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LEZIMA GOMES
DOHA
Sri Lanka, an island country just at the southern tip of India, may look small on the map but has plenty to offer from beautiful white and yellow sandy beaches, and green mountains, to waterfalls and lush tea plantations.
Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with high levels of humidity. December though is a lot cooler.
Sri Lanka includes coastal plains in the north and hills and mountains in the interior. Here is an introduction to two of Sri Lanka's mountainous regions, Kandy and Haputale. KANDY
Kandy or the big city as the Sri Lankans call it, is the second largest city after Colombo, the capital city. Kandy is about three hours away from the Colombo airport depending on traffic. The drive to Kandy, which is set on a plateau, offers magnificent sights of green mountains, rivers and a diverse flora and fauna. On the way, one can make a pit stop at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. The facility tends to injured or orphaned elephants. Tourists visit the place to feed and watch the grand elephants bathe in the nearby river.
Mahaweli River cruise
The Cinnamon Citadel hotel, nestled high up in the hill country beside a quiet bend in the Mahaweli River, offers a boat ride which allows one to sight different species of birds and land monitor lizards that are indigenous to the river and experience nature's own orchestra in the form of chirping of birds.
Royal Botanic Gardens
At one time, these beautiful botanical gardens were reserved exclusively for Kandy royalty. A must-see for tourists, the 60 hectare-gardens are the largest and most impressive botanic gardens in Sri Lanka. Among the many highlights are a fine collection of orchids and a stately avenue of royal palms. This is literally a nature lover's paradise with some 4,000 different species of plants and 10,000 or so of mature, lofty giant trees. Absolutely sensational is the century-old giant Javan fig tree, with roots spread across an enormous area of about 1,800 square metres. Another spectacular sight is that of coconuts weighing six kg or three times the size of a normal coconut. The thousands of bats hanging from pine trees as dusk begins to descend can spook you though.
The Temple of the Tooth Relic
The stunning 17th-century Temple of the Tooth is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha. Legend has it that the tooth was taken out from Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. The relic is housed in a two-storey inner shrine fronted by two large elephant tusks. The temple is exceptionally well-maintained with its interiors richly carved and decorated with inlaid wood. Around the entire complex is a low white stone wall, delicately carved. This precious relic attracts pilgrims, bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day.
Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue
A few metres from the Royal Botanic Gardens is a huge concrete 88-foot high Buddha statue atop of a temple. The temple houses Buddhist monks. A major attraction is the four flights of stairs hidden behind the giant Buddha from where you can get a bird's eye view of the whole of Kandy. The strong breeze blowing at that height makes for a peaceful escape from the tedium of the city.
Other places worthy of a visit are Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla cave.
HAPUTALE
At an elevation of 1,431 m (4,695 ft) above sea level and surrounded by hills covered with clouds, Haputale is home to tea plantations. The climate here is cool, thanks to its elevation. Haputale is influenced by both Sinhala and Tamil cultures. The road to Haputale is winding and on the drive, one gets to witness the legacy of the British tea planters. Tea estates blanket the hillsides, along with natural and grown vegetation that is abundant along the roadsides. One can stop at a couple of waterfalls and take in the gorgeous sights. The winding road upwards feels like a highway to heaven and mountains seem like they touch the sky. The long journey actually makes the saying 'It's the journey that counts, not the destination' come true.
A must-watch while in Haputale is the sunset which turns the sky into myrid hues of orange, yellow and purple.
Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Centre
The Labookellie Tea Centre on Kandy road offers guided tours of the factory and also runs a sales outlet and a restaurant. Situated 1,500 metres above sea level in the heart of Labookellie Estate, the plantation is one of the finest in Sri Lanka. A popular stop, this tea estate provides an opportunity to experience Mackwoods Tea with the majestic view of the estate.
Gregory Lake, Nuwara Eliya
Gregory Lake was build during the period of British Governor Sir William Gregory in 1873. This is the most prominent attraction in Nuwara Eliya where time can be spent by the lake or take boat rides. This used to be a place for water sports and for re-recreation during the British time.
(In tomorrows story, we explore the costal regions of Sri Lanka)
