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- Weekend Getaways near Buttala
Weekend Getaways near Buttala
About Buttala
Highly recommended -- nestled across the banks of the Yala national park is a hidden eco gem of a resort "Kumbuk River Eco Extraordinaire". Rated as one of the top 10 unique eco hotels in the world, this place has a 40 ft elephant hut made out of grass. The hut is shaped like an elephant and sleeps 2 families and the best part if even if it's just the two of you, you will have the entire elephant room to yourself as the resort values privacy. Stay here if you would like to sleep 'in the belly of an elephant'. Their Tree House Luxuria (which we booked) overlooks the raging Kumbuk River and if you are lucky you can spot wildlife across the river bank. Other activities offered by the resort include a mud bath, zip lining, elephant watch, Yala safari, etc. Truly a place to be if you want a unique & rustic Sri Lankan experience.
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Colombo
157 Kms from Buttala
Well, every good thing comes to an end. If your flight is slightly late in the day, you could let some of the activities...
Well, every good thing comes to an end. If your flight is slightly late in the day, you could let some of the activities from previous night spill into today. Because let’s be honest here. I DID make last night pretty tight for you, didn’t I?If you have an early flight on the contrary, just reflect on all the memories you created. And I am sure you will be left wishing the trip did not have to end so soon. But hey, never too soon to plan your next trip already!
Land in Colombo. Checkout some key tips and tricks here for some must do things before leaving the Colombo airport. Once you are ready, take your cab and drive to Sigiriya. It is a 3-4 hour drive. There is a good chance that you have landed at the airport early in the morning, so you would probably reach Sigiriya in the afternoon just in time for a late lunch. Oh, and if you feel hungry before, grab some snacks and bottled water on the way. What snacks to buy you ask? Sri Lanka has these amazing not-to-miss ginger biscuits! Oh and catch some sleep in the cab!
Day 1: Bandaranaike International Airport is the only International airport of Srilanka, about 20 miles north of Colombo city. The fastest and easiest way of getting to Colombo from airport is via express way and there are regular buses operating between airport and the city during day time. Since you arrive at Colombo, you can spend the day (or half) exploring the city.You can possibly visit Seema Malakaya temple, Gangaramaya Temple and Viharamahadevi Park in central Colombo during the daylight hours.In the evening you can go gaze at the sunset over Galle Face Green which becomes vibrant with the local crowd after sundown. Also can try some of the local delicacies in one of the many street food stalls lined up there. Later to chill out with some beer and music, there is this nice cozy bar, Taproom by RnR located in old dutch hospital complex.
Colombo, the capital city, our first stop, stands out for its tree-lined, clean roads that lead to open parks and grounds that host cultural functions every evening.
On our last day in Srilanka, we went to the famous Gangaramaya Buddhist temple and Seema malaka temple. Some more shopping we did and then it was time to say bye bye to Srilanka. In evening we took the flight back to Chennai.
We reached Colombo at 12:30 in afternoon and started looking for currency exchange but had hard luck getting it. At last we met a guy who arranged currency and a local sim for us. We took a bus to go to Colombo City. It took almost 1 hour to reach as the airport is 30 kms from the city.Situated on the shores, Colombo is a vibrant and lively city and a walk at Galle Face Green was a great experience, here you can also get good sea-food.
Colombo is so much more than just a passage to the other destinations in Sri Lanka. The city's colonial past reflects in the current architectural build of the city, giving it a vibe distinctly different from the rest of the country. It may feel over-populated, but it is rapidly developing into Sri Lanka's most swanky cosmopolitan. Multiple cafes, art galleries and high-rise modern buildings now adorn Colombo, making it a destination one needs to put on their itinerary. November is actually one of the better months to visit this city as the days are pleasant and the weather is a perfect combination of sunny and windy.Top things to see and do: Visit the National Museum and be greeted by a 9th-century stone Buddha; have a leisurely time at the Viharamahadevi Park; sample great food at the Dutch Hospital, a colonial-era building in the middle of a fort; shop at the Federation of Self Employees Market; spend the evening at the Galle Face Green, a beach-side promenade.Flight cost: Round-trip airfare from New Delhi to Colombo in November starts from ₹13,961.Daily budget: Expect to spend an approximate of ₹3,000 per day, which will include your intracity travel, entertainment and food. Accommodations start as low as ₹1,000 and can go up to ₹15,000 per night.Where to stay: Ramada Colombo; Cinnamon Red Colombo. You can check out more stay options here.
