Sri Lanka Handbook

by Robert Bradnock; Peter Pollard; Roma Bradnock

• ISBN13: 9780658010859
• ISBN10: 0658010859
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-12-01
• Publisher: Passport Books

Summary

Now nine new editions for Fall 2000 -- including two brand-new destinations. These special new editions have all of the features that have made Footprint Handbooks the longest-running series in travel publishing and provide travelers with comprehensive information about a specific country or region.
-- Hands down, the most information you can get from a travel guide, yet very well organized and easy to use
-- Packed with recommendations to suit any budget
-- With their clear, colorful descriptions and in-depth coverage, Footprint Handbooks help travelers make the right choices

Table of Contents

1
A foot in the door	5	(12)
2
Essentials	17	(42)
Planning your trip	19	(1)
Where to go	19	(1)
Planning a route	19	(5)
When to go	24	(1)
Tours and tour operators	24	(1)
Finding out more	25	(1)
Language	26	(1)
Before you travel	26	(7)
Tourist information	33	(3)
Rules, customs and etiquette	36	(1)
Safety	37	(1)
Where to stay	38	(3)
Getting around	41	(1)
Air	41	(1)
Road	41	(2)
Train	43	(2)
Keeping in touch	45	(2)
Food and drink	47	(1)
Shopping	48	(1)
Special interest travel	49	(1)
Holidays and festivals	50	(1)
Health	51	(1)
Before travelling	51	(2)
On the road	53	(3)
When you return home	56	(1)
Further reading	56	(3)
3
Colombo and the nearby beaches	59	(40)
Ins and outs	62	(1)
Central Colombo	62	(8)
Parks and zoos	70	(1)
Essentials	70	(14)
Mount Lavinia	84	(4)
Beaches near Colombo	88	(1)
Negombo	89	(1)
Sights	90	(7)
Beaches north of Negombo	97	(1)
Waikkal	97	(1)
Marawila	97	(2)
4
The Western & Northwestern region	99	(10)
Along the west coast to Puttalam	102	(1)
The road to Kandy	102	(2)
Inland from Colombo to Kurunegala	104	(1)
Kurunegala	104	(5)
5
Southern Sri Lanka	109	(3)
Beaches along the southwest coast	112	(52)
Kalutara	112	(2)
Beruwela	114	(2)
Aluthgama	116	(1)
Bentota	117	(3)
Ambalangoda	120	(2)
Hikkaduwa	122	(8)
Galle	130	(7)
Unawatuna	137	(3)
The Scenic South Coast	140	(1)
Weligama	141	(2)
Mirissa	143	(1)
Matara	144	(3)
The Dry Southeast	147	(1)
Tangalla	148	(6)
Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary	154	(1)
Hambantota	155	(2)
Bundala National Park	157	(1)
Tissamaharama	158	(3)
Yala (Ruhuna) National Park	161	(1)
Kataragama	162	(2)
The heart of the Wet Zone	164	(11)
Ratnapura	166	(3)
Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve	169	(4)
Pelmadulla to the South Coast	173	(1)
Uda Walawe National Park	173	(2)
6
The Central Highlands	175	(38)
Kandy	178	(1)
Sights	179	(4)
Essentials	183	(9)
Around Kandy	192	(1)
West of Kandy	192	(5)
Northeast of Kandy	197	(1)
East of Kandy	198	(1)
South of Kandy	198	(1)
The Highlands	199	(1)
Nuwara Eliya	200	(7)
Around Nuwara Eliya	207	(1)
Peaks and plateaus	207	(1)
Adam's peak	208	(1)
Horton Plains National Park	209	(4)
7
Uva Province	213	(16)
Badulla, Ella, Bandarawela and Haputale	216	(1)
Badlla	217	(2)
Ella	219	(4)
Bandarawela	223	(2)
Haputale	225	(4)
8
Ancient cities-Cultural Triangle	229	(38)
Sites north of Kandy	232	(1)
Nalanda and Dambulla	233	(5)
Anuradhapura and Mihintale	238	(1)
Anuradhapura	238	(1)
Sights	239	(6)
Essentials	245	(2)
Mihintals	247	(4)
Sigiriya	251	(4)
Essentials	255	(2)
Pollonaruwa	257	(2)
Sights	259	(4)
Essentials	263	(2)
Mahiyangana	265	(2)
9
Eastern Region	267	(14)
Eastern Province (North)	270	(1)
Trincomalee	270	(1)
Sights	271	(2)
Essentials	273	(1)
Beaches north of Trincomalee	273	(2)
Eastern Province (South)	275	(1)
Batticaloa	275	(1)
Gal Oya National Park	276	(1)
Arugam Bay	277	(2)
Lahugala National Park	279	(1)
Monaragala	279	(1)
Jaffna and the Northern Provinces	280	(1)
10
Background	281	(48)
History	283	(1)
Settlement and early history	283	(2)
Political developments in pre-colonial Sri Lanka	285	(1)
The Sinhalese move south	286	(1)
The Kandyan Kingdom	286	(1)
Colonial power	287	(1)
The moves to independance	288	(1)
Modern Sri Lanka	288	(1)
Government	289	(1)
Economy	290	(3)
Culture	293	(1)
Religion	293	(16)
Architecture	309	(5)
Art	314	(1)
Language	315	(1)
Land and environment	316	(1)
Geography	316	(1)
Climate	317	(1)
Wildlife	318	(8)
Vegetation	326	(3)
11
Footnotes	329	(13)
Glossary	331	(4)
Useful words and phrases-Sinhalese	335	(2)
Useful words and phrases - Sri Lankan Tamil	337	(2)
Eating out - food and menus	339	(2)
Sri Lankan specialites	341	(1)
Index	342	(4)
Shorts	346	(1)
Map index	347	(1)
Advertisers	348	(11)
Colour maps	359