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You have to pay a nominal amount to walk around the harbour at Beruwala. Its OK.............depending on when you go it may not be the best time to visit. The catch of the day when we visited Beruwala Harbour were sadly these baby sharks. There seemed to be 100s of them & the whole area was covered in Blood.
The Kechimalai Mosque Is the oldest Mosque in Sri Lanka. It is believed the site of the mosque is where the first Muslims landed in Sri Lanka.Beruwala, on Sri Lankas West Coast had the first Muslim community in Sri Lanka, recorded in 1024 AD.
Though it's in the LP, we didn't see too many tourists on our daytrip to some villages west of Kandy. We took a bus to Embekka and walked through the rice paddies to a few temples. The second one, Lakantilake Temple is on a hill and give a great view. The temple itself is a bit blue-lavenderish, quite pretty. It is special because it's a combined buddhist/hindoeist temple. A friendly monk asked us for 100 Rs to enter (1 $).
Make friends with the local people, They are very friendly & know the places off the tourist trail worth a visit. One of these is the Brief Estate, which was the home & gardens of the artist & architect Bevis Bawa. It is beautiful there, If it was my home I wouldnt change a thing. for more information go to www.infolanka.com Also visit a temple in the early evening, if you are lucky you many catch the Monks doing their prayers.
We arrived 3:30 in the morning and it was like waking up in a totally new world .Our bus pelted through the darkness and witnessed villages waking up, people waiting at bus stops or riding their bicyles, women in colourful saris.Children, in their crisp new uniforms, a few wearing white shoes and socks, some in rubber slippers but most of them barefoot. This is not an unusual sight since some 40 percent of Sri Lanka's population live below the poverty level.
I did get this one of the kids when we first walked in to the temple. They were all very polite, and waited in the doorway for me to take my photo of the carved figures on the walls. Then they all filed out, and nearly every one of them greeted us with "Hello" or something else in English, along with big smiles. Very sweet!
Small and pretty, Dowa Temple lies off the road, 6k east of Bandarawela. It's mentioned in the Lonely Planet, so I guess it may not technically qualify as "Off the Beaten Path", but it's pleasant, and we didn't see any other tourists there. I tried to take a photo of schoolchildren getting their English lessons from one of the monks, but the camera operator (me) malfunctioned. So I'm posting this one of the interior of the temple instead, as it's one of my favorites from this trip.
This fantastic 12m high statue dates from the 12th or 13th centuries and is one of my favorite things in Sri Lanka.Legend says that the Aukana Buddha was carved at the same time as the Sasseruwa Buddha 11km to the west, a competition between master and student. The same legend sames that the master carving Aukana, finished first and that the student gave up because his statue was inferior.According to a school teacher we chatted with at the monestary, the water level at the Kala Wewa tank never falls below the level of the eyes of the Aukana Buddha (or never goes higher - I may have that backwards). He said that both the tank and the Budda were built after a drought in the area which is why the King who comissioned the statue asked for the statue to face the tank.
We stayed with a Piya Nivasa, a private home in Akurala. There's not a lot to do in Akurala but if your looking for a cheap, if basic, place to do nothing, this may be your place. See my accomodation tips for more detail.
Doowili Ella means the Dust Fall, or the waterfall of Dust.This is not a place most of the people visit. This waterfall a short, wide and there is no grace in it self. It’s a lovely picnic trip. It’s in a remote area called Kalthota. Turn towards Kalthota from balangoda and go around 25 kilometers. (You will have to ask local people the exact location) When you find the place, park the vehicles and climb through the jungle about 2-3 miles. Then suddenly the Doowli Ella appear below you.The Doowili Ella, falls down to a small bawl like opening. The only way out from that bawl is the part where water comes out. So it’s not easy to go near the foot of the water fall. But people can see the water fall when stand on around the rim of the opening. It’s a lovely peacefull place to go and finish a picnic lunch. But remember, there are public services around so please don’t put garbage around....
Mount Lavina Hotel Colombo
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Earl's Regency Hotel Kandy Kandy
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3 Reviews and 111 Opinions The Palm Garden Village is like a colonial club, but one with a relaxed and freestyle-air. It was...
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Q: Thinking of traveling to Sri Lanka in the end of March for 3 weeks. I will go with my 6 yr old. Will take Medical precoushns bu...
A: Any special reasons why you want to stay in Colombo for 3 days. Everywhere in Sri Lanka is child friendly, but as you want to end up in Trinco (and spend part of your...
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