A TRIP ROUTE
INTERESTING STORIES
In Peradenija, near Kanda, there is the Royal Botanical Garden, founded in the 14th century by the Sinhalese kings and developed in the 19th century by the English. In the area of 60 ha, over 4,000 different species of plants grow naturally in Sri Lanka and imported from other regions of the world. Peradenija was created in the form of an English garden with outlined paths for visitors, and its greatest attraction is a collection of orchids. There is an avenue in the garden, along which trees were planted by people of merit for the history of the world of that time, including the Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, members of the English royal family and the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. The Polish accent is the Asioka tree, planted in 1960 by Józef Cyrankiewicz, who was then wandering about the People's Republic of Poland, as indicated by a memorial plaque.INTERESTING FACTS
In the times of the People's Republic of Poland, tea was, next to coffee, the most popular alcohol-free drink. One can say that she accompanied the Poles at every convenient occasion. You could easily buy several types of it in stores, and Ceylon tea, which comes from Sri Lanka, was one of the tastiest. Tea was then drunk in transparent and easily breakable glasses with the obligatory saucer and spoon. Import was possible thanks to the economic agreement of 1963 between the authorities of the People's Republic of Poland and the Ceylon government. In offices, the so-called "tea spit" or a teaspoon of herb in hot water. Drinking spit in workplaces was common. In the 1970s, tea met with keen interest in the governmental spheres. The then deputy culture minister issued a decree advising employees to drink it. The purpose of drinking tea was to regenerate workers' energy. As you can see, the communist state took care of the needs of its citizens.IT IS WORTH SEEING
If we are lucky enough to visit Kandy in July or August, we can witness the island's most famous human and elephant procession, Esala Perahera. The fiesta took its present shape in 1755 during the reign of King Kirti Sri Raja Singh, when the Buddha's tooth was flaunted on a specially decorated elephant. The religious festivities last 15 days, of which the last two are the most spectacular, during which over 80 elephants participate in the procession alongside dancers, flutists, drummers and flagellants. Four of them carry the figures of the gods caring for Kandy - Vishnu, Kataragama, Natha and the goddess Pattini. The following are followed by officials carrying the book of the temple of the Buddha's Tooth and a golden spear, which is a symbol of power. The most important elephant called Raja, dressed in expensive robes and most lit by electric lamps, he carries a gilded cage with a box with a replica of a Buddha tooth in it. To see Perahera, you can buy seats or use the free option by taking the procession route.
November 2013
I tried to go to Sri Lanka twice, but there were always some adversities on the way that thwarted my plans. The popular adage says that up to three times it's art, so when I found an attractive offer on the Internet for a direct flight from Warsaw to Colombo, I didn't hesitate for a moment and bought a ticket.
The trip to Sri Lanka is one of those in which the memory of the interlocutor comes alive and the listeners seem full of admiration "wow" and "ouch". Some people call it more lofty the "journey of a lifetime". Regardless of the name, such a trip is a great attraction for every European, and visiting the country and getting to know its inhabitants is an amazing adventure. During the trip, I found out that going on my own, apart from the obvious logistical difficulties, gives you almost unlimited possibilities to freely choose the directions and methods of sightseeing. While traveling alone, I experienced such adventures, I found myself in such places and met people with whom I probably would never come across during an organized trip. Summing up all the pros and cons, I definitely choose individual trips.
People
Sri Lankans like to be photographed. Usually they are happy when tourists take pictures of them and you don't even have to ask them. Sometimes, especially the poorer ones, ask for a small donation. The island is inhabited by Sinhalese, Tamils and Moors. Sri Lankan women are very pretty and graceful and men are handsome. Sri Lankans are distinguished by extraordinary serenity and great optimism in life. They are very communicative and even the language barrier does not prevent them from establishing a social conversation. It happened to me, especially in places rarely visited by tourists, that I was warmly greeted and talked about by complete strangers.
Beaches
Sri Lanka's beaches are neither the largest nor the most beautiful, but they have an irresistible charm and charm. The wide and practically uninhabited beaches of Mount Lavinia allow you to contemplate the beauty of the ocean alone and to take an unhindered bath. The nearby slums remind us of the misery of human existence, and the traces of the 2004 tsunami remind us of its fragility. Locals rest on Polhena Beach, while the beaches in Unawatuna are full of shouting tourists from Europe and charming pubs serving fish and seafood. On the beaches of Ahangama you can see fishermen fishing in the traditional way, while in Negombo you can admire catamarans.
Colombo
In the guides you can find information that Colombo is an uninteresting city that is not worth spending more than one afternoon on. Nothing could be more wrong. Although there are no monuments of the "Cultural Triangle" class here, the Buddhist sanctuaries of Gangaramaya and Seema Malaka, the World Trade Center towers or the largest bazaar on the island in the Petta district are reason enough to stay in the capital of Sri Lanka a little longer. If you want to feel the atmosphere of this place, just rely on your intuition and get lost in the streets of Pettah, Slave Islannds or the Cinnamon Gardens.
