David Allan Easton

Photographs Sri Lanka

LANDSCAPES

Looking “Due South” from the escarpment at Haputale.

The Indian Ocean is 74 km’s away.

Click on any of the smaller photographs below, to enlarge the image and see the caption.

Far Mountain with clouds forming, looking east from Secret Ella. Late afternoon.

Far Mountain at dusk, with rain clouds moving in. View to the east from Secret Ella.

Sigiriya. The Palace on top of a volcano.

Sigiriya. This 1,500 year-old Ruined Palace rests on top of an extinct volcano. The ground level entrance is across a bridge over an ancient moat (may contain crocodiles) and through a defensive wall. Then the path takes you into the remains of an extensive water garden and straight towards the base of the 200m high rock. As you climb, there are decorated frescoes and ancient graffiti to stop and admire. The final staircase up the bare rock begins at an entrance between a pair of giant Lion’s feet. The name, “Sigiriya,” means enter through the Lion’s throat.

Distant Paddy Terrace surrounded by a rain forest, making a home for elephants and providing water.

Nine-arch bridge was constructed entirely by local Sri Lankan engineers and builders. The Chief Designer and Project Manager of this railway bridge was D. J. Wimalasurendra, a distinguished Ceylonese engineer and inventor. The construction of the bridge is attributed to a local Ceylonese builder, P. K. Appuhami.

Rainbow viewed from above, in the gardens at Secret Ella.

Detail of Paddy Terrace. "So green it dazzles the eyes." I can count at least 42 visible terraces in this field.

Mid-afternoon in Kaudulla Sanctuary, which provides safety and fertile feeding lands for Elephants to birds and everything in between. The reservoir was exceedingly low and the heavy rain clouds were welcome.

Castlereagh Reservoir is a catchment for the rains that run off the surrounding ridges of the tea estates, in this western part of the "Up Country". It can be cold at night, so bring a jumper.

Spotted Deer beside a natural lake in the jungle, Sri Lanka.

Large Bull Elephant

Feeding quietly at Minneriya Reservoir, Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka.

High up on the eastern side of the Knuckles Mountain Range, Sri Lanka.

Ripples and light on the Ginganga (river), near Galle in South-west Sri Lanka.

Reflection of plants off the waters of the Ginganga, Sri Lanka.

Bundala National Park, View across a Saltwater Lagoon, Sri Lanka.

View from 98 Acres Tea Estate at Ella, Sri Lanka. Looking past Little Adam's Peak and towards the south coast.

The View from Haputale, looking due South to the Ocean, as rain clouds pass overhead.

A secluded lane near Kitulgala, where "The Bridge on The River Kwai" was filmed.

Wasgamuwa means home for the Bears. And also Elephants, other mammals and an abundance of birds.

View of Cliffs across Ella Gap, from the ridge walk leading to Little Adam's Peak.

Passing Sinharaja Natural Tropical Rainforest with a waterfall, as rainclouds form over the canopy. From a road on the North side passing through a tea estate.

The Knuckles from Far Cry

This is a view from the east looking west, towards what the British called the Knuckles Mountain Range. The Sinhala (the native population) had long before named them “Dumbara Kanduvetiya”, meaning Mist-laden Mountain Range. More than 34 percent of Sri Lanka’s endemic trees, shrubs, and herbs are only found in these forests, although the range itself is just 0.03% of Sri Lanka’s total land area.

Do the clouds in the sky remind you of “The Simpsons” opening credits?

Sigiriya, seen from a balcony at Kandalama Hotel in the early afternoon, Sri Lanka.

Distant, "Misty Mountains" at dusk. Seen from the Secret Ella Tea Estate, Ella, Sri Lanka.

A distant tropical mountain, seen from Ella at nightfall.

A late afternoon view south from Melheim, near Haputale.

Yala has the highest density of the Largest Leopards in the World. This is a large male starting his evening hunt, as the sun sets.

Downy clouds drift across a distant view, looking due south from Ella.

A large, man-made lake called Kala Balalu Wewa, near Aukana, North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is nowhere near the largest.

The Knuckles Natural reserve.

The Knuckles Mountain Range covers parts of the Kandy and Matale districts in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is separated from the Central Hills by the Mahaweli Valley to the South and East, and the Matale Valley to the West. These two rivers keep the amazing diversity of plants and animal life found here isolated from the rest of the World.

The Knuckles has a unique selection of microclimates and is home to a higher percentage of the island’s biodiversity than any other area – yet covers just 0.03% of Sri Lanka’s land. The vegetation found in the Knuckles is divided into five different types; semi-evergreen, sub-montane, montane and riverine forests, and the pathana and savannah grasslands.

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The view due south from the escarpment near Haputale, as large rain clouds close in, Sri Lanka.

Mist drifting in from the sky, over the mountains. View from Ella, Sri Lanka.

A White-bellied Sea Eagle swoops over a natural, fresh-water Villu Lake and provokes panic, in Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka. This is near the west coast, where the prevailing winds have blown the trees into a left-ward leaning shape, from this angle.

A saltwater lagoon at Bundala National Park, with coconut palms in the far distance, Southern Sri Lanka.

The Mahaweli Ganga, near Kandy (Nuwara), Central Province.

The Mahaweli is the longest river in Sri Lanka. It arises on Horton Plains, as do some other rivers, and takes the long route to the sea. Its course passes through the Central Mountains and the lowlands of the northeast dry zone, until it reaches the large bay south of Trincomalee Harbour, on the East Coast of Sri Lanka.

This photograph was taken during the rainy season. At other times the river is much lower, and the many boulders on the riverbed are clearly visible.

