Asian Current

Like a large teardrop fallen from southern end of the Indian peninsula, Sri Lanka or Ceylon or Sinhal is a small island country that has witnessed many crucial battles with the powerful South Indian kingdoms over the centuries. After the fall of Anuradhapura, the erstwhile capital of Sri Lanka, Pollonnaruwa was first declared as the capital city of the country in 1070 CE by King Vijayabahu-I who defeated the Chola invaders and reunited the country once again.

Surrounded by a vast water-body called Parakrama Samudrya that provided protection and also served as a perennial source of water, the ancient city of Pollonarrua or Polonarrua thrived well under the able king Parakrama Bahu-I (1164-97). By then, Buddhism had reached Sri Lanka and Buddha’s images and edicts were widely displayed all over the country.

Being himself a devotee of Lord Buddha, King Parkrama Bahu adorned the capital with splendid architectural monuments and monoliths including those of the founder of Buddhism. Apart from the colossal statue of the recumbent Buddha, the gifted king also erected numerous temples, vihars, chaittyas and stupas throughout Polonnaruwa that invites people from all over the world for their magnificence and glory even today. What strikes the tourist most is the architectural splendor that has been so painstakingly preserved even after decades of exposure to the elements. In fact, the ruined city of Polonarrua is one of the few wonders left of the bygone days, when sovereigns not only ruled over their subjects but also cared for them.

To promote eco tourism in Polonnarua, the ancient city has been divided into two parts - new and old, and the ruins into five principal areas that include the famous ‘terrace of tooth relic’, Northern city group, the Rest House group (the royal palace enclosure) and others. Besides, the world Heritage Site has been so carefully laid out now that you can visit all the monuments and edifices on foot or may be, on a hired cycle if a car is not readily available.

Some of the relics are indeed superb like the Gal Vihara that consist of a group of four Buddha images situated in a place called the “Cave of the spirits of knowledge”. Here, each image is carved into stand-alone granite pieces of which, the 7 meter tall image of standing Buddha is the most impressive. No less imposing is the 14 meter long reclining Buddha that is beautifully carved out of a single granite piece, while the rest are of minor importance.

The ruins of the Pollonaruwa Council Chamber or Audience Hall are another great place of attraction in this ancient city. The structure was the King’s formal center for government where day-to-day affairs of the state were carried out, and the King also met his foreign dignitaries. Sitting pretty on a three-tiered granite platform due east of the King’s palace, the Council Chamber was once connected to the royal palace through a covered colonnade.

The ancient city of Polonnaruwa was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. Tourists have been visiting the ruins of a great city ever since.

Sri Lanka is home to over 400 species of birds, and this alone makes it a veritable paradise for every bird watching enthusiast. This rich abundance of avian variety in Sri Lanka can be attributed to the tropical climate and wide geographical diversity - from mountains to lowlands, and dry plains to lush forests. Of all the varieties seen here, there are about 25 endemic species, native to Sri Lanka only and largely confined to the rainforests of the hill zone.

When you plan to go on a bird watching spree in Sri Lanka, remember that the best time of year for sightings is between November and April, especially in the months of February and March. It is around this time that the migrants, of which there are a staggering 198 species, arrive after their flight from colder zones from the North. The best time of the day for observation, as most avid bird watchers would agree, is early morning, right after daybreak. The only exception to the rule would be for the people-friendly ‘Townies’, like the black house crows, common mynah, sunbirds, parakeets, etc.

With close to 421 bird species comprising endemic, resident and migrants, Sri Lanka remains a fascinating destination for close encounters with the avian kind within a relatively short period. Starting from wet zone jungles to the dry zone wetlands, bird watching tours arranged by local sightseeing groups provide an excellent opportunity of observing Sri Lankan avian fauna under the guidance of professional birdwatchers. Due to the small size of the avian territory, the bird-lover can conveniently visit nearly all the best sites in the country in under two weeks’ time. With a little planning and preparation, a visitor can judiciously combine the sites for endemics with sites of general wildlife interest for a satisfying experience in bird watching.

Sri Lanka’s abundant bird-life makes the island a true Ornithologist’s paradise. With such a variety of environments, ranging from wet to dry zone, forest to jungle, and hill country to low lands, there’s no dearth of fascinating locations to spot these beautiful birds at. Most of the endemic kind, such as the Sri Lankan Grackle, is restricted to the wet zone, while birds such as the Whistling Thrush and the Yellow-Eared Bulbul are to be found in the hill country. Others, like the brilliantly plumaged jungle fowl, the striking red-faced Malkoha and the shy brown-capped Babbler can be found in forests and sanctuaries throughout the island. Among the best areas for sighting these birds are the Sinharaja Rain Forest Reserve and the Adam’s Peak Wilderness Sanctuary.

The large lakes in the dry zone also attract numerous varieties of duck, while larger aquatic birds such as stork, heron, egret, spoonbill, pelican, and ibis can easily be seen in the wetlands, especially at Wirawila, Kalametiya and Bundala National Park (which is also famed for its large flocks of migrant flamingoes).

Come to the kingdom of birds in Sri Lanka. It’s a memory worth collecting. The feathered friends are waiting.