Colombo is like a throbbing pulse. Busy, bustling, and bursting at its seams. Nevertheless, this capital city is full of surprises; breathtaking, mysterious and fascinating. Colombo is also home to four of the oldest and intriguing places of worship belonging to the four main religions in Sri Lanka, and I am on a journey with…
Category: Sri Lanka
Nalanda Gedige. Matale Sri Lanka
Vastly ignored and hardly appreciated, the Nalanda Gedige, once the most central point in ancient Ceylon is a remarkable archaeological site with an interesting story, some fascinating carvings and historical significance. According to former Commissioner of Archaeology, Prof. Senerath Paranavitana, there is inscriptional evidence that this was built during the 8th and 9th centuries as an ancient Hindu temple. The Dravidian-style…
Scenic Train Ride. Ella Sri Lanka
“Epic”. “Stunning”. “Awesome”. “Scenic”. “Asia’s Best” These are just some of the adjectives used to describe the train ride from Colombo to Ella and a reason to find out for myself. It is 5.55 a.m on this Friday morning when 35 like-minded friends and adventurers meet (and greet) at Colombo’s Fort Railway Station to catch…
Horton Plains. Misty Mornings and Montane Forests
The entrance to Horton Plains is shrouded in mist. The temperature is 16C and rising slowly. The morning air is damp and fresh dew hangs limply off the commonly found Rhododendron zeylanicum, a couple of which have already started to bloom. In one month’s time the Park will be aglow with its dark red flowers….
An Urban Wetland. A Walk in the Park
It’s an overcast Sunday afternoon, and while the clouds keep the sun at bay, the day is devoid of its usual humidity and seems perfect for walking. Today, like many times before, we are letting our two dogs explore the wetland. Almost a stone’s throw from the Parliament Complex at Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte, the Diyasaru Uyana (formerly known as the Thalawathugoda Biodiversity…
Dancing Dolphins and Dazzling Seas. Kalpitiya Sri Lanka
White sand. Warm waters. Delicious seafood. Great friends. This weekend is simply for chilling with friends, feasting on seafood, and floating in the warm, clear, blue waters of the Indian Ocean. And what better place than at Nuga Villa, a four-bedroomed rustic guesthouse located on the beach at Kalpitiya, approximately 140 kms or about 3…
Delightful Café Ceylon. Kabalana Sri Lanka
About 5 kms past the picturesque and historic city of Galle, en route to Matara is a chilled out holiday destination called Café Ceylon, comprising a 5-bedroomed villa and a laid back seafood restaurant that packs a punch. Owned and managed by Anura Saparamadu (a man with the Midas Touch), together with Chef German Demaano…
Sprawling Amaara Forest Hotel. Sigiriya Sri Lanka
It is not hard to spot the great ‘pink lotus’ at the 109th milepost in the town of Sigiriya. The signboards lead me to the entrance of a sprawling resort-like hotel in the heart of this historical city. And after about 175 kms of driving (from Colombo) the welcome at the Amaara Forest Hotel is…
Tantrums and Trumpeting. Gal Oya Sri Lanka
It is with much trepidation that I set out to spend the long weekend at the Gal Oya Wildlife Department’s Ekgal Aru bungalow. More than the long drive, it is the supposed state of the bungalow that worries me, having been warned of its dilapidated condition. The route from Colombo to Gal Oya takes me…
Secrets. Surprises. Sites. Kaduruketha Sri Lanka
From soft linen to Spa Ceylon toiletries, Jetwing Kaduruketha is much more than I expected. Having travelled 223 kms from Colombo in just about four hours, I am ready to plant my feet on the ground. Jetwing Kaduruketha is located about 4.3 kms off the main Colombo Batticaloa highway (A4) and 3.5 kms from the…
Mihipedia.lk 