jetwing st. andrew’s nature tours

Jetwing St. Andrew’s Nature Tours

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Jetwing St. Andrew’s Nature Tours 2

O U R N A T U R A L I S T

W I L L A C C O M P A N Y Y O U O N A L L

T H E S E E X C U R S I O N S

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Nadeera Weerasinghe Naturalist

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The Jetwing Vision

To Be World Class

The Jetwing Mission

To be a family of people and companies committed to provide legendary and

Innovative service with high stakeholder satisfaction.


We are delighted to welcome you to a Jetwing Hotel with a Resident Naturalist. We hope you will find something of interest in the enclosed program of excursions, ranging from cultural visits, to walking to natural history tours. Some of our excursions are designed to involve the local community, for two reasons. Firstly because we recognize them as an important stakeholder who should share in the financial benefits of tourism. Secondly, we believe it is important that the local community play a lead role in the conservation of our cultural and natural heritage. Resident Naturalists are employed at Jetwing Hotels with several objectives in mind. One objective is that they are available to entertain and educate guests to the hotel, of the nature and culture, in and around the hotel. But more importantly they are a part of a wider strategy to demonstrate that the private sector, especially in tourism can play a significant role in creating environmental awareness and being a champion for research and conservation. Jetwing is committed to sustainable tourism and to minimize the impact of its activities on the environment. Each Jetwing Hotel has a 'Green Directory' listing the activities it is taking to be a responsible hotel. The naturalist or General Manager can e-mail this to you, if you wish to receive a copy. Jetwing Hotels together with Jetwing Eco Holidays (the wildlife & luxury travel subsidiary) is also engaged in a campaign to impart knowledge to Sri Lankans, especially school children, on the island's fauna and flora. To this end, we have published a number of low cost leaflets, booklets and posters. The naturalists also encourage class room activities to further reinforce our involvement with the local community. Under the path breaking Jetwing Research initiative, Jetwing Hotels are used as an island-wide platform of research stations. We support research by providing free food and accommodation to researchers, overcoming one of the key logistical hurdles


faced by research. For more information visit www.jetwing eco.com. We hope you will enjoy your stay with us and carry the message of sustainable tourism to others. Renuke Coswatte ([email protected]) Manager Jetwing St. Andrew’s Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne ([email protected]) Director Eco Tourism (Jetwing Hotels) Ruan Samarasinghe ([email protected]) Managing Director (Jetwing Hotels) Kumar Senaratne Head of HR ([email protected])


Jetwing St. Andrew’s Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Towering over 6182 feet (1884 meters) above sea level cradled amidst the mist covered mountains lies Jetwing St Andrew’s Hotel in Nuwara Eliya. Much respected and admired, the history of St Andrew’s Hotel runs past well over

100 years. It is said to be part of land gifted to a faithful servant of the crown in 1875 (approximately) where a house was built which was later identified as a Sctot’s Club. A German national by the name of Mr. Humbert has been running the club which was converted to a hotel during the early 1900’s. During world war 1, he was interned by then British Government. In 1918, the hotel was bought by a syndicate headed by Mr. Arthur Ephraums. Many additions including a two storey wing to the west, a large dining room and pantry, large kitchen, store room and servants quarters were instigated during this era. In 1919, Mr. J H De Zilwa a young cousin of Mr. Ephraums was appointed as Manager of the newly expanded and refurbished hotel. However, due to an disagreement with the owner, Mr. & Mrs. De Zilwa left St Andrew’s to begin their own hotel business. Over 100 years of proud history continues………. Presently, Jetwing St Andrew’s Hotel has 52 rooms with 7 deluxe rooms, 5 suites and 40 standard rooms. All rooms are equipped with hot & cold water, bath / shower, 220v to 240v electric power, telephone, individual heaters, shaver sockets, in room safes, Tea / Coffee making facility & TV’s in all suites and deluxe rooms, mini bars in suites and hair dryers provided on request. The hotel boasts of a climate with delightful and freshening days to cool and cozy nights. Horton plains national park, Baker’s falls and visit to Hakgala gardens are few of many places of interest at the disposal of all guests at St Andrew’s. There is a saloon for billiards and snooker. It is said that the billiards table and cues are over 123 years old which has been imported from C. Larzzurus and company from India. The floor around public area takes you back in history over 123 years…..evidence of the bygone era. Huge emphasis is given to maintain these antique items in the original condition. The billiard table would probably be the oldest and best preserved of it’s kind in Sri Lanka.


