One Day Trip to Pinnawala, Kandy and Ambuluwawa

This was yet another dream of mine to go see the baby elephants at Pinnawala coz I’m a big fan of them. So Uncle and five of us got a van and set off in the wee hours on 11 November.

We stopped at Wahalkada in Warakapola for breakfast. This turned out to be an excellent one. They serve buffet (a bit expensive – but once in a while on a day like this, it’s worth going for something like that) breakfast with a wide range of meals such as Egg Hoppers, String Hoppers, Rice and Curry, Rotii, etc… However, they serve Kenda which was one of the very best I’ve ever had.

Entrance at the Wahalkada – Click Image to Enlarge

Entrance to the Wahalkada

Brilliant carving of a tusker at Wahalkada

Our next stop was Pinnawala (My friends didn’t wanna go there as they were very keen on climbing Hanthana. However I insisted we go see the elephants. In the end it turned out to be a wise choice as we didn’t get to climb Hanthana coz it was restricted due to security reasons.)

Site map of Pinnawala – Click Image to Enlarge

At the entrance

Pinnawala was magnificent and we came across baby elephants and some other big ones too.

Baby elephants are very tame

Nice pose

Mother’s a mother

Small family golden

We’re Big

Naughty ones who steal food from the blind

Got some people watching us huh

But the icing on the cake was the big tusker that’s unfortunately blind. The keepers have to go and feed him and the funny thing is other elephants, especially the small ones, go and steal from his meals coz he can’t see.

Anyone here???

Somebody stolen my food again

Our next stop was Dalada Maligawa, majestically rising among the upcountry beauty.

Majestic is the word that comes to mind

It’s always a wonderful feeling to be there, simply can’t put that into words.

Inside the Budu Medura on the ground floor

Princeess Hemamala, Prince Dantha arrival in Thambapanni

This is where the most sacred Tooth Relic is located

Raja, Restored

Beautiful Ivory colour Buddha Statues

This is where they are kept on either side

Then we tried to go climb Hanthana but about 500m up the path there was a policeman coming down and he said that nobody can go up there as it’s restricted due to security reasons.

So feeling a bit down we made our way to Peradeniya Guest House for Lunch.

After a hearty lunch, we made our way to Ambuluwawa that is rising into the blue skies of Gampola.

Ambuluwawa, Foundation Stone – Click Image to Enlarge

Gloomy sky behind

It was around 4.00 pm when we started climbing that Stupa and had no problem with being burnt in the sun.

Miles and miles

Buddha statue

Wild Pony

From the top looking down

Breathtaking

The view was breathtaking and we could see for miles lush greenery and surrounding hills.

About 6.00 pm we left for Colombo and it was a fantastic day.