Saturday, March 22, 2014
HORTON PLAINS
The Horton Plains feature many interesting attractions such as 'Bakers
Falls', 'Chimmini Pool' and the famous 'World's End' (a 3700 ft sheer
drop that offers fabulous views of the tea estates below and all the way
out to the distant southern coastline)
The Horton Plains are located on Sri Lanka's highest plateau, between
altitudes of 2,000 and 2, 300m. The landscape typically consists of
undulating lands covered in a tropical cloud of forests or verdant
montane savannah grasslands, locally known as patannahs.
Visiting Horton Plains or 'Mahaeliya' as it is traditionally named is
quite popular amongst locals, who mostly come to admire the views from
the park's thrilling escarpments such as World's End at weekends. For
this reason we recommend that you try to organise your visit during a
weekday as this ensures that you will experience the Plain's isolated
serenity.
Visitors to the park can follow a 10km loop that incorporates all of the
spectacular features, enabling them to enjoy them while adhering to the
strict rules for environment protection and nature conservation. The
best time to visit is early in the morning as this is when the air is
likely to be clearest so that you can enjoy the best of the views.
In the afternoons, clouds tend to descend and the area becomes submerged
in mist. This is equally enthralling though and provides evidence for
the evolution of this forest type. Allowing a half-day should give you
plenty of time to enjoy it all at a leisurely pace.
The Plains are actually named after Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, a rather
selfish and bloody-minded Brit (no surprise there then) who was
singularly responsible for the slaying of all of the elephants in the
area between 1831 to 1837.
Although there is little hope of elephants ever returning, you can at
least walk around in comparative safety admiring the many other
interesting creatures around and about. Of these perhaps the most worthy
of a mention are the Samber Deer, a common sight at dusk and in the
early hours of the morning.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Dambulla
Monday, March 17, 2014
Galle Fort
Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southern province in Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, and then expansively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards.
This Dutch fort is surrounded by the sea in 3 sides and there is a museum of marine fish, Archeological museum of marine fish, the ancient Dutch fort, the Stadium, School, Courts, Police Station and Army fortress 2 many other ancient and educationally important places. There is a Light House situated near this fortress.
The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.[4][5] The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Crocodile Gecko
Introduction
Common Group: GECKOS
Common Name: Crocodile Gecko, Moorish Wall Gecko, Common Wall Gecko
Scientific Name: Tarentola mauritanica
Distribution: Mediterranean
Size: 5" - 7"
The Crocodile gecko also known as the Moorish gecko is pretty, but shouldn't be handled as they are nervous. This is a nice, hardy species with very few problems. These geckos will generally live between 6 and 10 years, depending on how they have been cared for. The Crocodile gecko is native to the Mediterranean region and North Africa. The natural settings for Crocodile geckos are dry, rocky areas particularly on cliff faces and large boulders. They may be very common around human settlements, particularly stone walls.
Identification
The Crocodile Gecko has a large pointed head and for its size is strong and heavily built. They are usually colored in a mottled light and dark grey or brown pattern, and the most distinguishing characteristics are the rows of keeled, tubercular scales along the back, flanks and tail. A flap of skin runs along the flanks and the limbs are relatively short. The ventral surface is immaculate white. The undersides of the toes are equipped with adhesive toe-pads along their entire length for climbing up rocks. Juveniles are more brightly colored with some transverse striping which fades with growth. The average adult length is 6 inches total length.
Behavior
While they are primarily nocturnal, they can often also be seen basking during the day. Male Crocodile geckos are very aggressive and territorial when it comes to another male, and therefore they should be kept separately. Male Crocodile geckos will also emit squeaks when defending their territory. This may be a warning sign that you have 2 males and not a true pair. This species of gecko is hyperactive and difficult to hold.
Housing
A pair of Crocodile geckos can be kept in a 10 gallon aquarium, but a larger taller tank is better. They are arboreal, meaning they need more height rather than floor space. The vivarium should be vertically oriented with plenty of securely stacked rocks with crevices to hide in, and branches to lounge on. The hides are essential in order to prevent stress. Crocodile Geckos spend a lot of time hidden away in rocky aves/crevices, coming out only to feed or bask. Crocodile geckos are also able to climb on the glass of the tank. Plants can also be placed into the enclosure to add color, and if live plants are placed in the vivarium a full-spectrum fluorescent light will be necessary during the day, this light may also be good for the animals.
Substrate can be as simple as newspaper or a couple inches of Zoo Med’s Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate. Vermiculite has also been used as a substrate. Sand has been proven to cause impaction in geckos and should be avoided. All substrates should be cleaned regularly in order to prevent contamination from disease.
A humid shelter needs to be provided to prevent any shedding problems. This can be accomplished in a couple of ways. You can mist one side of the tank every few days to drip off the rocks and branches. This then collects in the substrate creating a humid hide behind a rock (this method will not work if you use newspaper). Another method would be using a plastic food container and cut a hole in the side large enough for them to enter. Fill the container with Vermiculite or moss and keep it moist (not soaking wet).Do not spray the geckos directly.
Temperature & Lighting
Crocodile geckos are primarily nocturnal but sometimes bask during the day. Daytime temperatures should be maintained between 78° – 85° F, and a basking area at the high end of the range is appreciated as they are active during the day too. Night time temperatures should be between 70° - 75° F, or a drop down to room temperature during the night will be fine. A low wattage red incandescent bulb can be used at night to allow observation of your geckos and will provide very little heat.
All your heat sources should be controlled by a thermostat in order to prevent the vivarium from over heating. One thermometer should be placed at each end of the vivarium in order to give an accurate reading of the temperatures within the vivarium. Never go by the temperature on the thermostat as these are often inaccurate.
Some people say that a UV light is not required. However this species is sometimes active during the day and will benefit from the use of a UV light. If left on for 12 hours a day it will give your animal a correct photoperiod, as well as allowing vitamin D3 synthesis.
Humidity and Water
This species requires low to moderate levels of humidity (50-60%), misting the vivarium once a week should suffice. However a shallow bowl of fresh water should always be available for drinking and soaking. You may also witness your geckos licking up the water droplets that run along the décor from misting.
Feeding
Crocodile geckos will actively hunt down and consume anything that moves. Some of the insects than can be fed include: crickets, mealworms, waxworms, or wax moths. The food should be kept as varied as possible in order to ensure proper nutrition. You can also feed earthworms, but if they don’t eat them right away they may burrow into the substrate. Twice a week a vitamin/calcium supplement should be dusted onto the food items.
For young and juvenile Crocodile geckos, feed every day with the appropriate sized food. Adults can be fed every other day and once a month try feeding a small pinkie.
Breeding
Crocodile geckos should be kept in true pairs. Unfortunately, even adult animals are difficult to sex. Males are said to be more robust in body size and have a wider head than females. It is also speculated that the females have lots of tubercular scales along the whole body and head, males only have a few along the side of the body.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Mihintale
Mihintale
Mihintale is located 221 km from Colombo in the Cultural Triangle of the north-central province of Sri Lanka.
Mihintale Mountain
Mihintale Mountain, with the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, began to serve as a residential area for the venerable monks headed by Arahath Mahinda Mahathera. But soon, with the royal patronage, the sanctuary housed a multitude of with monastic buildings-stupas, uposathgharas, bodhigharas- to serve the monks. Sixty eight cave dwellings provided the monks shade and shelter. Mihintale, the sanctuary for many thousands of laymen as well as holy men, had all the facilities and amenities for basic living.
Vedahala - the Hospital at the foot of the mountain at Mihintale
With the growth of the community of monks and the pious laymen, there arose the inevitable need of a hospital. The first hospital at Mihintale was founded by King Sena the second (853-887 AC) at Mihintale. The identification was based on a tenth century inscription found at the site.
Today, the ruins of a hospital with its layout restored can be seen at the entrance to the site of Mihintale. At the entrance to the hospital is the outer courtyard that consists of four rooms: consulting room; room for preparation and storage of medicine; room for hot water baths. At the end of the outer courtyard, to the north is the main building: the quadrangular courtyard having a small shrine in the center. The rooms are arranged on a two high platforms on all four sides of the Central Courtyard. The rooms face the shrine which is in the Courtyard. The area of each room is about 100 square feet. The rooms open onto an inner Verandha making all cells accessible.
Archeological excavations have unearthed clay wares and blue colored jars. These jars are another evidence of the cultural and trade connections with Iran and Sri Lanka at such an ancient time.
Arama: the residence of the monks at the foot of the mountain at Mihintale
Between the ancient hospital and the great stairway to the mountain of Mihintale are ruins of ancient monastic buildings girt by a boundary wall. The entrance to the monastery is decorated with steps, Guard-Stones, makara (dragon) balustrades and naga (cobra) figures. This building is similar to arama buildings found in Anuradhapura. Ruins of quadrangle’s two story buildings, each built on 12 or 16 stone columns called Prasada that houses several rooms are found here.
The great stairway at Mihintale
The great stairway that leads up the Mihintale Mountain consists of no less than 1840 rock cut steps. While some of the neat steps are carved into the natural rock, the rest are paved with cut granite. Exceedingly wide for a pedestrian climb, the impressive staircase of unique distinction, well sheltered and shaded with frangipani flower trees and ever-green wood makes a very pleasant climb. The blossoms of Araliya (frangipani) make the staircase fragrant while the intrusive hoards of monkeys hover around and hang in the branches of the trees to grab snacks off the visitors.
When one proceeds along the ancient stairway-about half the distance, the path branches off to the right into a still steeper climb. The pathway, which consists of about 80 steps, leads you to the site of the Kantaka Cetiya. The branch pathway is 10 feet wide and about half the size of the stone steps laid on the main path. Mahasaya, Atvehera and Rajagirilena Kanda are approached through similar pathways.
Refectory, the Alms Hall at Mihintale
To the left of the first level of Mihintale is the main refectory. Two stone cut troughs used for serving rice are lined up along the walls to the north and east. The larger of the trough with a length of 23 feet is an indication of the large number of monks. Interior of these troughs were believed to be lined with a layer of metal. Refectory also consists of overhead water pipes and elaborates drainage system. A rock cut inscription reveals the members at the refectory: 12 cooks, warden and firewood suppliers.
Dage, the Relic House, the Main Shrine at Mihintale
Mihintale’s main shrine is located at an elevated level adjoining the refectory. A flight of stairs leads to the main shrine. Two large slabs of stone contain inscriptions in length on both sides of the entrance to the shrine. The beautiful inscription on polished slabs of granite made by King Mahinda the fourth (956-972 A.D.), one of the longest ancient inscriptions of Sri Lanka shed a great deal of information on the monastery.
Kantaka Chetiya at Mihintale
Kantaka Chetiya in its ruined state, is of a height of 40 feet and a circumference of 425 feet. On the four sides of the stupa are found four projecting front pieces called Vahalkadas. Two of the four Vahalkadas are preserved in good condition. The Vahalkadas are profusely ornamented with sculptures: frieze of ganas (dwarfs) and frieze of hamsa (geese). The caves located near to the stupa are the earliest dwellings of the resident monks at Mihintale.
The sixty eight caves at Mihintale
The sixty eight caves, the earliest dwellings of the monks at Mihintale are located around the Kantaka Cetiya. The Mahavamsa, the great historical chronicle of Sri Lanka narrates on the donation of caves to the monks by King Devanampiya Tissa. Furthermore the inscriptions engraved above the drip ledges of these caves too elaborate of the offering.
Sinha Pokuna (Lion pond) at Mihintale
To the south of the Assembly Hall in the middle terrace at a lower level is the Lion pond amidst the ruins of a monastic building. The pond built into a natural rock has water channeled from Naga Pokuna at a higher elevation. The water is discharged through the open mouth of the life size-lion carved onto a rock wall. Right round the pond are sculptures depicting dancers, Elephants, musicians and dwarfs.
Ambasthala Chetiya at Mihintale
The first monument that comes into view when entering the upper terrace is Ambastala dagoba built by King Mahadatika Mahanaga (09-21 AC). It is a small stupa surrounded by stone pillars forming a circle. The pillars are the unmistakable evidence that Ambastala dagoba was a circular relic house with a roof of wooden construction over the stupa supported on those pillars.
The site of Ambasthala Dagaba is believed to be the precise location at Mihintale where Mahathera Mahinda met King Devanampiya Tissa and the great sage delivered his first sermon on the mount, Cula Hatthipadopama Sutta.
Sila Chetiya at Mihintale
Sila Cetiya at the upper terrace is believed to have been built on a spot Buddha had seated on his third visit to Sri Lanka. It is a stupa built in the medieval era of Sri Lanka.
Mihindu Seya at Mihintale
Mihindu Seya was built by King Uttiya (210-200 BC) to enshrine a portion of the bodily relics of Mahinda Mahathera.
Aradhana Gala (The Rock of Invitation) at Mihintale
On the eastern side of the Ambasthala Cetiya is the rock called Aradhana Gala. It is believed to be the location where the novice monk Sumana invited the gods and deities to the first sermon of Mahinda Mahathera in Lanka.
Mihindu Guhawa, the cave of Mahinda at Mihintale
About three hundred yards downhill from the Upper terrace, on the eastern side a stone slab sheltered by another rock called Mihindu Guhawa Cave. It is believed to be the location where Mahinda mahathera mediated. The rectangular area is believed to be the bed of Mahathera Mahinda.
Mahaseya, the great stupa
Returning from Mihindu Guhawa Cave to the maluwa (plateau), the Mahasaya can be seen on the summit of the mountain to the south. 110 steps cut into the rock leads to the Mahasaya the great stupa. The largest stupa on the summit of the mountain, Mahasaya stupa is the monument all would invariably witness from far distant while arriving at Mihintale. Mahathupa is 45 feet in height 136 feet in diameter. The location of monument must have made the construction entailing as much expense and effort as one of the large monuments at the capital.
Naga Pokuna, the Cobra Pond at Mihintale
Just below the Mahasaya and Mihindu Saya at the foot of a steep hillock is the Naga Pokuna (Cobra Pond) built into a natural rock basin. Originally, a rainwater filled pool, following the establishment of the monastery, springs were tapped to maintain the storage of water. Naga Pokuna was central to the supply of water to the monastery: Lion Pond and Alms Hall too were supplied with water from Naga Pokuna. The name of Naga Pokuna is derived from the five hooded cobra cut in low relief on the rock surface.
Atvehera, The Inner Temple at Mihinatale
A long flight of some six hundred steps from Naga Pokuna leads to Atvehera stupa at Atvehera Kanda hill. Though the stupa at the summit of the hill is smaller than Mahasaya, the view from the location is panaromic.
Indikatuseya at Mihintale
Descending from Atvehera, at the ruins of the ancient hospital at the foot of the mountain, the main road Mihintale-Galkulama leads to an ancient vihara Indikatusaya to the right hand side. Well protected by a stone wall are ruins of two stupas. Indukatusaya, the larger of the two stupas, is built on an elevated platform paved with stone slabs. The platform is about 5 feet above the ground level and each side is about 40 feet. The stupa has basal terraces that differ in form and style from those of other stupas. The stairways are flanked by balustrades and a plain moonstone.
Rajagirilena Kanda, the Royal Rock Cave Hill at Mihintale
About half a kilometer from Indikatusaya along the gravel road and on the turning to the left is located Rajagirilena Kanda. On the low hill with a height of about of 100 feet, among the boulders at the summit are caves once occupied by the monks. Fairly roomy cells were formed by brick and clay walls that divide the interior sheltered by an overhanging rock roof. Rajagirilena Kanda with its airy caverns in a pleasant setting is believed to be first dwellings of the Buddhist monks at Mihintale.
