RAVIs: June 2014

SRI LANKA 2012 Dec

Sri Lanka Rupee LKR

Currecy Rates 100 LKR= 43.29 INR 100 INR= 253.01 LKR 1$=128.76 LKR 1 Euro= 170.592 LKR

Dec 2012 WEATHER TIME ZONE Same as

INDIA

+5.30 GMT

Max Min Sun Rise Set

Kandy 27 24

Colombo 30 23 5.47 7.30

Nuwara elliya 25 13

Anuradha pura 30 23

Beach 30 23

Chennai 30 25 5.51 6.29

Delhi 21 07

29 Dec Sat Day -Dep from Delhi by Spice Jet SG305 at 10.05 arrived at Chennai 12.55

30 Dec Sun Day- Dep from Chennai by Sri Lanka Air at 10.00 arr Colombo 11.15. On arrival received by travel agent and drove for Harbarana. The total drive is 4 hours.

On the way had Lunch in local restaurant.

Reached Dambulla at 3.30 and decided to see the Dambulla Caves.Entrance is 1500 Sri Lanka Rupees.You need to climb stairs to these caves.You need no guide as you can see these Buddist caves yourself.

Entrance to Dambulla Caves

inside one of the caves

The Caves

Travel to Habarana. Sorowwa Resorts & Spa, Lake Road Tel +94 662270332. this is an excellent hotel by the lake side in this very small city.

View From Hotel Room Balcony

31Dec Mon Day – In the morning drove to Anuradhapura. Travel time approx 2 hours. We advised by driver not see the ruins as they have nothing to see and the entrance is 1450 LKR per person We went to see the Maha Bodhi Tree, branch of which was brought from India. There was no entrance fee.

The lake

Maha Bodhi tree

There after we drove to Avakana via a good large Kala Wewa Lake . At Avukana saw the Standing Buddha.This Buddha is 13 Mtr(42ft) high.This place is about 37km from Habrana. Both places visited are without any visitors tickets.Night at Sorowwa Resort.

Avukana Standing Buddha

01 Jan Tue Day – We did not visit Pollunuwara which has an entrance fee of LKR 1,440 as our driver had shown to us a taller Buddha the previous day.We drove to Sigiriya Fort but did not go up as it involves climbing 1000 stairs ans a walk of 2 km.

Sigriya Fort

We then went to a shop making the wooden items. We bargained a lot and bought few items. Without bargaining you will not get a good price. We then drove to Kandy. Reached after 4.5 hours drive. Went around the city market and had lunch in local resturant. Went to hotel which was on top of the Hill and rested. Came down in the evening to see the Cultural Dance held in a Hall at 17.30 pm. You must go early to get a good seat. Entrance is LKR 500. Night Stay at Topaz Hotel. +94 117 488288

Cultural Dance

02 Jan Wed Day – went in the morning to see the famous Tooth Relic Temple which has an entrance of LKR 500. It is where Buddha's Tooth is kept in a golden casket.You can only see the outer of casket. We did stop to see the rituals which is with beating of drums.

Tooth Relic Temple

Entrance of Tooth Relic Temple

Kandy , View from Hotel

Thereafter we stooped after 1 hour to see Botonical Garden with an entrance of LKR 1000 at Perdaniya. You must see the double coconuts on the trees .

Botanical Garden

Thereafter drove to Nuwara Eliya.
En route stopped at the tea garden . went around the tea processing factory but did not buy any Tea as it was more expensive than Darjeeling/Munnar.

Water fall on the way to Nuwara elliya

Checked into a good hotel ST Andrews . No. 10, St. Andrew's Drive, Telephone: + 94 52-2223031, + 94 52-2222445

03 Jan Thus Day – Morning went to see Sita Amman Temple . It is a very small temple on the road side.It the place where she was kept by Ravna. It has encircled spots which is said to be foot prints of Hanuman. Night at ST Andrews Hotel.