Joanna James
There will be several enthralling facts about Sri Lanka that many people may not be aware of; these include its monikers, the national sport, its status as a tea exporter, a temple with a sacred tooth relic and more!
Sri Lanka is often referred to as the 'Teardrop of India' in reference to its geographical shape as well as its location off India's coast. Meanwhile, it is also called the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean' due to its enchanting beauty, rich biodiversity and because it exports valuable gemstones.
You could be forgiven for thinking that Sri Lanka's national sport is cricket which was introduced to the country in the 19th century during British colonial rule; the island nation has achieved great success in this sport which enjoys much popularity too. However, the country's actual national sport happens to be volleyball, a sport that was brought to the nation in 1916!
Tea has traditionally been one of Sri Lanka's key exports, and it is always counted as one of the world's leading tea exporting nations. In fact, in 2017 Sri Lanka celebrated its 150th anniversary as a tea exporter. Ceylon Tea happens to be an internationally renowned brand, with Sri Lanka being recognised as the nation exporting the cleanest tea with the least quantity of pesticide residue.
The Buddhists of Sri Lanka believe that the much-venerated Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in the city of Kandy, houses a tooth relic of the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha. It is always an interesting experience to visit this temple, particularly during the times of puja, or prayers. The tooth relic itself cannot be viewed by visitors as it is kept within a special golden casket. An accommodation choice to consider from which you could easily plan an excursion to this temple would be Hunas Falls which could be regarded as an appealingly located resort in Kandy.
One of the foremost religious sightseeing attractions in Sri Lanka would be Adam's Peak. This mountain with its intriguing footprint is regarded as a sacred site by people of different religions, with both devotees and sightseers undertaking the climb to its summit. Buddhists consider the footprint to be that of Buddha, whilst Hindus regard it as Lord Shiva's footprint. On the other hand, Muslims and Christians believe it to be Adam's footprint upon his exile from Eden.
Cinnamon happens to be a spice that is loved across the world, being enjoyed in curries, other Indian foods and cinnamon buns. Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka and was known to the ancient Egyptians many millennia ago. In fact, even today, the greater part of the world's cinnamon supply still originates from Sri Lanka.
The population of Sri Lanka boasts a literacy rate of around 92% and accordingly, Sri Lanka ranks as the nation with the highest rate of literacy in the entirety of South Asia. Interestingly, the island's youth literacy rate is even higher and is approximately 98%.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