Kaludiya Pokuna, the Black Water Pool at Mihintale
A short path of about fifty meters through the boulders at Rajagirilena Kanda leads to Kaludiya Pokuna, the central attraction of the hill named Porodini in the Mihintale Tablets of King Mahinda the 4th. Kaludiya Pokuna, the largest pool at Mihintale measures 200 feet in length and 70 feet in width. Around the pool are the ruins of meditation halls, bathing houses and walled caves. The name Black Water Pool was a result of the dark shadows left upon the waters by the rock boulders and shady trees surrounding the pool.
Mihintale is located 221 km from Colombo in the Cultural Triangle of the north-central province of Sri Lanka.
Mihintale Mountain
Mihintale Mountain, with the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, began to serve as a residential area for the venerable monks headed by Arahath Mahinda Mahathera. But soon, with the royal patronage, the sanctuary housed a multitude of with monastic buildings-stupas, uposathgharas, bodhigharas- to serve the monks. Sixty eight cave dwellings provided the monks shade and shelter. Mihintale, the sanctuary for many thousands of laymen as well as holy men, had all the facilities and amenities for basic living.
Vedahala - the Hospital at the foot of the mountain at Mihintale
With the growth of the community of monks and the pious laymen, there arose the inevitable need of a hospital. The first hospital at Mihintale was founded by King Sena the second (853-887 AC) at Mihintale. The identification was based on a tenth century inscription found at the site.
Today, the ruins of a hospital with its layout restored can be seen at the entrance to the site of Mihintale. At the entrance to the hospital is the outer courtyard that consists of four rooms: consulting room; room for preparation and storage of medicine; room for hot water baths. At the end of the outer courtyard, to the north is the main building: the quadrangular courtyard having a small shrine in the center. The rooms are arranged on a two high platforms on all four sides of the Central Courtyard. The rooms face the shrine which is in the Courtyard. The area of each room is about 100 square feet. The rooms open onto an inner Verandha making all cells accessible.
Archeological excavations have unearthed clay wares and blue colored jars. These jars are another evidence of the cultural and trade connections with Iran and Sri Lanka at such an ancient time.
Arama: the residence of the monks at the foot of the mountain at Mihintale
Between the ancient hospital and the great stairway to the mountain of Mihintale are ruins of ancient monastic buildings girt by a boundary wall. The entrance to the monastery is decorated with steps, Guard-Stones, makara (dragon) balustrades and naga (cobra) figures. This building is similar to arama buildings found in Anuradhapura. Ruins of quadrangle’s two story buildings, each built on 12 or 16 stone columns called Prasada that houses several rooms are found here.
The great stairway at Mihintale
The great stairway that leads up the Mihintale Mountain consists of no less than 1840 rock cut steps. While some of the neat steps are carved into the natural rock, the rest are paved with cut granite. Exceedingly wide for a pedestrian climb, the impressive staircase of unique distinction, well sheltered and shaded with frangipani flower trees and ever-green wood makes a very pleasant climb. The blossoms of Araliya (frangipani) make the staircase fragrant while the intrusive hoards of monkeys hover around and hang in the branches of the trees to grab snacks off the visitors.
When one proceeds along the ancient stairway-about half the distance, the path branches off to the right into a still steeper climb. The pathway, which consists of about 80 steps, leads you to the site of the Kantaka Cetiya. The branch pathway is 10 feet wide and about half the size of the stone steps laid on the main path. Mahasaya, Atvehera and Rajagirilena Kanda are approached through similar pathways.
Refectory, the Alms Hall at Mihintale
To the left of the first level of Mihintale is the main refectory. Two stone cut troughs used for serving rice are lined up along the walls to the north and east. The larger of the trough with a length of 23 feet is an indication of the large number of monks. Interior of these troughs were believed to be lined with a layer of metal. Refectory also consists of overhead water pipes and elaborates drainage system. A rock cut inscription reveals the members at the refectory: 12 cooks, warden and firewood suppliers.
Dage, the Relic House, the Main Shrine at Mihintale
Mihintale’s main shrine is located at an elevated level adjoining the refectory. A flight of stairs leads to the main shrine. Two large slabs of stone contain inscriptions in length on both sides of the entrance to the shrine. The beautiful inscription on polished slabs of granite made by King Mahinda the fourth (956-972 A.D.), one of the longest ancient inscriptions of Sri Lanka shed a great deal of information on the monastery.
Kantaka Chetiya at Mihintale
Kantaka Chetiya in its ruined state, is of a height of 40 feet and a circumference of 425 feet. On the four sides of the stupa are found four projecting front pieces called Vahalkadas. Two of the four Vahalkadas are preserved in good condition. The Vahalkadas are profusely ornamented with sculptures: frieze of ganas (dwarfs) and frieze of hamsa (geese). The caves located near to the stupa are the earliest dwellings of the resident monks at Mihintale.
The sixty eight caves at Mihintale
The sixty eight caves, the earliest dwellings of the monks at Mihintale are located around the Kantaka Cetiya. The Mahavamsa, the great historical chronicle of Sri Lanka narrates on the donation of caves to the monks by King Devanampiya Tissa. Furthermore the inscriptions engraved above the drip ledges of these caves too elaborate of the offering.
Sinha Pokuna (Lion pond) at Mihintale
To the south of the Assembly Hall in the middle terrace at a lower level is the Lion pond amidst the ruins of a monastic building. The pond built into a natural rock has water channeled from Naga Pokuna at a higher elevation. The water is discharged through the open mouth of the life size-lion carved onto a rock wall. Right round the pond are sculptures depicting dancers, Elephants, musicians and dwarfs.
Ambasthala Chetiya at Mihintale
The first monument that comes into view when entering the upper terrace is Ambastala dagoba built by King Mahadatika Mahanaga (09-21 AC). It is a small stupa surrounded by stone pillars forming a circle. The pillars are the unmistakable evidence that Ambastala dagoba was a circular relic house with a roof of wooden construction over the stupa supported on those pillars.
The site of Ambasthala Dagaba is believed to be the precise location at Mihintale where Mahathera Mahinda met King Devanampiya Tissa and the great sage delivered his first sermon on the mount, Cula Hatthipadopama Sutta.
Sila Chetiya at Mihintale
Sila Cetiya at the upper terrace is believed to have been built on a spot Buddha had seated on his third visit to Sri Lanka. It is a stupa built in the medieval era of Sri Lanka.
Mihindu Seya at Mihintale
Mihindu Seya was built by King Uttiya (210-200 BC) to enshrine a portion of the bodily relics of Mahinda Mahathera.
Aradhana Gala (The Rock of Invitation) at Mihintale
On the eastern side of the Ambasthala Cetiya is the rock called Aradhana Gala. It is believed to be the location where the novice monk Sumana invited the gods and deities to the first sermon of Mahinda Mahathera in Lanka.
Mihindu Guhawa, the cave of Mahinda at Mihintale
About three hundred yards downhill from the Upper terrace, on the eastern side a stone slab sheltered by another rock called Mihindu Guhawa Cave. It is believed to be the location where Mahinda mahathera mediated. The rectangular area is believed to be the bed of Mahathera Mahinda.
Mahaseya, the great stupa
Returning from Mihindu Guhawa Cave to the maluwa (plateau), the Mahasaya can be seen on the summit of the mountain to the south. 110 steps cut into the rock leads to the Mahasaya the great stupa. The largest stupa on the summit of the mountain, Mahasaya stupa is the monument all would invariably witness from far distant while arriving at Mihintale. Mahathupa is 45 feet in height 136 feet in diameter. The location of monument must have made the construction entailing as much expense and effort as one of the large monuments at the capital.
Naga Pokuna, the Cobra Pond at Mihintale
Just below the Mahasaya and Mihindu Saya at the foot of a steep hillock is the Naga Pokuna (Cobra Pond) built into a natural rock basin. Originally, a rainwater filled pool, following the establishment of the monastery, springs were tapped to maintain the storage of water. Naga Pokuna was central to the supply of water to the monastery: Lion Pond and Alms Hall too were supplied with water from Naga Pokuna. The name of Naga Pokuna is derived from the five hooded cobra cut in low relief on the rock surface.
Atvehera, The Inner Temple at Mihinatale
A long flight of some six hundred steps from Naga Pokuna leads to Atvehera stupa at Atvehera Kanda hill. Though the stupa at the summit of the hill is smaller than Mahasaya, the view from the location is panaromic.
Indikatuseya at Mihintale
Descending from Atvehera, at the ruins of the ancient hospital at the foot of the mountain, the main road Mihintale-Galkulama leads to an ancient vihara Indikatusaya to the right hand side. Well protected by a stone wall are ruins of two stupas. Indukatusaya, the larger of the two stupas, is built on an elevated platform paved with stone slabs. The platform is about 5 feet above the ground level and each side is about 40 feet. The stupa has basal terraces that differ in form and style from those of other stupas. The stairways are flanked by balustrades and a plain moonstone.
Rajagirilena Kanda, the Royal Rock Cave Hill at Mihintale
About half a kilometer from Indikatusaya along the gravel road and on the turning to the left is located Rajagirilena Kanda. On the low hill with a height of about of 100 feet, among the boulders at the summit are caves once occupied by the monks. Fairly roomy cells were formed by brick and clay walls that divide the interior sheltered by an overhanging rock roof. Rajagirilena Kanda with its airy caverns in a pleasant setting is believed to be first dwellings of the Buddhist monks at Mihintale.
Kaludiya Pokuna, the Black Water Pool at Mihintale
A short path of about fifty meters through the boulders at Rajagirilena Kanda leads to Kaludiya Pokuna, the central attraction of the hill named Porodini in the Mihintale Tablets of King Mahinda the 4th. Kaludiya Pokuna, the largest pool at Mihintale measures 200 feet in length and 70 feet in width. Around the pool are the ruins of meditation halls, bathing houses and walled caves. The name Black Water Pool was a result of the dark shadows left upon the waters by the rock boulders and shady trees surrounding the pool.
Yapahuwa in Sri Lanka
Yapahuwa is located 112 km away from Colombo in the North-western province of Sri Lanka midway between Kurunegala and Anuradhapura.
Reaching Yaphuwa
Yapahuwa can be reached by A28 main motor road as well as by the northern Railway line. Yapahuwa is 5k east of Maho railway station.
Ruins in Yapahuwa
A royal residence in 13th century Yapahuwa was able to preserve some interesting remains. While many traces of other ancient defenses are still be seen, an ornamental stairway remains it’s the main draw.
Located at Kurunegala, North Western Province of Sri Lanka, Yapahuwa ancient fortress rises to a height of 90 m above the surrounding plains. Built by King Buwanekabahu the First as the capital of Sri Lanka in 1301, today, the Royal residence, the Temple of Tooth Relic, the battle defences are in ruins. While many traces of other ancient defenses are still be seen, an ornamental stairway remains it’s the main draw.
The ruined walls of Yapahuwa form a rough semicircle. The ends join the foot of the high steep-sided rocky granite outcrop. The outer fortification, an earthen rampart extends to about a mile is about 20feet in height. Over the rampart are the ruins of a brick wall that was erected for defences. Around the rampart was a moat. Around the rampart was a moat. Access to the fortress was by means of the three gates that connected to three causeways. Within this rampart was an inner fortification: a stone wall 12 feet in height and about 500 yards long with a moat outside it and with two gates.
The homes of the ordinary people would have been between the outer and inner walls while king’s palace, administrative buildings and of course the Temple of the Tooth were within the inner wall.
Stone Stairway in Yapahuwa
The Stone stairway originally comprised of three flights of stone stairs, one above the other, however the lower one has disappeared and been replaced by cement steps. The walls on either side of the stairway form pavilions in each of which is a graceful female figure. Above these sculptures are sculptures of stylized goggle-eyed spring and the in balustrades above these, the head of lions have transformed into the Elephants with their trunks extended. Beautiful rock carvings of jubilant musicians, dancers and drummers decorate the last staircase and the porch above them.
Doorway in Yapahuwa
Finally at the top of the stairway the pilgrim will reach the impressive and harmoniously conceived doorway that once led into the Temple of the Tooth. Passing through the door the pilgrim will see directly in front of him or her the foundations of the temple. The rough path to the top of the rock is to the left. It is a steep climb but well worth the effort. From the palace and temple a The rough path to the top of the rock is to the left. It is a steep path leads up to terrace on which there are some unidentifiable remains and a modern dagaba. The view, however, is sufficient reward for the strenuous climb.
Caves at the top of the rock in Yapahuwa
The rough path to the top of the rock is a steep climb. At the top of the hill are caves inhabited by ascetic monks for centuries before Yapahuwa became the capital of Sri Lanka.
Caves in Yapahuwa
In one of the caves at the base of rock is a shrine with Buddha images. One cave has a Brahmi script inscription.At the southern base of the rock there is a fortification with two moats and ramparts. In this enclosure there are the remains of a number of buildings including a Buddhist shrine. There is also a Buddhist temple called Yapawwa Rajamaha Vihara built during the Kandyan period.
History of Yapahuwa
Following the decline of Polonnaruwa kingdom, the capital of Sri Lanka was shifted to Yapahuwa by King Buwanekabahu the first. The palladium of the Sinhalese Buddhist nation, the sacred tooth relic of Buddha was enshrined within the newly built temple at the Yapahuwa. However Yapahuwa too once again fell to the marauding Dravidian invaders from Southern India. After the death of Buwanekabahu the first, the Pandayan marauders invaded the island once again, pillaged the kingdom of Yapahuwa and carried the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha to the Pandayan Kingdom.
The successor to Buwanekabahu the first, King Parakkramabahu the third (1287–1293) having visited the Pandayan court in Southern India in 1288, secured the Sacred Tooth Relic, the palladium of the nation, once again, to the great relief of the Sinhalese.
New museum in Yapahuwa
New museum situated at the entrance to the rock fortress, contains a modest collection of antiquities found in and around Yapahuwa. The museum houses a collection of excavated relics found in the area. And among them is a hoard of ancient Chinese coins and artefacts that testify to a once flourishing trade between the kingdom of Yapahuwa and China.
Reaching Yaphuwa
Yapahuwa can be reached by A28 main motor road as well as by the northern Railway line. Yapahuwa is 5k east of Maho railway station.
Ruins in Yapahuwa
A royal residence in 13th century Yapahuwa was able to preserve some interesting remains. While many traces of other ancient defenses are still be seen, an ornamental stairway remains it’s the main draw.
Located at Kurunegala, North Western Province of Sri Lanka, Yapahuwa ancient fortress rises to a height of 90 m above the surrounding plains. Built by King Buwanekabahu the First as the capital of Sri Lanka in 1301, today, the Royal residence, the Temple of Tooth Relic, the battle defences are in ruins. While many traces of other ancient defenses are still be seen, an ornamental stairway remains it’s the main draw.
The ruined walls of Yapahuwa form a rough semicircle. The ends join the foot of the high steep-sided rocky granite outcrop. The outer fortification, an earthen rampart extends to about a mile is about 20feet in height. Over the rampart are the ruins of a brick wall that was erected for defences. Around the rampart was a moat. Around the rampart was a moat. Access to the fortress was by means of the three gates that connected to three causeways. Within this rampart was an inner fortification: a stone wall 12 feet in height and about 500 yards long with a moat outside it and with two gates.
The homes of the ordinary people would have been between the outer and inner walls while king’s palace, administrative buildings and of course the Temple of the Tooth were within the inner wall.
