National Museum

Galle Fort,Galle

Tel +94 091 2 232 051

Galle Maritime Museum

 Galle Fort,Galle

Tel +94 091 2 241 261

Koggala Folk Museum

(Martin Wickramasinghe Museum)

Koggala,Habaraduwa,

Tel +94 091 2 283 427

Ambalangoda Mask Museum                              

No 426,Main Street,

Ambalangoda.

Tel +94 091 2 258 373

Monument to Rajah

(Former Maligawa Tusker)

Located same Premises,

Temple of Tooth Relic,

Tel +94 081 2 223 867

Ceylon Tea Museum

Hantana,

Tel +94 081 3 803 204

Cristina Gem Museum

No 730,Galle Road,

Colombo 03

Gem & Mineral Museum

No 04,Gothami Mawatha,

Mount Lavinia,

Tel +94 11 2 726 796/724 789

Fax +94 11 2 733 693

Colombo Planetarium

Bauddhaloka Mawatha,

Colombo 07,

Tel +94 11 2 586 499

Folk Museum

Thuparama Road,

Old Town,

Anuradhapura,

Tel +94 025 2 222 589

National Zoological Gardens,

Dehiwala,

Tel +94 11 2 712 751

Puppet Museum

Devananda Mawatha,

Piliyandala,

Tel +94 11 2 609 125

The Gemmological Museum - Rathnapura

No 06,Ehelepola Mawatha.

Batugedara,Rathnapura,

The Gemmological Museum – Kandy

Ceygems Internationals

No 673,Peradeniya Road,

Kandy,

Archaeological Museums

Head office

Department of Archaeology,

Sir Marcus Fernando Mw,

Colombo o7

Tel +94 11 2 692 840,688 326

Museums Locations

Anuradhapura,Kandy,Polonaruwa,

Sigiriya,Jaffna,Paduwas Nuwara,

Ampara,Yapahuwa,Vavniyawa,

Dadigama,Mihintale,Dheegawapiya,

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Knuckles Mountain Range

It’s Sri Lankans commonly known as “Dumbara Kadu watiya” which main entrance situated Reverston area, its gather of enchanting mountains range highest mountain top is Gombanigala, which is 1904 meters in height. Gombanigala, followed by Knuckles (1862 meters), Kirigalpoththa (1646 meters), Dumbanagala (1642 meters), Kalupahana (1628 meters), Wamarapugala (1558 meters), Dothalugala (1553 meters), Kehelpothdoruwagala (1528 meters), Pathanagala (1514 meters), Thelambugala (1331 meters) and Lakegala (1317 meters).

This area declare as reserve forest early 1980 accommodate 21,000 hectare which consist following Basic vegetation types

• Semi Evergreen Forests
• Sub Montane Forest
• Montane Forest
• Patana and Savanna Grasslands
• Riverine Forests

Semi Evergreen forest seen lover elevation around below 700m this area dominating Mora (Dimorcarpus longan), Badulla (Semecarpus nigroviridis) , Milla (Vitex altissima),Thimbiri (Diospyras malabarica), Kotadimbula (Ficas hispida), Atticca (Ficus racemosa) and Etamba (Mangifera zeylanica) further this trees shade there leave during the July to August period due to lead higher diversity of this area,this is the main catchments area for Mahavali river,

Sub mountain Forest easily identical between higher & lower level vegetation highly thrated vegetation due to Cinnamon & tea industries still playing key role to sustainability of streams. Mal Weralu (Eleocarpus gladulifer), Malaboda (Myristica dactyloides) are in common flora seen this forest, dry & wind during the though out the year but May to August identical,

Mountain forest can be seen 1300m above range of the knuckles, Specially Gombaniya,Kalupahana,Thngappuwa area is identical,mist during the year fascinating, Keena (Calophyllum trapezifolium) and Nelu (Strobilanthes pulcherrima) can be seen “Dumbara Mitiyawatha”,Singhala Meaning Of “Dumbara Mitiyawatha” is Mountain Covering by Mist,

Patana & Savanna Grasslands identified hills below 1000M area, Hena cultivation has been very popular agricultural system among Villagers this area it’s course this Vegetation type,

Pitawala Pathana is eye-catching example of typical vegetation of Pathana,

Rivering forest Dominating Mora (Dimorcarpus longan), Badulla (Semecarpus nigroviridis), Milla (Vitex altissima),Thimbiri (Diospyras malabarica), Kotadimbula (Ficas hispida), Atticca (Ficus racemosa), Etamba (Mangifera zeylanica) this forest visible Kaluganga & Heengaga banking range,

Waterfalls in the forest increase the natural beauty. Dumbara ella, Udaduvili ella, Veddapeni ella, Seru ella, Diyakerella, Meemure ella, Rathninda ella, Kalupahana ella, Huluganga ella and Rathna ella are the waterfalls in the area.