Head back to Colombo, for your flight back home.What to packSri Lanka is unpredictable when it comes to its rainfall. So be sure to pack an umbrella – a sturdy one at that, and some light rain gear. Also, pack sunscreen and insect repellents. Carry good, durable helmets before embarking on the trip.VisaYou can apply for a 30-day visa online, which is valid for a month from the date of arrival, but an extension can be obtained for up to six months. The processing takes up to two days and costs ₹986. You can also get a visa on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, but this will be a relatively long and tedious process. This costs a fee of ₹1,315.
Colombo is so much more than just a passage to the other destinations in Sri Lanka. The city's colonial past reflects in it's current architectural build of the city, giving it a vibe distinctly different from the rest of the country. It may feel over-populated, but it is rapidly developing into Sri Lanka's most swanky cosmopolitan. Multiple cafes, art galleries and high-rise modern buildings now adorn Colombo, making it a destination one needs to put on their itinerary.
Galle
139 Kms from Buttala
This day is for us to explore the Galle Fort. This is a residential fort along the beach. Gorgeous views of the lighthou...
This day is for us to explore the Galle Fort. This is a residential fort along the beach. Gorgeous views of the lighthouse and the watchtower. You will also find some local handicrafts being sold inside the fort here and there. While roaming around, if you feel the need to rejuvenate yourself amongst the heat, try to unwind in one of the cute cafes!The drive from Mirissa to Galle is around 2 hours and budget 3-4 more hours to explore the Galle fort. After that, head back directly from Galle to Colombo. I am guessing you should have checked into your hotel by 3 PM. If not, try to by starting early!Well, there are definitely a few touristy things to do in Colombo. But mostly it is a city. You know what you should NOT miss out on while in the city? Some shopping at the ‘House of Fashion’. Well, I would not usually associate Sri Lanka with fashion, but this place is crazy. I found some amazing skirts for 500- 600 LKR. My husband got branded shirts (Van Heusen, Zara) for 1,900 LKR. Beat that?Talking of shopping, don’t miss out checking out one of the many ‘Barefoot’ stores in the city. Well, it is a designer store and everything is priced pretty steep. But you don’t need to buy anything if you don’t want to – just stroll around to check out the marvelous pieces, each of which are eye candy to say the least! I have never seen a shop so colorful. You could also while away some time in their cute café. God, this place just had me! Not the best food, but the vibes?If you have some more time at hand, try to check out the Galle Green Face. Don’t let the name fool you, it is in Colombo and not in Galle. It is somewhat like Juhu beach with a lot of street vendors selling Sri Lankan snacks and food, and bustling with people, both tourists and locals whiling their time away!
After my one night in Ambalangoda, I set out to Galle (again on train) because it's quite easy on the wallet and its the best way to see the country. I wanted a place right in the middle of the Fort because I wanted to explore the tiny little shops and the new restaurants that have come up! Chandolu is a hidden gem. A villa situated right in the middle of the Fort with reasonable rates and a plunge pool which I found to be quite interesting. My bedroom window opened to a view of the Fort and I couldn't be happier.
The second pitstop of this coastal road trip is the historic city of Galle barely just an hour's drive from Hikkaduwa. You might want to keep at least a few hours on hand to enjoy the sights of this colonial beauty. From narrow cobbled streetways and cozy lanes lined with artsy cafes and Dutch villas, this vibrant city is an ideal place to take a peek into Sri Lanka's colourful heritage.
Our next and last stop was Galle. We stayed inside the Galle Fort, a fortification that starts from the Clock Tower at one end and encircles the entire Dutch settlement till the Lighthouse at the other end. An hour and a half hour walk from the Clock Tower to the Lighthouse with the sun setting into the waves of the India Ocean makes you wish for the time to stand still.
Historic Galle.
