Dawson’s Tower – accolade for exemplary service By Arundathie Abeysinghe Anyone traveling from Colombo to Kandy on Colombo-Kandy Road has to travel through many bends, some of them hairpin bends and sharp gradients when traveling up the Kadugannawa Pass to reach Kandy. At the last and sharpest bend, the road forks and one road goes through a rock tunnel and the other road goes above the tunnel. Before approaching Kadugannawa town, there is a tall while column to the right of the cliff which many consider as a war memorial. This enormous obelisk is a tribute to Captain William Francis Dawson, an imminent engineer of the Royal Engineers during the British Colonial Era who planned the construction of Colombo-Kandy Road under the direction of British Governor Edward Barnes (1824 – 1831). This huge white color obelisk similar to a lighthouse is 38 meters above the road and is a ...
Arundathie Abeysinghe
White Water Rafting in Kitulgala – adventure capital of Sri Lanka By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated about 85 kilometers from Colombo on A7 Road to Nuwara Eliya via Avissawella, among verdant mountains, lush green forests, *Kitulgala is a small town famous due to the academy award-winning film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ directed by David Lean and filmed on the *Kelani River. Popular as the ‘adventure capital of Sri Lanka’ among local and foreign tourists and located adjacent to a serene stretch of Kelani River amid two rocky outcrops, Kitulgala is situated away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Boulder strewn stretch of Kelani River at Kitulgala is an ideal venue for White Water Rafting, an adrenaline filled adventure sport popular among local and foreign tourists, an activity suitable for experts as well as novices. Rafters can enjoy breathtaking vistas of Kelani River and adjoining hamlet ...
Nov 30, 2020
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Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Kelani River, kitul palm, Kitulgala
Spectacular Kandy Lake – centerpiece of Kandy City By Arundathie Abeysinghe Iconic Kandy Lake enhances the beauty of Kandy City with glistening waters during the day and illuminated waters with reflections of colorful lights of nearby buildings at night…Abundant with avifauna, schools of fish swimming near the surface of the Lake… Many species of aquatic life near the shores… Trees providing a shady atmosphere to the shores of the Lake, some with colorful flowers dotted with different species of birds perched on branches… Kandy Lake is the centerpiece and greatest attraction in Kandy City, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital… Kandy Lake is considered as the heart and soul of Kandy City, an iconic and spectacular landmark because of its central location and the splendor it adds to the City. Kandy Lake and the island in its center with a few trees including palm trees have been featured in many picture ...
Nov 28, 2020
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Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Bogambara Wewa, Kachcheri, Kiri Muhuda, Malwatte Temple, Malwattte Viharaya, octagon, Paththitipuwa, Sir John D’Oyley, Siyam Nikaya, Theravada Buddhism, Tigolwela, walakulu bemma
Ella Rock – hike through highland hamlets By Arundathie Abeysinghe A jagged peak with an abrupt drop… Spectacular views of Ella Gap and epic vistas of the valley below… Paths through a railway line and bridges… Hike through vegetable plots… Views of trains on the up country line from the summit of the Rock … Situated about five kilometers from Ella town, this dramatic peak is a popular excursion among local and foreign tourists. Optically interesting Ella Rock is a gorgeous cliff face rising high above Ella. The hike to Ella Rock is approximately a 10 kilometer round trip through mesmerizing woodlands, rubber plantations and verdant tea plantations of Ella, a serene hamlet in Central Highlands. The trek to the Rock can be completed within five hours with one hour for relaxing and basking in the glory of the verdant vistas including photo sessions of spectacular panorama. According ...
Nov 23, 2020
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Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Badulla, Ella Rock, hike to Ella Rock, Kithalella Railway Station, Uva Province
Kadugannawa Pass and Rock Tunnel – gateway to hill country By Arundathie Abeysinghe Kadugannawa Pass and Rock Tunnel are important landmarks on Colombo – Kandy Road. Kadugannawa is considered as the gateway to UNESCO World Heritage Site Kandy as well as Central Highlands. Highest point of the climb of Colombo – Kandy Road is known as Kadugannawa Pass, a lookout point of the Kandyan Kingdom to monitor invading foreign forces in the 16th and 17th centuries from the lowlands of Sri Lanka. Kadugannawa had been an outpost of the Kandyan Kingdom and many battles have taken place in this historic town in the past. Known as Gala Vidapu Thena by locals (meaning the rock that was pierced in Sinhala), the Rock Tunnel had been a symbol of Colombo – Kandy road from time immemorial. Kadugannawa Pass is situated between Kandy Valley and *Kegalle Valley and for centuries this pass ...