This forest holds a wide variety of Fauna. Most importantly it is a home to many endangered and endemic species. 247 vertebrate species have been recorded in this area which 26% are endemic to Sri Lanka, including 14 birds and 9 fish species. More than a 100 of other resident and migrant bird species,Five of these endemic species, three fresh water fish (phillipis gara-garra phillipsi, martenstyne’s puntius srilankensis) one amphibian (marbled cliff frog-nannophrys mamorata) and one lizard (ceretophora tennenti) are restricted to knuckles forest range further mammals namely elephants, leopards,sambhurs, wild boar, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer & giant squirrel can be seen also total of 1033 flowering plants, belonging to 141 families has been recorded. Among them 255 are tree species, while the balance consists of shrubs and herbs. Of the total number of flowering plants species ,160 are endemic to Sri Lanka while, about 32% are nationally threatened. Though the Knuckles Forest Range covers less than 0.5% of the land area in Sri Lanka, it consists almost one-third of the island’s flowering plant species. There are more than 25 Orchids species in the forest range.

Knuckles is bordered by 77 villages, such as Dandeni Kumbura, Poththetawela, Kahagala, Dammanthenna, Divulgaspathana, Etenwala, Walasmulla, Rmbukwewa, Udagala Debokka, Galamuduma, Pallegala Debokka, Meegahamada, Medakele, Meemure, Kaikawala, Gomare, Wadawala Kanda, Nellikele , Narangamuwa. Villages life hard but simple main sources of income farming,

The Kncukles is the main catchment area of Sri Lanka’s longest river Mahaweli. The Hulu ganga ,Kalu ganga ,Heen ganga main catchment waterways of the Mahaweli river. In addition, Hasalaka Oya, Theligam Oya, Heen Oya and Karambaketiya Oya also offer water for the Mahaweli River. These waterways dazzle in the morning sunlight, fascinatingly.

Access

• Colombo to ilukkumbura route via Kandy – Matale- Rattota
• Colombo to ilukkumbura route via – Kurunegala- Galewela – Naula – Pallaegama
• Colombo to Bambaella Rout via Kandy – Wattegama –Teldeniya
• Colombo to to Deenston route via Kandy – Rangala – Corbets Gap,

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Bolgoda Lake – Panadura

It’s one of the largest natural lake located 35km away from Colombo near Panadura.it’s cover 400 square km of water,lager north lake stretches across Colombo and Kaluthara Districs while south lake situated in the Kaluthara,North lake discharge to sea via The panadura,

Panadura & moratuwa area well known old practice find hand of furniture, as per history this lake use as media of transport of Timber from Singheraja forest to Moratuwa.

The lake & its atmosphere are good for range of nature related activities & encouraged for water sport too, this is an excellent hideout for bird watching as migrating & wetland birds,

A primitive fishing technique it’s call “JA_Kotu” use by villagers,it’s threat for endemic species living lake because it’s catching pre matured fish ,further threaten for Rhizopora too but as a cultural fishing technique Bolgoda is place to see Ja-Kotuwa,

As per naturalist lake divers fauna is its over 45 species of fish,40 species of reptiles, over 17 species of amphibian, over 100 birds including endemic, migrating & wet land birds, over 30 mammals recorded around this lake bank,

Beauty of the lake is enhanced by the fauna & flora, its rich wide variety of aquatic vegetation varying with depth & formation of rock layers in certain section of the lake. Much kind of grass, Tress & water plants can be found in addition to mangroves.