Stone Stairway in Yapahuwa
The Stone stairway originally comprised of three flights of stone stairs, one above the other, however the lower one has disappeared and been replaced by cement steps. The walls on either side of the stairway form pavilions in each of which is a graceful female figure. Above these sculptures are sculptures of stylized goggle-eyed spring and the in balustrades above these, the head of lions have transformed into the Elephants with their trunks extended. Beautiful rock carvings of jubilant musicians, dancers and drummers decorate the last staircase and the porch above them.
Doorway in Yapahuwa
Finally at the top of the stairway the pilgrim will reach the impressive and harmoniously conceived doorway that once led into the Temple of the Tooth. Passing through the door the pilgrim will see directly in front of him or her the foundations of the temple. The rough path to the top of the rock is to the left. It is a steep climb but well worth the effort. From the palace and temple a The rough path to the top of the rock is to the left. It is a steep path leads up to terrace on which there are some unidentifiable remains and a modern dagaba. The view, however, is sufficient reward for the strenuous climb.
Caves at the top of the rock in Yapahuwa
The rough path to the top of the rock is a steep climb. At the top of the hill are caves inhabited by ascetic monks for centuries before Yapahuwa became the capital of Sri Lanka.
Caves in Yapahuwa
In one of the caves at the base of rock is a shrine with Buddha images. One cave has a Brahmi script inscription.At the southern base of the rock there is a fortification with two moats and ramparts. In this enclosure there are the remains of a number of buildings including a Buddhist shrine. There is also a Buddhist temple called Yapawwa Rajamaha Vihara built during the Kandyan period.
History of Yapahuwa
Following the decline of Polonnaruwa kingdom, the capital of Sri Lanka was shifted to Yapahuwa by King Buwanekabahu the first. The palladium of the Sinhalese Buddhist nation, the sacred tooth relic of Buddha was enshrined within the newly built temple at the Yapahuwa. However Yapahuwa too once again fell to the marauding Dravidian invaders from Southern India. After the death of Buwanekabahu the first, the Pandayan marauders invaded the island once again, pillaged the kingdom of Yapahuwa and carried the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha to the Pandayan Kingdom.
The successor to Buwanekabahu the first, King Parakkramabahu the third (1287–1293) having visited the Pandayan court in Southern India in 1288, secured the Sacred Tooth Relic, the palladium of the nation, once again, to the great relief of the Sinhalese.
New museum in Yapahuwa
New museum situated at the entrance to the rock fortress, contains a modest collection of antiquities found in and around Yapahuwa. The museum houses a collection of excavated relics found in the area. And among them is a hoard of ancient Chinese coins and artefacts that testify to a once flourishing trade between the kingdom of Yapahuwa and China.
Kalutara in Sri Lanka.
Kalutara in Sri Lanka.
Holidays in Kalutara offer laid back relaxation and a generous helping of authentic Sri Lankan culture, not to mention a dash of old colonial charm. This is an up-and-coming resort with a wonderful, palm fringed beach, although the nightlife remains pretty low key, so you won't get dancing 'til dawn. What you will get is plenty of beautiful, tropical scenery and several interesting sights, like the world's only hollow Buddhist shrine and an elegant plantation mansion, rather grandly named Richmond Castle.
If you're looking for cheap holidays to Kalutara, you may be lucky. But the hotels are mostly luxury, resort-style properties, so it's not the kind of place that caters much for those on a very tight budget. Typical are the Kani Lanka Resort and the Royal Palms Beach Resort, both of which have superb facilities, including health spas. As for all inclusive holidays to Kalutara, there's the Ramada Resort, where you can top up your tan, play a couple of sets of tennis, have a work out, revitalise with a massage and round off the day with a slap-up meal in one of the hotel's two fine restaurants.
Tell people you're going to travel to Kalutara and, if they know Sri Lanka, they might mention the resort's main claim to fame ? the mangosteen. A slice of this luscious purple fruit with juicy white flesh is not to be missed, particularly if it's washed down with a glass of arrack, the local fire water made from sweet, milky coconut blossom
Kalutara Highlights
Kalutara Beach
'With its mystical shrines, relaxed vibe and soft, palm-fringed sands, Kalutara captures the tropical spirit and culture of Sri Lanka in a nutshell.'
A sprinkling of colonial history. A fascinating window into the inner peace offered by Sri Lanka s' Buddhism. Kalutara presents some tasty holiday side dishes. But the main course is undoubtedly the highlight ? those whiter-than-white sugar-soft sands. Originally a spice port governed by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, its main claim to fame now is undoubtedly its gorgeous long beach bordered by verdant palm plantations. Here, it's easy to cast your cares aside and lose yourself in a book or the incredible panorama. When you feel reality creeping back into your idyll, park yourself at one of the good quality beachside restaurants for a steaming platter of the plump, pink tiger prawns or lobster fished from the warm crystal-clear waters. Wash it down with an ice-cold beer or wine, let the laid-back vibe take over again and head back to the sands. Inland visit Richmond Castle, a grandly named British plantation mansion. A stroll in the gardens will whisk you instantly back to a long-gone colonial age. Or tune into the tranquil contentment that fills the Gangatilaka Vihara, the world's only hollow Buddhist shrine. Outside, crowds make offerings of food, flowers and prayers. Tiptoe inside to gaze at the 74 brightly painted wall murals depicting the sacred man's life story. Elsewhere, jovial shop owners and roadside vendors hawk Kalutara's famous basketware ? bags, mats and artifacts woven from stiff palm leaves. And if you're here at the right time of year, sink your teeth into the town's juicy mangosteens, considered the finest on the island.
Kalutara Beach
Kani Lanka Resort & Spa
Kani Lanka Resort & Spa, situated on the tip of the Kalu Ganga River mouth, Kalutara, Sri Lanka, is truly in a spectacular setting, where two opposite forces of nature, "Karadiya" (sea water) joins "Miridiya" (river water). [read more] It is the "Konaya", meaning corner, where a Great River meets the Indian Ocean, where the soul encounters the spirit, where dreams become reality.
The resort comprises 99 superior rooms and 6 suites, which have spectacular views of the sea, river and garden with private balconies or patios.
Kani Lanka Resort & Spa
Royal Palms Beach Hotel
The Royal Palms Beach Hotel has been designed with the luxury seeker in mind. This is sheer extravagance, starting with the plush interiors fitted with amenities of the highest standard. The clever use of colour creates a startling contrast from the bright splashes of green foliage on the balconies combined with the attractive warm red tones of the brick building and tiered pagoda-style roof. Balconies are spacious and angled to provide maximum privacy while offering a superb view of the palm-fringed beach.
Holidays in Kalutara offer laid back relaxation and a generous helping of authentic Sri Lankan culture, not to mention a dash of old colonial charm. This is an up-and-coming resort with a wonderful, palm fringed beach, although the nightlife remains pretty low key, so you won't get dancing 'til dawn. What you will get is plenty of beautiful, tropical scenery and several interesting sights, like the world's only hollow Buddhist shrine and an elegant plantation mansion, rather grandly named Richmond Castle.
If you're looking for cheap holidays to Kalutara, you may be lucky. But the hotels are mostly luxury, resort-style properties, so it's not the kind of place that caters much for those on a very tight budget. Typical are the Kani Lanka Resort and the Royal Palms Beach Resort, both of which have superb facilities, including health spas. As for all inclusive holidays to Kalutara, there's the Ramada Resort, where you can top up your tan, play a couple of sets of tennis, have a work out, revitalise with a massage and round off the day with a slap-up meal in one of the hotel's two fine restaurants.
Tell people you're going to travel to Kalutara and, if they know Sri Lanka, they might mention the resort's main claim to fame ? the mangosteen. A slice of this luscious purple fruit with juicy white flesh is not to be missed, particularly if it's washed down with a glass of arrack, the local fire water made from sweet, milky coconut blossom
Kalutara Highlights
Kalutara Beach
'With its mystical shrines, relaxed vibe and soft, palm-fringed sands, Kalutara captures the tropical spirit and culture of Sri Lanka in a nutshell.'
A sprinkling of colonial history. A fascinating window into the inner peace offered by Sri Lanka s' Buddhism. Kalutara presents some tasty holiday side dishes. But the main course is undoubtedly the highlight ? those whiter-than-white sugar-soft sands. Originally a spice port governed by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, its main claim to fame now is undoubtedly its gorgeous long beach bordered by verdant palm plantations. Here, it's easy to cast your cares aside and lose yourself in a book or the incredible panorama. When you feel reality creeping back into your idyll, park yourself at one of the good quality beachside restaurants for a steaming platter of the plump, pink tiger prawns or lobster fished from the warm crystal-clear waters. Wash it down with an ice-cold beer or wine, let the laid-back vibe take over again and head back to the sands. Inland visit Richmond Castle, a grandly named British plantation mansion. A stroll in the gardens will whisk you instantly back to a long-gone colonial age. Or tune into the tranquil contentment that fills the Gangatilaka Vihara, the world's only hollow Buddhist shrine. Outside, crowds make offerings of food, flowers and prayers. Tiptoe inside to gaze at the 74 brightly painted wall murals depicting the sacred man's life story. Elsewhere, jovial shop owners and roadside vendors hawk Kalutara's famous basketware ? bags, mats and artifacts woven from stiff palm leaves. And if you're here at the right time of year, sink your teeth into the town's juicy mangosteens, considered the finest on the island.
Kalutara Beach
Kani Lanka Resort & Spa
Kani Lanka Resort & Spa, situated on the tip of the Kalu Ganga River mouth, Kalutara, Sri Lanka, is truly in a spectacular setting, where two opposite forces of nature, "Karadiya" (sea water) joins "Miridiya" (river water). [read more] It is the "Konaya", meaning corner, where a Great River meets the Indian Ocean, where the soul encounters the spirit, where dreams become reality.
The resort comprises 99 superior rooms and 6 suites, which have spectacular views of the sea, river and garden with private balconies or patios.
Kani Lanka Resort & Spa
Royal Palms Beach Hotel
The Royal Palms Beach Hotel has been designed with the luxury seeker in mind. This is sheer extravagance, starting with the plush interiors fitted with amenities of the highest standard. The clever use of colour creates a startling contrast from the bright splashes of green foliage on the balconies combined with the attractive warm red tones of the brick building and tiered pagoda-style roof. Balconies are spacious and angled to provide maximum privacy while offering a superb view of the palm-fringed beach.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Ceylon Tea in Sri Lanka
Until the 1860’s THE MAIN CROP PRODUCED on the island of Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, was coffee. But in 1869, the coffee-rust fungus, Hemileia vastatrix, killed the majority of of the coffee plants and estate owners had to diversify into other crops in order to avoid total ruin.
The owners of Loolecondera Estate had been interested in tea since the late 1850’s and in 1866, James Taylor, a recently arrived Scot, was selected to be in charge of the first sowing of tea seeds in 1867, on 19 acres of land.Taylor had acquired some basic knowledge of tea cultivation in North India and made some initial experiments in manufacture, using his bungalow verandah as the factory and rolling the leaf by hand on tables. Firing of the oxidized leaf was carried out on clay stoves over charcoal fires with the leaf on wire trays. His first teas were sold locally and were declared delicious. By 1872, Taylor had a fully equipped factory, and, in 1873, his first quality teas were sold for a very good price at the London auction. Through his dedication and determination, Taylor was largely responsible for the early success of the tea crop in Ceylon. Between 1873 and 1880, production rose from just 23 pounds to 81.3 tons, and by 1890, to 22,899.8 tons.
Most of the Ceylon tea gardens are situated at elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet in two areas of the southwestern part of the island, to the east of Colombo and in the Galle district on the southern point. In the hot, steamy plains and foothills, the tea bushes flush every seven or eight days and are picked all year round. The finest teas are gathered from late June to the end of August in eastern districts and from the beginning of February to mid-March in the western parts.
Until 1971, more than 80 percent of the island’s tea estates were owned and managed by British companies.
In 1971, the Sri Lankan government introduced a Land Reform Act which gave the state control of the majority of the plantations (which also grow rubber and coconuts for export) leaving about one-third in private hands. Since 1990, a restructuring program has been going on to involve the private sector companies (both Sri Lankan and foreign) as Managing Agents of the state-owned plantations. The long-term aim is for the private managing companies to take on most, if not all, of the financial responsibility and control of the estates, with the government retaining ownership.
Ceylon Tea Highlights
Tea pickers gathering leaves into their baskets
Extreme political, industrial, and economic problems over the past years have meant that Sri Lanka has fallen from the position of number one producer in the world to number eight in 1993. Producers are having to face major decisions regarding production methods, product range, and export markets. Although the U.K was once Sri Lanka?s biggest customer, almost 70 percent of production now goes to Russia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The Arab market used to prefer orthodox teas but consumers there are steadily moving towards European tastes and are demanding more tea in tea bags. Sri Lanka?s fine orthodox teas, considered by many to be among the best teas in the world, are not suitable for tea bags.
Only 3 percent of production in 1993 was CTC and producers are having to decide whether to convert to CTC production in order to reach a wider market. Some manufacturers think that there will always be a market for the orthodox teas; others think that CTC is the best way forward.
New customers are also being sought for the increasing range of packeted teas?in sachets, cartons, economy packs, reed ware, basket packs, soft wood boxes, tins, and canisters?that are now available. Products containing 100 percent Ceylon tea are now using the Lion logo, developed by the Ceylon Tea Board, that guarantees the country of origin and protects the image of Sri Lanka?s quality teas.
Produced mainly from bushes that grow above 4,000 feet
Sri Lanka?s finest teas are produced mainly from bushes that grow above 4,000 feet. The bushes grow more slowly in the cooler, mistier Climate, and are harder to harvest because of the steep angle of the slopes on which they are planted.
There are six main tea-producing areas. Galle, to the south of the island; Ratnapura, about 55 miles east of the capital Colombo; Kandy, the low region near the ancient royal capital; Nuwara Eliya, the highest area that produces the finest teas; Dimbula, west of the central mountains; and Uva, located east of Dimbula.
The teas produced in each region have their own individual characteristics of flavor, aroma, and color. Low-grown teas, produced at 1,500 to 1,800 feet, are of good quality and give good color and strength but lack the distinctive flavor and bright fresh taste of the higher-grown teas and are usually used in blending. Mid-grown teas, grown between 1,800 and 3,500 feet, are rich in flavor and give good color.
High-grown teas, from heights of between 3,500 and 7,500 feet, are the very best that Sti Lanka produces, giving a beautiful golden liquor and an intense powerful flavor As well as the wonderful black teas, some estates also produce silver tip white tea that gives a very pale straw-colored liquor and should be drunk without milk All Sri Lanka?s black teas are best drunk with a little milk.
History of Ceylon Tea
In the 1840 a Scotsman by the name of James Taylor read about the Jewel of an Island called Ceylon and the opportunities existing there for growing coffee. A few months later he moved to the Hill Country area and planted not only coffee but also some tea seeds from India.
The "ugly little shrub" was grown next to his acres of coffee and provided large yields. It wasn't till a couple of seasons later that a virulent leaf disease devastated his whole plantation but the "ugly little shrub" was immune and the Tea Industry came into being. Soon the perilously steep mountainside of the hill country were carpeted with the vibrant green of tea bushes. And Ceylon Tea became the worlds favorite beverage.