Nov 21, 2020
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Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Alagalla Mountain Range, Gampola, Kadugannawa, Kelani River, Ma Oya, Ruwanwella, UNESCO
Spectacular Ella Gap with awe-inspiring vistas of environs By Arundathie Abeysinghe Overlooking a breathtaking gap in the Central Highlands… A scenic drop of 915 meters to the southern plains and the sea… A cleft in green hills popular among locals and foreigners for its amazing views… Misty weather and intense clouds enhance the gorgeous landscape hiding the view from the other end of the Central Highlands… Breathtaking Ella Gap popular as a “piece of heaven on Earth” is a space between the mountains situated in Ella, the beautiful hamlet of *Uva Province. With panoramic views of the Central Highlands, this breathtaking gap in the southern mountain wall renders a telescopic view of the Great Plains as far as the eye can see. According to foreign tourists, the heaven is conjured by the mesmerizing vistas of the marvelous panorama of Ella Gap. Considered as the best sweeping views of Sri ...
Nov 15, 2020
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Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Central Highlands, Spectacular Ella, Sri Lanka, Uva Province
Wales Park with majestic views of Kandy City By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated on a hillock in Kandy City above Kandy Lake among trees, shrubs and beautiful flower beds, Wales Park is a small park ideal for a leisurely stroll. The park covers approximately two hectares of land and is well-known for its walkways, well manicured garden paths, beautiful flower beds, woodland areas with shady trees, tree canopies, a relaxing atmosphere with a cool breeze as well as majestic views of Kandy City and Kandy Lake. Wales Park also known as The Royal Palace Park, Wace Park or Rajawasala Park (meaning park of the Royal Palace in Sinhala) is situated on a breathtaking location away from the hustle and bustle of Kandy City. The hillock where the park is situated was named as Castle Hill by British during the British Colonial Era as the hillock was the site of ...
Nov 13, 2020
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Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Arundathie, Kandy City, Kandy Lake, Wales Park
Kitulgala Beli Lena Cave – archaeological treasure trove By Arundathie Abeysinghe Home to a plethora of wildlife and breathtaking vistas, prehistoric Beli Lena Caves (cave of shells) are situated on a steep path on a hillside, located inside from a ledge that looks down over verdant rubber plantations at *Kitulgala Estate about 610 meters above sea level. This huge cave has been home to the prehistoric *‘Balangoda Man’ (Homo sapiens balangodensis) where 16,000 year old skeletal remains had been found. Beli Lena Caves reveal a significant landmark in human paleontology as they reveal remains of primitive man. These caves have also yielded other artifacts such as geometric microlithic stone tools as well as evidence of fire use belonging to around 30,000 BP. These artifacts are significant for Asia as these tools are considered to have first originated in Europe around 12,000 BP which prove that Sri Lankan ‘Balangoda Man’ has ...
Nov 8, 2020
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Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Balangoda Manawaya, Mr. P.E.P. Deraniyagala
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British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy – mine of information By Arundathie Abeysinghe British Garrison Cemetery also known as Kandy Garrison Cemetery is a British cemetery for British nationals who died in Sri Lanka during the British Colonial Era; dedicated administrators of the British Civil Service, pioneer coffee planters who toiled hard to commence coffee plantations, their wives and children who had lived with them sharing their duties in a foreign land. Situated a few hundred meters from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and a short walk uphill, the graveyard is visited by many foreign and local visitors daily. The Anglican graveyard renders memories of the British Colonial Era. Under sprawling trees with a carpet of grass, the cemetery has tombs of different sizes and shapes. Although, situated within Kandy Municipal limits, the graveyard is bucolic. The cemetery has 195 graves of men, women and children and the common ...
Nov 6, 2020
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Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, British Garrison Cemetery, Rt. Honorable William Henry Gregory
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Horton Plains – breathtaking highland plateau in the Central Hills-By Arundathie Abeysinghe Image Source : trawell Situated at 2535 meters, surrounded by breathtaking mountains and grassland, Horton Plains is a spectacular highland plateau which includes World’s End, the fabled viewpoint, a precipice with a 1050 meter drop with the highland reaching an abrupt end with dramatic and breathtaking views rendering a cinematic experience. The most popular sight at Horton Plains is the World’s End. There is a viewing deck at World’s End. There is also a Mini World’s End on the trail to World’s End. For a visitor traveling from Central Highlands to the south coast, the road through Horton Plains National Park is a magnificent route with variations of climate and stark contrasts of vegetation. Situated at the southern end of the Central Highlands about 32 kilometers from Nuwara Eliya and traditionally known as “Mahaeliya” (Great Open Plain) in Sinhala, ...
Nov 3, 2020
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Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe
Tagged Arundathie Abeysinghe, Bogawanthalawa Oya, Horton Plains, Totupola Kanda
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