JAN 23 KANDY IN LUXURY

TRAVEL IN LUXURY
We awake to the sound of birds at our Eco lodge set in the forest on the edge of Kandy. We have breakfast and share stories with a young French couple staying at the Eco lodge. The six of us arrange to hire a van and driver for the day. Our goal is to visit three sites in and around Kandy. To our surprise the driver arrives in a spanking new Hiace van. It is the most luxurious accomodation we have driven in to date. Transportation is the one real bargain in Sri Lanka. Cost to hire a driver and van for the entire day works out to $25 Canadian per couple.

OUR ECOLODGE

PINNAWALA ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
Our first stop is the Pinnawala elephant sanctuary 40 kilometres west of Kandy. We drive through winding scenic hills descending 700 meters. The sanctuary was originally created to rehabilitate elephants injured or diseased as a result of the 30 year civil war. Many elephants have been rehabilitated and released and most of those remaining are not able to be released back into the wild. The orphanage is a major tourist attraction swarming with local and international visitors on this full moon holiday. There are lines of shops selling all kinds of elephant paraphernalia. We watch a homecoming celebration of a couple returning from their honeymoon. We see paper being made from elephant dung. In spite of it all it is fun to see the elephants hanging out in the river. After a couple of hours bathing they proceed through the main entrance to the fields across the way to feed.

HOMECOMING CELEBRATION

ELEPHANTS BATHING IN THE RIVER

FEEDING TIME

GADALADENIYA RAJA MAHA VIHARA TEMPLE
We stop for a traditional Sri Lankan lunch overlooking the ravines and surrounding hills. Our driver takes us to an old temple off the beaten path. It is not on our itinerary but turns out to be one of the most interesting places we visit. It was built by a King and is dated back to 1344 and thought to be of South Indian design. The main shrine has a seated Buddha statue with 4 standing Buddha images surrounding. Next to the main shrine is a fascinating stupa carved into the rock. The main stupa is a devali shrine dedicated to Vishnu and there are 4 satellite stupas carved out of the rock on each side around the main stupa to honour the mythical palace of the god Indra. The walls contain surprisingly intact remnants of the paintings that once adorned them.

MANI RECEIVING BLESSINGS

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
We spend a couple of hours exploring the 60 hectare botanical gardens dating back to 1371 and for many centuries the exclusive gardens of royalty. One could spend a day here exploring the orchid, fern, palm, cactus, bamboo, flowering trees and other areas of the site. The park is alive with families enjoying the day. It is as much fun people watching as checking out the exotic plants.

THE MANI ORCHID

PEOPLE WATCHING

TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH
Our last stop is one of the most important shrines in Sri Lanka. It is said the tooth of Buddha was snatched from the flames of his funeral pyre in 453 BC and smuggled to Sri Lanka in the hair of a princess. It was believed that whoever had custody of the tooth had the right to rule. The tooth is said to have come into the possession of the Kandy royalty in the 16 and 17th centuries and the temple was built as part of the Royal Palace. We shed our shoes at the gate and join the throngs of worshippers. Sri Lankan Buddhists believe that they must make at least one pilgrimage here during their lifetime to improve their karma. We read plaques outlining the turbulent history of the tooth. We are lead onto the room where a replica of the tooth is supposed to reside. We do not actually see even the replica and the original tooth is so valuable it is supposed to be hid somewhere unknown for safekeeping.

VIEW OF TEMPLE AND KANDY LAKE

DEVOTION

THE SANCTUARY OF THE TOOTH

YOUTH RALLY

Our driver patiently waits for us to move through the temple grounds and then drops us off at home as dark descends. We head down the road for dinner and return to the quiet of our rooms. It's been a full day.