Jamaica is a tropical island country located in the Caribbean Sea and forms a part of the Greater Antilles. It is a paradise for tourists as it is full of dense green forests, superb white beaches and sparkling waterfalls. Jamaica’s original Arawakan speaking inhabitants- Taino had named the island as Xaymaca, which means “Land of Water and Wood” or “Land of Springs”. Despite its small size, Jamaica has a rich cultural heritage and a strong presence across the globe. The earliest settlers- South American Taino people or Arawaks inhabited the island during the period 4000 BC to 1000 BC.
Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Jamaica in 1494 and used it as private estate for his family. The island was seized by the British in 1655. Jamaica became leading sugar exporter in the world during the British rule. The history of Jamaica is colored with slavery, abolishment of slavery, partial independence to full independence. There have been many economic upheavals throughout the country’s development. Today, Jamaica is a well developed nation with excellent infrastructure in all sectors and fields. It has an interesting mix of diverse people, culture and languages. The majority religion is Protestant Catholic along with the Roman Catholic. The other religions include Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarianism and Bahai. Jamaica’s official language is English.
The tourists would surely enjoy Jamaica’s first class tourist facilities, dazzling beaches and breathtaking sceneries. The main Jamaican resorts have been categorized into different sections like Montego Bay, the South and Kingston and the resorts of North Coast. Kingston is the capital city of Jamaica and it also forms the cultural nerve center. Kingston is Caribbean’s biggest natural harbour and a principal industrial center. It is a perfect mixture of the Georgian and modern architecture. Kingston has a lot of sightseeing opportunities in addition to beach resorts. The visitors must see the National Gallery of Art, which houses colourful pieces of modern artwork. Another must see is the Hope Botanical Garden containing a vast variety of flora, plants, trees and exotic orchids.
The visitors can seek pleasure in shopping at King Street’s Craft market. Port Royal is a museum where the tourists will see the remnants of the old capital. The visitors will get valuable insights into the ancient Arawak Indian culture at the White Marl Arawak Museum. The University of West Indies is an important landmark that should not be missed. Kingston also has a popular racetrack-Caymanas Park. Spanish Town is famous for its oldest church in West Indies- the Spanish Cathedral of St Jago de la Vega. Mandeville has beautiful fruit orchards and gardens along with tennis, horse riding and facilities.
The visitors can experience mineral baths at the Milk River Spa in the South Coast of Jamaica. The Santa Cruz Mountains in South Coast have a breathtaking cliff- the Lover’s Leap. The other attractions in South Coast are Bluefields Resort and treasure beach. Montego is the tourist hot spot of Jamaica with spectacular views and beaches like the Walter Fletcher Beach, Cornwall Beach and Doctor’s Cave Beach. The birdwatchers will have a great time at the Rocklands Feeding Station. The other places of tourist interest in Jamaica are Negril Beach, Falmouth Harbour Resort, Ocho Rios, Dunn’s River Falls, Discovery Park, Columbus Bay and Port Antonio. The visitors can indulge in abundant exciting activities like diving, swimming, fishing and so on.
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