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Across the Hill Country |
Started from Gampaha @ 4.30am in order to reach bandarawela before dusk knowing we had a long day before us. Was past kandy by 6.30am and padiyapelella by about 9am(road conditions were really bad). After getting directions from plenty of people, 1 person mentioned the above route (special remarks) which we decided to take. From padiyapelella took a road that led us to mathurata plantation tea estates to get to kurundu oya falls
Wildlife safari to Udawalawe and Yala national parks |
The best time to visit these parks is during the drought season during July to September but usually yala is closed for visitors during the month of September so I thought of doing this trip on late August but then again when I checked with my contacts @ yala I came to know that this time the park will remain open so shifted my plans to September where the affects of the drought is much more severe so our chances of sighting leopards is @ high.
A splendid weekend at Waterfalls Cottage Dunsinane (Pundalu Oya) |
This was a relaxing outing for us , the cottage is located bordering Kikilmana forest(dense forest). I really liked the place because while others were resting I had the chance to hike around the forest of Kikilimana.
We started from Gampaha and went trough Peradeniya Nuwaraeliya road, and I would like to state that we came across few waterfalls on our way. First was Helboda Falls by the side of the road and all other waterfalls were between 41Km post and 47Km post I guess. Those were Gerandi Ella, Ramboda eli, Punai Falls and few nameless once.
Tour to Batticaloa – The Land of Singing Fish |
It was my third visit to Batticaloa & first visit after ending the endless war of this country. Its not a leisure tour for me but by chance, most of the time I get to participate in official trips to all around the country.
It was 12th February 2010, we left Kurunegala around 10.30 in the morning. The vehicle was a van & there were 8 members in our team. Our first stop was at Polonnaruwa for lunch & Polonnaruwa Rest House was selected for taking our lunch.
Scenic Hike to Wangedigala |
Let me start by explaining about “Wangedigala”, Im sure all of you must be wondering where the hell this is. This is a mountain range situated close to Kalupahana and facing the Badulla A4 road. it came in sight of my attention for the first time when I visited Bambarakanda falls, since then I wanted to climb it because it was a mountain range that you can walk along and enjoy the view. But actually we wanted to go further than Wangedigala. Balathoduwa and Gommolli(13th highest) was our target.
An endless morning for three days (Morning side – Sinharaja world heritage) |
That was last May, one of my closer Moratuwa University friend Tharanga(At present he is a Civil Engineer in Singapore) sent me an e-mail mentioning that he would come to Sri Lanka for his vacation & please find a real place for resting & stress releasing as he was very busy with technology in heavy construction sites at Singapore.
The road to Sethawadiya, Kalpitiya and dolphins |
A week end trip to Kalpitiya was planned as a family vacation. The main attraction was the dolphins but some detours to see interesting sites on the way were also in the itinerary.
We started around 4.00 am on a Saturday – just 3 of us in our car. En route to Palavi along A3, we visited the Munnewaram Kovil in Chilaw. The Munnewaram Hindu Kovil has many little shrines within the main complex; dedicated to various Hindu deities. Photography is not allowed inside the kovil.
“Nilgala” 2010 |
We started from Colombo at 6.00 a.m. in the morning. Had morning Tea at Hingula and stopped for lunch at Loggal-oya. We reached Bulupitiya Junction [22km from Bibile town] around 3.00 p.m.
Few of us decided to walk [10km to the camp site from Bulupitiya Junction] watching birds and butterflies as older people and few others decided to go by the tractor. We reached the camp site by 6.00 p.m. We saw few birds and heard the “Painted Francolin” as well. Few Jumbos were there too close to the camp site.
A truth seeking voyage to Labunoruwa Monnestry, Ritigala forest |
On the 24th of December three of us got up early morning & went to Galle railway station at 0645 am to catch “Ruhunu Kumari.At about 0900am we reached to Colombo & got a bus to Galenbindunaweva from Colombo central bus stand. After completing a six hours travel we reached to Muriyakadawala at about 0300pm.Then asked the route to the Labunoruwa monastery from a villager. He was more polite & showed us the path. We had to travel about 03km to reach the entrance of the forest
Makulu Ella (4m) & Lenkiri Ella (20m) at Makandawa Conservation Forest, Kitulgala |
It was Independence Day so we decided to get in to the wilderness and enjoy our day. We started our journey form Colombo at around 8.30am(planned time was 6.30am 
and when we came to Kitulgala it was already 12 noon. After buying lunch we came to the famous bathing spot behind the rest house to cross over the Kelani river, the sight was unbelievable their were like million Homo sapiens. Anyhow we crossed over to the peaceful opposite bank and the charge was 20/= per person.
