Colombo National Museum - housed in a gleaming white, neo-Baroque building established in 1877, its founder was Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time.
The museum houses carvings and statuary from Sri Lanka’s ancient past, as well as swords, guns and other paraphernalia from the colonial period
E13A9992.jpg
The Sri Lankan elephants are the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants, with patches of depigmentation—areas with no skin colour—on its ears, face, trunk and belly. 
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The easiest way to distinguish Asian from African elephants is by looking at the ears. Asian elephants have much smaller ears than African elephants. Asian elephants are also smaller overall than their African counterparts, growing to around 7 to 12
The herd size in Sri Lanka ranges from 12-20 individuals or more. It is led by the oldest female, or matriarch.
I was fortunate to be paired with a great guide and an even better driver, who has over 29 years of experience navigating the jungle. We tended to take the less beaten track (kind of like my norm), and it led to seeing so many elephants
E13A0112.jpg
Elephants live on average for 60 years in the wild
Elephants eat 10% of their body weight each day, which for adults is between 375 and 450 pounds of food. They need 21 to 53 gallons of water a day and use more for bathing.
Located in central Sri Lanka, the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple is a living Buddhist site that is focused on a series of five cave shrines.
A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka.
The large 45 feet Sleeping postured Buddha statue is said to be the Parinirvana status or the final passing away of the Lord Buddha.
The Cave of ' Great Kings '. The Stupa in this temple surrounded with eleven seated Buddha images
The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 m2 ) are of particular importance, as are the 157 statues.
Dating back to the 1st century BCE were used as a Buddhist monastery. There are over 150 Buddha statues in various postures and statues of gods and kings.
Depictions of reclining Buddhas in cave temples generally signify the Buddha's passing into Parinirvana, his final state of enlightenment and death.
E13A0720-Enhanced-NR.jpg
All the statues have elongated earlobes. Some scientists say they symbolize the ability of absolute listening and perceiving, the others pointed out that Buddha was born and lived the first part of his life as a prince and only rich and noble people
The Rock paintings appearing here portray the early Buddhist historical events.
E13A0718-Enhanced-NR-2.jpg
This cave was constructed by the King Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747-1782 AD ) who ruled in Kandy.
Each Buddha has one of seven different hand positions representing an aspect of Buddhism teaching. The reclining Buddha is the final moment before enlightenment after death.
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Colombo National Museum - housed in a gleaming white, neo-Baroque building established in 1877, its founder was Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time.
Colombo National Museum - housed in a gleaming white, neo-Baroque building established in 1877, its founder was Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time.
The museum houses carvings and statuary from Sri Lanka’s ancient past, as well as swords, guns and other paraphernalia from the colonial period
The museum houses carvings and statuary from Sri Lanka’s ancient past, as well as swords, guns and other paraphernalia from the colonial period
E13A9992.jpg
The Sri Lankan elephants are the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants, with patches of depigmentation—areas with no skin colour—on its ears, face, trunk and belly. 
The Sri Lankan elephants are the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants, with patches of depigmentation—areas with no skin colour—on its ears, face, trunk and belly. 
E13A0291.jpg
The easiest way to distinguish Asian from African elephants is by looking at the ears. Asian elephants have much smaller ears than African elephants. Asian elephants are also smaller overall than their African counterparts, growing to around 7 to 12
The easiest way to distinguish Asian from African elephants is by looking at the ears. Asian elephants have much smaller ears than African elephants. Asian elephants are also smaller overall than their African counterparts, growing to around 7 to 12 feet in height and weighing between 6,500 and 11,000 pounds.
The herd size in Sri Lanka ranges from 12-20 individuals or more. It is led by the oldest female, or matriarch.
The herd size in Sri Lanka ranges from 12-20 individuals or more. It is led by the oldest female, or matriarch.
I was fortunate to be paired with a great guide and an even better driver, who has over 29 years of experience navigating the jungle. We tended to take the less beaten track (kind of like my norm), and it led to seeing so many elephants
I was fortunate to be paired with a great guide and an even better driver, who has over 29 years of experience navigating the jungle. We tended to take the less beaten track (kind of like my norm), and it led to seeing so many elephants
E13A0112.jpg
Elephants live on average for 60 years in the wild
Elephants live on average for 60 years in the wild
Elephants eat 10% of their body weight each day, which for adults is between 375 and 450 pounds of food. They need 21 to 53 gallons of water a day and use more for bathing.
Elephants eat 10% of their body weight each day, which for adults is between 375 and 450 pounds of food. They need 21 to 53 gallons of water a day and use more for bathing.
Located in central Sri Lanka, the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple is a living Buddhist site that is focused on a series of five cave shrines.
Located in central Sri Lanka, the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple is a living Buddhist site that is focused on a series of five cave shrines.
A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka.
A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka.
The large 45 feet Sleeping postured Buddha statue is said to be the Parinirvana status or the final passing away of the Lord Buddha.
The large 45 feet Sleeping postured Buddha statue is said to be the Parinirvana status or the final passing away of the Lord Buddha.
The Cave of ' Great Kings '. The Stupa in this temple surrounded with eleven seated Buddha images
The Cave of ' Great Kings '. The Stupa in this temple surrounded with eleven seated Buddha images
The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 m2 ) are of particular importance, as are the 157 statues.
The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 m2 ) are of particular importance, as are the 157 statues.
Dating back to the 1st century BCE were used as a Buddhist monastery. There are over 150 Buddha statues in various postures and statues of gods and kings.
Dating back to the 1st century BCE were used as a Buddhist monastery. There are over 150 Buddha statues in various postures and statues of gods and kings.
Depictions of reclining Buddhas in cave temples generally signify the Buddha's passing into Parinirvana, his final state of enlightenment and death.
Depictions of reclining Buddhas in cave temples generally signify the Buddha's passing into Parinirvana, his final state of enlightenment and death.
E13A0720-Enhanced-NR.jpg
All the statues have elongated earlobes. Some scientists say they symbolize the ability of absolute listening and perceiving, the others pointed out that Buddha was born and lived the first part of his life as a prince and only rich and noble people
All the statues have elongated earlobes. Some scientists say they symbolize the ability of absolute listening and perceiving, the others pointed out that Buddha was born and lived the first part of his life as a prince and only rich and noble people were allowed to wear jewels.
The Rock paintings appearing here portray the early Buddhist historical events.
The Rock paintings appearing here portray the early Buddhist historical events.
E13A0718-Enhanced-NR-2.jpg
This cave was constructed by the King Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747-1782 AD ) who ruled in Kandy.
This cave was constructed by the King Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747-1782 AD ) who ruled in Kandy.
Each Buddha has one of seven different hand positions representing an aspect of Buddhism teaching. The reclining Buddha is the final moment before enlightenment after death.
Each Buddha has one of seven different hand positions representing an aspect of Buddhism teaching. The reclining Buddha is the final moment before enlightenment after death.
E13A0637-Edit.jpg
E13A0646-Enhanced-NR.jpg
E13A0656-Enhanced-NR-2.jpg
E13A0729-Enhanced-NR-2.jpg
E13A0704-Enhanced-NR-2.jpg
E13A0722-Enhanced-NR-2.jpg
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