Tuesday, April 30, 2013

On the Colombo -Chilaw road, Sri Lanka.

Paddy field after ploughing - the egrets are picking up the earthworms.

Sale of King-coconuts for the weary traveller.


A bridge spanning the river before entering Chilaw.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Day and night at Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A shoe flower in bloom.

The half-moon at night.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

'Bo-path Ella' (waterfall), Kuruwita, Sri Lanka.

The approach road.

The waterfall.

Bathers.

Climbing closer to the waterfall.

The pool for bathing below the waterfall.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Ruins at Panduwas Nuwara, Sri Lanka, 3rd Century BC.




These ruins date back to the 3rd century BC. Large buildings made of baked bricks are the hall-mark here. Granite pillars and stairways are there to see.

Friday, April 26, 2013

The ancient ruins at Panduwasnuwara, Sri Lanka.

This was once a Capital of Sri Lanka.


The bund of the tank surrounding a central tower with roots of the banyan trees hanging down.


The foundation of the central tower.
King Panduwasdewa the younger brother of King Vijaya, ascended the throne of Panduwasnuwara after King Vijaya's demise. King Panduwasdewa had seven sons and a daughter. The daughter was exceedingly beautiful. An astrologer had predicted that the daughter, who was named Unmaada Chitra, would bear a son who in his adulthood, would ascend the throne of Panduwasnuwara. The brothers of Unmada Chitra were furious at this prediction. They built a tall tower in the centre of a water reservoir and imprisoned Unmaada Chitra in the tower when she came of age and set guards on the place. A youngster by the name of Diga Gamini fell in love with Unmaada Chitra. He reached the tower at night by stealthily swinging from the long aerial roots of the banyan trees growing on the bund of the reservoir. He made love to the princes and before long the princess was expecting a child. The uncles of Unmaada Chitra were furious on finding this out. They put more guards and gave orders that if a son was born to Unmaada Chitra, that the infant should be put to death immediately. At the time of birth a new-born  female infant of a servant was substituted for the infant Prince and the infant Prince was spirited out. The young female infant was spared as it meant no threat to its uncles.The infant Prince was brought up by a householder without the knowledge of his uncles. After various adventures the Prince Pandukkabaya, fought for the Kingdom and won it back. He built theprosperous capital of Panduwas Nuwara, the ruins of which are still there. This happened around 400BC.
The photographs show some of the ruins of Panduwas Nuwara.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Volkswagen Rally 2013, April, Driving home.

View from Ayer's Bungalow.


A house among coconut trees, Bope, Sri Lanka.

The road to Thummodera from Bope.

A village scene near Thummodera.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Scenes from Ayer's bungalow, Bope, Sri Lanka.

Mosquito curtain in a four-poster bed.

An upstairs veranda.

Balustrades made of granite.

The stone walls of the veranda upstairs with a 'bubulu lampuwa' hanging from the ceiling.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Ayer's Estate Holiday Bungalow, Bope, Sri Lanka.





The story goes that this bungalow on a hillock was designed and built by a planter in the 1920s to welcome his newly-wed bride. The company which owned the estate found this extravagant and fired the plantar. The building is made of granite with timber used as floor on the upstairs. It is a beautiful building.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Views at Ayer's Estate Bungalow, Bope, Sri Lanka.




Ayer's Estate has a large tea and rubber plantation. It ha a large two-storey bungalow built out of granite and stands on a hillock surveying the surrounding country-side. It is now run as a holiday bungalow. I was told it offers a package for a group of 15 at Rs.21,000/-. No meals are included in this price.  

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Ayer's Estate, Bope, Sri Lanka.

Driving through the rubber plantation.

View from Ayer's Holiday bungalow.

Climbing the steps of Ayer's Bungalow.


The surrounding hills.
The drive from Colombo was on  the High Level road, past Maharagama, Homagame to Meepe. A turn to the right till you came to Bope junction. A turn to the left on the road to Thummodara and another turn to the left and a climb to the Ayer's estate Bungalow.