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Holiday at ‘BACK OF BEYOND – DEHI GAHA ELA’ – Dambulla |
Although it was a 3 day trip arranged by ‘Lakdasun’, for me it was much more than that as we were invited to stay at ‘Back of Beyond – DEHI GAHA ELA’ in Dambulla, a couple of days more by Uncle Yohan.
I had seen photographs of this place and I knew it was going to be a fantastic holiday. I was so excited about it.
මන්නාරම සහ යාපනය (Mannar & Jaffna) |
We started in the morning around six thirty and headed towards Negombo. We traveled in a 4×4 Hilux pickup and had all what was needed such as several cans of water food items and other necessary supplements. From Paliyagoda we traveled along the A3 highway. At Wenappuwa we had our breakfast and we went to the Chilaw rest house for a cup of tea. By 10.30 am we were at Puttalam. As it was a poya day the roads were peaceful and we made it to Puttalam sooner than we thought.
Four day journey to upcountry, explore nature & Heritage from Badulla to Haputale. |
Few of my friends decided to go on a trip to Badulla by train, in December 2008. We had to travel by the night mail train because we were not enough lucky to reserve tickets for an early one. We got into the train at Veyangoda station at about 9.15 pm on 19/12/2008.
It was 6.00 am the following day when we reached Pattipola which was the most elevated railway station from the sea level, in Sri Lanka.
Knuckles – Doovili Eli – Kalupahana 2010 |
Started from Colombo fort at 6.00 a.m. but got into a Kandy bus around 8.30 a.m. as it was the start of the ‘Wesak weekend ’. From Kandy to Wattegama around 1 hour in the bus and the last bus from Wattegama to Bambarella at 7.15 p.m.
There are enough buses on normal days to Bambarella from Wattegama. Even from Kandy there are few. Total distance from Kandy to Bambarella – 38km.
Camping trip to Meemure – One of the best trips ever!!! |
We started our trip from Colombo at about 5 a.m. And we came to Kandy at about 8 a.m. We had our breakfast from a little restaurant but to be honest it was a horrible meal. After that we got in to a bus which goes on the rout ” Kandy – Udu Dumbara”. Also you can go to Hunnasgiriya by a “Mahiyangana” bus. we were in Hunnasgiriya when it was 12.30 p.m. We had our lunch there. It was awesome. They have two vans which go to Meemure everyday. only two vans. They come to Hunnasgiriya in the morning and leave at about 1.30. So we got in to one of those vans.
Trip to Alupola Ella, Ambewela & Bambarakanda Ella |
This was a family trip to Bandarawela. We traveled Rathnapura to Balangoda via Wewelwattha to see Dehena, Alupola and Beruwatta waterfalls. Second day we visited Adisham Bungalow and Thangamale sanctuary. Third day we visited Horton plains, New Zealand farm and Hakgala gardens. Last day we visited Bambarakanda falls on the way to home.
Exploring the East based in Ganthalawa, a village past Kanthale |
Outward bound:6.05 am train from Colombo Fort. A long long train which seemed to be going everywhere – Anuradhapura, Pollonaruwa, Batticaloa, Trincomalee…so make sure you sit in the correct carriage or your destination may change! Real great fun was watching the train ‘change tracks’ at the Polgahawela, Mahawa, etc. After the Anuradhapura carriages were detached, we suddenly found ourselves at the end of the train rather than the middle
Trip Across The Hill Country |
We leave early in the morning from Colombo by car at around 6AM. Our destination for the first day was Haldummulla. On the way we went to Kiridi Ella at Palmadulla. But the waterfall is totally dry because of lack of rain.
Also on the way we saw the Surathalee ella at Halpe. There was some water in it. Because of this we have given up going to Bambarakanda falls.
Hiking Bambarakanda to Horton Plains |
We leave Colombo by hired van at around 7AM and able to reach Bambarakanda rest at around 1PM. After having lunch we started to climb. We go alone the road heading to top of Bambarakanda falls. The road goes through the Udaweriya tea state. Before getting dark we were able to reach near the devil’s staircase. On a side of a road in a level surface we were able to put up our two tents. It’s a beautiful full moon poya day. We can clearly see the bright stars all over the sky.
Trip to Jaffna |
We reached Medawachchiya by 4.00 am. From Medawachchiya to Vavunia, the road condition is not good mainly due to construction work. The stretch is only 26 km but it took nearly 1 ½ hours as the traffic is heavy and our car could not proceed at the same phase with majority of busses which came from all parts of the country. We reached Vavuniya by 5.30 am and proceeded straight to Omantai Army Check Point.By that time, dawn was arriving and we were surrounded by lot of vehicles going towards the same destination.
