Monday, January 27th
We left the Jetwing Blue and travel to Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, about a 2.5 hour drive from Negambo. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is set amongst the verdant hills of Kegalle and is a unique orphanage. It is the world's first and only elephant orphanage established to feed, nurse and house young elephants lost or abandoned by their mothers. Other occupants are elephants displaced from their natural environment by development projects or those found wounded.
We arrived in time to see the baby elephants being fed from gigantic feeding bottles and continued on to the riverside to watch them bathing. It really was an unforgettable sight! My favourite was this playful character who found a tyre in the water to play with...
The orphanage was established in 1975, by the Wildlife Department and National Zoological gardens which subsequently led to a breeding programme through which more than twenty five elephants have been born since 1984. After our visit we carried on our journey to Habarana which took approx. 3 hours. Arriving at the Cinnmamon Lodge we were once again blown away by the hotel. The hotel is set amongst 27 acres of gardens by Lake Habarana. There was wildlife everywhere! Monkeys, birdlife and so many squirrels!
"Habarana is the centre of Sri Lanka's cultural triangle that is made up of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy; therefore the perfect epicentre to explore the glorious past of Sri Lanka.
Sprawled over 27 acres of lush forested land, Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, is an exclusive hideaway for the entire family. Rooting over 1700 trees, time stands still enabling guests to experience serenity and tranquillity while walking along the paths that lead up to the chalet-type rooms. The architect of the property derived inspiration from the glorious remains of Ritigala - A monastery that dates back to the 6th Century.
It is also of interest to note that the land used to build this lavish resort was once an abandoned Chena cultivation (slash and burn cultivation), and it had been transformed with the tedious task which was undertaken for period of years through re-forestation creating a man made forest, which is an uncommon sight in the dry locale of the country."
Tuesday, January 28th
After an early morning start we drove to Polonnaruwa (a 1.5 hour drive away). The UNESCO World Heritage Site rose to fame as the capital (10th-12th century AD) after the decline of Anuradhapura. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbour.
The monuments are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka's past. Harris our guide is so insightful and full of knowledge! Highlights here are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle with it's concentration of ancient heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, all cut from one single slab of granite - a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving. It is pretty impressive!
There was so much to see here! The Temples of Shiva, intricate statues of Hindu Gods, fascinating Budhist temples, the Lankatileka and Watadage, the Galpotha, the lotus bath, the Kiri Vihare Dogoba and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth! It was a busy start to the day! All of this before driving back to the hotel to embark on our first jeep safari of the trip!
Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, the 8,890 hectare of Minneriya National Park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to favorites such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. We embarked on a 3 hour jeep safari which took us into the centre of the park where we were able to get up close to an incredible amount of elephants.
Each day was an incredible adventure. And today was a particularly high adventure. We drove for approx 30 minutes to visit Lion Rock. One of the seven World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka's major attractions. As we drive towards it, it is instantly spectacular. The surrounding Water Gardens are a great entrance and as you approach the foot of the rock is becomes daunting to think that we are going to be climbing to the top! The Lion Rock raises 200m from the scrub jungle below and is ringed by a moat, rampart and extensive gardens.
It was not an easy task to get to the top. The weather wasn't great and a lot of the steps were rather slippery. Parts of the steps are narrow and you approach the rock via a spiral metal staircase. The view below is pretty daunting! The old stairway to the top leads through what would have been the mouth of the crouching tiger, however, today only the huge paws remain which give an indication of just how massive the head would have been. The summit is pretty impressive too. Not only a great view, but 1.6 hectares big, which at one point during the period of Sigiriya's glory would have been completely covered by buildings.
After our trek to the top of Lion Rock we head back to the hotel for another adventure...on an elephant. Joe has always wanted to ride and elephant so he was particularly excited about this! I remember my first elephant ride in Bali being particularly bumpy so I wasn't as excited as Joe was!
Thursday, January 30th
We left Habarana today to head to Kandy. Another 3 hour drive which was broken up by a stop at the Dambulla Cave Templates. Dambulla, which is located in the north central province is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 1st century BC. It is an amazing complex of five caves, first used as a refuge by an ancient king who on regaining his throne, commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Later kings made further improvements and the caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is a colossal figure spanning 15 metres. It's pretty impressive! There are cave inscriptions from the 2nd century BC and many paintings on the walls which elong to the Kandy period (early 19th century) It's the perfect location to view evolution of the ancient Sri Lankan art.