Maddy Mangroves area dominated by Water lilies (Nympoides),Bladderworth (Utricularia) & specially Sour fruit call Kirala(sonneratia),

Kirala is a famous beverage among Villagers it’s taste very similar to wood apple,Bolgoda is an Eye catching destination in Panaura area,


Access
Colombo Panadura Old Main Road Drive up to Panadura,

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Horton Plains National Park

Three main important Mahaveli,Kalani & Walawe revers started from this area, forms by two difference verdant land forms, the enchanting Horton Plains constitute a rare subtropical eco-system. The hills don in divers wet low evergreen forest with even lager trees growing flattened to the ground on the higher windswept slopes. Lower down, the rolling forestry valley carries the swampy wet patana grassland traversed by sluggish, crystal clear streams.
Sri Lanka's second and third highest peaks, Kirigalpotta (2,395 m) and Thotupola Kanda (2,357 m) are found here, Traditionally mahaeliya in singhela.it was rechristened as Hortan Plains after Sri Robet Hortan,he is Sr Lankan British Governor in 1831-1937.it was gazette as Nature Reserve on 1988 due to it’s unique watershed & biodiversity valve.

Area
Situated 32km south of Nwara eliya,Horton Plains National Park lies between 6’ 47 & 50 north latitudes & 80’ 46’ & 80 51 east longitudes. Total strength 3,159.8 hectares,

Formed as beautiful mountains & grassland through out the park, it’s cradles Belihul Oya,Bagawanthalawa Oya & Agara oya this are the stream sources above mention main revers, further contribute Small Worlds End drops by 274 meters & Worlds end by 884 meters.

Temperature over the year average is as lower as 13C. December to February recording lowest temperature even in the night due to ground frost. Average annual rain falling is 2500mm as both North-East & South-West Monsoon.

Flora
Binara (exacum trinerra macranttum),Keena (Calophyllum malkeri),Polkatugaha (Actinodaphne Speciosa),Maharatmal (Rhododendron arboretum),Wal Kurundu (Cinnamomum avalifolium),Sita-Pera (Rhodomyrtus tomentoa),Wel-Kapuru (Gaultheria rudius),Maha meemana (Cyathea spp),Bovitiya (Osbeckia walkeri),Gawara (Garnotia mutica)

Dwarf Bamboo (Arundinaria densifolia),Kikuya Grass (Pennisetum clandestinum)

Damba (Syzygium cordifolium,Syzygium gardneri)

Birding Highlights

Here Recording 62 species including 11 endemics.

Mammals Highlights
Sambar (Cerrus unicolour unicolour),Leopard. (Panthera pardus kotiya),Dusky Squirrel,Beer Monky-(Samnopithecus vetulus monticola),Barking deer,Giant Squirrel,Fishing Cat,Wild Boar,Hares,Horton Lizard,Grizzled Indian Squirrel,oque Monkey,Purple-faced Leaf Monkey,

Further Triangle Skimmer & Red_Veined Darter are can see this area as

Access
Three main gates available
Via Nuwara Eliya,Ambewela,Pitigala Road approximately 32km
Via Haputhele Or Welimada,Boralanda,Ohiya approximately 38km
Via Nuwara Eliya,Hakgala,Rendapola,Amewela,Pattipola approximately 38km
Only Adventural visitors can enter through Thalawakale-Diyagama-Belihuloya-Nagarak trails

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Adisham Bungalow Haputale

Adisham is state house of Sir Thomas Villiers.The spirit of Thomas Lister Villiers came to Ceylon in 1887 with few sterling pounds in his pocket. He was born in 1869 in Adisham Rectory in Kent, the son of Rev Henry Montague Villiers. He was a grandson of Lord John Russell, twice prime minister of Britain.

He started his carrier as a trainee planter on Elbedde Estate, Bogawantalawa. After few years (In 1896) he married the daughter of a tea planter.

In 1905 he joined George Steuart, a trading and estate agency at Colombo, and rose to be its chairman in 1928, a position he held till retirement in 1948.he play political role in here too.

Adisham is his dream home situated at Haputale, surrounded by enchanting magical view forest and commanding views across hills and valleys and the highest mountain ranges of Sri Lanka.

The house was designed in the Tudor style, on the lines of Leeds Castle in Kent,

Access

Proceed along the Colombo Road (main street) up to the end of the Haputale Juction and take upper road to the Police station, proceed 2miles passing the Buddhist Temple then take left for and half mile till you Reach Adisham,or using bus root Colombo to Haputele town,from the town taxi are available for hire,

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