4.Get the morning train to Galle which comes from Colombo. You can stay here for relaxing at Jungle beach or can get back to Bentota after sightseeing Galle fort in evening. I preferred to return to Bentota as I am more interested in sightseeing than relaxing.
I kept the bags at Unawatuna and went to Galle for the interesting cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Apart from the cricket, there is Galle Fort which is a good place to visit.After wandering in the Galle Fort, I headed back to Unawatuna for the night stay.
Next morning, I got up a bit late. I was unable to bend my knee, the pain had worsened. The owner of the resort gave me some kind of ointment but it didn't provide any relief. I made my mind and thought of continuing my journey. I had breakfast which the owner's wife had cooked, it was some authentic Sri Lankan food; it was exquisite.I boarded a bus from Mirissa to Galle around 11 AM and reached Galle in an hour. It was getting really hard for me to travel. I met this English couple on the bus who gave my some painkillers by looking at my state. I wish I had clicked their picture but I was not in the right state.
We got off at the train station and headed to the Dutch Colony where we booked our accommodation. (If you're visiting Galle, stay in the Dutch Colony and take a stroll around the Colony and you are sure to get lost on your way back. It's worth it.)
The Dutch architecture astounds you. Every street, every house, every shop and every restaurant is built keeping symmetry as a key ingredient. The beauty of the architecture is in its simplicity. A tour around the Galle Fort gives you beautiful sights of the Ocean and drains your energy out. It gets a bit crowded in the evenings. Try visiting the place early morning.
A visit to Japanese Peace Pagoda and Jungle Beach is also a must. Jungle Beach has bluish-green waters. It is tucked in a tiny corner beyond the Japanese Peace Pagoda. The food is good and you'll love the view and mood with Sri Lankan music band playing in the vicinity.
While Galle and Colombo greet you with the tropical climate of the Coast, you could head to Mirissa which has Whale & Dolphin watching, with a cruise ride. It's also a surfer's paradise and has surfing schools.
Living in the Wild However, our itinerary included Yala National Park (known for Leopard-spotting). The tented accommodation was eco-friendly and it's something that teaches you to adjust without daily pleasures of hot water and other luxuries. We did the evening safari which lasted close to 4.5 hours. It was totally worth it as we camped the night in the National Park, amid shrill sounds in the wild. This was a magical evening as it was a full-moon night with campfire and candle-light dinner (BBQ).
We woke up to a beautiful morning with birds chirping and sounds of other creatures, had a good breakfast and left Yala where we met one of the best human beings in Sri Lanka, our tour guide, our driver and a good friend - Krishna ( His Facebook page).
Krishna - Our saviour in Sri Lanka My friend spotted Krishna while researching about transportation in Sri Lanka and spoke to him a couple of times. He found him as the best tour guide in Sri Lanka, as suggested by Trip Advisor. Little did we know that he will be our saviour there. Krishna provides transportation/ guide services through his company Tuk Tuk and Taxi Services.
Krishna brought Kumar, his friend and colleague along while ferrying us to Nuwara Eliya. A die-hard Sangakkara and A.R. Rahman fan, Krishna is sure to entertain you with his adrenaline-pumping music (if you too are a Rahman fan) and his love for Tamil movies. Not only does Krishna give you the right plan, he will also help you save a lot of money through right advice. He is also a great storyteller who gives you snippets about his life and keeps you entertained throughout the journey, provided you reciprocate.
One of his witty quotes: "I'm sometimes, Hindu. Because I have to be religious in front of my wife".
An excerpt from our conversation:
Me: You are God.
Krishna: Yes, I'm Krishna.
We loved every bit of the journey from Yala to Nuwara Eliya (hilly region), with Krishna. (During the journey from Yala, you're most likely to come across an Elephant on the road.) Like I said, our itinerary wasn't perfect. Krishna helped us re-work on it and took us to Ella which was on the way to Nuwara Eliya. According to our itinerary, Ella came after Nuwara Eliya. (so, now you know why we're thankful to Krishna).
Of Rama, Sita, Rawana Falls & Hanuman Footprint
Nuwara Eliya
57 Kms from Buttala
Today you will be train traveling through some of the spectacular tea plantations, almost flying with the clouds to Ella...