Mihintale
Mihintale is to Sri Lankan Buddhists what Bethlehem is to Christians. They believe that it was here, after the meeting of the monk Mahinda with the Sri Lankan king Devanampiyatissa, that the history of Buddhism on the island began. Today, this place is primarily a destination for pilgrims and sometimes tourists visiting nearby Anuradhapura. I was visiting Mihintale when it was just starting to get dusk, which had its advantages, because looking at the Aradhan Gala rock it was easier for me to believe that an envoy of the Indian king Asia, the monk Mahinda, had landed on it.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka, and its monumental stupas were among the tallest buildings in the world at that time. The remains of royal and monastic buildings, scattered over a vast area, dagob and pokunas arouse admiration even among modern tourists. Since visiting such sights on foot was not an option, I decided to rent a car with a driver. Unlike other places, Anuradhapura has more locals than tourists. This is due to the Dagoba Ruwanweli and the Bo Holy Tree to which thousands of Sri Lankans make pilgrimages.
Sigirija
In Sigiriya, there are remains of the royal palace of Cassiapa from the 5th century, entered on the Unesco List. The ruins captivate with the grandeur of the building as well as craftsmanship and advanced manufacturing technique. King Cassiapa was not only a crucifixion who killed his father and drove his brother out, but was also a connoisseur of the fair sex. He ordered the women of his harem to be immortalized on the frescoes covering the rock walls. To this day, only a few paintings remain hidden under the rock overhang, but you can imagine what impression they made in the time of Cassiapa, when they covered the entire face of the Sigiriya Rock.
Polonnaruwa
After the fall of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka, and its heyday falls in the 12th century. Most of the buildings in this historic city are ruins embedded in lush tropical vegetation. Due to their size, I decided to explore by bike. The only drawback of this way of moving were the monkeys, which could, as the souvenir sellers warned me, grab even a large bag and run away with it to the trees. The remains of the royal capital are very picturesque, but its greatest attraction, Gal Vihara, did not make such an impression on me as I expected.
Dambulla
The Buddhist Rangiri temple or the Golden Temple is located in a natural cave on the top of a hill. In separate parts of the cave there are numerous statues of Buddha, Hindu gods and Sri Lankan kings. The entire temple complex, the origins of which date back to the 1st century BC, was inscribed on the Unesco World Cultural Heritage List. I found myself in Rangiri in the early morning, which made sightseeing very attractive, as I was the only tourist at that time. The mortuary silence and the twilight from which the majestic statues emerged, staring in front of them with fixed eyes, made an amazing impression.
An orphanage for elephants
The elephant orphanage in Pinnawala is the most popular tourist attraction on the island. However, the program of feeding baby elephants causes a lot of emotions. For many people, especially children, it is an amazing experience, but controversy is the fact that baby elephants are chained during feeding. This is because of the safety of tourists, because babies over 100 kilograms could cause a lot of confusion and even hurt someone. However, I was most impressed by the majestic procession to the river, a herd of several dozen individuals, chased along the narrow streets of Pinnawala.
Kandy
Kandy is on the Unesco World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. There is an exceptionally mild climate in the city and its vicinity, which is of utmost importance for newcomers from Europe. Walking around Kandy I found out that its Sri Lankan name Maha Nuwara, which is a big city, is not exaggerated at all. The biggest attraction of Kanda is Sri Dalada Maligawa - the Temple of the Relics of the Tooth of the Buddha. How important this place is for Sri Lankans can be realized by watching the crowds of faithful pilgrims to the holy places within the temple complex.
Gardens
If we do not have time or are afraid of a trip to the jungle, an interesting alternative to getting to know the flora of Sri Lanka is to visit the Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya near Kandy and the Victoria Park in Colombo. In this garden, founded in the 14th century by Sinhalese kings, and developed in the 19th century by the English, not only can you admire plants growing all over Asia, but also relax and rest walking along charming alleys.
Tea
The mountainous region of Nuwara Elija is the kingdom of tea. The tea leaves that come from here are often referred to as champagne among Ceylon teas. The city of Nuwara Elija itself, apart from the Grand Hotel in the Victorian style and the Hindu temple of the goddess Sita, does not have many attractions. However, an interesting experience was visiting two factories producing black and green tea. What surprised me most was that the tea machines, which are over a hundred years old, are still operational and used in the production process.
Galle
This coastal city is home to the Dutch Fort, another Sri Lankan monument inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List. Inside the huge defensive complex, which dates back to the 16th century, the inhabitants live and work, which adds color and originality to this place. A walk along the defensive walls and alleys of the fort at different times of the day and at night is an unforgettable experience. Another attraction of Galle is the opportunity to see the work of Sri Lankan fishermen in the fishing port and a visit to the fish market located at the walls of the fort.
Trains
Traveling by rail is one of the most enjoyable and cheapest ways to get around Sri Lanka. Contrary to appearances, the trains run according to the timetable, they are clean and even in the lower classes they provide decent travel comfort. Most importantly, you can take photos while driving, as all windows are always open. The most exciting journey is on the Kandy-Nanoya route, when you can see the hills and valleys covered with tea bushes from the winding train like a caterpillar. The Galle-Colombo route is equally attractive, as at some points the tracks run just a few meters from the ocean.