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 …!

At Gal Oya junction, we parted company with the passengers (and their food!) who were going on to Pollonaruwa and Batticaloa. For the last stretch of the journey, Air Force and Civil Defense soldiers travelled with us keeping a sharp eye out… no tension and quite friendly. Still it reminded us how recently this was a rather dangerous route to take. The track after Habarana is dead straight and with jungle on either side.

we suddenly found ourselves at the end of the train rather than the middle …!

Air Force and Civil Defense soldiers travelled with us keeping a sharp eye out

Even with all that, a few unauthorized travelers tried to sneak in!!

Alle – Kanthale Road:
With the van shutters down, when the dust was clinging to our eye lashes I was reminded of the adventures in this area are described in the book ‘Somawathiya wane divi mada’.

It’s flat open country side with paddy fields, water ways and bird life. Seems there are still some migratory birds left. Did not manage any good photos of birds, but this will give you an ideas of how many there were at the water holes.

This kind of carts are apparently typically used by the Muslim and Tamil communities in the East and are supposed to be easy to maneuver over sandy and uneven terrain, as well as being a very ‘silent’ vehicle, but the weight to the animal is greater.

this will give you an ideas of how many there were at the water holes

This kind of carts are apparently typically used by the Muslim and Tamil communities in the East

Mavil Aru:
We crossed the now so famous river, if you want to see THE sorowva you apparently need to have a hardy vehicle or walk. We made do with watching the effort it takes to open even a well functioning anicut (? Is that what a sorowwa is called in English?).

The Mavil Aru war memorial is just by the road, and is here reflected in the water

The Mavil Aru war memorial is here reflected in the water

Seruwila Temple:

The approach is past a wawe, excellent place to explore – birds, flowers were in plenty.

Seruwila Temple as seen over the lake

Nelum covered Ganthalawa village tank

I tend to think of the over size nelum as ‘Bangkok Lotus’ but seems it common in this area.

In addition to the main Dagaba, there is a lot to take in. Take a look at the archaeological museum which few people seem to know exists. Some stunning artifacts. There seems to be some discussion as to whether this is a Buddha statue, if so, possibly Mahayana, or if it is a Jain statue. There was no one there to explain we relied on a book we had (PL Sirisena’s, book no. 1 in the above list) for information. If you go there count the different number of heads on the Naga figures, some are 7 some are 9, some are less.

In addition to the main Dagaba, there is a lot to take in

Is this a Buddha statue, if so, possibly Mahayana, or if it is a Jain statue

Road to Echchanpattu:

More like a ‘take it if you dare’ track across the sand. As the Mahawali estuary spreads itself, its hard to say what is the sea, what is the river. The sheer size of the Mahawali delta and the flood plains really hits you. We took this ‘road’ to connect from Seruvila to Echchanpattu to go to Lanka Patuna. I strongly suggest that if you decide to take this route, you have a good vehicle – or even more important a confident and skilled driver, as well as a sense of direction/ GPS/map/information. Its not a huge distance, but still has the potential to be troublesome.

The sheer size of the Mahawali delta and the flood plains really hits you

‘take it if you dare’ track across the sand

Lanka Patuna:

So follow up of my question from the Yala beach (why is the sand red? )

why is the sand so black? What makes is glisten so much? Note the little stars of light in the photo.

And ….why are there so many corals (not sure of what you call these individual ‘rocks’ of coral) washed up in the sand? Or is it that we noticed them due to the contrasting black of the sand. I do hope people will not feel the urge to pick them up and take them home. If so the beach will soon be plain black.

why are there so many corals

is it that we noticed them due to the contrasting black of the sand

I do hope people will not feel the urge to pick them up and take them home

This is an unbelievably lovely stretch of beach.
The sea all sorts of shades of green and blue, the beach yellow, black, the white corals, and real dry zone vegetation – lots of cactus.

Cactus growing in profusion on the beach

The black and yellow of the beach merge with the shades of blue and turquoise of the water and the white of the surf and corals.

I think we saw this beach because we took that ‘sand road’, most people seem to approach Lanka Patuna from South of the bridge, we arrived north of it.

The vehicles are parked on the southern side (top end of the picture) and you walk across, we arrived from the north (right corner of the picture).

Fishing at the ‘moya kate’…The net is laid in a spiral using the sticks, as the water rises the fish will get caught in the maze, all the fisherman has to do is to scoop them up as the water recedes. True it makes a nice picture (blue, white, green and brown..even the sarong and boats!), but… I’d hate to be a fish.

Below is the route we took from Seruvila to Lanka Patuna. I have combined the 1:50,000 sheets no. 28 (Trinco) and no. 33 (Kathiraveli). I am not sure if the line of brown arrows I have drawn to show the route around Ullackali Lagoon is clear. You simply – or not so simply! – go around it. The damaged bridge is just where the two maps meet above ( once again the brown text might not be clear). Verual and the road to Batti is going south.

[Mao coming Soon!]

Verugal, yet another estuary of the Mahawali delta:

Seems very soon there will be no more ferry’s along the east coast. The bridge here is almost complete, construction vehicles already travelling on it. Its certainly a good thing for those who live in the area, and for travelers in a hurry. But …a bit of excitement of travel taken away…

very soon there will be no more ferry’s along the east coast

Lots of interesting statues in this historical kovila by the river

And a few more photos of the rest of the days:

Jelly fish: I’ve seen jelly fish only twice and both in Trinco. Last time they were small and pinkish. Very different to this huge blue ‘mushroom’ .. Would love to have a bit of info on this…?

Girihandu Saye: Its such a lovely spot, in the middle of the forest so near the sea. Must be stunning at sun rise and sun set. Its possible to stay the night here at the visharama shalawa. There is a young monk who looks after the place, and can tell you lots of interesting stories…we forgot to take any pirikara with us and regretted it.

Gal Palama at Girihandu Saya – I’ve started getting a fetish for Gal Palam. Been to the 2 in A’pura and one in Mahakandarawa. I heard there is one in a place called Sudarshanagama in the Kakirawa area but we could not locate it. Any one has a clue?

I’ve seen jelly fish only twice and both in Trinco

Gal Palama at Girihandu Saya

Sea and vatadage of Girihandu Saya

There is a stunning photo in the Studio Times book ‘Eloquence in Stone’ of a place called Nagathambarani – Naga curved on rock – just beyond Girihandu Saye in Thiriyaya. Seems like an interesting place to explore. I saw it only after we returned. So, got to go again!!!