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NINE ARCH BRIDGE AT DEMODARA, SRI LANKA

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri

This is a Railway Bridge (Viaduct) located at Gotuwala between Ella and Demodara Railway Stations on Colombo – Badulla, (Upcountry) Railway Line.  This is attracted by both foreign and local tourists not only due to its specialty of the structural form of the bridge but also due to the natural beauty of the area and the geographical condition of the location.

Location Map

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nine+Arches+Bridge,+Ella/@6.8768151,81.0608465,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x71f8fd744e280558!8m2!3d6.8768151!4d81.0608465

This bridge has been constructed by the Britishers during the First World War 1 and commissioned in the year 1921.  There are many folktales behind this construction of the bridge. In Sinhala Language this bridge is known as “දෙමෝදර අහස් පාලම” which means Sky Bridge at Demodara because when one looks at this bridge from the bottom of the bridge, it looks like that the bridge is constructed in the sky due to its orientation and the height.

Thanks to Chirantha Liyanapathirana

This bridge consisted of nine arches with the total length of the bridge being 300 feet and the height 80 feet.  The specialty of this construction is that the bridge has been constructed with only stones, brick and cement; and no steel reinforcement bars had been used.

Nine Arch Bridge at different angles

  • Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara
  • Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara
  • Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara
  • Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara
  • Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara
  • Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara

One reason for the tourist attraction is the architectural form of the bridge.  The bridge has been constructed connecting two mountains as a curved bridge. 

  • Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara
  • Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara

At the same time, at the one end of the bridge, there is a railway tunnel.  So when the train is traveling towards Badulla, the train suddenly appears from the tunnel before it travels over the bridge.  In the other way, when the train travels in the opposite direction, it sees that the train passes over the Nine Arch Bridge and it suddenly disappears through the tunnel .    

Also, this area is covered with the greenery forest surrounded by the mountains in all direction.  When all these things are taken together, when a train traveling over the bridge, they altogether create a very beautiful and marvelous scenery. Because of that, when tourists visit this site; they, in advance, arrange the visit considering the Train Time Table or otherwise, they spend many hours there until a train passes over this location.

COLOMBO FORT to DEMODARA – Train (Railway) schedule

http://slr.malindaprasad.com/index.php?from=FOT&to=DDR

Thanks to:

RAMBODA WATER FALLS IN SRI LANKA

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri

The Ramboda Water fall is the 11th tallest water falls in Sri Lanka and the height is 109 m.

This is located on Peradeniya – Badulla – Chenkalladi (A5) Highway at Ramboda Pass area in Pussellawa in the Central Province.

Location Map

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ramboda+Falls+srilanka/@7.0515286,80.7024731,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x2fe5b27e99b54356!8m2!3d7.0545073!4d80.7055791

Here are some of the beautiful photographs of the Ramboda Water Fall.

  • Ramboda Water Falls
  • Ramboda Water Falls
  • Ramboda Water Falls Down Stream

This water fall is formed by the Panna Oya (Or Puna Oya), a tributary of the Kothmale Oya and located 945m above the Mean Sea Level.

BEAUTY OF SOUTHERN EXPRESSWAY – SRI LANKA

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri

This is the first ever E – Class Highway constructed in Sri Lanka.  It Starts from Kottawa on Colombo – Rathnapura – Wellawaya – Batticaloa Highway (A 04) in Western Province and ends at Hambantota in Southern Province running over a length of 222km. The Section up to Galle completed in November, 2011; section up to Matara in March, 2014; and the last section from Mathara to Hambantota completed in February, 2020.

This expressway is running through various geographical zones and beautiful scenic areas with rubber, coconut, tea and paddy lands, mountainous ranges, rivers and streams, natural forests and so on.  Over this section of 222km one can experience different climatic and whether conditions.  Here are several beautiful pictures taken on Southern Expressway.

The following video is you to experience the charming beauty of the Expressway between 26th and 30th kilometers around 6a.m.

