There are friendships that don’t need warming up, reminders, or those polite “we really must catch up” messages. With Fiona and Kumi, it’s always been simple: make a plan, start the car and go. For us three friends, who once “flew the friendly skies,” our November getaway is practically a standing date. So there we…
Tag: Dambulla
Ropes and Rocks: The Ultimate Mountain Experience. Arangala Sri Lanka
The journey begins early on this Sunday morning and the air crisp and refreshing as we set out from the Arangala Forest Lodge. I’m filled with excitement, unsure of exactly what awaits on the climb ahead to the top of the Arangala Mountain, but certain it’s going to be a challenge. We, my brother Arittha, Avi…
Sacred Rock Sanctuary. Dambulla Sri Lanka
As I ascend the gentle slope of the Dambulla rock, I look forward to yet another visit to this amazing temple complex. The name itself, Dambulla, resonates with significance – a fusion of “Damba,” meaning rock, and “Ulla,” meaning fountain. Fueled by tales that echo with centuries of history, the Dambulla Cave Temple, commonly referred to as the Royal Rock…
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…
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…