Today you will be train traveling through some of the spectacular tea plantations, almost flying with the clouds to Ella or Nuwara Eliya. Keep an eye out for a lot of greenery, some waterfalls and some more majestic views of the tea plantation valleys on the way! Ella and Nuwara Eliya sort of have similar things to offer. Ella is more of a hippie small town, where as Nuwara Eliya is more of a family holiday kind of place. While I think including both in your Sri Lanka travel would be ideal, but we might have to stick to just 1 if we are restricted by a 10 day itinerary.The train ride to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy takes about 4 hours and it is another 3 hours from there to Ella. I have loads of tips and tricks on what to do and what not during this train journey, but I will save those for another dedicated post. However, let me tell you here that we ended up going to Ella, because I am and will always be a small town girl!It will probably be almost 4 PM by the time you reach Ella. So take some time to check into your hotel, freshen up a bit, before you head out to the city center for some dinner and just soak in the bohemian vibe of the place. Ella is a really small town and there is a good chance you will be able to cover everything on foot. Although, if you need there are ample Tuktuks available around.
Charmed by the elegance and magnanimity of the cave temples, we travelled on the meandering roads to Nuwara Eliya. Through sun-kissed tea gardens, terraced farms, little huts by the road selling food, marigolds and banana flower lining the street, the view resembled a painting done by an innocent child defines beauty in simplicty. Nothing ever has looked so refreshing. On reaching Nuwara Eliya, we spent the evening by Lake Gregory, soaking in the view of the sun going down at the horizon of the lake, while we slurped bowls of hot maggi to beat the chilly winds of the hill station and the lake.
The Hypnotic Town of Nuwara Eliya.
Finally we reached "Nuwara Eliya". Nuwara Eliya resembles an old English town, complete with a lake, race track, well kept lawns with hedges, an Anglican Church and an 18 hole golf course. We were pleased with the view from our hotel "Heaven Seven". Enjoyed the weather most.
Explore the wildlife around Nuwara EliyaTravel to the central highland of Sri Lanka to the Horton Plains National Park that lies an hour away from the city of Nuwara Eliya. Another great outdoor adventure could be visiting the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on the fourth day that is also a breeding ground for Asian Elephants. This will be the highlight of your trip, for you and your kids.
Explore the best of Sri Lankan landscapes at Nuwara EliyaNuwara Eliya lies at a five hour distance from Colombo and makes for the next stunning destination on this trip. The misty hills here are covered in tea plantations was once a favourite destination of the British colonizers, who escaped to its cool shadows in the harsh summer. The small country houses, left behind by the British pop up in its green landscape, giving it a parallel identity of “Little England,” as it is popularly called. Nuwara Eliya is where the natural beauty of Sri Lanka Tourism is highlighted and celebrated.
To reach Nuwara Eliya: take LONG Distance# 1126 from Kandy – Nanu Oya
Negombo
163 Kms from Buttala
Day 3 we started with morning breakfast from Hotel itself. We had a small tour around Nuwara Eliya city. As this was our...
Day 3 we started with morning breakfast from Hotel itself. We had a small tour around Nuwara Eliya city. As this was our last destination, so we preferred to go Negambo beach, which was round 170 km away from Nuwara Eliya. On the way we tried Avocado which they were serving with Honey. Honey which again made from Kithul tree. Trust me , it was just awesome. We again stopped Kandy for lunch. Kandy basically famous for gems. Sampath took us to one place where they showed us how Gems are being processed.
Things to do: Negombo is a popular spot for vacationers owing to its close proximity to the airport. The town lies 10km south to the airport. Resorts towards the south side of this town provide various commercial water sports activities such as jet skiing and banana boat rides. Between Jetwing Beach and Jetwing Blue Hotels, lies the water sports and diving centre. It offers equipment for hire and guided day tours for diving, sailing, surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.Best time to visit: Negombo is ideal for windsurfing throughout the year. For experienced windsurfers, January to March is the best time to challenge the waves here.