After our visit to the caves we made our way to the Matale Spice Gardens. We really got to indulge out senses here and had the opportunity to sample the homoeopathic remedies of the East including a natural hair removal which was demonstrated to us on Joe's finger...
We arrived in Kandy, the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka, in late afternoon. Kandy holds a special place in every Sri Lankan heart as it accommodates the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha. Throngs of pilgrims flock from all over Sri Lanka to catch a glimpse of the gold casket which contains the sacred relic.
Kandy is Sri Lanka's second largest city and was the last capital of the Sinhalese Kingdom. Despite its size, it is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka. It is set in the midst of hills in the Kandy Plateau and surrounded by a beautiful lake.
That evening, we started with a cultural dance of Sri Lanka, which was incredible to watch. Such talented dancers...
Following this we visited the Temple of Tooth which is commonly known as "Sri Dalada Maligawa". It is an important shrine for Buddhists as it holds the tooth relic of Lord Buddha. It is famous for its carvings and the beautiful art that is unique to Sri Lanka. The most important part of the Dalada Maligawa is the octagon (Pathirppuwa). It is the most sacred temple in the whole of Sri Lanka. Thousands of people line up each day to get a glimpse of its majesty. It was extremely busy!
Our hotel for the next few days is the Cinnamon Citadel. Another incredible hotel. We are totally spoilt!
"Influenced by the old and inspired by the new, Cinnamon Citadel has fused retro chic design with the rich heritage of this ancient kingdom to breathe new life to the most stylish hotel in the hills of Sri Lanka.
The Cinnamon Citadel is an ideal retreat for those seeking the treasures of this ancient city and for those seeking rest & relaxation in a peaceful setting - all in the lap of luxury and sophistication."
To read more about the Cinnamon Citadel Kandy visit the website http://www.cinnamonhotels.com/CinnamonCitadelKandy.htm
Friday, January 31st
Our day starts with a city tour of Kandy and a leisurely stroll amongst the orchids and royal palms of the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens. Located 460m above sea level close to Kandy and surrounded by the river Mahaveli, Peradeniya Botanical Garden was founded in the year 1824. It has one of the best and most valuable collections of plants and tress in the world. More than 4000 species indoor and outdoor. It really is a wonderful walk. Our evening was spent at leisure in one of the hotel restaurants Cafe C with a great view of the Mahaweli River...awfully romantic!
Saturday, February 1st
And we're off ... again! Today, we leave Kandy to head to Nuwara Eliya. The journey took us approx. 3 hours. A long drive, but by far my favourite drive of the whole trip. Nuwara Eliya is often referred to as "Little England" and has an ambience which is truly unique to the hills of Sri Lanka. Whilst the small town is attractive it's most definitely the rolling tea plantations that surround the town that are the most breathtaking.
Sri Lanka is one of the world's largest exporters of tea and Nuwara Eliya has been the capital of the tea industry since the introduction of tea to Sri Lanka in mid 19th century. For miles as we travelled there were acres and acres of tea plantations. The journey had the most beautiful backdrop. I had to keep asking our driver to stop so I could take it all in.
Along the way we stopped at two tea plantations. The first was Glenloch where we got to see the ins and outs of the tea factory and the tea making process and sample some of the teas. I'm even drinking some of the tea we bought from there as I write this! Delicious!
We stopped again shortly after at Mackwoods Tea Plantation ... they manage 27,000 acres of tea and rubber plantations with over 10,200 employees. That's pretty impressive!
As we continue driving, we get higher and higher. Approximately 6,128 foot above sea level in fact. Our destination is the Heritance Tea Factory Hotel.
"Where else in the world can you stay in a converted tea factory, pluck your own tea and take it home with you as a souvenir? At 2km above sea level, the views over our lush green organic plantations as the sun mingles with the mist are truly unforgettable. Enjoy them as you tuck into high tea on the terrace or a delicious tea-themed menu in the restaurant. Welcome to Heritance Tea Factory, where the kettle is always on."
This by far was my favourite hotel for it's personality. It is pretty spectacular. On arrival you are greeted with tea..of course and once again we are made to feel very welcome by the staff. We get upgraded and the view from our room is out of this world. We can even see tea pickers busy at work!
The highlight at this hotel was our dinner that night. I had reserved us a table at the Railway Carriage Restaurant. Little did I know when I booked it that we would be on board an actual railway carriage!
