15-Day Sri Lanka Adventure: Local Travel Diary

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15-Day Sri Lanka Adventure: Local Travel Diary

Source: https://x.com/vasishtanagalla/status/1997947278125121642

Trip Overview

  • Destinations: Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, Pinnawala, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Mirissa, Galle, Unawatuna, Colombo.
  • Duration: 15 Days.
  • Travel Style: "Hard-core travel" focused on experiencing the island like a local.
  • Transportation: Mix of cars, local buses, scenic trains, and tuk-tuks.
  • Theme: Heritage sites, hiking, hill stations, and beaches.

Itinerary & Timeline

Day 1: Arrival & Sigiriya

  • Arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) from Chennai.
  • Drive to Sigiriya (approx. 4-5 hours).
  • Stay: Homestay located 250m from the fort.
  • Food: Dinner at "Kenoli restaurant" (highly recommended for Ceylon food).

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9 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 2: The Lion Rock Fortress

  • Morning: Hired a tuk-tuk to Sigiriya Fortress (UNESCO site).
  • Activity: Climbed 1200+ steps (850 to Lion's Paw + 350 steep iron steps to summit).
  • Highlights: Ravana Fort, Museum, summit views, and cave paintings on the way down.

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11 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 3: Dambulla to Kandy

  • Taxi from Dambulla to Kandy.
  • Stop: Dambulla Cave Temple (Ancient Buddha temple, 364 steep steps, Golden Buddha).
  • Arrived in Kandy around 2 PM.
  • Evening: Visited the "Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic" (UNESCO site). Witnessed the inner sanctum prayers.

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16 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 4: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

  • Travel: Bus from Kandy to Karandupana, connecting bus to Pinnawala.
  • Activity: Watched elephants bathing. Shopping at local shops (bargaining recommended).
  • Return to Kandy by 5 PM.

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6 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 5: Bus to Nuwara Eliya

  • Travel: Scenic bus ride from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (highly recommended over train for this specific leg).
  • Afternoon: Visited Sita Amma Temple, Hakgala Garden, Sita Agni Pariksha site.

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Day 6: Exploring Nuwara Eliya

  • Start at 9 AM via tuk-tuk.
  • Sights: Gregory Lake, Post Office, Local market, Bhakta Hanuman Temple, Waterfalls.
  • Experience: 3 tea factory tours with leaf plucking.
  • Dinner: South Indian food at Ambaals.

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8 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 7: The Golden Route (Train to Ella)

  • Travel: Train from Nanu Oya to Ella (4 hours).
  • Experience: Magical journey, packed train but stunning landscapes.
  • Arrived in Ella, 400m uphill walk to homestay.

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11 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 8: Exploring Ella

  • Sights: 9 Arches Bridge, Dowa Rock Temple, Ravana Cave (steep trek), Ravana Waterfalls, Secret Waterfalls.
  • Spent evening in Ella city center (restaurants, pubs, souvenir shops).

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14 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 9: Coast Bound (To Mirissa)

  • Travel: Bus to Matara (scenic coastal road via Hambantota), then bus to Mirissa.
  • Stay: Homestay near Mirissa highlights.
  • Activities: Coconut Tree Hill point, Turtle Beach, swimming.

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8 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 10: Mirissa Exploration

  • Morning: Parrot Island (accessible by walking into the sea from the beach).
  • Beach time at Mirissa beach.

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Day 11: To Galle Fort

  • Travel: Bus to Galle (2 hours).
  • Stay: Cara Galle Fort (located inside the fort).
  • Activity: Explored the Fort town, European architecture turned into hotels/churches.

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16 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 12: Unawatuna Day Trip

  • Travel: Tuk-tuk to Unawatuna, Bus back.
  • Activity: Beach day (wavy but good for dips).

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Day 13: Back to Colombo

  • Travel: AC Bus to Colombo (3.5 hours).
  • Stay: Renuka City Hotel (3-star).
  • Sights: Gangaramaya Temple, Seema Malaka Temple, local mall.

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6 images • Swipe or use arrows to navigate

Day 14: Colombo City

  • Sights: Galle Face Green, Promenade, One Galle Mall, Dutch Hospital, Clock Tower, World Trade Center, Port City Mall.

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Day 15: Departure

  • Last-minute shopping at Laksala & Galle Mall.
  • Indian food for lunch.
  • Cab to airport (1 hour 10 mins).

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Route Map:

Recommendations

Places to Visit

  • Sigiriya: Lion Rock Fortress (UNESCO) & Pidurangala views.
  • Kandy: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
  • Dambulla: Cave Temple (Sleeping Buddha).
  • Nuwara Eliya: Tea factories, Gregory Lake, waterfalls.
  • Ella: 9 Arches Bridge, Ravana Cave/Falls, Dowa Rock Temple.
  • Mirissa: Parrot Island (walkable through the sea).
  • Galle: Galle Fort (Explorers paradise).

Food & Restaurants

  • Kenoli Restaurant (Sigiriya): "Best Ceylon food."
  • Ambaals (Nuwara Eliya): South Indian cuisine (try the tiffins or Butter Naan with Paneer Tikka).
  • Anand Bhavan (Colombo): Good lunch spot behind Renuka Hotel.
  • A2B & Thalapakatti (Colombo): For Indian food options.

Stay / Hotels

  • Sigiriya: Homestay near the fort (unnamed, but 250m away).
  • Kandy: Homestay (unnamed).
  • Ella: Cottage in the hills (400m uphill).
  • Galle: Cara Galle Fort (Located inside the fort, great service).
  • Colombo: Renuka City Hotel (3-star, central location).

Transport Tips

  • Inter-city: Use the local buses for scenic routes (especially Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and the coastal road to Matara).
  • Train: The train from Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya) to Ella is the "Golden Route" – a must-do.
  • Local: Use Tuk-tuks for short distances within towns.

Costs & Budget

  • Flights: Approx Rs. 28k (up & down for two people) + 10% Atlas miles.
  • Transport Examples:
    • Tuk-tuk Galle to Unawatuna: INR 160.
    • Cab Colombo to Airport (35km): LKR 3300 (~INR 965).

Tips, Do's & Don'ts

  • Hikes: Sigiriya is a leg workout (1200 steps). Be prepared for steep climbs at Dambulla (364 steps) and Ravana Caves as well.
  • Shopping: Bargain hard at Pinnawala shops. For fixed price souvenirs, visit Laksala in Colombo.
  • Timing:
    • Visit Galle Fort streets between 5pm - 7pm for the liveliest atmosphere.
    • Colombo pollution was noted (AQI 159), so other parts of the island feel much fresher.
  • Transport: Skip the train to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy; take the bus for better views. Take the train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.

Original Quotes

"This is a hard-core travel oriented trip done like a local on cars, busses, trains and hikes!"

"Skip the train & take the bus from Kandy. I can assure you, you will be stunned by the hill journey!"

"#SriLanka is best enjoyed in a bus!"

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