The origins of Tea was with the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung who was boiling water when the leaves from a nearby plant Camellia sinensis plant floated into the pot. The emperor drank the mixture and declared it gave one "vigor of body, contentment of mind, and determination of purpose." Perhaps as testament to the emperor's assessment, tea the potion he unwittingly brewed that day today is second only to water in worldwide consumption.
The U.S. population is drinking its fair share of the brew; in 1994, Americans drank 2.25 billion gallons of tea in one form or another hot, iced, spiced, flavored, with or without sugar, honey, milk, cream, or lemon.
Cultivation
The Tea plant, Camellia Sansis, is cultivated variety of the tree originating from the region between India and China. The tea leaves are mostly hand plucked. When the plant is plucked two leaves and a bud are cut. An experienced plucker can pluck up to 30 kg tea leaves per day. To make one kg black tea, approximately 4 kg tea leaves are needed. One tea plant produces about 70 kg black tea a year.
In a warm Climate the plant is plucked for the first time after 4 years and will produce tea for at least 50 years. A suitable climate for cultivation has a minimum annual rainfall of 45 to 50 inches (l, 140 to 1,270 millimeters). Tea soils must be acid; tea cannot be grown in alkaline soils. A desirable pH value is 5.8 to 5.4 or less.
Scented and spiced teas are made from black tea. "Scented teas look just like any other tea," says FDA chemist and tea expert Robert Dick, " because the scent is more or less sprayed on. They're flavored with just about anything peach, vanilla, cherry. The spiced teas, on the other hand, usually contain pieces of spices cinnamon or nutmeg or orange or lemon peel so you can see there's something in there."
Black Tea Blends
Like coffee plants, tea likes hot days, cool nights and plenty of rain, and also like coffee, most high quality tea is grown in mountainous regions. During the growing season, tea is harvested every seven days. Only the two tender uppermost leaves and terminal buds are plucked by hand. After this gentle beginning, the leaves are left in a hot room to wither, then put into a machine that rolls the leaves and releases their juices.
These juices react with the air (oxidation) giving black teas the color and flavor we love. The tea is then dried in ovens (fired) and graded according to size. (this grading process is what is responsible for all of those confusing letters: OP (Orange Pekoe), BP (Broken Pekoe), and even FTGFOP (Fancy Tippy Golden Flowery Pekoe). Generally the more initials the better the Tea.
Herbal Teas
Not tea at all. Dried flowers, roots and bark have been brewed into a consumable hot liquid for many centuries as folk medicines throughout the Orient and Europe.
The European tradition is to use only one main herb, such as Chamomile. Americans, on the other hand, traditionally concoct potions containing many different herbs and flowers such as Rosehips and Hibiscus.
| How Tea is manufactured Everyday around 300,000 estate workers pluck several million tea leaves by hand. This is the first step in the manufacture of quality Ceylon tea. Only the bud and the two youngest leaves are plucked, for it is only these leaves that have the flavour and aroma. In other parts of the world plucking is done by machines. These machines pluck the bud, the young leaf, a lot of coarse leaf and few twigs as well. Coarse leaf and and twigs just add bulk and not flavour to the tea. The plucked tea leaf is then brought to the muster sheds where they are wheighed in, and first quality inspection is made. The leaf is then moved to the factory where they are withered using large blowers. The next step in the manufacturing process involves, cutting the leaves. This brings out the juices and begins the fermentation process. Fermentation is the critical step. The humidity, temperature and fermentation time has to be well controled or the flavour is lost. After fermentation is completed, the leaf is fired, to lock in the flavour, to dry it and to improve the keeping qualities. Absoloutely no preservative or artificial flavouring are added in the manufacture of pure Ceylon tea. The final step is the separation of the product according the color and the particle size. Here strignent quality control is done and anything that does not measure upto the standards is rejected. The finished product is shipped in bulk to mainly to europe, the middle-east, Australia, and North America. Only the best tea is exported. Unfortunately once it leaves Sri Lanka it is mixed with lower quality and cheaper produce from the African countries and India. |
References :-
http://www.angelfire.com/wi/SriLanka/ceyl_tea.htm
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Pinnawala in Sri Lanka
The Pinnewela Elephant Orphanage is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka wildlife department in a 25 acre coconut property near the Maha Oya river. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned Elephants found in the jungle. As of 2003, there were 65 elephants.
In 1978 the orphanage was taken over by the National Zoological Gardens from the Department of Wildlife and a captive breeding program was launched in 1982. Since this time over twenty elephants have been born. The aim of the orphanage is to simulate the natural world. However, there are some exceptions: the elephants are taken to the river twice daily for a bath, and all the babies under three years of age are still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers. Each animal is also given around 76kg of green matter a day and around 2kg from a food bag containing rice bran and maize. They get access to water twice a day, from the river.
The orphanage is very popular and visited daily by many Sri Lankan and foreign tourists. The main attraction is clearly to observe the bathing elephants from the tall river bank as it allows visitors to observe the herd interacting socially, bathing and playing.
This 24 acre elephant orphanage is also a breeding place for elephants. Twenty elephants have been born since 1984, and the orphanage has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. While most of the elephants are healthy, one is blind and one, named Sama, has lost her front left leg due to a landmine.
Pinnawala Highlights
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage Sri Lanka
Pinnawela elephant orphanage has existed since 1975 and has grown to become one of the most popular attractions of Sri Lanka.before the arrival of the British in 1815 an estimated 30,000 Elephants lived on the island. In the 1960s, the elephant population was close to extinction. This prompted the Sri Lankan government to found an orphanage for elephants that had lost their mothers or herds. Today, their number is around 3,000.
Pinnawela, about 80 km northeast of Colombo, is regarded as the biggest herd of captive elephants in the world. Among the elephants is one that lost a foot when it stepped on a mine. Another is blind and is totally reliant on humans. The elephant herd in Pinnawela makes the journey to the river twice a day to bathe under the eyes of the tourists. For a few Sri Lankan rupees they are allowed to touch the animals. The sound of cameras clicking increases everytime one of the young elephant babies splashes about in the water. But anyone who wants to take a picture of the babies feeding in the orphanage has to pay extra for the privilege.
Some 110 people are employed to care for the herd feeding them with leaves from palm trees. About 14,000 kg of food are needed every day. The Pinnawela elephant orphanage is financed by the government and by charging visitors to see the animals.
In 1978 the orphanage was taken over by the National Zoological Gardens from the Department of Wildlife and a captive breeding program was launched in 1982. Since this time over twenty elephants have been born. The aim of the orphanage is to simulate the natural world. However, there are some exceptions: the elephants are taken to the river twice daily for a bath, and all the babies under three years of age are still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers. Each animal is also given around 76kg of green matter a day and around 2kg from a food bag containing rice bran and maize. They get access to water twice a day, from the river.
The orphanage is very popular and visited daily by many Sri Lankan and foreign tourists. The main attraction is clearly to observe the bathing elephants from the tall river bank as it allows visitors to observe the herd interacting socially, bathing and playing.
This 24 acre elephant orphanage is also a breeding place for elephants. Twenty elephants have been born since 1984, and the orphanage has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. While most of the elephants are healthy, one is blind and one, named Sama, has lost her front left leg due to a landmine.
Pinnawala Highlights
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage Sri Lanka
Pinnawela elephant orphanage has existed since 1975 and has grown to become one of the most popular attractions of Sri Lanka.before the arrival of the British in 1815 an estimated 30,000 Elephants lived on the island. In the 1960s, the elephant population was close to extinction. This prompted the Sri Lankan government to found an orphanage for elephants that had lost their mothers or herds. Today, their number is around 3,000.
Pinnawela, about 80 km northeast of Colombo, is regarded as the biggest herd of captive elephants in the world. Among the elephants is one that lost a foot when it stepped on a mine. Another is blind and is totally reliant on humans. The elephant herd in Pinnawela makes the journey to the river twice a day to bathe under the eyes of the tourists. For a few Sri Lankan rupees they are allowed to touch the animals. The sound of cameras clicking increases everytime one of the young elephant babies splashes about in the water. But anyone who wants to take a picture of the babies feeding in the orphanage has to pay extra for the privilege.
Some 110 people are employed to care for the herd feeding them with leaves from palm trees. About 14,000 kg of food are needed every day. The Pinnawela elephant orphanage is financed by the government and by charging visitors to see the animals.
Sigiriya
The Lion Mountain in Sri Lanka.
The Lion Mountain Highlights
Just past the damsels, the pathway runs along the face the rock, bounded on one side by the Mirror Wall. This was originally coated in highly polished plaster made from lime, egg white, beeswax and wild honey; sections c of the original plaster survive and still retain a marvelous polished sheen. The wall is cc covered in graffiti, the oldest dating from the seventh century, in which early visitors recorded their impressions of Sigiriya and, especially, the nearby damsels - even after-the city was abandoned, Sigiriya continued to draw a steady stream of tourists curious to see the remains of Kassapa’s fabulous pleasure-dome. Taken to together, the graffiti form a kind of early medieval visitors’ book, and the 685 comments which have been deciphered give important insights into the development of the Sinhalese language and script; some are also of a certain poetic merit. Sadly, the older graffiti are very small and rather hard to see under the h layers of deranged scribbling left by later and less cultured hands.
Beyond the Mirror Wall, the path runs along a perilous-looking iron walkway bolted onto the sheer rock face. From here you can see a huge boulder below, propped up on stone slabs. The rather far-fetched popular theory is that, in the event of attack, the slabs would have been knocked away, causing the boulder to fall onto the attackers below, though it’s more likely that the slabs were designed D Stop the boulder inadvertently falling down over the cliff.
Continuing up the rock, a flight of limestone steps climbs steeply up to the Lion Platform, a large spur projecting from the north side of the rock, just below the summit (vendors sell fizzy drinks here at slightly inflated prices). From here, a final staircase, its base flanked by two enormous paws carved out of the rock, leads up to all that remains of a gigantic lion statue – the final path to the summit apparently led directly into its mouth. Visitors to Kassapa were, one imagines, suitably impressed by this gigantic conceit and by the symbolism – lions were the most important emblem of Sinhalese royalty, and the beast’s size was presumably meant to reflect Kassapa’s prestige and buttress his questionable legitimacy to the throne.
The wire-mesh cages on the Lion Platform were built as refuges in the (Fortunately unlikely) event of bee attacks – you can see bees’ nests clinging to the under said of the rock overhang above, to the left of the stairs. The whole section of rock face above re is scored with countless notches and grooves which once supported steps up to the summit: in a supreme irony, it appears that Kassapa was afraid of heights, and it’s thought that these original steps would have been enclosed by a high wall — though this isn’t much comfort for latter-day sufferers of vertigo, who have to make the final ascent to the summit up a narrow iron staircase attached to the bare rock face.
The ancient king's Upper Palace is located at the flat top of Sigiriya Rock. On the middle terrace is the Lion Gate and the Mirror Wall, with its frescoes. The king's Lower Palace clings to the slopes below the rock. The moats, walls and gardens of the palace extend for a few hundreds meters from the base of the rock.
Tour Sigiriya
Visitors arrive outside the outer moats, with the rock rising above the trees in the mid distance. Paths through the complex of moats and gardens lead to the foot of the slope. Stone stairways climb the steep slope at the base of the rock, winding through the remains of the lower parts of the palace, reaching a terrace that traverses along the lower edge of the vertical face of the rock. The rock above this terrace, known as the mirror wall, was at one time adorned with frescoes, some of which can still be seen, though unfortunately now much faded. At the end of the terrace beneath the highest part of the rock, the terrace opens out into a substantial courtyard.
From here the climb to the top of the rock is via a modern iron stairway that reaches the rock face through the remains of the original brick gateway, the Lion Gate, now degenerated to a massive pair of brick paws. The ruined paws are all that remain of a huge head and fore paws of a lion, whose open mouth served as the entrance to the royal palace. The route continues around, across and up the cliff face via a rather airy iron staircase, a modern replacement for the original brick stairway, that vanished along with the lion's head during the 1400 years since the palace was constructed.
The stairway ends at the highest point of the rock, the upper palace falls away in gentle tiers towards the opposite end of the rock from this point. The ruins of the palace buildings rise only perhaps half a metre above the surface of the rock, but the extensive works cut into the surface of the rock have endured better.
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Inscriptions found in the caves which honeycomb the base of the rock indicate that Sigiriya served as a place of religious retreat as far back as the third century BC, when Buddhist monks established refuges here. It wasn’t until the fifth century AD, however, that Sigiriya rose briefly to pre-eminence in Sri Lankan affairs, following the power struggle which succeeded the reign of Dhatusena (455-473) of Anuradhapura. Dhatusena had two sons, Mogallana, by the most pre-eminent of his various queens, and Kassapa, his son by a lesser consort. Upon hearing that Mogallana had been declared heir to the throne, Kassapa rebelled, driving Mogallana into exile in India and imprisoning his father. The legend of Dhatusena’s subsequent demise offers an instructive illustration of the importance given to water in early Sinhalese civilization. Threatened with death if he refused to reveal the whereabouts of the state treasure, Dhatusena agreed to show his errant son its location if he was permitted to bathe one final time in the great Kalawewa Tank, whose creation he had overseen. Standing in the tank, Dhatusena poured its water through his ha hands and told Kassapa that this alone was his treasure. Kassapa, none too impressed, had his father walled up in a chamber and left him to die.
Mogallana, meanwhile, vowed to return from India and reclaim his inheritance. Kassapa, preparing for the expected invasion, constructed a new residence on top of the 200-metre-high Sigiriya rock — a combination of pleasure palace and impregnable fortress, which Kassapa intended would emulate the legendary abode of Kubera, the god of wealth, while a new city was established around its base. According to tradition, the entire extraordinary structure was built in just seven years, from 477 to 485.
The long-awaited invasion finally materialized in 491, Mogallana having raised an army of Tamil mercenaries to fight his cause. Despite the benefits of his impregnable fortress, Kassapa, in an act of fatalistic bravado, descended from his rocky eminence and rode boldly out on an elephant at the head of his troops to meet the attackers on the plains below. Unfortunately for Kassapa, his elephant took fright and bolted at the height of the battle. His troops, thinking he was retreating, fell back and left he cut off. Facing certain capture and defeat, Kassapa killed himself. Following Mogallana’s recon quest, Sigiriya was handed over to the Buddhist monks, after which its caves once again became home to religious ascetics seeking peace and solitude. The site was finally abandoned in 1155, after which it remained largely forgotten, excepting brief periods of military use by the Kingdom of Kandy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, until being rediscovered by the British in 1828.
Mogallana, meanwhile, vowed to return from India and reclaim his inheritance. Kassapa, preparing for the expected invasion, constructed a new residence on top of the 200-metre-high Sigiriya rock — a combination of pleasure palace and impregnable fortress, which Kassapa intended would emulate the legendary abode of Kubera, the god of wealth, while a new city was established around its base. According to tradition, the entire extraordinary structure was built in just seven years, from 477 to 485.
The long-awaited invasion finally materialized in 491, Mogallana having raised an army of Tamil mercenaries to fight his cause. Despite the benefits of his impregnable fortress, Kassapa, in an act of fatalistic bravado, descended from his rocky eminence and rode boldly out on an elephant at the head of his troops to meet the attackers on the plains below. Unfortunately for Kassapa, his elephant took fright and bolted at the height of the battle. His troops, thinking he was retreating, fell back and left he cut off. Facing certain capture and defeat, Kassapa killed himself. Following Mogallana’s recon quest, Sigiriya was handed over to the Buddhist monks, after which its caves once again became home to religious ascetics seeking peace and solitude. The site was finally abandoned in 1155, after which it remained largely forgotten, excepting brief periods of military use by the Kingdom of Kandy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, until being rediscovered by the British in 1828.
