Kandy - A different world

 I looked out the window of the car as we were being driven up the winding roads of Kandy (116 kms from Colombo) and felt the cool breeze, 26 degrees to be precise, inhaled unpolluted air, noticed tall dense trees, pristine white Buddha statues adorned with Lotus flowers at every corner, and marveled at the driving skills of our host who navigated flawlessly as he whisked us to our hotel. I instantly liked the place and looked forward to discovering a part of Srilanka.

Kandy a hill station is an ideal getaway for locals and tourists. We had opted for a homely stay and decided to stay at a Kandy View Garden Hotel which offered comfortable cozy rooms and a common kitchen where we could cook. The view from the room was breathtaking - since we arrived at night Kandy city was shining in all her glory under full moon reminding me of Sinatra’s song "Fly me to the moon."

 

If night journey felt like taking a ride to Hogwarts castle the morning sight was equally mystical. The sun sneaking into our room through the netted curtain, the lush green leaves devoid of any dust, cascading roads, and the chug of a local train could be heard at a distance, birds hopping from tree to tree and we enjoyed this view from the villa balcony sipping freshly brewed tea.

After sampling typical Srilankan breakfast - Kiribath which is rice cooked in coconut milk we start off towards the first visit - Sigiriya. Ranked as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this is a 200metre rock which is perched like a bird and offers tourists opportunity to trek up the mountain and soak in a different view of the city from the top. What amazed us was the sight of elderly men and women who climbed this rock bare foot with ease.

After a tiring walk down the rock, our friendly guide stopped at a village eatery where we gorged on typical Lankan lunch which consists of rice (two varieties - white and red), fresh lake fish sambol, beans curry and papad.

Our next stop was the Dambulla Buddha temple. Another World Heritage Site,The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves and  major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. We reached this place just before sunset and enjoyed watching the sun go down behind the plains.

Everywhere you go there is cleanliness in Kandy - the streets, the river, tourists areas are spotless. There are no plastic covers strewn carelessly on the road. We even saw a cleaner sweeping the streets at 6pm. River Mahaweli Ganga flows majestically through the city and tastes sweet. 

In terms of expenses, we coughed a bit on travel, food and entry fees. We found out that tourists from SAARC countries had a better discount from other nationalities for entry fees at tourist spots. So ensure you carry a copy of the passport everywhere.

Since Lanka was colonized by the British like India, some influence is left behind like the bakeries around. Six days we gorged on mouthwatering pastries and sweets breads which were fresh and delicious. What's amazing is the gratitude the locals showered on us when they knew we were Indians. We were greeted with the same lines, "You are from India...you got Buddha to our country and How is your new PM...Mr.Modi?

Easy to commute, Kandy city is well connected and one can opt to travel by local bus, train, tuk-tuk or hire a cab to roam the city. One can save money if you commute by local bus which is very convenient.

Personally my husband and I felt we could have skipped Pinnawala elephant orphanage. After a two hour drive we landed at a well maintained orphanage where there were herd of elephants(around 30) hustling around in an open area. At 10 am precisely their mahouts blew the whistle when the herd walked about 100 yards and entered river opposite the orphanage for their daily bath. Coming from India where we have seen elephants at a young age, we felt the entry this tourist spot can be given a miss.

Over-all Kandy was like devouring a sweet candy which satiated and yet left you wanting for more.

Must visit places in and around Kandy: Cultural show which showcases the local dance and culture, take a walk around Kandy Lake at dawn and watch the city unwind, Royal Botanical Garden in Peradiniya is a Nature Lover’s paradise with over 4000 varieties of plants, includes spices, orchids, palm trees and medicinal plants, Nuwara Eilya located South of Kandy - average temperature of 16degrees this place reminds you of Ooty, breathtaking journey to this place via train or road where you pass through magnificent waterfalls at Ramboda, which plunge over the cliffs in two adjacent 100m cataracts. From Ramboda, it’ a short drive on to Labookelie Tea Factory and Nuwara Eliya.

 

http://hotels.comlanka.com/hotel/kandy-view-garden-hotel