Excursion 01 ( Nature walks ) Cloud Forest Trail Cloud Forest Trail is designed for you to see typical Cloud Forest patches in just 300M above the hotel. Cloud Forests of Sri Lanka are one of the most endangered habitats, occupying less than 2% of the total land area. Due to deforestation in the past, for coffee and then tea, the cloud forests of Sri Lanka have been decimated, leaving only, small but precious fragments of bio-diversity. It host to some of Sri Lanka’s most unusual flora & fauna. Most of the plants in the Cloud Forest seem to have medicinal uses in ayurveda to treat everything from malaria to hepatitis. Mist surroundings & small water falls bring you fresh air and cool feelings. The Nature Trail is up a fairly steep slope, which can be difficult in places. Much of the fauna and flora can be seen in just a few hundred meters of the trail. Therefore, you need not be in good shape to be able to follow the trail up to the water catchment, documented in the section of the flora. If you wish to go beyond this, then it would help if you are sure footed and reasonably fit. In this nature trail guide, we will start with the flora, with separate sections later on the birds and other wildlife. The nature trail, is along a footpath which was constructed by the British, to lead up to a water catchment up on a ridge.

Time of departure - Morning & Evening Duration - 2 hrs Walking distance - Approximately 2 km What is included - Water Bottle What to bring / What to wear -

Comfortable Clothes, Binoculars, Caps or Hats, Cameras, Field Guides

Cost - US $ 10 per person

** Every additional person 25 % off (Up to 04 person)


Excurs 02 ion

Horton Plains National Park ( J o u r n e y t o t h e e n d o f W o r l d )

The Horton Plains National Park is located on Sri Lanka's highest plateau, between altitudes of 2,000m 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.

Horton Plains, a beautiful gift of nature and it is Sri Lanka’s most elevated National Park containing Kirigalpotta and Totapola Mountains, which are second and third highest mountain peaks of Sri Lanka (2395m, 2359m). Horton Plains was declared as a Natural Reserve in 1969, and upgraded to a National Park in 1988. It is also the only national park within which visitors are permitted to walk. 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 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 a common sight at dusk and in the early hours of the morning.

Situated within this park, at nearly 700m is World’s End, a sheer precipice that is popular with visitors. World’s End offers a spectacular panoramic view including the Nonpareil Tea Estate. Also within, is Baker’s Fall, which is a small exquisite waterfall.


Time of departure - 0600 hrs Duration - 6 hrs Walking distance - Approximately 7 km Distance to Entrance - 30 km What is included - Water Bottle, Transport,

Entrance Ticket

What to bring / What to wear - Comfortable Clothes, Caps or Hats,

Cameras, Binoculers, Spotting Scopes, Field Guides, Sun Block.

Cost - US $ 65 per person with transport ** Every additional person 25 % off (Up to 04 person)


Excursion 03 Sri Pada (Adams Peak)

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hat is included - fast, Water Bottle, Transport, ilo ack ,

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on l p rson 25 % off (Up to 04 person)

Adam's Peak (also Adam's Mount; Sinhalese Samanalakanda "butterfly mountain", Tamil Sivanolipatha Malai), is a 2,243 meters (7,359 ft) tall comountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well-known for the Sri Pada "sacred footprint", a 1.8 m rock formation near the summit, in Buddhist tradition held to be the footprint of Buddand in Muslim tradition that of Adam.

The mountain is located in the southern reaches of the Central Highlands, in the Ratnapura district of the Sabaragamuwa Province - lying about 20 km northeast of the city of Ratnapura. The surrounding region is largelyhills, with no mountain of comparable size nearby.

Climbing at night can be a remarkable experience, with the lights of the pathleading up and into the stars overhead. There are rest stops along the way.