So we landed in Colombo around afternoon and we decided to relax that day in Negombo itself and we had booked a bful Home Stay called Henderson Lake view residence. It was away from the main city therefore was a very quite place. We met the host family , had lunch and left to see Negombo beach which was around 5 kms from there. It was a nice beach and luckily the sky was extraordinarily stunning and we could capture that in out pictures. We took a speed boat ride, ate some snacks and went to the nearby market. When we came back, we met a lot of tourists from various countries who were staying in the same home stay and we decided to spend the evening listening to their travel stories . Below are few pictures of Henderson Home stay and Negombo beach
Day 1/31st December, 2015:Land at Bandarnaike Airport at about 9:30 P.M. and transfer to hotel in Negombo. Sea Drift, Negombo is a small house stay which is convenient to locate and is 100m from the main beach. The room was clean with mosquitoes net in place and clean bedding but the bathroom was a little cramped up. Considering the fact that the stay cost us only INR 2k (USD 30), it was not a bad deal at all. You may reach Negombo with a 20-30 min drive(pvt. taxi) from the airport or if you are travelling in the day time finding a Tuk Tuk or a local bus would not be a problem at all. Airport Taxis will charge you anywhere close to 1200-1300 LKR (600 INR/ 10 USD), a bus ticket would be way cheaper at 100 LKR (40 INR/<1 USD).We had bought 4 bottles (Malibu, Baileys, Smirnoff and Sheridan’s) for INR 6700 (100 USD) from the Airport because of which our pre-new year bash started in our room. We enjoyed new year’s party at a nearby hotel which over-looked the sea and we gate-crashed to the party, consequently paying zilch!
Day 1 -Negombo: Bandaranaike International Airport is the main international airport serving Sri Lanka and one of the most back packer friendly airports even at 2:00 am. You could land at this airport without a plan and within a few hours get everything done right from a local sim and connection to meeting people planning the same leg and to mapping your next few days with ease.
Others | 35kms north of Colombo lies Negombo, famed for its lagoon of the same name and a beach road stretch dotted with bars, cafés and many a lost hippy. Drop in to Dolce Vita (27, Poruthota Road, Ettukala.) for some tasty, hugely-sized Italian and European favourites; back in Colombo, Green Cabin (453 Galle Road, Kollupitiya, Colombo 3) is an institution, with its outdoor garden leading to fronds of swaying palms.It’s a lovely spot for some home-style Sri Lankan food, including the ever-present white hoppers and devilishly hot curries and concoctions, including Achchi’s Chicken; staying in Colombo, 41 Sugar (41 Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7 | +94 11 268 2122) is a hip rooftop café that opens in the evening, and walks fashionably towards the night with a fine cocktail selection, lovely views, reasonable tapas collection, and a grown-up vibe; finally, Curve (1 Park Street, Colombo 2) serves up some mean cocktails, a sufficient variety of tapas, and memorable ice cream liqueur shots.THE DIGS
Colombo to negombo and airportWe have flight in early morning so we kept our luggage at airport and went to negombo beach. Which is near to international airport. You have to exchange 2 buses to reach beach from airport. We spent last evening of our srilanka travel at negombo beach. After that we spent our night at airport to avoid room charges.
The next day sadly, we had to leave. We had gone back to Negombo for spending the night in this guest house near the airport. And an wonderful journey thus came to an end!
Negombo Beach
Negombo is a Major city in Sri Lanka, on the West Coast of the Island and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon. With a stash of decent hotels and restaurants to suit all pockets, a friendly local community, an interesting old quarter and a reasonable beach.Its beaches, an old favourite with local and foreign visitors and lagoon famed for lobster harvesting. Negombo’s beach is very wide in places, but rather shabby compared to the more pristine resorts further south, although the surrounding resort area is often one of the liveliest places around the coast if you’re in search of cheap beer and late nights. A couple of miles south of the beach, Negombo Town offers an interesting introduction to coastal Sri Lankan life, with a lively fish market, a dash of old-world colonial charm of Dutch-Portuguese and hundreds of colourful wooden boats.
Sprawling Negombo, is of interest mainly thanks to its proximity to the Bhandaranaike International Airport, just 10km down the road – many visitors stagger off long-haul flights straight into one of the beach hotels here, or stay here as a last stop before flying home.
Anuradhapura
202 Kms from Buttala
My injury had made me weak and to some extent killed my enthusiasm. I woke up a bit late. I was running short of cash. S...