The Lion Mountain Highlights
- The Boulder Gardens and Terrace Gardens
Beyond the Water Gardens the main path begins to climb up through the very different Boulder Gardens, constructed out of the huge boulders which lie tumbled around the foot of the rock, and offering a naturalistic wildness very different from the neat symmetries of the water gardens. Many of the boulders are notched with lines of holes — they look rather like rock-cut steps, but In fact they were used as footings to support the brick walls or timber frames of the numerous buildings a which were built against or on top of the boulders – difficult to imagine now, although it must originally have made an extremely picturesque sight.
The gardens were also the centre of Sigiriya’s monastic activity before and after Kassapa: there are around twenty rock shelters hereabouts which were used by monks, some containing inscriptions dating form between the third century BC and the first century AD. The caves would originally have been plastered and painted, and traces of this decoration can still be seen in a few places; you’ll also notice the dripstone ledges which were carved around the entrances to many of the caves of to prevent water from running into them. The Deraniyagala cave, just to the left of the path shortly after it begins to climb up through the gardens (there’s no sing), has a well-preserved dripstone ledge and traces of old paintings including the faded remains of various apsara figures very similar to the famous Sigiriya Damsels further up the rock. On the opposite side of the main path up the rock, a side path leads to the Cobra Hood Cave, named for its uncanny decoration and a very faint inscription on the ledge in archaic Brahmi script dating from the second century BC.
Follow the path up the hill behind the Cobra Hood Cave and up through “Boulder Arch no.2” (as it’s signed), then turn left to reach the so-called
Audience Hall the wooden walls and roof have long since disappeared, but the impressively smooth floor, created by chiseling the top off a single enormous boulder, remains, along with a five-metre-wide “throne” also Cut out of hall, though it’s more likely to have served a purely religious function, with the empty throne representing the Buddha. The small cave on the path just below the Audience Hall retains colorful splashes of various paintings on its ceiling (though now almost obliterated by cretinous contemporary graffiti) and is home to another throne, while a couple more thrones can be found carved into nearby rocks.
Carry on back to the main path, then head on up again as the path – now a sequence of walled – in steps – begins to climb steeply through the terrace gardens, a series rubble – retaining brick and limestone terraces that stretch to the base of views back down below.
The gardens were also the centre of Sigiriya’s monastic activity before and after Kassapa: there are around twenty rock shelters hereabouts which were used by monks, some containing inscriptions dating form between the third century BC and the first century AD. The caves would originally have been plastered and painted, and traces of this decoration can still be seen in a few places; you’ll also notice the dripstone ledges which were carved around the entrances to many of the caves of to prevent water from running into them. The Deraniyagala cave, just to the left of the path shortly after it begins to climb up through the gardens (there’s no sing), has a well-preserved dripstone ledge and traces of old paintings including the faded remains of various apsara figures very similar to the famous Sigiriya Damsels further up the rock. On the opposite side of the main path up the rock, a side path leads to the Cobra Hood Cave, named for its uncanny decoration and a very faint inscription on the ledge in archaic Brahmi script dating from the second century BC.
Follow the path up the hill behind the Cobra Hood Cave and up through “Boulder Arch no.2” (as it’s signed), then turn left to reach the so-called
Audience Hall the wooden walls and roof have long since disappeared, but the impressively smooth floor, created by chiseling the top off a single enormous boulder, remains, along with a five-metre-wide “throne” also Cut out of hall, though it’s more likely to have served a purely religious function, with the empty throne representing the Buddha. The small cave on the path just below the Audience Hall retains colorful splashes of various paintings on its ceiling (though now almost obliterated by cretinous contemporary graffiti) and is home to another throne, while a couple more thrones can be found carved into nearby rocks.
Carry on back to the main path, then head on up again as the path – now a sequence of walled – in steps – begins to climb steeply through the terrace gardens, a series rubble – retaining brick and limestone terraces that stretch to the base of views back down below.
- The Water Gardens
From the entrance, a wide and straight path arrows directly towards tithe rock, following the line of an imaginary east-west axis, drawn straight through the rock, around which the whole city was planned This entire side of the city is protected by a broad moat enclosed within two-tiered walls. Crossing the moat (which once enclosed the entire west-facing side of the complex), you enter the Water Gardens. The appearance of this area varies greatly according to how much rain has recently fallen, and in the dry season lack of water means that the gardens can be a little underwhelming. The first section comprises four pools set in a square; when full, they create a small island at their centre, connected by pathways to the surrounding gardens. The remains of pavilions can be seen in the rectangular areas to the north and south of the pools. Beyond here is the small but elaborating Fountain Garden. Features here include serpentining miniature “river” and limestone-bottomed channels and ponds. Two of which preserve their ancient fountain sprinklers – these work on a simple pressure and gravity principle and still spurt out modest plumes of water after heavy rain. The whole complex offers a good example of the hydraulic sophistication achieved by the ancient Sinhalese in the dry zone: after almost 1500 years of disuse, all that was needed to resort the fountains to working order was to clear the water channels which feed them.
The Mirror Wall
Shortly after reaching the base of the rock, two incongruous nineteenth – century metal spiral staircases lead to and from a sheltered cave in the sheer rock face that holds Sri Lanka’s most famous sequence of frescoes, popularly referred to as the Sigiriya Damsels (no flash photography). These busty beauties were painted in the fifth century and are the only non-religious paintings to have survived from ancient Sri Lanka; they’re now one of the island’s most iconic- and most relentlessly reproduced – images. Once described as the largest picture Gallery in the world, it’s thought that these frescoes would originally have covered an area some 140 meters long by 40 meters high, though only 21 damsels now survive out of an original total of some five hundred (a number of paintings were destroyed by a vandal in 1967, while a few of the surviving pictures are roped off out of sight). The exact significance of the paintings is unclear: they were originally thought to depict Kassapa’s consorts, though according to modern art historians the most convincing theory is that they are portraits of apsaras (celestial nymphs), which would explain why they are shown from the waist up only, rising out of a cocoon of clouds (although even if this theory is true, the figures may, of course, have been modeled on particular beauties from Kassapa’s own court). The portrayal of the damsels is strikingly naturalistic, showing them scattering petals and offering flowers and trays of fruit – similar in a style to the famous murals at the Ajanta Caves in India, and a world away from the much later murals at nearby Dambulla, with their stylized and minutely detailed religious tableaux. An endearingly human touch is added by the slip of the brush visible here and there: one damsel has three hands, while another sports three nipples.
Just past the damsels, the pathway runs along the face the rock, bounded on one side by the Mirror Wall. This was originally coated in highly polished plaster made from lime, egg white, beeswax and wild honey; sections c of the original plaster survive and still retain a marvelous polished sheen. The wall is cc covered in graffiti, the oldest dating from the seventh century, in which early visitors recorded their impressions of Sigiriya and, especially, the nearby damsels - even after-the city was abandoned, Sigiriya continued to draw a steady stream of tourists curious to see the remains of Kassapa’s fabulous pleasure-dome. Taken to together, the graffiti form a kind of early medieval visitors’ book, and the 685 comments which have been deciphered give important insights into the development of the Sinhalese language and script; some are also of a certain poetic merit. Sadly, the older graffiti are very small and rather hard to see under the h layers of deranged scribbling left by later and less cultured hands.
Beyond the Mirror Wall, the path runs along a perilous-looking iron walkway bolted onto the sheer rock face. From here you can see a huge boulder below, propped up on stone slabs. The rather far-fetched popular theory is that, in the event of attack, the slabs would have been knocked away, causing the boulder to fall onto the attackers below, though it’s more likely that the slabs were designed D Stop the boulder inadvertently falling down over the cliff.
The Lion Staircase
Continuing up the rock, a flight of limestone steps climbs steeply up to the Lion Platform, a large spur projecting from the north side of the rock, just below the summit (vendors sell fizzy drinks here at slightly inflated prices). From here, a final staircase, its base flanked by two enormous paws carved out of the rock, leads up to all that remains of a gigantic lion statue – the final path to the summit apparently led directly into its mouth. Visitors to Kassapa were, one imagines, suitably impressed by this gigantic conceit and by the symbolism – lions were the most important emblem of Sinhalese royalty, and the beast’s size was presumably meant to reflect Kassapa’s prestige and buttress his questionable legitimacy to the throne.
The wire-mesh cages on the Lion Platform were built as refuges in the (Fortunately unlikely) event of bee attacks – you can see bees’ nests clinging to the under said of the rock overhang above, to the left of the stairs. The whole section of rock face above re is scored with countless notches and grooves which once supported steps up to the summit: in a supreme irony, it appears that Kassapa was afraid of heights, and it’s thought that these original steps would have been enclosed by a high wall — though this isn’t much comfort for latter-day sufferers of vertigo, who have to make the final ascent to the summit up a narrow iron staircase attached to the bare rock face.
Archeological Remains at Sigiriya
The ancient king's Upper Palace is located at the flat top of Sigiriya Rock. On the middle terrace is the Lion Gate and the Mirror Wall, with its frescoes. The king's Lower Palace clings to the slopes below the rock. The moats, walls and gardens of the palace extend for a few hundreds meters from the base of the rock.
Tour Sigiriya
Visitors arrive outside the outer moats, with the rock rising above the trees in the mid distance. Paths through the complex of moats and gardens lead to the foot of the slope. Stone stairways climb the steep slope at the base of the rock, winding through the remains of the lower parts of the palace, reaching a terrace that traverses along the lower edge of the vertical face of the rock. The rock above this terrace, known as the mirror wall, was at one time adorned with frescoes, some of which can still be seen, though unfortunately now much faded. At the end of the terrace beneath the highest part of the rock, the terrace opens out into a substantial courtyard.
From here the climb to the top of the rock is via a modern iron stairway that reaches the rock face through the remains of the original brick gateway, the Lion Gate, now degenerated to a massive pair of brick paws. The ruined paws are all that remain of a huge head and fore paws of a lion, whose open mouth served as the entrance to the royal palace. The route continues around, across and up the cliff face via a rather airy iron staircase, a modern replacement for the original brick stairway, that vanished along with the lion's head during the 1400 years since the palace was constructed.
The stairway ends at the highest point of the rock, the upper palace falls away in gentle tiers towards the opposite end of the rock from this point. The ruins of the palace buildings rise only perhaps half a metre above the surface of the rock, but the extensive works cut into the surface of the rock have endured better.
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Tuesday, March 11, 2014
List of E-Grade highways in Sri Lanka
Expressways
Even though Sri Lanka has an extensive road network, most roads were built about 50 years ago and do not possess the capacity to cope with the increasing traffic volumes. Therefore there is an urgent need to improve the capacity and efficiency of the road network to meet the growing transport requirements of the country and avoid the road network becoming an impediment to development.
The expressway network, through which will be constructed a high-standard limited access road network centering the colombo capital and around the country, will assist the development of the economically weak other regions by encouraging growth in manufacturing, tourism, fisheries and agriculture.
References :-
http://www.rda.gov.lk
http://www.mohsl.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=59&lang=en
http://www.rda.gov.lk/supported/expressways/stdp.htm
Even though Sri Lanka has an extensive road network, most roads were built about 50 years ago and do not possess the capacity to cope with the increasing traffic volumes. Therefore there is an urgent need to improve the capacity and efficiency of the road network to meet the growing transport requirements of the country and avoid the road network becoming an impediment to development.
The expressway network, through which will be constructed a high-standard limited access road network centering the colombo capital and around the country, will assist the development of the economically weak other regions by encouraging growth in manufacturing, tourism, fisheries and agriculture.
- E01 Colombo – Matara Expressway (also known as Southern Expressway)
- E02 Outer Circular Expressway
- E03 Colombo – Katunayake Expressway
- E04 Colombo – Kandy Expressway / Northern Expressway
References :-
http://www.rda.gov.lk
http://www.mohsl.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=59&lang=en
http://www.rda.gov.lk/supported/expressways/stdp.htm
Gems of in Sri Lanka
A gemstone is the naturally occurring crystalline form of a mineral which is desirable for its beauty, valuable in its rarity, and durable enough to be enjoyed for generations. There are more than 30 popular gem varieties and many more rare collector gemstones. Some varieties also come in a range of colors.
The Gem industry in Sri Lanka (also known as Ceylon, Serendib, etc..) has been in existence for over 2500 years. Some of the rarest of gem stones of exquisite beauty have taken pride of place, in the Crown jewels of Kings and Queens from time of Great Roamn Emperors.
Gems of Highlights
Sapphire is an aluminum oxide. Its colour varies from very light to dark blue to violetish-blue, bluish-green, yellow, slightly reddish-orange, brown, nearly opaque black, colourless, pink, violet and the pinkish-orange padparadscha (lotus flower).
Varieties
Coloured varieties, star sapphire, alexandrite-like sapphire.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Kashmir (India), Burma, Thailand, Australia, Tanzania, Kenya, Montana, Madagascar
Toughness
Excellent, except in laminated or fractured stones.
Precautions
Sapphires may fade if heated
Treatments
Sapphires can be x-rayed to intensify their colour. Natural sapphires undergo heat and diffusion treatments in Thailand. With the first method, sapphires with latent chemical components for good colour are "ripened" to a desirable colour through heating. In diffusion treatment, sapphires that lack the components for good colour are placed in a bath of colouring oxides that penetrate the outer layers of the stone. Treatment of blue stones is permanent.
History
According to an ancient Persian legend, the earth rested on a great sapphire whose reflection was seen in the sky. The stone also appears in the Promethean legend. Prometheus was chained to a rock by Zeus for having stolen fire from the gods. After being rescued by Hercules, a link of the chain remained on his finger, and attached to it was a piece of rock. Zeus agreed to grant Prometheus his freedom if he wore the link as a reminder of his sin. Later a ring set with a sapphire replaced the link and stone. Sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity and constancy. It was believed to protect the wearer against capture by an enemy, and to win the favour of princesses. It also protected against poison. It was said that if a poisonous snake were put in a vessel with a sapphire, the rays from the gem would kill it. The name sapphire originally comes from Sanskrit. It became sappheiros in Greek, meaning blue. Before the value of sapphire was known to them, villages in the Zanzkar mountains of Kashmir (India) used the gem as a flint to start fires.
Cuts & Uses
Faceted and en cabochon, usually mixed cut, beads, carved (poor quality). Synthetic sapphire is used in watches, precision instruments and electronic equipment.
Ceylon Sapphires
The Ceylon Blue Sapphire is known for its beauty ? possessing the glorious
cornflower blue shade ? as well as for being one of the few sapphires in the world that can be sold as a completely natural stone without heat treatment. The blues aside, Ceylon sapphires also come in beautiful hues including pink, yellow, orange, green, purple, lavender and of course, the inimitable padparadscha sapphire ? named after the lotus flower. All these highly marketable qualities of Ceylon sapphire has created brand recognition world wide - a brand not created by the producers of the stone, but by the sellers and consumers.
Sapphires that show a star-like light effect are called star sapphires; the most famous star sapphire from
Sri Lanka is displayed in the Museum of Natural History in New York. Star sapphires or star rubies display a star-like marking and this effect, commonly known as asterism, occurs when light falls on the cut stone, cut in the cabochon form, and three rays appear giving a six-point star. However, stones with six rays have also been known to occur.