Leave hotel after dinner for Adam’s peak via Nanuoya, Hatton and Maskeliya up to Nallatanniya. Cross the river and start to climb the summit in the night. Rest on the way and walk to the summit to be there early morning. See the beautiful sunrise, the sfor lunch to the hotel

Time of departure - 2230 hrs (Leaving aft Duration - 12 hrs

alking distance - ApproximatelWDistance to site - 70 km W Packed Break

M P et What to bring / What to wear

Comfortable Clothes, Caps or Hats, Cameras, Binoculars, Field Gu

Cost - US $ 100 for 1st person with transport

** Every additi a e

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabaragamuwa_Province

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratnapura




Excursion 04

Hakgala Botanical Gardens and Arboretum Botanic garden at Hakgala is the second largest garden in Sri Lanka situated in salubrious environment near the capital city of the hill country. It provides charm and cold atmosphere with picturesque beauty by its own landscape and many blooms seen in various sections in garden. It enhances natural beauty y small water streams run across the garden and wooden bridges built over

Mr. William Nock was appointed as a rator in 1884. Many sub tropical and some temperate plants were

The king Rava astern

bthem. The main reason caused to establish the garden at Hakgala was cultivation and promotion of Cinchona, a tree of commerce in Sri Lanka. The garden was established in 1861 with the auspices of Mr. G. H. W. Thawaites then director of Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya and M. R. W. MacNichholl was the pioneer curator of the gardens. Later, the garden was used for experimentation of tea cultivation in up country and then garden was developed to a botanical direction sincecuintroduced and planted in the gardens. It was recorded in the legend of Sri Lanka, many thousands of years ago, a famous king of Ceylon Ravana whose name is remembered in connection with the epic love story with Sita, a beautiful queen of India, made a pleasure gardens in the region where the Hakgala garden spreads today.

na brought queen Sita, a famous female character described in emythology here and kept hidden in the area vicinity to the botanic.

http://www.agridept.gov.lk/NBG/H_cinco.htm


Time of departure - Morning (Leaving after breakfast)

Afternoon (Leaving after Tea) Duration - 6 hrs Walking distance - approximately 2 km (within the park) Distance to Entrance - 15 km What is included - Water Bottle, Transport, Entrance Ticket What to bring / What to wear

- Comfortable Clothes, Caps or Hats, Cameras, Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, Field Guides, Sun Block.

Cost - US $ 50 per person with transport ** Every additional person 25 % off (Up to 04 person)


Excursion 05

Pedro Tea Factory & Tea Estate Tea cultivation began on the island in 1867 with the commercial introduction by the Britisher James Taylor and he planted 17 acres of tea in 1866 at Loolecondera. Ceylon tea is a world recognized product, with some of the most sought after fragrant and delicious tea in the whole world being produced in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya in the central hills of Sri Lanka is an area which produces some of the finest tea of Ceylon. When you visit this Tea Factory, you will have the opptunity to observe first hand Tea cultivation practices such as fertilizing, pruning and plucking. Tea plukers in Sri Lanka are usually women and watching them pluck tea, dressed in their colourful Sarees against the verdant green of tea bushes is a sight not to be missed. Manufacture of tea the best known and most familiar of Ceylon Tea black tea requires withering, rolling, fermentation, drying and grading. You will see all these processes. Also easily visible are panaromic views of natural and man-made contours, beautiful vistas and landscapes rising out of the mist laden sky. Finally you can quench your thirst with a typical top quality Cup of Ceylon Tea. Time of departure - Between 0800 hrs to 1600 hrs

Duration - 2 hrs Distance to site - 03 km What is included - Fresh Tea, Water Bottle, Transport,


Cameras, Binoculars, Cost - US $ 25 per person with transport

** Every additional person US $ 5 wiil be added(Up to 04 person)


Excursion 06 Water Fall Tour The mountains of Sri Lanka are embellished with a slew of picturesque waterfalls. Many of these splendid waterfalls lie unknown in the forests and remote tea plantation tracks. The numerous rivers of the island fed adequately by two yearly monsoons, the topography of high and steeply scarped pen plains and river beds of hard metamorphic rock, all set an ideal ground for the formation of waterfalls. The serene ambience of a waterfall with the sound of water rushing down along the Rocky Mountains will send many visitors in to ecstatic moment of riverine. The island is based 103 rivers and many numbers of streams radiating from the central hills, rushing down rocky precipices forming a number of roaring waterfalls of various shapes and height, all ending up loosing the momentum at the Indian Ocean. Among those water falls Devon Fall, St. Clair Fall, Dansinan Fall, Saheen Fall and Sheen Fall are famous water falls in the country.