My injury had made me weak and to some extent killed my enthusiasm. I woke up a bit late. I was running short of cash. So, I walked around few ATMs and finally found the right one. It was the Commerical Bank ATM that read international cards. Anuradhapura was different from all cities/towns I visited in Sri Lanka. Everything was pretty scattered here. So, I took a tuk-tuk and asked the driver to take me around the city.
I left for Galle Railway Station after having an awesome breakfast. My knee continued to hurt. I was thankful to this doctor in the hostel who gave me few painkillers. It helped me for a while. I planned to travel the north before I leave. So, I purchased a ticket for Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura is historically rich and is a UNESCO heritage site and is in fact one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
The tourism industry in Sri Lanka is good and Sri Lanka offers amazing destinations for travelers and tourists alike. The Sri Lanka tour itinerary could be customized in line with your interests. Sri Lanka has more to offer on Diving, Cultural tourism in Anuradhapura, pristine coastal lines along Matara (a fishing hamlet), Arugam Bay and much more on eco-tourism. Experience the "Wonder of Asia".
I had just gotten off a bus from Anuradhapura, with little or no clue about what I was going to do next. I was in the town of Dambulla, the sight of the famous Cave Temples.
PS: I could have taken a bus to Anuradhapura and stay there if I had not booked city hostel for 2 days at Dambulla.#Food:Local rice and curry at Ninu which is just opposite to the Dambulla main bus stand.#Places to visit:
While in Anuradhapura. I cycle around with a rented bicycle to visit the archaeological sites under the wonderful sun. I would say Anuradhapura is one of my favourite places to visit in Sri Lanka. The city is well organized. Tourist friendly place. You can clearly see and feel the city, it has its own charm without much effort put into it. I wish we stayed longer here..... oh well, travel must go on !
Ancient city with many historical sites to visit.
Dambulla
140 Kms from Buttala
Cave Temple, Dambulla....
Cave Temple, Dambulla.
2. Go to Dambulla, Sigriya , Pinnewala Elephant Orphange,Perandeniya Botanical garden, Nuwara Eliya while staying in Kandy. Keep 1 day for Dambulla-Sigriya, 1 day for Nuwara Eliya, 1 day for Elephant Orphange and botanical garden and 1 day for Kandy sightseeing. I skipped elephant orphange(not interested) , botanical garden (not interested) and Nuwara Eliya (less time).
After check-in to hotel, I left for Dambulla caves which were mesmerizing. The rain made me leave early and reached the hostel back by 4-5pm. Since it was too dark, I decided not to leave hostel for dinner. I slept and had decided to leave early next day for Sigriya fortress to see the sunrise.
Welcome to your 'Srilanka Tropical Paradise' tour! On arrival at the airport in Colombo you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Dambulla. The rest of the day is at leisure for independent activities. Overnight in Dambulla.You can stay at-
Welcome to your 'Super Saver Sri Lanka Summer' tour! On arrival at the airport in Colombo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Dambulla. The rest of the day is at leisure for independent activities. Overnight in Dambulla. (L, D) On to Dambulla- Distance, 129km approx 4 hours drive.
But keep in mind, if you travel from Dambulla, you have to take one of the buses which are going from Colombo to Malee. No bus service was available originating from Dambulla when I travelled. And most likely, you'll not get a place to sit immediately after boarding the bus. For Solo Women backpackers - I travelled in shorts and it was comfortable in the bus. I didn't face any incident where people teased me or anything. By the time I reached Malee town, it was 1 pm (I started at 8 from Dambulla and this includes a bus repair on the mid way) and I saw the small harbours with pristine blue water. They were picture perfect. I was almost thinking this is it, nothing can beat this in such a place. I took a public bus from Malee bus station to Upuveli (Neelaveli is further and apparently more expensive). It took me a while to look for the hotels but I found few. It's a cluster of 8-9 shacks/hotels/resorts in Upuveli or may be a bit more. And you'll find all options starting from $7 (for a private room with bathroom No AC) to $$$ in big resorts, along with mid ranged hotels with pool and decorated bar in $40-$50. I chose the $7 one and that place happened to be the best bar at nights! French Hostel is what I remember the name was. Now you got there, there are plenty of things to do. Long bike rides, in empty roads, drenching in short and quick rains, the mountain temples, feeding the monkeys, trip to Nilaveli, morning breakfasts in near by villages are possible with a rented bike. I paid 250 SL Rupee, I had to keep my passport with the lady as deposit. I did both scuba and snorkelling, rate varies based on time. Dolphin watching and fishing is also possible. No whale watching in Malee, it happens in Merissa. Food is amazing, in all the restaurants, I chose typical SL food, with fish costing around $1.5 every meal. I also went to Nilaveli, for one evening. It is beautiful but expensive than Upuveli. And somewhere I found Upuveli more serene, calm and less crowded. There are also small beaches here and there in the city. Take your bike and just ride. Dip in the ocean and come back. On the way get into some temple, pose with kids, get fruits as blessings and ride on.