Tissa Wewa, a 2,400 year-old, manmade reservoir at Anuradhapura Ancient Buddhist Capital, Northern Sri Lanka still provides water for drinking, washing and irrigation. The dam (bund) is 2 miles long. The surface area when full is 652 acres (2.64 km²) and the depth is 13 ft (4 m).

This Wewa (a pool) on the path leading to the Magul Maha Viharaya Ancient Buddhist Temple, Lahugala, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The resident monk is heading to his simple home, in his orange robe, at the far right corner.

Elephants at Minneriya.

Mothers, sisters and young.

Sinharaja Rainforest at sunrise, with Crested Drongo and White-breasted Starlings (both species found only in these wet-zone rainforests of Sri Lanka).

Grey-headed Fish Eagle fishing, near Sigiriya, Northern Sri Lanka.

Large, wild, Water Buffalo cooling down in a natural rock-pool, during the midday sun. Yala National Park, in the arid zone of the far southeast of Sri Lanka.

Boabab Tree in Mannar Town on Mannar Island. The Baobab tree at Pallimunai is the biggest one in Sri Lanka and has a girth of 62 feet. It is said to be over 700 years old. The age of the Baobabs in Mannar range between 101 and 723 years with around 40% between the ages of 300 to 400 years. (Reference source is The Daily FT of Sri Lanka newspaper, Tuesday, 4 January 2011)

Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo during Vesak (May). This Poya Day is the most important day in the Buddhist Calendar. The sacred Golden Buddha Statue has extra decorations for Vesak Poya.

The 1938 British Lighthouse at Galle Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka. The original fort was founded by the Portuguese as a harbour to export cinnamon and other valuable spices. The Dutch developed it further, as did the British after them. Long before the foreign invaders, Galle had been one of Sri Lanka's ancient spice ports. The original land from where cinnamon was shipped around the globe.

Little World's End. A 1,000 metre (3,300 foot) straight drop to the bottom. Around midday, the warm winds rise rapidly up the cliff face, and you can see the clouds form in front of your eyes, as the moisture they contain meets the cooler air at the top of the mountain. Not the best spot for anyone with vertigo.

Anuradhapura as seen from Mihintale.

The Ancient Sacred City – Anuradhapura – sets a magnificent scene from the top of Mihintale Rock, itself the Ancient Seat of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Just before sundown, large flocks of birds gather for the night, at Minneriya National Park.

Red ochre sands at Dutch Bay, Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka.

Tissa Wewa, an artificial reservoir, was built by Devanampiya Tissa (3rd century BC).

Sigiriya Ancient Fortress and Palace seen from The Kandalama Hotel.

A Train Crossing The 9 Arch Bridge near Ella.

Looking down onto a rainbow from a hilltop near Ella.

Minneriya Wewa (ancient tank) with birds settling for the night.

Anuradhapura Ancient City looking from the top level at Mihintale Temple.

The Knuckles Mountain Range looking west from the banks of the Mahaweli Ganga (River).

Paddy Fields near Koslanda in Uva Province.

Mist rising over the mountains at Ella Gap.

Clouds forming over the mountains east of Ella.

A large bull elephant by Minneriya Wewa at dusk.

Minneriya National Park at dusk.

View south from Melheim Resort near Haputale.

Viharamahadevi Park Colombo during Vesak (May).

Country lane Near Kitulgala, Western Province.

Kala Balalu Wewa near Aukana Temple.

Distant Tropical Mountains Ella at Dusk. Looking East.

Far East Mountain seen from Secret Ella, near Ella, Uva Province.

View 'Due South' across many mountains from Ella at evening dusk.

Looking East at the same horn-shaped Distant Tropical Mountain from Ella.

Wasgomuwa National Park, Sri Lanka.

Boabab Tree in Mannar Town on Mannar Island.

View looking 'Due South' from the high escarpment near Haputale in Uva Province, Sri Lanka.

Two people are standing at the top of this waterfall - The Second Highest Waterfall in Sri Lanka.

Second view looking 'Due South' across many mountains from Ella at evening dusk.

Minneriya National Park at Dusk.

A large bull elephant by Minneriya Wewa at dusk.

Passing Sinharaja Tropical Rainforest National Park from the north side as the forest generates its own rainfall in August.

View from a small boat on the Gintota Ganga (River) at dusk. Near Galle Town, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.

Dark rainclouds forming in the sky over Kaudulla National Park in the afternoon. 1

Dark rainclouds forming in the sky over Kaudulla National Park in the afternoon. 2

Castlereagh Reservoir, Hatton, Central Province, Sri Lanka.

Little Adams Peak as seen from 98 Acres near Ella in the Uva Province, Sri Lanka.

The Galle Lighthouse in Galle Fort in the Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Many of the buildings date from the Dutch and British Occupations.

Reflections of vegetation growing along The Gintota Ganga at dusk. Near Galle Town.

The ancient Knuckles Mountain Range. Central Province, Sri Lanka.

Special Places - Magul Maha Viharaya at Lahugala. On the road to Pottuvil in the Eastern Province.

A natural Villu (lake) in Wilpattu National Park in the North-Western and Northern Provinces of Sri Lanka.

Little World's End, Horton Plains National Park.

At the top of the Ancient Sigiriya Palace and Fortress. With a big sky.

The Mahaweli Ganga - the longest river in Sri Lanka. This is the view near Kandy during a rainy season.

The amazingly orange sand of Wilpattu National Park, looking west towards Portugal Bay.

Sri Lanka. So much more than you can see in a lifetime.