Time of departure - 0700 hrs Duration - 06 hrs Distance to site - 100 km What is included - Packed Breakfast, Water Bottle, Milo Packet

Transport.


Cameras, Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, Field Guides, Sun Block.

Cost - US $ 115 per person with transport



Excursion 07 Galway’s Land National Park Galway’s Land National Park located about 2 km away from the Nuwara Eliya town and 2nd highest elevated National Park in the country. Galway’s Land was declared as a Nature Sanctuary in 1938 and area was 56.6 ha. Due to having high bio diversity itself again in 2006 part of this land, 29 ha had upgraded as a National Park. This small patch of land is very good model / example to mountain forest type and its habitat type. Here you will see both native and introduced floral species. The area giving good habitat for some interesting mountain faunal species too.

Time of departure - Morning (Leaving after breakfast) Afternoon (Leaving after Tea)

Duration - 03 hrs Distance to site - 03 km What is included - Water Bottle, Transport, Entrance Ticket






Excursion 08 Victoria Park The Victoria Park of Nuwara Eliya is said to be named to commorate the 60th Jubilee Coronation of Queen Victoria in the year 1897. Originally the park was used as the research field of Hakgala Botanical Garden which is located about 10 km away from the city centre. It is known that this park was established by planting an Oak tree by a German Princess who visited Nuwara Eliya at the latter part of the 19th Century. The park is 27 acres in extent and about 90% of the tree species available are those of foreign plants. Nanu Oya which flows through the park and a number of lakes within it enhances its beauty. A large number of rare bird species can be found in the park. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers at quieter times because of the good opportunities it gives to see Indian Blue Robin (Luscinia brunnea), Pled Ground Thrush (Zoothera wardii) or Scaly Thrush (Zoothera imbricata) lurking in the denser undergrowth. Kashmir Flycatcher (Ficedula subrubra) is another attractive bird species found in the park.


Afternoon (Leaving after Tea) Duration - 03 hrs Distance to site - 1 km What is included - Water Bottle, Transport, Entrance Ticket






Excursion 09

Bomure Ella

Bomure Ella is very good place for you to see and have experience of a typical mountain eco system and its bio diversity. In the morning after breakfast or after afternoon Tea, drive to Bomure Ella which is 06 km away from Jetwing St. Andrew’s and then proceed by foot on a guided nature tour with our Naturalist. Bomure Ella is a small forest patch which is surrounded by a small Lake. This is a very good place to see many species of Sri Lankan endemic birds such as Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus), Spot-winged Ground-thrush (Zoothera spiloptera), Ceylon Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornata) and also many number of winter visitors during the migratory season. You could also see endemic mammals such as Toque Macaque (Macacasinica), Highland Bear Monkey (

tTrachypithecus vetulus mon icola) and also

Mountain Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura macroura) too. When you proceed towards the reservoir, you will able to see some raptors such as Grey-headed Fish-eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus), Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus indus), Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) and also many other forest birds too.


Afternoon (Leaving after Tea) Duration - 03 hrs Distance to site - 05 km What is included - Water Bottle, Transport,




** Every additional person US $ 5 wiil be added(Up to 04 person)

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Is the word cist accurate?

Dr S. Miththapala

Check dates


WHAT VISITORS SHOULD DO IN NATIONAL PARKS

YOU ARE IN ANIMAL TERRITORY – BE CONSIDERATE !

• Read the rules and regulations of each national park BEFORE entering

the park and follow them.

• Adhere to specific time limits when visiting. • Obtain the services of a guide (which is required) and, at all times, follow

his /her advice. • Because you are entering the domain of wild animals, always remember

that you are in their territory and treat them with consideration.

• Please bring to the notice of the park authorities any special observations, infractions of regulations within the park.

TAKE ONLY PHOTOGRAPHS – LEAVE ONLY YOUR FOOTPRINTS !


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