Dambulla:From the city bus stand at Trincomalee, I took a bus to Dambulla which is around 3 hours away.#Stay:Dambulla city hostel: Very nice and comfortable hostel with many guests to talk to and share information, though the hostel is expensive with 2 nights at 3600 LKR with breakfast which is mostly bread jam and butter. You can cook your own food as well. Very nice and friendly Mario who would in every possible way, help you to plan your day.
Trincomalee
202 Kms from Buttala
I visited Sri Lanka in June end (pretty hot) but almost a very good season to travel across. Starting from Colombo --> D...
I visited Sri Lanka in June end (pretty hot) but almost a very good season to travel across. Starting from Colombo --> Dambulla --> Sigiriya --> Polandua, we reached Trincomalee at the end of our trip. It takes almost 8 hours (a bit more or less) from Colombo, 4 hours from Dambulla. I travelled by public, non-luxury buses (definitely not with chickens) with local people, no AC and it was not horrible. They charged me almost $2 for the trip.
The next day we took another really early morning bus and headed to the Eastern province of Trincomalee, known for its pristine beaches, coral reefs, colourful ocean life and a multitude of water activities. Once you reach Trinco, you need to take another bus (or tuk-tuk if you may please) and head to Nelavelli. From Nelavelli you take a ferry to reach the Pigeon Island and that’s where all the action happens! We managed to sync up with a couple (from Turkey – United States – France – Portugal) and shared the costs of spending the day at Pigeon Island. Since I am a hydrophobe I pretty much spent the entire time there lying on the beach and soaking up the sun, but the others went snorkelling and even saw baby sharks!Shila and I came back to the mainland to look for food and as luck would have it, we got invited by one of the locals to have food at their home! So we ate our hearts’ full of some amazing Sri Lankan fare and headed back to Trino from where we were supposed to travel through the night to Nuwara Eliya for our last leg of the trip.
From Colombo to Trincomalee I took a train for which 2nd class ticket was booked by my friend in advance for 550 LKR. This is a chair car and only 1st class has an option to sleep. There are multiple buses available too. As one of my to do things was scuba diving which during October happens on the east coast, I chose to travel to Trincomalee. I booked my dive for 75$ with Feli (0094 777648459 locally 0777 648459). For PADI course they charge 335$ with course spread across 3-4 days. http://www.srilanka-divingtours.com/. In the morning Sanju (the talking tuk tuk driver sent by Feli) picked me and dropped me at hotel aqua.For scuba diving, first I had a pool practice and then immediately actual dive at the sea. The depth was 10 meters. There were beautiful fishes , corals. Initially for the first time ear pain can be the only issue otherwise if you learn at the pool, the diving is an amazing thing. Into the world of other creatures who give a damn about you being there and on the other side you are breathing hard for your survival. Sometimes there can be gaps between your practice sessions and the actual dive so plan your next destination accordingly#Stay:I took a room for 2000 LKR next to Feli. But interestingly Feli has concrete tubes in which you can stay for 1000 LKR per night. More expensive n luxurious rooms are also available at Feli's hotel.#Food:English breakfast at Fernendo's.The hotels are spread across the beach, you can pick your choices!#Places to Visit:
Trincomalee is a natural harbour on the eastern coast of the country. And, it probably is also one of the most picturesque places in the world. Devotees make a beeline for the Koneswaran temple in Trincomalee. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and situated on a hill, it offers breath-taking views of the Indian Ocean.
