Within the boundaries of the Kumana National Park are many ancient archeological sites that date back to the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. In fact, the Kumana area has been the site of an ancient civilisation dating back to the 3rd century BC. During my recent camping trip with Xtreme Nature Tours, we visit Bovattagala,…
Category: Sri Lanka
Camping at Kumana Sri Lanka
It’s not authentic camping and neither does it have the trimmings of glamping. But it has got all the coolness of tented accommodation, the buzzing of insects, the sounds of guttural sawing of a lurking leopard, the caressing of warm breezes that waft across the riverbed and the thrill of burying my toes in the…
Trek to Pahanthuduwa Waterfall. Belihuloya Sri Lanka
A short drive up the road right next to the Belihuloya Rest House is a waterfall and natural pool that has been a must-see attraction on my bucket list for too long. I have managed to coax the rest to visit this site and we are finally en route. We park the vehicles at a…
Mountain Views and Hidden Waterfalls. Gammaduwa Sri Lanka
Gammaduwa is a village located about 1h20m from the Matale town in the central province of Sri Lanka. The temperature today is a cool 24c probably because of the elevation of 930m above sea level. Off the beaten track that even Google Maps could not quite navigate, we finally reach our destination, the Kudaoya Villa. Originally…
Summiting Nuwaragala. Maha Oya Sri Lanka
It’s a sultry Sunday morning, and even at this early hour of the morning, the heat is rising from the parched earth. I have navigated myself from Mahiyanganaya (where I spent the night) to the Pollebadde Galaasha Road in Maha Oya, as per instructions given to me by Nayaka Aththo (Chieftain). He flags me down…
Ancient Temple and Man-Made Tank. Mahiyangana Sri Lanka
Steeped in history and home to one of Sri Lanka’s 16 sacred places (solosmasthana), Mahiyanagana, once a sleepy town, is now a bustling city. I am passing through Mahiyangana en route to Nuwaragala in Maha Oya. One of the focal points of this city is the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Temple, which plays a significant role…
At the Backwaters. Eluvankulam Sri Lanka
Inconspicuously hidden in a tangle of trees and marked pathways is The Backwaters Lodge. A short drive from the main Wilpattu National Park Hotel Road at Eluwankulama, google maps is spot on! On arrival, friend and host, Tarique Omar is at hand, with his charming smile and inimitable manner to ensure cold towels and a…
The Argyle. Hatton Sri Lanka
“Guid gear comes in small bulk.” That means “good things come in small packages” in Scottish. A perfect description of my destination! The weather is chilly yet a welcome change from the scorching heat in Colombo and the three-hour 30 minute drive to Hatton is easy and picturesque (and much more bearable than the three-hour…
Fortified! Mannar Sri Lanka
It’s only 6 a.m. on this barmy Sunday morning. Our drive up and down the Mannar causeway in search of flamingos was futile. Except for some waders and an awesome sunrise reflecting off the water, there was nothing much to see. Since the day was still young, we decided to drive into the Mannar Fort,…
Virgin White Teas. Handunugoda Estate. Galle Sri Lanka
Galle is famous for its ancient historical Fort, sunny beaches, blue-green sea and kitsch temples. But I discovered another fascinating place to visit, the Handunugoda Tea Estate, home of the rare and real virgin white teas. Located less than 30 minutes from the Galle Fort, the road to the estate is winding and circuitous, and if not for trusted Google Maps I would very well have…
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