One friend Tharaka out of blue moon asked if I would join with him for a trip to Handapanagala.

I immediately wanted to know who was going as I’m always wary of people who go on trips as I consider myself more reserved and a nature lover than someone who goes on trips just to drink and waste time.

However, after Tharaka’s repeated assurances that the crowd was ok, I was willing. Another reason was Handapanagala is very famous for its tank and the possibility of seeing my favorite elephants was very high.

So away we went in the afternoon of 16th September, rather late for my liking.

We reached Udawalawa around 8.30 pm and had sandwiches in the dark rather scared of elephants. However, we reached our friend’s house in Handapanagala around 10.00 pm and had a hearty meal and slept soundly.

The following morning we got up early and visited the village, tank and the surrounding area.

A tank glistening in the morning sun

Birds’ nests…Wadu Kurullo

What a great view….

Mahadana Muththai, Golayo Roththai in the morning

Great Wall Paper

The village is surrounded by beautiful mountains

They have plans to build the biggest Buddha Statue on the rock bordering the Handapanagala tank.

Handapanagala Tank

The World’s biggest Buddha Statue to be built here

After breakfast we left for Kataragama

The Ever so Majestic Kiri Wehera

After that our destination was Maligawila where former President R. Premadasa had directed to rebuild the Dambegoda Bodhisathwa Statue which was broken into hundreds of pieces.

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The Dambegoda Bodhisathwa Statue after reconstruction

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Maligawila Buddha Statue

Then on the way back, we stopped by Dematamale Viharaya, where the monks had protected Prince Tissa when a dispute between King Gemunu and him erupted.

It’s said the monks had rolled Prince Tissa in a mat and taken him into safety before anything drastic could happen.

Entrance to Dematamale Viharaya

Main worshipping area

Dematamale Stupa

Muragala

The following day we got up around 4.00 am as we had a rendezvous with our Safari guide Hemantha.

We met him at the entrance to the counter and had to wait about 45 mins to get the tickets as there was a huge crowd.

.	Artefacts at the Yala Museum

Skeleton of a python

More…

It was my first full-day tour at Yala and it turned out to be a grand one

Tusks and Elephants’ skulls

Entrance…

We saw a lot of animals but to our surprise no elephants. This was the time they were doing an Elephants’ census and the park was reopened after about 3 days that was closed due to that

Wild Boars at large

Buffaloes

Tank	Peacock crossing the road, mind no yellow stripes

Waiting to fight

We had a superb lunch after a dip in the Menik Ganga which flows in between Yala Block I and Yala Block II. The water was shallow and clean.

Menik Ganga …nice and calm

Cool dip

Not so welcoming neighbours

Towards the afternoon, we got a call from another guide saying the leopard is there. So Hemantha hurried onto that area and we managed to get a glimpse of the fellow sitting on a Kohomba Tree Branch.

Saddest story of all….this is all my tiny camera could capture but can see the leopard in the middle

I felt very sad as my camera was just a 4X point and shoot one and couldn’t take a pic of him. However he got down and went towards the jungle.
It was the first time that I saw the leopard in Yala.

Afterwards we got lucky to come across the Bear. He was a small one and managed to take a pic of him looking fiercely at us.

At last something to cheer about

We finished our safari around 5.30 pm and came back to our house around 8.30 pm.

It was time for us to leave the following day so decided to see as many things as we could.
So leaving early in the morning we reached Koslanda where we came across Diyaluma Falls.

It’s just like a thread coming down a rock so thin and hardly noticeable. It was still a magnificent sight.

Diyaluma from afar

Our group…

Up close

Yeah, she’s still stunning

After we went to Haputale to see the Lipton’s seat that I had, to my shame, never heard before. So I was looking forward to it.

We turned right to Dambethenna Estate road and climbed up through beautiful tea estates.

Dambethenna Tea Factory

Passing tea estates

After buying tickets (50/- apiece) we went up there. Ravi, the caretaker of the place informed us that on a clear day you can see all four corners of Sri Lanka (Jaffna / Col / Trinco / Dondara).

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Welcome

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This bit you have to walk

Further and further

Four corners….

This is not Lipton himself

View Point

History of the estate – Click Image to Enlarge

We came across a south indian festival too

Afterwards, all of us were highly excited and wanted to stay another day in Diyatalawa Holiday Bungalow. However when checked it was booked and we didn’t wanna take our chances with anywhere else.

So we left Haputale and reached Colombo around 10.30 am.

Having visited a place I’d never heard before yet amazingly beautiful was a miracle.