Temple of The Tooth, Kandy

The Temple of The Tooth is the most sacred place for Buddhists in Sri Lanka and one of the special places in the world. It holds the only relic of Buddha, a tooth removed from the funeral pyre.

On the way into Kandy were  some beautiful rural sites. The city is built around a large lake but at the same time is very busy and full of traffic.

                                               The markets were worth a visit.

                           

A water monitor in the lake

One of the many Buddha statues.

The ceremony starts with music

Detail of the walls.

We joined a long line of worshippers to file past the large container that holds the tooth. We were told that is was not a busy day! There were a lot of worshippers just the same. Sorry no photos!

Details of the ceilings.

Later we went to the gardens. They were of a very high standard. Created by Sir

Joseph Banks many years after his trip to Australia.

Many orchids but it was the huge trees that were especially impressive.

The cannon ball tree. Looks like the real thing!

Gail with a forest giant.

In the afternoon we attended a cultural performance that was lots of dance and traditional performance. It needs a video to do it justice but the wi fi is very very slow!!

The curtain call for the performance and we called it a day for our visit to Kandy.

Dembulla Temple

We visited a major temple on the way to Kandy. The Dembulla Temple is in a series of caves and contains a large number of Buddha figures and cave art. It was the best temple that we have visited on this trip.

     

                         
                                 The caves were very interesting and had a wealth of art.

                                                  Even the waterlilies were beautiful!

                                                   A large reclining Buddha.

                                                      Gail and the great view.

                                               We walked across to the Golden Buddha.

In the afternoon we visited a spice garden and saw lots of interesting plants. It was a medicinal cente

                                 Rob will be asked for ID at the pub now!

                                                      Gail amongst the bamboo

Elephant Video

Another try to put on a video. I couldn't get the lasdt one to open but we have slow wifi.

The elephants decided we were too close so they suggested that we move back. It finished with a jolt as the driver throws the jeep into reverse and backs off.

It should work this time! Note Gails hand in the bottom corner before we take off!

The Elephants of Kaudulla National Park

We spent an afternoon on a jeep safari in the Kaudulla National Park. This is all about elephants! We did see lots of beautiful birds, a few spotted deer an alligator but we were in search of elephants.
There were so many in one place it was elephant heaven. We spent most time in a very large flat grasslands. After the monsoon rains this will become a large lake but now it was a huge grassland. So will present some elephant photos.

                                 Coming over to say hello..or telling us to back off!

                                  Our jeep had no roof so we were able to stand and look about.

The were lots of elephants. During the afternoon we must have seen 150-200 or more.

There were lots of young elephants and small family groups. We saw lots of different herds ranging in size from less than ten to large groups of sixty or eighty.

They usually keep together in a very tight group making it hard to count. They have no real predators and there is no poaching in Sri Lanka. Less than 20% have tusks. This is a genetic thing!

                    Yes that is a baby elephant who decided that a nap was a good idea.

                      The elephant at the back was not too happy with the one in front!

The elephants decided that they wanted to go down to the water. They came up to the jeeps and forced them back with obvious intent then all strolled down for a swim and a drink.

                                                            Cooling off

                                               Mother and baby...a few months old.

                                Lots of elephants but also beautiful birds.

Conquering Sigiriya

We arrived in Sigiriya and looked at the rock mountain. We thought that it was beyond us!
Sigiriya was a 1-2 century BC temple but was the Island Capital during the reign of King Kassapa from 473-491.

                                It looked an impossible challenge to make it to the top!

 On the first afternoon we travelled around the base on back roads and tracks. Along the way we saw lots of birdlife like this cormorant drying his wings in the afternoon sun.

The next day we faced the challenge. We set ourselves the target of making it to the one third level where there are a series of ancient frescoes. It was about 400 steps.

 We were up early and ready to go when the complex opened. This is the best we would look today!
Posing at the inner moat.

                 
                                               The first few steps lots to follow!

It was a very hard climb for us but we did make it to the first level. The frescoes were excellent.
Before we had time to think it through we were on the next steps and heading up and up. Our knees were calling to stop and our brain stopped working as we kept going. Yes we finally made it to the top! We felt a great sense of achievement and that night our legs felt a great deal of pain.

                          The third stage. At least there were steps up the face of the rock.

                                          The views were stunning.

                                   View down onto the formal gardens, It is one of the oldest in Asia.

Gail at the lion paws. They are on either side of the steps going from the second to third stage.

Rob resting at the top. The footprint of the Royal Palace is all that remains. It was a seven storey structure.

                                  The "Dancing Terraces" shimmer in the sunlight.

                                         The steps down at times even more difficult!

                                                            The final steps down

We are about to tell our legs that we are down. Then back for breakfast.

Nilaveli

From Jaffna we have travelled down the East coast to reach Nilaveli and the great harbour of Trincomalee. For the first section to Elephant Pass we travelled by train. We were starting from the far north but no doubt it would be packed by the time it reached Colombo 24 hours later. Our train was over an hour late departing but was an interesting ride. Each time it started after a stop there was a bone jarring shudder

                                                         View from the train

We had another 6 hours on the bus before we reached our beach side retreat at Nilaveli. On the way we had a stop at the Hot Springs of Kanniyal. Referred to as The Seven Wonders Of Sri Lanka. They did not live up to their name!

                                    If you enlarge this you can read the rules for the springs...and then judge if Gail complied!

We are right on the coast opposite Pigeon Island. The weather and season were not good for diving but the waters of The Indian Ocean were very, very pleasant and relaxing.

This was the end of a long day of driving so we qualify for a sunset photo.

                    It was on sunset as we arrived but still time to check out the beach.


We had a drive into the harbour city of Trincomalee. It is the worlds 5th largest natural harbour and where the Indian Ocean fleet was based during WWII. We climbed up past the old Fort Frederick and up to a Hindu temple. Koneswaram Temple is one of the three principal temples dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. There was another ceremony taking place with very interesting religious rituals.

                                Each place has it's special rules. These were for the Hindu Temple.

                                                        The entrance to the temple.

                           
                                        Lord Shiva, the Principal God at this temple.

 A sculpture of Nanthi Theivar that dates from the 11th century. There are other statues found in recent times that had been hidden underground before the Portuegese destroyed the temple in the early 1600's

                                                              Back to the view!

These are placed in position by infertile women and 9 months later!!!

                      You are not allowed to take photos inside the temple. I was outside!

       
 By the time we were back to our hotel it was dark so put on our mosquito protection and out again.

We dined at a local home under the stars.