The
Central Province is located in the central hills of Sri Lanka and consists of
the three Districts Kandy, Matale and Nuwara
Eliya. The land area of the Province is 5674 square kilometres
which is 8.6% of the total land area of Sri Lanka. The Province lies on 6.6°-
7.7° Northern latitude and between 80.5°-80.9° Eastern longitudes. The
elevation in the Province ranges from 600 feet to over 6000 feet above sea
level in the central hills. The Province is bordered by the North Central Province
from the North the Mahaweli River and Uma Oya from the east to the south from
the mountain range of Adams peak, Kirigalpottha and Thotapala and the mountain
ranges Dolosbage and Galagedera from the west.
The city of Kandy lies at an elevation of 465 metres (1,526 ft)
above sea level. Its plan developed around two open spaces: an
extended square, at the end of which are the administration buildings of the
old capital, and an artificial lake that is quadrangular in form. A public
garden adds to the openness of the city's spatial organization.
On the north shore of the lake, which is enclosed by a parapet of white
stone dating to the beginning of the 19th century, are the city's official
religious monuments, including the Temple of the Tooth, known as Dalada
Maligawa and the Royal Palace. Reconstructed in the 18th century, the Dalada
Maligawa is built on a base of granite that was
inspired by the temples of Sri
Lanka's former capital city, Anuradhapura. Arrays of
materials contribute to the richness of this temple. Throughout this small holy city, a number of Buddhist monasteries can be
found. Kandy is located in the mountainous and thickly forested interior of the
island. The city is located in between multiple mountain ranges including the Knuckles mountain range and the Hantana Mountain Range, giving the
city an elevation of 500 metres above sea level. It lies
adjacent to the artificial Kandy Lake and to the
south of Udawattakele Sanctuary. Kandy has
now grown out to encompass Peradeniya, home to
the Botanical Gardens, the University of Peradeniya and Katugastota to the
north, and in east to Kundasale, Tennekumbura and Gurudeniya.
Nuwara
Eliya meaning "city of light", is a
town in the central highlands of Sri
Lanka 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 town is overlooked by Piduruthalagala,
the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. Due to the high altitude, 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 December, January and February it is quite cold at night, and
there can even be frost but it rapidly warms up as the tropical sun climbs
higher during the day.
The city was founded by Samuel Baker, the discoverer of Lake Albert and
the explorer of the Nile in 1846. The climate of Nuwara Eliya made it the prime
sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters in Ceylon and it was
called Little England then and it was also the hill country retreat of the
British colonialists. Here they immersed in their leisure such as fox, deer and
elephant hunting and also in polo, golf and cricket.
Though the town was founded in the 19th century by the
British, the whole district is today visited by native travelers, 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 such
as the Queen's
Cottage, General's House, Grand Hotel, Hill Club and Post Office and even new hotels
are often built and furnished in the colonial style. Anyone who visits the city
can stumble in its memories of bygone days by visiting these landmark buildings.
Many private homes still maintain their old English-style lawns and gardens.
The town in reality comes alive in
April for the Sinhala and Hindu New Year, and it is hard to find lodging as
Sri Lankans holiday in the region during this period. The festive season starts
on April 1st in a festive manner consisting of a band show in which
all the local school bands take part.
Main attractions during April season
include the numerous motor racing and horse racing events. Motor racing comes
alive with the Mahagasthota 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 ends with the nine furlong (1811 m) Governor's Cup, Golf
Tournaments and the Flower shows are held at the end of the month. The town's
attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating
or fishing on Lake Gregory. Victoria Park in the precincts of the town is an
attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers at quieter times for citing of various
species, particularly the Indian Blue Robin, Pied and Scaly Thrush and the Kashmir
Flycatcher in the
denser undergrowth. Galway’s bird sanctuary is close to Lake Gregory.
The town is a base for visits to Horton Plains National Park. This is a key wildlife area of open grassy woodland.
Species found here include the Leopard, Sambar, and the endemic Purple-faced
Languor. Endemic
highland birds include the Dull-blue
Flycatcher, Sri
Lanka White-eye, and
Yellow-eared
Bulbul. The
slow-growing tea bushes of this highland region produce some of the world's
finest tea, and several tea factories around Nuwara Eliya offer guided tours
and the opportunity to sample or purchase their products. One of the
distinctive features of Nuwara Eliya's countryside is the widespread growing of
vegetables, fruit and flowers usually associated with temperate Europe. A grave
stone of one of the Britishers is located in the very corner of the golf
grounds. He was infamous for elephant hunting and killed nearly 1500 elephants.
It says that every year his gravestone is struck by lightning for the great sin
that he did. At present this place is not open for the visitors.
Another place related to folklore is the Hindu Temple
dedicated to ‘Seetha’ wife of Lord Rama located in the village called
"Seetha Eliya" which is on the way to Badulla from Nuwara Eliya
before reaching the Hakgala Botanical Gardens. The temple is related to the Ramayana story in Hinduism. There is also a Church called the
Holy Trinity Church on Church Road, which accommodate an old grave yard and
most of the grave stones have British names engraved on them.
Matale
District portrays the northern part of Central Province in Sri Lanka. Matale
district is enriched with many minerals.
The mountain ranges basically contain with Chan kite. This basic stone
makes Anticlines and Synclines complex structures with the effect of time and
inner earth. For this the best example is Knuckles mountain range. The mountain
range contains eroding stones. This situation leads to severe lands slides in
that particular area.