Stay at Nilaveli Beach and walk along the coast line to witness how the locals live.
Unawatuna
139 Kms from Buttala
Unawatuna is another great place to be. The beach is serene and has the cleanest water that I have seen in my life. Don'...
Unawatuna is another great place to be. The beach is serene and has the cleanest water that I have seen in my life. Don't even think about spending couple of hours so as to see the sunset. It is not possible to see the sunset on the western coast.What is life on the beach without a morning walk? Next morning I went for the morning walk and a cup of coffee. Not a single place was open despite the signs suggesting that the place opens at 7 am.
Day 2 -So, this is my Scuba day. I called the dive master, he told me that I could get there around 11 and with some money to take underwater photos, I took the beginners' Discovery dive. For few minutes, he taught me the rules of underwater diving and gave me some tips if anything goes wrong. After all that, I had put on this tight suit and heavy gear. It is hard to walk with all that. Then we went in for 3 km in and then my heart started to beat. This is for real. I have to swim underwater now. And that too, I have to fall in the ocean on my back. It was one crazy experience, and I would do it anywhere now. (Well No, if there were any Sharks). We saw some rare fishes, Coral, and sunken ships (during the war) and as my Oxygen gas was emptying, I pulled it back up. That was one of the first craziest thing I did.
Unfortunately, the night life at Galle, Unatwana was shut down due to Full Moon day. The pubs were closed and the restaurants were forbidden to sell liquor. It was mostly dull, except for the scenic beach and the sounds of the waves.
Check out the beach at Unawatuna, about 15 mins from Galle town. The place is filled with shacks and sea facing pubs and eateries. You can also scuba dive subject to sea being calm. scuba diving here is surprisingly cheap compared to places like Malaysia.
Day 8 -Unawatuna: Privacy and simplicity define the long stretch of the beaches of Unawatuna. It is a diver's paradise in the day but is transformed magically into a lively well lit beach at night . People say that being near the ocean can improve your overall health and well-being , we chose to do just that all day and enjoyed the basic joys of gathering shells on the beach , strolling in the water , spontaneous dips deep into the ocean and chats with local fishermen.
That evening, I visited Wijaya Beach, a popular resto-bar/inn in Unawatuna (I just love saying that). I walked down the lantern lit beach at night, just listening to the waves, feeling the soft powdery sand beneath my bear feet and thought to myself: this is truthfully La Bon Vie. Just as I contemplated what could possibly be better than my charmed time in lovely Galle, there were more delights ahead. See, I am known to worship any kind of self-indulgence, being showered with lux offerings and unreserved decadence.
One beach you need to visit on your next trip to Maui is Pailoa Bay, a black sand beach on the famed Road to Hana. With its bright blue water and contrasting black pebbled sand, you could easily spend all day relaxing under the Hawaiian sun. Plus, there are sea caves and lava tubes to explore nearby! Saying this beach is ridiculously remarkable is an understatement! 4) Jessica from A Passion and A Passport: Pailoa Bay, Hawaii, USA
From Ella we hopped-on to a 6 hour bus journey to Unawatuna, beach area in the Southern Province in Lanka. Unawatuna is a chilled out party place, a relaxing spot for people and to indulge in water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling and more.
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Highly recommended -- nestled across the banks of the Yala national park is a hidden eco gem of a resort "Kumbuk River Eco Extraordinaire". Rated as one of the top 10 unique eco hotels in the world, this place has a 40 ft elephant hut made out of grass. The hut is shaped like an elephant and sleeps 2 families and the best part if even if it's just the two of you, you will have the entire elephant room to yourself as the resort values privacy. Stay here if you would like to sleep 'in the belly of an elephant'. Their Tree House Luxuria (which we booked) overlooks the raging Kumbuk River and if you are lucky you can spot wildlife across the river bank. Other activities offered by the resort include a mud bath, zip lining, elephant watch, Yala safari, etc. Truly a place to be if you want a unique & rustic Sri Lankan experience.
