After hours of traveling we were at another grate irrigation wonder of our ancients. That was the grate tank at Kantale, which was built by Kind Mahasen the grate and renovated by the Kings Agbo II and Grate Parakramabahu.

Remaining of an ancient irrigation wonder.

We turned right at Kantale to visit Seruwavila. While passing few kilometers in that road, we realized the difficulty of driving a vehicle with low ground clearance, in such a road being under constructed. Our vehicle was fully utilized & loaded. This was our annual family journey of the year 2010.

The road was under construction

Relaxing…

Wasting 3 hours at the road, we reached Seruwavila village. Seruvila is a natural lake said to be large more than 12000 acres at there. And also the temple at Seruvila was a historic place in Eastern region, affected by the terrorism during the last 30 years. According to Dhathuwansaya, the pagoda is made by the king Kawanthissa placing the bone relic of the fore head of the Loard Budhdha.

the pagoda is made by the king Kawanthissa

Ruins at Seruvila

It was almost 6.00pm when we left there for Lanka patuna. Having driving another 30 km, we reached our destination of the day. The important thing was that I got a rare experience of crossing the lagoon through the bridge destroyed at war, by my own vehicle. (Only for light vehicles of whom reserved the pilgrims rest might get the permission)

Sun set at Seruvila

I reserved the pilgrims rest at Lankapatuna over the phone. If you wish to reserve the same, use the number provided. Please note that you may have to satisfy with minimum facilities there.

Lankapatuna Viharaya :026-5676086

Day 2: Journey from Lankapatuna to Trincomalee along the shore of Koddiar bay.

Journey from Lankapatuna to Trincomalee along the shore of Koddiar bay.

We got up early and ran to the beach before the sunrise. But we missed that nice view because of the dam clouds gathered at the eastern horizon. We visited the temple when the sun was raised. This place was identified as the ancient port known as “Lankapattana” where the prince Dhantha & Princes Hemamala landed with the sacred tooth relic.

we missed that nice view because of the clouds gathered at the eastern horizon

pagoda at Lankapatuna was built recently on the same base of the ancient one

Lankapatuna viharaya is located on a point and being surrounded by the sea and the lagoon. This beach is identified as one of the most beautiful beaches in eastern coast such as Nilaveli. How ever this place had been used by LTTE as their base for 30 years. The ancient pagoda & many of other ruins had been destroyed by them. The pagoda at Lankapatuna was built recently on the same base of the ancient one.

the bridge destroyed during the war

The road from Lankapatuna to Thoppur was a gravel one built by the LTTE. Having heard the same, we decided to reach Muthur via Thoppur. That decision gave us the opportunity to visit to the black beach. Due to the presence of mineral sand, the sea shore was completely black. Like as Pulmudei, weight of the sand was extremely high.

The gravel road to Thoppur ran in between the Sea & the lagoon was built by the LTTE.

That decision gave us the opportunity to visit to the black beach

Due to the presence of mineral sand, the sea shore was completely black

Until we met the A15 ( Baticaloa – Trinco road), I was creasy on the road condition and as well as finding directions. There were no people at all for asking directions. When ever we met someone, there was a language barrier.

Mutur is rather populated town located in the southern edge of the Koddiar bay. There is a passenger ship service in between Mutur & Trincomalee. ( That is also a very nice experience one can have ). Since even light vehicles were not transported by the ship, we had to continue our journey through A15, along the shore of the Koddiar bay. Believe me, that part of A15 road was a gravel road consisting three ferries (available only in day times) before you meet Kinnia, where the longest bridge of srilanka was. Just after the second ferry, the road was loosed sandy one for a distance of more than 100m. That was a big barrier for non 4×4 vehicles.

First ferry you meet between Muttur & Trinco	Joy of the new experience
Second Ferry & the lagoon	Believe me, that part of A15 road was a gravel road consisting three ferries (available only in day times)

A typical bullock at the area ( those bulls are known as Kinnia bulls )

From Kinnia onwards, the road was well maintained. It was nearly 3.00pm when we reached Trincomalee. Then we realized that our vehicle with poor ground clearance had consumed 5 hours to travel 60km in that poor roads.

Kinnia bridge - the longest in Sri lanka

In the next hour we were at the beach of Nilaweli. Unpacking our baggage at the annex we rented, we had hours of grate bath at the calm sea in the moon light.

Day3: Exploring Trincomalee.

Mr. Kumar, the landlord of our annex, informed us to use the beach where the “Nilaveli beach hotel” was located to get a boat to visit Pigeon Island. Since it was the nearest beach to the pigeon island; the sanctuary, we were offered rather low rate for the boat.(1500/=)

Pigeon Island is visible in distance to the Nilaweli beach	Nilaweli beach
Ready to go..	Coral beach at the pigeon island

Natural swimming pool at the pigeon island

It was almost 1.00pm when we reached Trincomalle. Having a vegetarian lunch there, we went to the Kovil of Koneshwarm in the fort Frederick. It was one of the four major kovils on god Shiva in Srilanka.

Main entrance to the fort Frederick

Inside of the kovil

The hot water wells at Kannia were our final travel location (Not Kinina). Though we were not prepared for bathing, we had a bucket of hot water bathing in each.

had a bucket of hot water bathing in each

Sunset at Kantale tank