Lastly, there is milky corundum, a white opaque form of corundum also called geuda, which for many years was regarded as useless and discarded, often ending up lining fish tanks in some gemstone merchant's house. This happened until dealers in Thailand learned to heat-treat geudas to change the colour of the stone from an unattractive cloudy grey-white to a bright, sparkling blue. They completed the work nature began and ended up with a blue sapphire - of much greater value than a useless pebble. The colour of heat-treated blue sapphires are stable and the chemical composition of the stone is that of a sapphire, although prices are lower than for a similar quality stone with natural colour.
Choosing a Sapphire
The most famous sources for sapphire are Kashmir and Burma, (now known as Myanmar). Kashmir sapphire, which was discovered in 1881 when a landslide in the Himalayas uncovered beautiful blue pebbles, has a rich velvety colour prized by connoisseurs. Burma sapphires, from the same region that produces fabulous rubies, are also very fine. However, today, these two sources account for a very small quantity of the sapphire on the market.
Most fine sapphire on the market today comes from Sri Lanka, which produces a wide range of beautiful blues from delicate sky blue colours to rich saturated hues. Kanchanaburi in Thailand and Pailin in Cambodia are renowned for deep blue, even colours. Two relatively new mining localities are showing promise: Madagascar, which has produced some exceptionally fine stones in small sizes but has no organized mining yet, and Tanzania, which has long produced sapphire in other colours but is starting to produce blue colours as well from a new deposit in the south.
The most valuable sapphires have a medium intense, vivid blue colour. The best sapphires hold the brightness of their colour under all different types of lighting. Any black, grey, or green overtones mixed in with the blue will reduce a stone's value. In general, a more pastel blue would be less preferred than a vivid blue but would be priced higher than an overly dark blackish-blue colour. As with all gemstones, sapphires, which are "clean" and have few visible inclusions or tiny flaws are the most valuable.
Sapphires are most often cut in a cushion shape - a rounded rectangle - or an oval shape. You can also find smaller sapphires in round brilliant cuts or a wide variety of fancy shapes, including triangles, squares, emerald cuts, marquises, pear shapes, baguette shapes, cabochon cuts and smooth domes.
Ruby
Ruby is an aluminum oxide, a variety of corundum; it occurs in medium to dark tones of red and violetish-red to brownish-red
Varieties
Star ruby
Sources
Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Africa (Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania), India.
Toughness
Excellent, except in laminated or fractured stones.
Treatments
The Burmese believed that "blazing red" stones could be found in a "bottomless" valley. Natives threw pieces of meat into the valley, hoping that some stones could then be recovered by killing the vultures. In the Royal Collection of England, you can view a gold ring set with a pale but nearly flawless ruby into which a portrait of Louis XII of France is carved.
Cuts & Uses
Faceted or en cabochon, usually mixed cut (brilliant crown, step-cut pavilion), beads, carved (poor quality).
Choosing a Ruby
The most important factor in the value of a ruby is colour. The top qualities are as red as you can imagine: a saturated pure spectral hue without any overtones of brown or blue. The word red is derived from the Latin word for ruby, ruber, which is derived from similar words in Persian, Hebrew, and Sanskrit. The intensity of colour of a fine ruby is like a glowing coal, probably the most intensely coloured substance our ancestors ever saw. It is no wonder they ascribed magical powers to these fires that burned perpetually and never extinguished themselves.
Besides colour, other factors that influence the value of a ruby are clarity, cut, and size. Rubies that are perfectly transparent, with no tiny flaws, are more valuable than those with inclusions, which are visible to the eye. Cut can make a big difference in how attractive and lively a ruby appears to the eye. A well-cut stone should reflect backlight evenly across the surface without a dark or washed-out area in the centre that can result from a stone that is too deep or shallow. The shape should also be symmetrical and there should not be any nicks or scratches in the polish. Rubies and other gemstones are sold per carat, a unit of weight equal to one-fifth of a gram. Larger rubies, because they are more rare, will cost more per carat than smaller stones of the same quality.
The Ruby sometimes displays a three-ray, six-point star. These star rubies are cut in a smooth domed cabochon cut to display the effect. The star is most visible when illuminated with a single light source: it moves across the stone as the light moves. This effect, called asterism, is caused by light reflecting off tiny rutile needles, called "silk," which are oriented along the crystal faces.
The value of star rubies and sapphires are influenced by two factors: the intensity and attractiveness of the body colour and the strength and sharpness of the star. All six legs should be straight and equally prominent. Star rubies rarely have the combination of a fine translucent or transparent colour and a sharp prominent star. These gems are valuable and expensive.
The most famous source of fine rubies is Burma, which is now called Myanmar. The ruby mines of Myanmar date back to centuries ago: stone age and bronze age mining tools have been found in the mining area of Mogok. Rubies from the legendary mines in Mogok often have a pure red colour, sometimes described as "pigeon's-blood", although that term is more fanciful than an actual practical standard in the trade today. Myanmar also produces intense pinkish red rubies, which are vivid and extremely beautiful. Many of the rubies from Burma have a strong fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet rays like those in sunlight, which layers on extra colour. Burma rubies have a reputation of holding their vivid colour under all lighting conditions.
Sri Lankan stones are often pinkish in hue and many are pastel in tone. Some, however, resemble the vivid pinkish red hues from Burma. Rubies from Kenya and Tanzania surprised the world when they were discovered in the sixties because their colour rivals the world's best. Unfortunately, most of the ruby production from these countries has many inclusions, tiny flaws that diminish transparency. Rubies from the African mines are rarely transparent enough to facet. However, their fantastic colour is displayed to full advantage when cut in the cabochon style. A few rare clean stones of top quality have been seen.
Occasionally a few fine, top-quality rubies appear on the market from Afghanistan, Pakistan or the Pamir Mountains of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The terrain in these areas has made exploration for gemstones very difficult but someday they may produce significant quantities for the world market.
Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl, which ideally shows a distinct colour change from green in fluorescent light or daylight to red in incandescent light.
Varieties
A very small amount of alexandrite shows a cat's eye effect (chatoyancy).
Sources
Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Soviet Russia, Brazil, Zimbabwe - Rhodesia, Burma.
Toughness
Excellent
History
Alexandrite received its name because it was discovered on the birthday of
Czar Alexander II of Russia in 1830. Red and green are also the colours of the Russian Imperial Guard.
Cuts & Uses
Alexandrite is usually faceted. Chrysoberyl cat's eyes must be cut en cabochon to display a chatoyant effect.
Star stones
Star stones of the corundum family are either star sapphires or rubies. When light falls on these stones, a star effect is visible (known as asterism).
Sri Lanka is the best known source for star sapphires and star rubies. Star sapphires range in colour from grey to bluish-grey and from medium blue to medium dark blue. The very slightly purplish medium dark blue is the best colour grade for star sapphires. Star rubies range from light pink-red to purple-red through deep purple-red. The intense red star rubies are extremely rare. A good quality star stone should have a high degree of transparency and a well defined star with no weak or missing rays. It should be reasonably clean and in the face-up position, no distracting inclusions or cracks should be seen. There should be no excess weight at the bottom of the stone.
Star sapphires and rubies are hard stones (9 on the Moh?s scale), which can take a high degree of polish and retain the shinefor a long time. The special optical phenomenon of a well-defined six-ray star is a fascinating sight. The wearable qualities of the star stones make them suitable for men's rings.
Chrysoberyl
The species name chrysoberyl is given to a transparent, faceted gemstone that does not show a colour change between daylight and artificial light (the
chrysoberyl which shows a colour change is called alexandrite). The ideal colours of chrysoberyl are green and yellowish-green. In addition, due to strong dichroism, one may see an
attractive bi-coloured chrysoberyl occasionally. Hardness is 8.5 on the Moh's scale. The high refractive index of the stone makes it very lively when properly cut and polished
Cat's eye
A cat's eye like effect, known as 'chatoyancy', appears to move on this stone's surface. Cat's eye is a gem variety of chrysoberyl.
Hardness: 8.5 on the Mohs' scale.
There are generally two varieties of cat?s eye ? the alexandrite cat?s-eye and the chrysoberyl cat?s-eye, which is very popular in the Far East, particularly in Japan. The ideal colours of the chrysoberyl cat?s-eye are yellowish-brown, which is called the honey colour, and the yellow-green, which is called the apple green colour. A very good cat?s eye, apart from being of ideal colour, should have a high degree of transparency and a well-defined unbroken ray. It should be free from any distracting inclusions visible to the unaided eye. The chrysoberyl cat?s-eye is one of the most beautiful gemstones because of the ?chatoyancy? or the eye effect.
Description
A translucent variety of chrysoberyl (beryllium aluminum oxide) which exhibits a silvery white line across the stone. This moves as the stone, the light source or the observer moves and may appear to open and close like an eye. The finest quality has a sharp eye that appears to open and close as the stone is rotated, and exhibits a strong "milk and honey" effect (stone on one side of the eye appears lighter than the other). These colours switch as the stone or light source is moved. The most highly prized body colours are greenish-yellow and brownish-yellow (honey colour).
Varieties
Rare specimens also exhibit change of colour.
Sources Sri Lanka, Brazil.
Phenomena
Chatoyancy caused by the reflection of light off minute, parallel, needle-like rutile crystals or hollow tubes.
Toughness
Excellent
Miscellaneous
When a gem specimen exhibits both chatoyancy and change of colour, one or both phenomena will suffer. It is more common to find a good eye with poor change of colour. The conditions necessary for one phenomenon conflict with those needed for the other. The term cat's eye when used alone refers to chrysoberyl. Other minerals exhibiting chatoyancy must be qualified, e.g. tourmaline cat's eye.
History
Cat's eye has been regarded as a preserver of good fortune. The natives of Sri Lanka still consider it a charm against evil spirits. British royalty often use it as an engagement stone.
Cuts & Uses
Must be cut in a cabochon to produce cat's eye effect. This should be cut so that the long portion of the cabochon is 90 degrees to the direction of the needles.
Quartz
Quartz is the most common mineral on the face of the Earth. Gem varieties include amethyst (purple), citrine (yellow), milky quartz (cloudy, white variety), rock crystal (clear variety), rose quartz (pink to reddish-pink variety), and smokey quartz (brown to grey variety).
Gem varieties of quartz include: citrine, amethyst, rock crystal, rose quartz, and smokey quartz. There are also varieties of Quartz cat's eye.
Colours: citrine (yellow); amethyst (purple); rock crystal (colourless); rose quartz (pink); and smokey quartz (purplish-brown).
Amethyst
Description
A variety of quartz, silicon dioxide, which appears to be dark purple in transparent light.
Varieties
None
Sources
Sri Lanka, Brazil, Uruguay, Russia, Mexico, Zimbabwe - Rhodesia, Zambia, Arizona.
Toughness
Good
History
The word amethyst comes from the Greek amethustos meaning "not drunk". Therefore, it has been considered a charm against intoxication. A legend accounts for the origin of the stone. Supposedly, Bacchus, the god of wine and conviviality, grew angry at a slight and swore revenge. He decreed that the first mortal to come across his path was to be eaten by tigers. Amethyst, a beautiful maiden on her way to worship at the shrine of Diana, happened to be the victim. Diana, the huntress, changed Amethyst into colourless quartz to protect her from the tigers. When Bacchus witnessed the miracle, he repented and poured wine over the stone, staining it purple. The wine failed to cover the entire stone evenly, and the feet and part of the legs remained clear crystal. So, in keeping with the legend, amethyst crystals are usually uneven in colour with a colourless base.
Cuts & Uses Must be cut in a cabochon to produce cat's eye effect. This should be cut so that the long portion of the cabochon is 90 degrees to the direction of the needles.
Citrine
Description
A transparent variety of quartz, silicon dioxide, occurring in yellow to red-orange to orange-brown. The name is derived from citron, which is French for lemon.
Varieties
Madeira (deep, bright reddish-brown) and Palmyra (medium yellowish-brown) are terms used in the trade.
Sources
Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Sri Lanka.
Toughness
Good
Treatments
Poor quality amethyst is often heat-treated to achieve a desirable citrine colour.
Cuts & Uses
Usually fashioned into ring and pendant stones. The per carat value of cut citrine usually decreases beyond the size of an average ring stone.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a blue to greenish-blue or bluish-green variety of beryl.
Varieties
May occasionally exhibit a cat's eye effect (chatoyancy).
Sources
Sri Lanka, Brazil, Madagascar (only historically), Tanzania, Russia, Kenya, Afghanistan, Nigeria.
Toughness
Good
Treatments
Almost all aquamarine is heat-treated to enhance its blue colour. Irradiation with neutron, gamma rays or with x-rays. Colour change is permanent and is an accepted practice. A morganite (pink beryl) turns deep purple blue (Maxixe type) upon ultraviolet irradiation, though the colour is not stable.
History
The word aquamarine comes from the Latin for sea water. In 1910 a 243 lb. crystal was found in Brazil. The outside was greenish and the inside was blue. It sold for $25,000 and was cut into many high quality gems. The American Museum of Natural History has a 13 lb. uncut piece of the green outside portion.
Cuts & Uses
The step-cut is the most popular because it accentuates the colour. As it is often found in large, flawless, even-colored crystals, it is frequently used in pendants and rings. Given a piece of rough with a certain colour intensity, the larger stones cut from it will exhibit deeper colour.
Other Information Aquamarine is the blue, or perhaps more correctly, blue-green or aqua variety of the mineral beryl. Other gemstone colour varieties that belong to beryl include emerald, morganite, and heliodor. Other colours of beryl are simply referred to by their colour, such as red beryl. Most gem aquamarines have been heat treated to produce the popular blue-green varieties from less desirable yellow or pale stones.
Garnet
A group of gemstones occurring in every colour but blue. One of earth's most common minerals, though only a small portion is considered gem quality.
Species
Rhodolite- violet to purplish-red;
Almandite - red, brownish-red, violetish-red or purple;
Pyrope ? red;
Grossularite - green, yellow, brown, white, colourless, light violet, red, orangey-red; Varieties: hessonite (orange to brown), transparent, green, grossularite (tsavorite);
Some show a colour change from a mauve-brown to orange-red.
Andradite - green, yellow, black. Green called demantoid (high lustre and dispersion);
Spessartite - yellow to yellow-brown, dark orangey-brown, reddish-orange, orange;
Uvarovite - emerald green, found only in tiny sizes, usually opaque.
Sources
Rhodolite - Sri Lanka, North Carolina, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil.
Almandite - Sri Lanka, India, Brazil, star from Idaho - USA.
Pyrope - Czechoslovakia, South Africa, Zimbabwe - Rhodesia, Brazil, Arizona.
Grossularite - Sri Lanka, Brazil, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Canada.
Andradite - demantoid: Russia, Italy; translucent yellowish or greenish-brown, Arizona.
Spessartite - Sri Lanka, Burma, Brazil, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya.
Uvarovite - Russia, Finland (hardly mined at all).
Toughness
Fair to good
History
Since earliest times garnets have been carried as amulets against accidents in travel. Asiatic peoples and even our Southwest Indians used them as bullets, believing that their rich, glowing colour might cause more deadly wounds. The Persians have given the garnet a favoured place as a royal stone, allowing it to bear their sovereign's image. Red garnet was once used to relieve fever, yellow garnet to cure jaundice. If the powder failed, the apothecary was accused of using a substitute.
Cuts & Uses
Usually faceted. Sometimes carved into intaglios.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a group of minerals comprised of a complex boron-aluminum silicate with one or more of the following: magnesium, sodium, lithium, iron, potassium or other metals. It appears in light from dark red to purple as well as brownish variations of these hues - light to dark green, yellowish-green, greenish-yellow, brownish-orange. It also grows bi-coloured.