Thanks Goes to

HORTON PLAIN, SRI LANKA

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri

Horton Plain is a National Park located in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka.  This is a world heritage Site and rich in Biodiversity. It is situated in a location of 8 kilometers from Ohiya and 20 kilometers from Nuwaraeliya.

Location Map

https://goo.gl/maps/Me5NiNwKezWwszedA

Originally, this area was known as Maha Eliya Plains (මහ එලිය තැන්න) and three main rivers namely Mahaweli, Kalani and Walawe are starting from this area.

In this area temperature varies considerably within a short period such as it raised up to 27 degrees centigrade during the day and can drop up to 5 degrees centigrade during the night. So, Horton Plain is a very cool and calm area.

Every location and every direction of the surrounding is so beautiful.  There are a number of plants endemic to the area.

There are a number of beautiful flowers very peculiar to the area.

The trees in the area look very beautiful way due to the very low temperature and windy climate.

Even the tender leaves of the trees seem beautiful due to their nature and colors.

Also the grass bushes and grass lands are nice looking due to the way they have grown under this cool and wet climatic condition.

This is a National Park that a lot of tourists wish to travel and the famous World’s End, a sheer precipice, also located in the Horton Plain.

  • Stage constructed to watch the World’s End safely

A most common animal, one can see in this park is Sri Lankan Sambar Deer. 

Once, you enter this Horton plain, you start to feel that your mind and the environment are one and you forget all other things and start to live with it. 

The duty of all ours is the protection of this invaluable natural environment for the future.

DONDRA HEAD LIGHT HOUSE, SRI LANKA

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri

This is the tallest light house in Sri Lanka and it is currently used for navigational purposes, specially to guide the direction for the sea vessels.  This light house has been designed and constructed by William Douglass of the Imperial Lighthouse Service in 1889.   Dondra Head Light House is octagonal in shape, constructed with bricks and painted in white.  This is located at the south most point of Sri Lanka called Point Dondra and it is at a distance of about 6km from Matara, the main city of the Southern Province, Sri Lanka.  The name Dondra is “Devi-Nuwara” in Sinhala meaning “City of Gods”.

Several Views of Dondra Head Light House

Height of this light house is 160ft and tourist can climb up this under the permission of Sri Lanka Port Authority who manages and operates the light house currently.  But, time to time, this had been closed for tourists due to security reasons.

Location on Google Map

https://www.google.lk/maps/search/Dondra+Light+House,++Dondra/@5.9199512,80.5915551,18z/data=!3m1!4b1?hl=en

This is a tourist attractive location in Sri Lanka and also there is a beautiful sea around the location.

At this location, also, there is a special survey monument, a “Fundamental Bench Mark” constructed by the Department of Surveys, Sri Lanka which establishes the height above Mean Sea Level (MSL) precisely.

My thanks goes to

BOMBURU ELLA WATER FALL, SRI LANKA

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri
Bomburu Ella, Sri Lanka

This water fall is located in the Uva-Paranagama Divisional Secretary Area and in the Badulla District. It is close to the Nuwaraeliya and Badulla District Boundaries.  One who wish to visit Bomburu Ella can reach either from Nuwaraeliya or Welimada Towns.  For reaching the location from Nuwaraeliya, one has to travel on Nuwaraeliya – Welimada Road (A5 Main Highway) and turn right at Galahagama Junction and continue on Rendapola – Galahagama – Ambagasdowa Road; and then up to Bomburuella village (Total distance about 14km).  beyond this location one needs to travel about 4km up to the last point of the water fall.  This waterfall is also called as Perawella Falls (Location – Perawella – Coordinates 6°56′51″N 80°49′51″E)

Location of Bomburuella Water Fall on Google Map

https://www.google.lk/maps/place/Bomburuella+Waterfall+Uva+Paranagama/@6.9411421,80.8283746,14.25z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x3ae47f6ce01e48c5:0x1c720b8e664b05fa!8m2!3d6.9473752!4d80.8307886

The specialty of this water fall is that Bomburuella is not merely a single water fall.  Here you can enjoy a group of water falls cascading within a distance of about 1km. 

