On the way to Katargama we drove down towards South Sri Lanka on the eastern coast and saw the very clean and beautiful seaside. With the favour of the driver, we quickly got down and went near the waves. The rising and falling of the waves was mesmerizing and even energising. We could have spent some more time there had it not been for our tightly packed schedule.
The first few pictures are of that seashore, the rising and falling of the waves taking the prominent place in them.
A lot of destruction took place when there was tsunami attack on this tiny island some years back. A memorial is now made in memory of those people who lost their lives and homes on this seashore.
Memorial for tsunami victims on our way to Galle.
We halt at Galle- the ancient port city rebuilt by the Portuguese in 16th century. The whole place gives a very Mediterrean feel and look. It is a fortified city, well preserved and is a World Heritage site. Those who wish to visit this place in Sri Lanka, please remember this that it is extremely hot and humid and the Sun is just unbearable. So do take your umbrellas, hats and sunscreens for sure.
These two huge canopies combine to make a beautiful natural umbrella providing shade and coolness to the tourists who flock here to see the magnificent sea.
Post office?
Justice of peace and Unofficial Magistrate??
An amicable blend of old and new exists in this fort city.
Next- Nuara Eliya means ‘a city of lights’. It is hill city above 6,000 ft altitude. It is the most important place for tea production in Sri Lanka. We visited in the season of flowers and I am still filled with nostalgia at the varieties of flowers that were grown inside the hotel garden. The garden reminded us of ‘Alice in wonderland’ story and fairy tales themes. Many buildings in Nuara Eliya are from the colonial past and we stayed in one such hotel to enjoy the picturesque landscapes within and outside.
This exotic picture is the first one that I took when we were about to reach Nuara Eliya.The name of the water falls was Rawana Waterfalls, Ravana from the epic ‘Ramayana’. The water that is falling is not of fresh rains but from inside the mountains itself. More about ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Ashok Vatika’ in next post.
Rules of the land are followed in Sri Lanka. We are not allowed to pluck flowers anywhere so in all places in the hill city we witnessed this phenomenon- whether small or big or any nondescript or prominent home, every house had flowers growing at the entrance, even if the house was bang on the road side! Last season’s seeds were also germinating on the ground and therefore Nuara Eliya was blooming with faint smells of attractive, colorful flowers and conglomerating bunch of flowers.
Flowers blooming everywhere on the road side
The colonial place, our short stay, was straight from an old English fairy tale book……
The next post will have pictures of ‘Panchvati, tea garden, turtle conservation,Masks Museum and miscellenous images. Nuwara Eliya had maximum to offer and time was short. One should go and stay there for a few days as this is the most perfect hill station. It will sometimes remind you of Mussorie, sometimes Dal Lake in Kashmir, sometime Dalhousie, sometimes Shimla and sometimes splendid Switzerland! Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder they say!
( To be concluded……
very beautiful photos!!!
sea shore, rising and falling waves, so beautiful flowers,
very cute kids.. Love all of them 🙂
Lots of love and gratitude.
I was wondering whether Sri lanka is truly a beautiful place or you made it look beautiful. As you said ” beauty lies in the eyes of beholder”. It was such a great experience to see it through your eyes.
Its so good that people there do follow rules of the land and do not pluck flowers. Flowers are the only thing in the world which can make anything look beautiful. I loved each and every bit of these three posts.
Lots of love
Maa, the huge canopy of trees you have shared here reminded me of you who has give shade to many parched and weary souls like me under your cool and safe shade. 🙂 And your last sentence – beauty lies in the eyes of beholder – I had known it even before, but I learnt its practical application from you. In fact, i am still learning. 🙂