Varieties
Bi-coloured, watermelon, cat's eye, alexandrite-like (rare) .
Sources
Sri Lanka, Brazil, USA (California, Maine), Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan (prime new source).
History
Dutch children played with tourmaline because of its ability to attract light objects. The stones were called "aschentrekkers" (ash drawers).
Cuts & Uses
Any cut may be used. Some are carved, some fashioned into beads. Cat's eye are always cut en cabochon. Sometimes carved to make use of more than one colour.
Spinel
A magnesium aluminum oxide which occurs in all colours, ruby-red being the most popular. Most colours are greyed out. Gahno-spinel is a dark blue or greenish-blue spinel with high zinc content.
Varieties
Star material is very rare.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Burma, Minor-Anatolia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Thailand, Australia.
Toughness Good
History
Two of the stones among the Crown Jewels of England are spinels, although they were once thought to be rubies. They are the Black Prince's Ruby and the Timur Ruby. The 361 carat Timur Ruby is the world's most famous spinel. Spinel was recognized as a separate species as early as 1587 in Burma.
Cuts & Uses
Usually faceted.
Topaz
Topaz is a fluosilicate of aluminum, occurring in transparent yellow, yellow-brown, orange-brown, light to almost medium red, very light to light blue, very light green and violet colours.
Varieties
Coloured varieties, Imperial (reddish-orange), chatoyant material (very rare).
Sources
Prime source is Brazil. Sri Lanka (blue), Mexico (mostly poor quality, brownish-yellow), Russia, South Africa (blue), Utah, Afghanistan.
Toughness
Poor, extremely easy basal cleavage - treat with care.
History
The stone began to be used in Marco Polo's time (13th century). Topaz mounted in gold and hung around the neck was believed to dispel enchantment. When the powdered stone was put in wine, it was considered a cure for asthma, insomnia, burns and haemorrhages. Topaz was supposed to become obscure in contact with poison and to quench the heat of boiling water. All these powers were believed to be increased or decreased with the changes of the moon.
Cuts & Uses
Usually faceted, often mixed cut due to long prismatic shape of crystal; some stones cut as longish oval or pendeloque stones. The moderately rich colored stones are emerald cut.
Moonstone
Moonstones are usually colourless to white, semi-transparent to translucent, and characterised by a glowing light effect known as adularescence, the visibility of which is confined to a restricted angle of view. The most valuable of the feldspar gems.
Varieties
Some may exhibit cat's eye effect.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Burma, United States, Madagascar, Tanzania.
Phenomena Adularescence- a glowing effect, the finest of which is bluish. Finest quality moonstone is semi-transparent; poorest is translucent. Occasionally a sharp cat's eye may be present.
Toughness
Poor
History
Considered a love charm, moonstone has been attributed the power to arouse tender passions and foretell the future. Therapeutic qualities include protection from lunacy, appeaser of anger and relief from fever.
Cuts & Uses
Usually en cabochon, sometimes carved into
Zircon
Zircon is a zirconium silicate, occurring in colourless, light blue, brownish-orange, yellow, yellowish-green, brownish-green, dark red or light red-violet. Blue is the most valuable. This stone is usually heat-treated.
Varieties
High, medium and low property.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Thailand.
Precautions Avoid heat. Boiling and steaming not recommended.
History
The terms hyacinth or jacinth were often applied to the reddish-brown zircon. During the Middle Ages, hyacinth was claimed to have the power of inducing sleep, of promoting riches, honour and wisdom and of driving away plagues and evil spirits. The pale yellow to colourless stones from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) were called jargoons.
Cuts & Uses
The round brilliant cut is most successful, standard 57-facets with no culet.
Peridot
Peridot is a silicate of magnesium and iron, occurring in yellowish-green, green, greenish-yellow, brownish-green and brown (all transparent).
Varieties
Peridot top grades: medium to dark, slightly yellowish-green. Chrysolite ? greenish-yellow, light to dark yellowish-green to brownish-green to almost brown.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Island of Zeberget (Egypt), Burma, USA, Mexico.
Toughness
Fair to good
History
The ancients called it the "gem of the sun." They attributed to it the power to dispel enchantment and evil spirits due to its association with the sun (which drives away darkness). In order to be worn as a talisman, it had to be set in gold. The Red Sea island of Zeberget, off the southern tip of Egypt, was worked for this stone as early as 1500 B.C. At that time, the island was known as "The Island of Serpents," because it was infested with poisonous snakes. Later, the reigning Egyptian king had the snakes destroyed to facilitate prospecting for peridot. Prospecting was done at night because the gem could not be seen in sunlight. The workers would mark the spots and return the next day to dig them out.
Cuts & Uses
Usually faceted. Step-cut is best; oval, round and pendeloque cuts are common. Very suitable for brooches, pendants, earrings, but not for rings or bracelets because it abrades easily.
Blue Giant of the Orient (466 carats)
Mined in Kuruwita in 1907, this giant blue sapphire is one of the world's most valuable gemstones. In rough, it was said to have been over 600 carats and was fashioned into a jewel of 466 carats. It is the largest blue sapphire in the world. This gem is in the collection of an American gem and art collector.
Logan Blue Sapphire (423 carats)
Considered to be the second largest blue sapphire in the world on record. A flawless specimen with a rich deep blue, the stone was gifted to The Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC by John Logan.
Star of India (563 carats)
The second largest star sapphire in the world was discovered in Sri Lanka. It is almost flawless and unusual in that it has stars on both sides of the stone. Part of the collection of the American Museum of Natural history.
Star of Lanka (362 carats)
Third largest star sapphire on record. The phenomenal stone is a rich deep-blue in colour and has a well-defined six-ray star. Owned by the National Gem & Jewellery Authority in Sri Lanka.
Rosser Reeves Star Ruby (138 carats)
The world's largest star ruby combining excellent colour, good transparency and a well-defined star. Part of the United States National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian Institute.
Hope Cat's Eye (over 500 carats)
Probably the largest chrysoberyl cat's eye in the world, it was previously part of the collection of Thomas Hope, the wealthy British banker and gem investor. This cat's eye is carved to represent an alter surmounted by a torch. Exhibited at the British Museum of Natural History.
Ray of Treasure (103 carats)
The stone displays the most desirable qualities of a "milk and honey" effect, with good transparency and a well-defined silvery star. An almost flawless specimen, its cut and proportions are excellent. It is part of the collection of the Sri Lanka National Gem & Jewellery Authority.
The Gem industry in Sri Lanka (also known as Ceylon, Serendib, etc..) has been in existence for over 2500 years. Some of the rarest of gem stones of exquisite beauty have taken pride of place, in the Crown jewels of Kings and Queens from time of Great Roamn Emperors.
Gems of Highlights
Sapphire is an aluminum oxide. Its colour varies from very light to dark blue to violetish-blue, bluish-green, yellow, slightly reddish-orange, brown, nearly opaque black, colourless, pink, violet and the pinkish-orange padparadscha (lotus flower).
Varieties
Coloured varieties, star sapphire, alexandrite-like sapphire.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Kashmir (India), Burma, Thailand, Australia, Tanzania, Kenya, Montana, Madagascar
Toughness
Excellent, except in laminated or fractured stones.
Precautions
Sapphires may fade if heated
Treatments
Sapphires can be x-rayed to intensify their colour. Natural sapphires undergo heat and diffusion treatments in Thailand. With the first method, sapphires with latent chemical components for good colour are "ripened" to a desirable colour through heating. In diffusion treatment, sapphires that lack the components for good colour are placed in a bath of colouring oxides that penetrate the outer layers of the stone. Treatment of blue stones is permanent.
History
According to an ancient Persian legend, the earth rested on a great sapphire whose reflection was seen in the sky. The stone also appears in the Promethean legend. Prometheus was chained to a rock by Zeus for having stolen fire from the gods. After being rescued by Hercules, a link of the chain remained on his finger, and attached to it was a piece of rock. Zeus agreed to grant Prometheus his freedom if he wore the link as a reminder of his sin. Later a ring set with a sapphire replaced the link and stone. Sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity and constancy. It was believed to protect the wearer against capture by an enemy, and to win the favour of princesses. It also protected against poison. It was said that if a poisonous snake were put in a vessel with a sapphire, the rays from the gem would kill it. The name sapphire originally comes from Sanskrit. It became sappheiros in Greek, meaning blue. Before the value of sapphire was known to them, villages in the Zanzkar mountains of Kashmir (India) used the gem as a flint to start fires.
Cuts & Uses
Faceted and en cabochon, usually mixed cut, beads, carved (poor quality). Synthetic sapphire is used in watches, precision instruments and electronic equipment.
Ceylon Sapphires
The Ceylon Blue Sapphire is known for its beauty ? possessing the glorious
Sapphires that show a star-like light effect are called star sapphires; the most famous star sapphire from
Sri Lanka is displayed in the Museum of Natural History in New York. Star sapphires or star rubies display a star-like marking and this effect, commonly known as asterism, occurs when light falls on the cut stone, cut in the cabochon form, and three rays appear giving a six-point star. However, stones with six rays have also been known to occur.
Lastly, there is milky corundum, a white opaque form of corundum also called geuda, which for many years was regarded as useless and discarded, often ending up lining fish tanks in some gemstone merchant's house. This happened until dealers in Thailand learned to heat-treat geudas to change the colour of the stone from an unattractive cloudy grey-white to a bright, sparkling blue. They completed the work nature began and ended up with a blue sapphire - of much greater value than a useless pebble. The colour of heat-treated blue sapphires are stable and the chemical composition of the stone is that of a sapphire, although prices are lower than for a similar quality stone with natural colour.
Choosing a Sapphire
The most famous sources for sapphire are Kashmir and Burma, (now known as Myanmar). Kashmir sapphire, which was discovered in 1881 when a landslide in the Himalayas uncovered beautiful blue pebbles, has a rich velvety colour prized by connoisseurs. Burma sapphires, from the same region that produces fabulous rubies, are also very fine. However, today, these two sources account for a very small quantity of the sapphire on the market.
Most fine sapphire on the market today comes from Sri Lanka, which produces a wide range of beautiful blues from delicate sky blue colours to rich saturated hues. Kanchanaburi in Thailand and Pailin in Cambodia are renowned for deep blue, even colours. Two relatively new mining localities are showing promise: Madagascar, which has produced some exceptionally fine stones in small sizes but has no organized mining yet, and Tanzania, which has long produced sapphire in other colours but is starting to produce blue colours as well from a new deposit in the south.
The most valuable sapphires have a medium intense, vivid blue colour. The best sapphires hold the brightness of their colour under all different types of lighting. Any black, grey, or green overtones mixed in with the blue will reduce a stone's value. In general, a more pastel blue would be less preferred than a vivid blue but would be priced higher than an overly dark blackish-blue colour. As with all gemstones, sapphires, which are "clean" and have few visible inclusions or tiny flaws are the most valuable.
Sapphires are most often cut in a cushion shape - a rounded rectangle - or an oval shape. You can also find smaller sapphires in round brilliant cuts or a wide variety of fancy shapes, including triangles, squares, emerald cuts, marquises, pear shapes, baguette shapes, cabochon cuts and smooth domes.
Ruby
Ruby is an aluminum oxide, a variety of corundum; it occurs in medium to dark tones of red and violetish-red to brownish-red
Varieties
Star ruby
Sources
Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Africa (Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania), India.
Toughness
Excellent, except in laminated or fractured stones.
Treatments
The Burmese believed that "blazing red" stones could be found in a "bottomless" valley. Natives threw pieces of meat into the valley, hoping that some stones could then be recovered by killing the vultures. In the Royal Collection of England, you can view a gold ring set with a pale but nearly flawless ruby into which a portrait of Louis XII of France is carved.
Cuts & Uses
Faceted or en cabochon, usually mixed cut (brilliant crown, step-cut pavilion), beads, carved (poor quality).
Choosing a Ruby
The most important factor in the value of a ruby is colour. The top qualities are as red as you can imagine: a saturated pure spectral hue without any overtones of brown or blue. The word red is derived from the Latin word for ruby, ruber, which is derived from similar words in Persian, Hebrew, and Sanskrit. The intensity of colour of a fine ruby is like a glowing coal, probably the most intensely coloured substance our ancestors ever saw. It is no wonder they ascribed magical powers to these fires that burned perpetually and never extinguished themselves.
Besides colour, other factors that influence the value of a ruby are clarity, cut, and size. Rubies that are perfectly transparent, with no tiny flaws, are more valuable than those with inclusions, which are visible to the eye. Cut can make a big difference in how attractive and lively a ruby appears to the eye. A well-cut stone should reflect backlight evenly across the surface without a dark or washed-out area in the centre that can result from a stone that is too deep or shallow. The shape should also be symmetrical and there should not be any nicks or scratches in the polish. Rubies and other gemstones are sold per carat, a unit of weight equal to one-fifth of a gram. Larger rubies, because they are more rare, will cost more per carat than smaller stones of the same quality.
The Ruby sometimes displays a three-ray, six-point star. These star rubies are cut in a smooth domed cabochon cut to display the effect. The star is most visible when illuminated with a single light source: it moves across the stone as the light moves. This effect, called asterism, is caused by light reflecting off tiny rutile needles, called "silk," which are oriented along the crystal faces.
The value of star rubies and sapphires are influenced by two factors: the intensity and attractiveness of the body colour and the strength and sharpness of the star. All six legs should be straight and equally prominent. Star rubies rarely have the combination of a fine translucent or transparent colour and a sharp prominent star. These gems are valuable and expensive.
The most famous source of fine rubies is Burma, which is now called Myanmar. The ruby mines of Myanmar date back to centuries ago: stone age and bronze age mining tools have been found in the mining area of Mogok. Rubies from the legendary mines in Mogok often have a pure red colour, sometimes described as "pigeon's-blood", although that term is more fanciful than an actual practical standard in the trade today. Myanmar also produces intense pinkish red rubies, which are vivid and extremely beautiful. Many of the rubies from Burma have a strong fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet rays like those in sunlight, which layers on extra colour. Burma rubies have a reputation of holding their vivid colour under all lighting conditions.
Sri Lankan stones are often pinkish in hue and many are pastel in tone. Some, however, resemble the vivid pinkish red hues from Burma. Rubies from Kenya and Tanzania surprised the world when they were discovered in the sixties because their colour rivals the world's best. Unfortunately, most of the ruby production from these countries has many inclusions, tiny flaws that diminish transparency. Rubies from the African mines are rarely transparent enough to facet. However, their fantastic colour is displayed to full advantage when cut in the cabochon style. A few rare clean stones of top quality have been seen.
Occasionally a few fine, top-quality rubies appear on the market from Afghanistan, Pakistan or the Pamir Mountains of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The terrain in these areas has made exploration for gemstones very difficult but someday they may produce significant quantities for the world market.
Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl, which ideally shows a distinct colour change from green in fluorescent light or daylight to red in incandescent light.
Varieties
A very small amount of alexandrite shows a cat's eye effect (chatoyancy).
Sources
Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Soviet Russia, Brazil, Zimbabwe - Rhodesia, Burma.
Toughness
Excellent
History
Alexandrite received its name because it was discovered on the birthday of
Czar Alexander II of Russia in 1830. Red and green are also the colours of the Russian Imperial Guard.
Cuts & Uses
Alexandrite is usually faceted. Chrysoberyl cat's eyes must be cut en cabochon to display a chatoyant effect.