Different Stages of Water Fall from bottom to top

This water fall is served by the upper segment of the principal tributary of the Uma River, known as the Duulgala River.This water fall is said to be the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka.

Different views of the water Fall

BEAUTY OF NUWARAELIYA GREGORY LAKE PARK, SRI LANKA

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri

Gregory lake was originally developed under the authority of Sir William Gregory in 1873.  It has been constructed damming of the Thalagala stream, which originates from Mount Pidurutalagala.  In 1913 the waters of the lake were directed into a tunnel which flows to a hydro power station at ‘Blackpool’. 

This is a prominent place in Nuwaraeliya and a popular tourist destination where local and foreign tourist visit, spent their time and relax.

  • GREGORY LAKE
  • Children’s Swimming Fool

Location Map

https://www.google.lk/maps/place/Lake+Gregory/@6.9566665,80.7695785,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3ae380f70b675859:0x3362d6f28dc32189!8m2!3d6.9566667!4d80.7783333

Also, these tourists can enjoy with boat riding in Gergory lake and recently, many other recreational facilities have been introduced including cycling. 

Months of April and May of each year are the most beautiful periods due to blooming of all trees in the Nuwaraeliya area.  Therefore, Municipal Authorities specially arrange the area providing necessary public facilities and the whole city gets ready to welcome the tourists.  If you wish to visit Nuwaraeliya during the next season, you will have to get reserved your accommodation well in advance.

Following are some of the pictures of flowers at Gregory Lake Park taken during the month May, 2019.

Thank goes to:

ONCIDIUM

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri

Oncidium is a genus which is having about 330 species of orchids. It is belong to the sub-tribe Oncidiinae.  Dancing Lady is the common name used for this genus.  Most of these genus are epiphytes which means an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it.

A few varieties found in the ‘Oura Anthos Flower Garden‘ premises

This orchid variety is found in colors of yellow, red, white and pink. The petals are often ruffled on the edges, as is the lip.  The lip is enormous, partially blocking the small petals and sepals.  This variety of orchid can grow under different weather conditions from sea level to highlands.  These varieties can have sometimes single flower and sometimes even 100 blossoms or more in one stem.  Therefore, plants of some variety of this genus can grow even up to 5m height. The life time of the flowers can range from 2 to 3 weeks.

For a proper growth of the plant and to have the beautiful flowers, this plants like to have screened (20% shade) but direct sun light from the above rather than having light from the side of the plant. A very bright east exposure that receives ample direct sun is ideal.  But, during the flowering period, the direct sun light can affect the prolong life of flowers.

Oncidium (Kandyan Dancer) in Natural Environment

Oncidium can grow well and give good flowers when there is a temperature difference of 10 to 15 degree between day and night temperatures.  The plant can tolerate temperature range generally during the nighttime 15°C – 18°C and daytime 21°C – 29°C.

This plant can grow naturally in wet and dry climate.  As a house plant, it prefers the roots to get dried before the next watering.

It is suitable to use slow release fertilizers with low nitrogen and high potassium during repotting. The yellow variety of Oncidium in Sri Lanka is popularly known as Kandyan Dancer.

Thank goes to:

BLACK LOVE

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri

This is a very beautiful and attractive variety of Anthurium. The tender Spathe is bright red in color and with the age, its color get darkened and become blood red. The Spathe is heart shaped. The Spadix is also yellow or pink color when it is young and with the time, it turns to dark red. Tender leaves are reddish green in color and heart shaped with curved a little upward. There is a high demand for black varieties in the Anthurium market.