There
are several mountain peaks. Sigiriya Dambulla and Beliyakanda are historically
important of which the altitude is 500-1000 feet. The major tanks are Kandalama
and Dewahuwa, while Inamaluwa, Talkote and Sigiriya are minor tanks. Kalawewa and Minneriya of North Central
province are fed by tributaries from Matale District.
Matale
valley and surrounded by many mountains as Knuckles, Guruluhela, Pansaltenna,
Ovilikanda and Hunnasgiriya. Sudu Ganga which flows through the city adds
beauty to it. The tributaries from these peaks constantly supplies water to
most paddy fields.
Laggala
mountain range is a special feature in eastern bound of the Knuckles Mountain.
This region contains with three parallel mountain ranges. The district is
experiences both monsoons. But the north-east monsoon is heavier than the
south-west monsoon. As The knuckles mountain range is extremely high in
bio-diversity it is considered as a national heritage of the country. “Small Worlds End” is located in Pitawala.
Laggala, Kaluganga and Haththota-amuna consist of gem pits. Wariyapola and
Kaikawala are famous for mica while Talagoda and Rattota are famous for
ceramics and also for lime and granite industry. A 3000 years old dead body was
found near Ibbankatuwa.
Matale The current population of Matale is
more than 400,000, and majority are Sinhala Buddhists living harmoniously with
the minorities. The main cities of the district are Matale, Dambulla, Galewela
and Rattota. Main income source is agriculture while paddy becomes the main
crop of the district. In addition to that the minor export crops and vegetables
are also being cultivated in the district and also there are several major scale
tea factories. The Paddy is mostly being cultivated with irrigated water in
Dambulla and Wilgamuwa.
Several
historically important places as Sigiriya, Dambulla Cave Temple, Aluvihare,
Kawatayamuna Temple, Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil, St Anthony’s Church –
Wahakotte, Nalanda Gedi-ge. Lakegala, Knuckles Mountain and Wasgamuwa National
Park add beauty to nature. Laggala and Wilgamuwa are considered as very remote
areas in the Island.
The town is a base for visits to Horton Plains National Park. This is a key wildlife area of open grassy woodland.
Species found here include the Leopard, Sambar, and the endemic Purple-faced
Languor. Endemic
highland birds include the Dull-blue
Flycatcher, Sri
Lanka White-eye, and
Yellow-eared
Bulbul. The
slow-growing tea bushes of this highland region produce some of the world's
finest tea, and several tea factories around Nuwara Eliya offer guided tours
and the opportunity to sample or purchase their products. One of the
distinctive features of Nuwara Eliya's countryside is the widespread growing of
vegetables, fruit and flowers usually associated with temperate Europe. A grave
stone of one of the Britishers is located in the very corner of the golf
grounds. He was infamous for elephant hunting and killed nearly 1500 elephants.
It says that every year his gravestone is struck by lightning for the great sin
that he did. At present this place is not open for the visitors.
Another place related to folklore is the Hindu Temple
dedicated to ‘Seetha’ wife of Lord Rama located in the village called
"Seetha Eliya" which is on the way to Badulla from Nuwara Eliya
before reaching the Hakgala Botanical Gardens. The temple is related to the Ramayana story in Hinduism. There is also a Church called the
Holy Trinity Church on Church Road, which accommodate an old grave yard and
most of the grave stones have British names engraved on them.
Matale
District portrays the northern part of Central Province in Sri Lanka. Matale
district is enriched with many minerals.
The mountain ranges basically contain with Chan kite. This basic stone
makes Anticlines and Synclines complex structures with the effect of time and
inner earth. For this the best example is Knuckles mountain range. The mountain
range contains eroding stones. This situation leads to severe lands slides in
that particular area.
There
are several mountain peaks. Sigiriya Dambulla and Beliyakanda are historically
important of which the altitude is 500-1000 feet. The major tanks are Kandalama
and Dewahuwa, while Inamaluwa, Talkote and Sigiriya are minor tanks. Kalawewa and Minneriya of North Central
province are fed by tributaries from Matale District.
Matale
valley and surrounded by many mountains as Knuckles, Guruluhela, Pansaltenna,
Ovilikanda and Hunnasgiriya. Sudu Ganga which flows through the city adds
beauty to it. The tributaries from these peaks constantly supplies water to
most paddy fields.
Laggala
mountain range is a special feature in eastern bound of the Knuckles Mountain.
This region contains with three parallel mountain ranges. The district is
experiences both monsoons. But the north-east monsoon is heavier than the
south-west monsoon. As The knuckles mountain range is extremely high in
bio-diversity it is considered as a national heritage of the country. “Small Worlds End” is located in Pitawala.
Laggala, Kaluganga and Haththota-amuna consist of gem pits. Wariyapola and
Kaikawala are famous for mica while Talagoda and Rattota are famous for
ceramics and also for lime and granite industry. A 3000 years old dead body was
found near Ibbankatuwa.
Matale The current population of Matale is
more than 400,000, and majority are Sinhala Buddhists living harmoniously with
the minorities. The main cities of the district are Matale, Dambulla, Galewela
and Rattota. Main income source is agriculture while paddy becomes the main
crop of the district. In addition to that the minor export crops and vegetables
are also being cultivated in the district and also there are several major scale
tea factories. The Paddy is mostly being cultivated with irrigated water in
Dambulla and Wilgamuwa.
Several
historically important places as Sigiriya, Dambulla Cave Temple, Aluvihare,
Kawatayamuna Temple, Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil, St Anthony’s Church –
Wahakotte, Nalanda Gedi-ge. Lakegala, Knuckles Mountain and Wasgamuwa National
Park add beauty to nature. Laggala and Wilgamuwa are considered as very remote
areas in the Island.