"From the moment the railway master blows his whistle to welcome you aboard, you know that you’re in for a unique dining experience. TCK 6685, a third-class carriage of the Udapussellawa narrow-gauge railway line that used to transport tea but closed down in 1950, has been converted to a fine-dining restaurant. Its former passengers would marvel at today’s menu, with its range of top-quality ingredients from around the world – smoked salmon from Norway, beef and lamb from Australia, duck from the US. And of course there’s an international wine list to match.
The executive chef himself takes your order to discuss any particular preferences you may have. Then it’s time to sit back and enjoy the ride through six courses, or “stations”. With candlelight reflected in the gleaming teak and brass, it’s a delightfully nostalgic experience. Portions are well balanced and beautifully presented – all the vegetables and herbs come from the hotel’s own organic vegetable patch. And the service adds to the sense of theatre, as the cloche is lifted from your main course with flourish."
Sunday, February 2nd
We were sad that we only had one night at the Heritance Tea Factory as there was lots to around the area. However, our itinerary had more in store for us and we were on the move again. This time heading to Yala.
As the drive was 4 hours, we stopped off to break up the journey, at Buduruwagala to see the ancient Buddha sculptures. We also got a break whilst driving through Ella, with marvellous views over the hill country from Ella's Gap. Ravana Falls, one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka was surrounded by monkeys. Extremely playful monkeys...
Yala National Park is Sri Lanka's most known National Park and is popular for Elephants, Leopards, Bear, Crocodiles, and Wild Boar. It is huge. 97,800 hectares in fact! And we're staying in the middle of it all!
Cinnamon Wild Yala is a completely different experience from all of the other hotels we have stayed in so far. Our Jungle Chalet is gorgeous!
However, we are in the wild, so we need to be escorted to and from our chalet when we want to go out after dark. Why? Because the wildlife roam wild. Boar and elephants can literally walk past your window. At first I found this quite exciting! But after our first night of walking to dinner and seeing a snake literally slither past Joe's toes the excitement started to fade!
The hotel is surrounded by water. Water which is home to... crocodiles! And lots of them! The edge of the swimming pool borders the edge of the of the water and you can see crocodiles everywhere.
Monday, February 3rd
Today is game drive day. It is a spectacular place. And we are certainly not short of seeing wild life. We are surrounded by Jackals, Mongoose, Crocodiles, Birds (and lots of them), Peacocks, Spotted Deer, Water Buffalo's and much more. We were both snap happy with the cameras as there was literally so much to see. Spotting the leopards proved quite difficult. But we did manage to spot one in the bushes ... impossible to capture on camera though!
Our game drives are the perfect way to bring our tour of Sri Lanka to an end. After this travel back up the coast to our next hotel for beach time.
Tuesday, February 4th
The drive to Koggala from Yala takes us approx. 4.5 hours. It's a long stretch but we managed to get some sleep in the car so when we arrive at our next hotel, The Fortress, we can totally appreciate it. It is incredible!
"Enter a world of chic sophistication infused with boutique luxury as you step through the great wooden doors of The Fortress Resort and Spa. Ensconced in the historic town of Koggala, The Fortress is an oasis of tranquillity, a place where you can leave the cares of the real world behind. Let your eyes be enticed by silky white beaches as the warm inviting waters of the Indian Ocean gently caresses your skin. One of Sri Lanka's finest boutique resorts, The Fortress is a sanctuary of serenity and private luxury with world-class facilities that will ease your mind and purify your soul. Feel the special enchantment that emanates from this pristine haven and cherish every moment you spend here."
It was here we said goodbye to our driver Harris, who was incredible throughout the whole experience. Extremely friendly and full of knowledge He ensured we were always safe throughout the trip. Although our honeymoon was booked through Trailfinders in the UK, the driven tour was arranged through Walkers Tours.
Uber luxurious and super plush we had the most amazing three days at The Fortress. Pure heaven and relaxation. We were so sad to leave The Fortress as it mean that our honeymoon was coming close to ending. Feeling super relaxed we were collected by a new driver who would return us to The Jetwing Blue, were we began our adventure a fortnight before. We had the trip of a lifetime and we have made memories that will never fade. Sri Lanka was the perfect choice for our honeymoon. A beautiful country full of wonderful, welcoming people. I'm sure we will return one day.