මෙම වර්ගයේ, විවිධ ප්‍රමානයේ, මල් සහිත හා මල් රහිත ඇන්තුරියම් පැල විකිනීම සඳහා නිකුත්කර ඇත. පැල මිලදී ගැනීමට අවශ්‍ය අය විමසන්න.

Anthurium plants of this variety with flowers and without flowers in different sizes are now available for sale. If you are willing to purchase, please comment.

Please place your order or make your inquiry through:

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/ouraanthos.flowergarden

Messenger: Oura Anthos Flower garden

Google Business: https://business.google.com/u/1/site/l/10112796045651785350

Website: https://ouraanthosthenature. com/contact-us/

HOW TO POT AN ANTHURIUM PLANT CORRECTLY?

Posted on by N.Wimalsiri

ඔබ මෙම ලිපිය සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් කියවීමට කැමතිනම්, කරුණාකර පහත දැක්වෙන යොමුව භාවිත කරන්න.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12yzuoIyqM4Cp-VsDV2rbdE8Ii8lK3fMm/view?usp=sharing

When the plants are potted correctly, they grow well and in a healthy manner

Necessary Material

  • Dried Coconut husk cut into pieces of ¼”x¼” size
  • Course sand without mud and organic material (Sand remained on No 5 size mesh and parts larger than 1cm removed)
  • Manure – Osmocote (N and K types)
  • Pesticides (Captan 80)

Method of potting

  1. Mix Coconut husk pieces and Course sand with 1:1 proportion;
  2. Clean and open up the holes in the bottom of the selected pot to have proper draining
  3. Fill bottom of the pot with Course sand to a height of about ½ “;
  4. Fill about 1/3 of height of pot with previously mixed medium (Follow Note 3);
  5. Place the selected Anthurium plant on the filled medium so that the roots of the plant are evenly distributed within the pot and the roots are not damaged;
  6. Spread a small amount of medium over the roots to just cover them and; add Osmocote and evenly distribute. Also, make sure that they are not too close to the plant.  If Osmocote is too close to the plant, osmocote can damage the plant.;
  7. Now you may add more medium over the manure and fill the pot so that about 1” of the height of the pot from the seam remain (Note 3);
  8. Captan 80 mixture can be prepared by mixing 1 teaspoon of Captan 80 powder in 5 liter of water.  Stir properly so that the powder is dissolved completely. ;
  9. This white color mixture shall be poured with a suitable bucket over the whole plant and the medium so that both get wet well and the mixture shall flow under the pot. (Note 5); and
  10. After another 5days, the pesticides should be poured to wet the plant and the medium.  Here, it is sufficient to wet the top layers of the medium.

Note 1: Quantity of Osmocote to be used

  • For a small plant – One tea spoon of Osmocote N
  • Larger plant close to have flowers –  One tea spoon of Osmocote K
  • Larger plant close to have flowers or a plant with flowers; and when it is planted in a larger pot (About 12” diameter) as a mother plant –  Two tea spoon of Osmocote K
  • This amount of manure is sufficient for a period of 3 ½ to 4 months

Note 2: When lager pots are selected for smaller plants, growth rate could be reduced

Matching plant size with the pot size

Note 3: Always, top most area of the stem where new leaves starts should not be covered with the medium. The height of the fill under step No 4 can be adjusted accordingly

Note 4: When filling of medium is over, the surface shall not be pressed with hand or any other way, otherwise the root system could be damaged

Note 5: Before pouring the mixture, the pot with the plant shall be placed in a stable position.  Also, prior to preparing the mixture, you shall wear suitable gloves and take other protective measures as the pesticides are poisons.

Note 6: Rather than pouring the mixture with in a short time, it is suitable to have two or three small hole with the pouring bucket so that mixture is poured over a reasonable period in order to wet the plant and the medium thoroughly.

Note 7: After completion of potting the plant, the pot with the plant should be kept in a shady and secured place for a period of not less than two weeks so that the plant is not moved or shake.  If not, new roots do not start.