Star stones
Star stones of the corundum family are either star sapphires or rubies. When light falls on these stones, a star effect is visible (known as asterism).
Sri Lanka is the best known source for star sapphires and star rubies. Star sapphires range in colour from grey to bluish-grey and from medium blue to medium dark blue. The very slightly purplish medium dark blue is the best colour grade for star sapphires. Star rubies range from light pink-red to purple-red through deep purple-red. The intense red star rubies are extremely rare. A good quality star stone should have a high degree of transparency and a well defined star with no weak or missing rays. It should be reasonably clean and in the face-up position, no distracting inclusions or cracks should be seen. There should be no excess weight at the bottom of the stone.
Star sapphires and rubies are hard stones (9 on the Moh?s scale), which can take a high degree of polish and retain the shinefor a long time. The special optical phenomenon of a well-defined six-ray star is a fascinating sight. The wearable qualities of the star stones make them suitable for men's rings.
Chrysoberyl
The species name chrysoberyl is given to a transparent, faceted gemstone that does not show a colour change between daylight and artificial light (the
attractive bi-coloured chrysoberyl occasionally. Hardness is 8.5 on the Moh's scale. The high refractive index of the stone makes it very lively when properly cut and polished
Cat's eye
A cat's eye like effect, known as 'chatoyancy', appears to move on this stone's surface. Cat's eye is a gem variety of chrysoberyl.
Hardness: 8.5 on the Mohs' scale.
There are generally two varieties of cat?s eye ? the alexandrite cat?s-eye and the chrysoberyl cat?s-eye, which is very popular in the Far East, particularly in Japan. The ideal colours of the chrysoberyl cat?s-eye are yellowish-brown, which is called the honey colour, and the yellow-green, which is called the apple green colour. A very good cat?s eye, apart from being of ideal colour, should have a high degree of transparency and a well-defined unbroken ray. It should be free from any distracting inclusions visible to the unaided eye. The chrysoberyl cat?s-eye is one of the most beautiful gemstones because of the ?chatoyancy? or the eye effect.
Description
A translucent variety of chrysoberyl (beryllium aluminum oxide) which exhibits a silvery white line across the stone. This moves as the stone, the light source or the observer moves and may appear to open and close like an eye. The finest quality has a sharp eye that appears to open and close as the stone is rotated, and exhibits a strong "milk and honey" effect (stone on one side of the eye appears lighter than the other). These colours switch as the stone or light source is moved. The most highly prized body colours are greenish-yellow and brownish-yellow (honey colour).
Varieties
Rare specimens also exhibit change of colour.
Sources Sri Lanka, Brazil.
Phenomena
Chatoyancy caused by the reflection of light off minute, parallel, needle-like rutile crystals or hollow tubes.
Toughness
Excellent
Miscellaneous
When a gem specimen exhibits both chatoyancy and change of colour, one or both phenomena will suffer. It is more common to find a good eye with poor change of colour. The conditions necessary for one phenomenon conflict with those needed for the other. The term cat's eye when used alone refers to chrysoberyl. Other minerals exhibiting chatoyancy must be qualified, e.g. tourmaline cat's eye.
History
Cat's eye has been regarded as a preserver of good fortune. The natives of Sri Lanka still consider it a charm against evil spirits. British royalty often use it as an engagement stone.
Cuts & Uses
Must be cut in a cabochon to produce cat's eye effect. This should be cut so that the long portion of the cabochon is 90 degrees to the direction of the needles.
Quartz
Quartz is the most common mineral on the face of the Earth. Gem varieties include amethyst (purple), citrine (yellow), milky quartz (cloudy, white variety), rock crystal (clear variety), rose quartz (pink to reddish-pink variety), and smokey quartz (brown to grey variety).
Gem varieties of quartz include: citrine, amethyst, rock crystal, rose quartz, and smokey quartz. There are also varieties of Quartz cat's eye.
Colours: citrine (yellow); amethyst (purple); rock crystal (colourless); rose quartz (pink); and smokey quartz (purplish-brown).
Amethyst
Description
A variety of quartz, silicon dioxide, which appears to be dark purple in transparent light.
Varieties
None
Sources
Sri Lanka, Brazil, Uruguay, Russia, Mexico, Zimbabwe - Rhodesia, Zambia, Arizona.
Toughness
Good
History
The word amethyst comes from the Greek amethustos meaning "not drunk". Therefore, it has been considered a charm against intoxication. A legend accounts for the origin of the stone. Supposedly, Bacchus, the god of wine and conviviality, grew angry at a slight and swore revenge. He decreed that the first mortal to come across his path was to be eaten by tigers. Amethyst, a beautiful maiden on her way to worship at the shrine of Diana, happened to be the victim. Diana, the huntress, changed Amethyst into colourless quartz to protect her from the tigers. When Bacchus witnessed the miracle, he repented and poured wine over the stone, staining it purple. The wine failed to cover the entire stone evenly, and the feet and part of the legs remained clear crystal. So, in keeping with the legend, amethyst crystals are usually uneven in colour with a colourless base.
Cuts & Uses Must be cut in a cabochon to produce cat's eye effect. This should be cut so that the long portion of the cabochon is 90 degrees to the direction of the needles.
Citrine
Description
A transparent variety of quartz, silicon dioxide, occurring in yellow to red-orange to orange-brown. The name is derived from citron, which is French for lemon.
Varieties
Madeira (deep, bright reddish-brown) and Palmyra (medium yellowish-brown) are terms used in the trade.
Sources
Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Sri Lanka.
Toughness
Good
Treatments
Poor quality amethyst is often heat-treated to achieve a desirable citrine colour.
Cuts & Uses
Usually fashioned into ring and pendant stones. The per carat value of cut citrine usually decreases beyond the size of an average ring stone.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a blue to greenish-blue or bluish-green variety of beryl.
Varieties
May occasionally exhibit a cat's eye effect (chatoyancy).
Sources
Sri Lanka, Brazil, Madagascar (only historically), Tanzania, Russia, Kenya, Afghanistan, Nigeria.
Toughness
Good
Treatments
Almost all aquamarine is heat-treated to enhance its blue colour. Irradiation with neutron, gamma rays or with x-rays. Colour change is permanent and is an accepted practice. A morganite (pink beryl) turns deep purple blue (Maxixe type) upon ultraviolet irradiation, though the colour is not stable.
History
The word aquamarine comes from the Latin for sea water. In 1910 a 243 lb. crystal was found in Brazil. The outside was greenish and the inside was blue. It sold for $25,000 and was cut into many high quality gems. The American Museum of Natural History has a 13 lb. uncut piece of the green outside portion.
Cuts & Uses
The step-cut is the most popular because it accentuates the colour. As it is often found in large, flawless, even-colored crystals, it is frequently used in pendants and rings. Given a piece of rough with a certain colour intensity, the larger stones cut from it will exhibit deeper colour.
Other Information Aquamarine is the blue, or perhaps more correctly, blue-green or aqua variety of the mineral beryl. Other gemstone colour varieties that belong to beryl include emerald, morganite, and heliodor. Other colours of beryl are simply referred to by their colour, such as red beryl. Most gem aquamarines have been heat treated to produce the popular blue-green varieties from less desirable yellow or pale stones.
Garnet
A group of gemstones occurring in every colour but blue. One of earth's most common minerals, though only a small portion is considered gem quality.
Species
Rhodolite- violet to purplish-red;
Almandite - red, brownish-red, violetish-red or purple;
Pyrope ? red;
Grossularite - green, yellow, brown, white, colourless, light violet, red, orangey-red; Varieties: hessonite (orange to brown), transparent, green, grossularite (tsavorite);
Some show a colour change from a mauve-brown to orange-red.
Andradite - green, yellow, black. Green called demantoid (high lustre and dispersion);
Spessartite - yellow to yellow-brown, dark orangey-brown, reddish-orange, orange;
Uvarovite - emerald green, found only in tiny sizes, usually opaque.
Sources
Rhodolite - Sri Lanka, North Carolina, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil.
Almandite - Sri Lanka, India, Brazil, star from Idaho - USA.
Pyrope - Czechoslovakia, South Africa, Zimbabwe - Rhodesia, Brazil, Arizona.
Grossularite - Sri Lanka, Brazil, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Canada.
Andradite - demantoid: Russia, Italy; translucent yellowish or greenish-brown, Arizona.
Spessartite - Sri Lanka, Burma, Brazil, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya.
Uvarovite - Russia, Finland (hardly mined at all).
Toughness
Fair to good
History
Since earliest times garnets have been carried as amulets against accidents in travel. Asiatic peoples and even our Southwest Indians used them as bullets, believing that their rich, glowing colour might cause more deadly wounds. The Persians have given the garnet a favoured place as a royal stone, allowing it to bear their sovereign's image. Red garnet was once used to relieve fever, yellow garnet to cure jaundice. If the powder failed, the apothecary was accused of using a substitute.
Cuts & Uses
Usually faceted. Sometimes carved into intaglios.
Tourmaline is a group of minerals comprised of a complex boron-aluminum silicate with one or more of the following: magnesium, sodium, lithium, iron, potassium or other metals. It appears in light from dark red to purple as well as brownish variations of these hues - light to dark green, yellowish-green, greenish-yellow, brownish-orange. It also grows bi-coloured.
Varieties
Bi-coloured, watermelon, cat's eye, alexandrite-like (rare) .
Sources
Sri Lanka, Brazil, USA (California, Maine), Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan (prime new source).
History
Dutch children played with tourmaline because of its ability to attract light objects. The stones were called "aschentrekkers" (ash drawers).
Cuts & Uses
Any cut may be used. Some are carved, some fashioned into beads. Cat's eye are always cut en cabochon. Sometimes carved to make use of more than one colour.
A magnesium aluminum oxide which occurs in all colours, ruby-red being the most popular. Most colours are greyed out. Gahno-spinel is a dark blue or greenish-blue spinel with high zinc content.
Varieties
Star material is very rare.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Burma, Minor-Anatolia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Thailand, Australia.
Toughness Good
History
Two of the stones among the Crown Jewels of England are spinels, although they were once thought to be rubies. They are the Black Prince's Ruby and the Timur Ruby. The 361 carat Timur Ruby is the world's most famous spinel. Spinel was recognized as a separate species as early as 1587 in Burma.
Cuts & Uses
Usually faceted.
Topaz
Topaz is a fluosilicate of aluminum, occurring in transparent yellow, yellow-brown, orange-brown, light to almost medium red, very light to light blue, very light green and violet colours.
Varieties
Coloured varieties, Imperial (reddish-orange), chatoyant material (very rare).
Sources
Prime source is Brazil. Sri Lanka (blue), Mexico (mostly poor quality, brownish-yellow), Russia, South Africa (blue), Utah, Afghanistan.
Toughness
Poor, extremely easy basal cleavage - treat with care.
History
The stone began to be used in Marco Polo's time (13th century). Topaz mounted in gold and hung around the neck was believed to dispel enchantment. When the powdered stone was put in wine, it was considered a cure for asthma, insomnia, burns and haemorrhages. Topaz was supposed to become obscure in contact with poison and to quench the heat of boiling water. All these powers were believed to be increased or decreased with the changes of the moon.
Cuts & Uses
Usually faceted, often mixed cut due to long prismatic shape of crystal; some stones cut as longish oval or pendeloque stones. The moderately rich colored stones are emerald cut.
Moonstone
Moonstones are usually colourless to white, semi-transparent to translucent, and characterised by a glowing light effect known as adularescence, the visibility of which is confined to a restricted angle of view. The most valuable of the feldspar gems.
Varieties
Some may exhibit cat's eye effect.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Burma, United States, Madagascar, Tanzania.
Phenomena Adularescence- a glowing effect, the finest of which is bluish. Finest quality moonstone is semi-transparent; poorest is translucent. Occasionally a sharp cat's eye may be present.
Toughness
Poor
History
Considered a love charm, moonstone has been attributed the power to arouse tender passions and foretell the future. Therapeutic qualities include protection from lunacy, appeaser of anger and relief from fever.
Cuts & Uses
Usually en cabochon, sometimes carved into
Zircon
Zircon is a zirconium silicate, occurring in colourless, light blue, brownish-orange, yellow, yellowish-green, brownish-green, dark red or light red-violet. Blue is the most valuable. This stone is usually heat-treated.
Varieties
High, medium and low property.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Thailand.
Precautions Avoid heat. Boiling and steaming not recommended.
History
The terms hyacinth or jacinth were often applied to the reddish-brown zircon. During the Middle Ages, hyacinth was claimed to have the power of inducing sleep, of promoting riches, honour and wisdom and of driving away plagues and evil spirits. The pale yellow to colourless stones from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) were called jargoons.
Cuts & Uses
The round brilliant cut is most successful, standard 57-facets with no culet.
Peridot
Peridot is a silicate of magnesium and iron, occurring in yellowish-green, green, greenish-yellow, brownish-green and brown (all transparent).
Varieties
Peridot top grades: medium to dark, slightly yellowish-green. Chrysolite ? greenish-yellow, light to dark yellowish-green to brownish-green to almost brown.
Sources
Sri Lanka, Island of Zeberget (Egypt), Burma, USA, Mexico.
Toughness
Fair to good
History
The ancients called it the "gem of the sun." They attributed to it the power to dispel enchantment and evil spirits due to its association with the sun (which drives away darkness). In order to be worn as a talisman, it had to be set in gold. The Red Sea island of Zeberget, off the southern tip of Egypt, was worked for this stone as early as 1500 B.C. At that time, the island was known as "The Island of Serpents," because it was infested with poisonous snakes. Later, the reigning Egyptian king had the snakes destroyed to facilitate prospecting for peridot. Prospecting was done at night because the gem could not be seen in sunlight. The workers would mark the spots and return the next day to dig them out.
Cuts & Uses
Usually faceted. Step-cut is best; oval, round and pendeloque cuts are common. Very suitable for brooches, pendants, earrings, but not for rings or bracelets because it abrades easily.
Blue Giant of the Orient (466 carats)
Mined in Kuruwita in 1907, this giant blue sapphire is one of the world's most valuable gemstones. In rough, it was said to have been over 600 carats and was fashioned into a jewel of 466 carats. It is the largest blue sapphire in the world. This gem is in the collection of an American gem and art collector.
Logan Blue Sapphire (423 carats)
Considered to be the second largest blue sapphire in the world on record. A flawless specimen with a rich deep blue, the stone was gifted to The Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC by John Logan.
Star of India (563 carats)
The second largest star sapphire in the world was discovered in Sri Lanka. It is almost flawless and unusual in that it has stars on both sides of the stone. Part of the collection of the American Museum of Natural history.
Star of Lanka (362 carats)
Third largest star sapphire on record. The phenomenal stone is a rich deep-blue in colour and has a well-defined six-ray star. Owned by the National Gem & Jewellery Authority in Sri Lanka.
Rosser Reeves Star Ruby (138 carats)
The world's largest star ruby combining excellent colour, good transparency and a well-defined star. Part of the United States National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian Institute.
Hope Cat's Eye (over 500 carats)
Probably the largest chrysoberyl cat's eye in the world, it was previously part of the collection of Thomas Hope, the wealthy British banker and gem investor. This cat's eye is carved to represent an alter surmounted by a torch. Exhibited at the British Museum of Natural History.
Ray of Treasure (103 carats)
The stone displays the most desirable qualities of a "milk and honey" effect, with good transparency and a well-defined silvery star. An almost flawless specimen, its cut and proportions are excellent. It is part of the collection of the Sri Lanka National Gem & Jewellery Authority.
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