Around Sri Lanka in 8 Days – Part 1

Every year, Tharaka (one of my best friends) and his family go on their annual trip after the New Year and I’ve been with them number of times.

This time the trip was very special coz his father had managed to get permission for us to visit the war remains in the north and even before the trip we were highly excited.

Day 01 – Kataragama / Yala

So on the 15th morning, we (highly excited bunch) left Colombo around 5.30 am. There was ample room in the van since it was only 7 of us (including the driver) and soon we reached Ratnapura and stopped for Breakfast.

Kadala, String Hoppers, Red Rice with Kiri Hodi, Sambola and Fish may sound like a feast as we wolfed down the food.

Then we reached Udawalawa and stopped around the park to take the breath taking view of the reservoir in.

Udawalawe Reservoir

By lunch time, we reached our Hotel and rested till about 2.00 pm. Then it was time for a safari to Yala. However, a peacock had decided to welcome us by giving his wonderful dance in front of our hotel and it really was an amazing thing to watch.

On our way to Yala, we saw the beautiful and majestic Tissamaharama Stupa, and it looked simply stunning paddy fields surrounding.

Peacock welcome dance near the hotel

Tissa Chaithya

We first visited the Yala Museum which houses a lot of preserved animals, skeletons and bones.

Croc skeleton on display

Preserved Leopard

Me in front of a Python skeleton

Then it was all around Yala, however we came across a very few animals as it was late afternoon.

First Peacock we saw

Yala tank (Buthawa)

Very few deers… coz of the late afternoon

One of many colourful birdies

However, to our surprise we came across only the one elephant and I was really worried as the number of elephants in SL decreasing rapidly.

One and Only Elephant, I was really worried

Tsunami Memorial at the Yala beach

After a wonderful safari we came to the hotel and changed into clean, white clothes to go to Kiri Vehera.

What a beautiful sight

Lovely

It’s really beautiful in the night. (First night – Kataragama)

Day 02 – Arugam Bay / Muhudu Maha Viharaya / Deegavapi

Early morning we set off via Buttala to Arugam Bay, one of the most popular beaches in the whole world, especially for surfing. On our way along Kataragama-Buttala road, there was this baby Elephant at the edge of the road and he was so cute and we stopped to give our remaining fruit from the Pooja Wattiya.

Hungry Baby elephant on Yala-Buttala road

Not so picturesque

Arugambay…scorching hot

After that, we went to see Muhudu Maha Viharaya in Potuvil. It was very sad to see the condition there as the neighbors (non-buddhists) are extremely hostile to the temple and the monks live there. The only monk who was there said that no one sees about the threats made to him and the temple by those religious fanatics living in the neighborhood.

Muhudu Maha Viharaya sing board is at the temple coz of those …..

Only the board is there but no one to protect our heritage – Click Image to Enlarge

Ancient ruins in the temple

Lord Buddha statue

Even the road to the temple is blocked using paddy and we had to drive over them to the temple. So if you go to see this temple, don’t ever ask the road to the temple by people nearby, get directions from the police officers on duty because you might be misled by them.

They have even removed the huge banner giving directions to the temple displayed on the main road.

It’s really sad any of our politicians those who boast about Dharma Rajya and all don’t even acknowledge these kind of things happening right here in Sri Lanka. I hope this article will open those blind eyes and necessary steps will be taken to safeguard our temples and ancient places especially in the east.

Our next stop was Deegavapi, another holy place abused by those religious fanatics and taken over its land by force and political influence.

Entrance to Deegavapi

Deegavapi Chaithya

Tharaka, me and our driver Ruwan (from L to R)

We were even informed in the 1950s; the chief monk was shot dead by one of those.

Recently built Budu Medura

ඇත් පවුර, along the wall…

Then our stop was Daybridge Hotel near Kallady Bridge where we bunked down for the night. It was very good and reasonable with clean rooms. (Second night – Batti)

Day 03 – Passikudah

We left and reached very beautiful yet not so well-known Pasikudah beach. We even managed a boat ride for 500/-.

Pasikudah

Boat ride

Our crowd except me

Lone fisherman

We were dog tired after all this and slept like logs. (Third night – Batti)

Day 04 – Seruwawila / Nilaweli

We went further up the north bound highway and reached Seruwawila on the way, yet another Buddhist holy place.

Temporarily built bridge

A hut built by the army to rest and eat

Kovil on the rock

Seruwawila…

Ruins all around

Still solid looking

Old pond

Rare Budu Medura

Chaithya up close

Chaithya up close

.

After that we reached our rented house near Nilaweli Beach (famous Pigeon Island nearby) and went for a dip in the sea. (Fourth night – Trinco)

Day 05 – Thiriyaya / Arisi Malai / Koneshwaram / Kinniya / Wilgamwehera / Pigeon Island

Early morning we went to Thiriyaya further up the road towards Pulmuddai.

Newly built bridges are a common sight in the east

Just caught

Along the way, we came across a giant snake (Polanga) that was killed trying to attack a police officer in a bunker during the night. An army soldier had shot it with a T-56 rifle twice to kill the fellow.

Deadly dangerous, see the bullet wound on the head

Thiriyaya is where the first Stupa in Sri Lanka (Girihadu Seya) is located. This area was under attack by the terrorists, however SL Navy valiantly fought for its safety.

Just plucked from the tank…

Click Image to Enlarge

.	Stone bridge

Tank…

Very very old

Pariwara Chaithya

Basin….used for?

Entrance to the Girihadu Seya

There are entrances from all 4 corners

Girihadu Seya (first in SL)

Pond on top of the hill

Afterwards we visited Arisi Malai beach, the meaning of Arisi in Tamil is Rice and Malai is Hill. So Arisi Malai means Rice Hill. This was probably due to the shape of the sand on the beach there, like rice grains.

Arisimalai beach

The black sand is used at the Ilmanite factory at Pulmuddai

Then we went to famous Koneshwaram Kovil and Kinniya Hot wells.

Baby deer near the Koneshwaram Kovil

Beautiful lock split…

Koneshwaram Kovil (my first time)

Lots of statues of gods and goddesses

Near the entrance

Must have been a risky job placing this at the very edge

Me and Tharaka (best friends)

Can see a boat coming in

All around beautiful colours

Afterwards, we visited Wilgamwehera, another Buddhist ancient sacred cities in the east.

Wilgamwehera

So many signs of our prosperity

Quite a complex

Buddha Statue

Very famous and popular Kinniya hot wells….

Trinco Beach near the main bus stand

Fresh fish

We came back to the house around 3.30 pm and immediately set off to the pigeon island in a rented boat of the Pigeon Island hotel. That was a marvelous place and we came back to the hotel around 7.00 pm.

Not so far away

Near by other small islands

.	Rock hugging

You can see millions of CaCO3

For supper, we had giant prawns which tasted so much. (Fifth night – Trinco)