Kirinda Temple

Kirinda, is a small town and a small port located on the south coast of Sri Lanka about 270 km from the city of Colombo and about 10km radius from the south of the ancient old religious city, Tissamaharama.

The story behind Kirinda is in the 2nd century BC, King Kelanitissa reigned over the west of the island from his capital at Kelaniya. Having suspected a Buddhist bhikshu (monk) of being involved in an intrigue between the Queen and his brother, King Kelanitissa had the monk tipped into a cauldron of boiling oil to the untold horror of his subjects.

It was prophesied that the kingdom could be saved only by way sacrificing a princess to the raging sea. The eldest daughter of the king, already reputed for her bravery, rose to the occasion to save her nation. Overcome with remorse, the king decided to atone for his sacrilegious act by making the sacrifice that would appease the gods. Accordingly he had a golden boat built, loaded it with one month's provisions for one & cast it adrift with his daughter. The boat carried an inscription that on board is no less than a princess. The boat was cast away onto the shores of Kirinda & the news was carried to the King Kavantissa, who reigned in Ruhuna. It was already prophesied, that if the king was ever to marry, it would only be a princess arriving over the seas.

The princess, named Queen Vihara Maha Devi, for her bravery, bore the king two sons who were to become heroes. The elder son King Dutugemunu (161 - 137BC) of Ruhuna became the greatest hero of Lanka by rescuing the nation from the marauding Dravidian invaders from south India. Viharamaha Devi herself is recognized as the heroine of our motherland.

Unawatuna Beach Resort - UBR

Unawatuna Beach Resort(UBR) is one of the loveliest beach resorts I ever being to. It is a very nice place to relax watching the sea. 

This time we booked luxury room and they did give us 5 star treatment. It has a huge bathroom with jacuzzi, sofa bed, hair dryer, bathrobes, lots of towels, slippers ... etc.

Our Luxury Room - Very spacious

Provided us two bathrobes and bathroom slippers

Safe for our valuables

Huge Jacuzzi which can accommodate two people 

Also I must say I'm intrigue with their buffet. They so many selections for locals and also foreigners. I don't whether that happens because that day there was lot of local. But anyway I'm so impressed with the food.

The restaurant got nice sculptures  

Resturant

They use food to decorate the resturant

There was a boat in the middle of the restaurant. How lovely.

Food for appetite 

More food

They prepare fruits on request

Yum Yum

Look delicious

So sweet

Nice food art

Even foreigners love the place 

I love food craft

 Finally the evening at UBR

Bandarawela Hotel

On our trip to Bandarawela, we stayed at Banadarawela hotel which you can see in this image.

It situated in the middle bandarawela town and you can't miss it by any chance.


Bandarawela Hotel built in 1873, has been well maintained (rooms are clean and I give 5 star for that but I think they didn't maintain the garden well) yet not modernized, retaining the original architecture and interior decoration.(Actually when we arrive there we were extremely surprised with the interior. They gt huge tall bed which we hardly climb up. They gt there wash basin in the room. Entree to the balcony in the bathroom. Huge bath tub, but we didn't use it because we thought it's a waste of water.)

Bandarwela Hotel is belongs to the Aitken Spence Group of Companies in Sri Lanka.

You can definitely have some kind of a unique experience there.

Tips: 

• Room are cold when the whether outside is cold (They may be give heaters but we didn't ask, so we can't confirm that.)

• Sound from the mosque could be a disturbance, better ask for an upstairs room. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Adisham Bungalow - Haputale

Due to my recent trip to Bandarawela, I thought to publish some posts regarding my trip. My first post is about Adisham Bungalow also called as St. Benedicts monastery. We visited there on our way home.

To go to the bungalow is very easy, you just have to pass huputale town and railway station and then you can see the directions clearly on the boards. Road to Adisham bungalow is good but big buses can go only half way of the road also other vehicles have to drive safely  because two vehicle and barely pass.disham

NOTES WE GOT FROM THE GATE:

Adisham is a stately stone mansion build in 1931 by Sir Thomas Lister Villiers, an English planter. Beautifully situated, in tranquil surrounding, Adisham is certainly a "must see" for those holiday makers and chance visitors, who haunt the hills from time to time in search of a peaceful resort, from the madding crowds and the heat of the city.
The Sturdy rock like fortress, fortress, surrounding by undulating hills, far as the eye can see, contains many items that normal visitors are unfamiliar with, which accounts for the large number of guests who seek admissions whenever the gates are open.
Carefully cultivated flower garden, Burma teak shingles that cover the roof, antique furniture and a well planted - out construction are few of the attractions that Adisham offers to sight seers.
The mansion was purchased by the Sylvestro Benedictine monks in 1961 to serve their novitiate, where those who seek to enter the monastic life are trained.
Maintenance of the monastery and those who reside here has to be met funds that are earned by the monks themselves. Hence the jam products and the produce from the farm.


Tips:

• We can access only a limited area (exactly 3 rooms), so you can get the idea about interior of the building.
• You have to remove your shoes before you enter the monastry.
• You are not allowed to take photos or video inside the monastry.
• Don't forget to visit Thangamale sanctuary near by.

Ape Gama - Baththaramulla

I guess lot of Colombo residence already visited "Ape gama" in baththaramulla. Even though I wanted to write about it in my blog because one thing I visited there only last week and the other thing is I want educate those who haven't visited there.

"Ape gama" is actually a village where we can get a better idea about our history. The things till recently people lived in villages same way that demonstrated in "Ape gama". But nowadays even village people forgot our srilankan living style.

Tips: You should eat Komala Wata Kavum 

          You should watch dancing and singing in the performance centre

         Restaurant provide average taste food. (I won't highly recommend it. Anyway it's better than anything)

          No buffet on weekdays.

Facts: (These are unofficial facts)

            All the dancing and performance done by sahan ranwala dancing Academy. (I say they performance extremely well.)

            Restaurant run by Berjaya Hotel Colombo - Mount Lavinia

Website: http://www.apegama.com/home.php

Here are some Photos I took from there:

Kopi kade

Person who came to the kopi kade (statue)

Maha Gamaya (real village headman is this person)

Cart

Making komalawata kavum (Very tasty)

Walawwa

Maha Gamaya (Statue)

Person who came to visit maha gamaya (Statue)

Mammala

Mayinahama

Devalaya

Devalaya

Craft workshop

Craft Workshop

kammala

Redi nanda

Gama Gedara / Gama Rala

Weda Gedara

Weda Gedara

Veda Gedara Cart

Govi gedara

Pinthaliya