Nuwara Eliya Gardens, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.

Right in the heart of Nuwara Eliya, these gardens were laid out during British Colonial times.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_aGjr-F4vY

Roses at the Nuwara Eliya Gardens, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYp1cwzWkg8

Dahlias at the Nuwara Eliya Gardens, Sri Lanka

All from one flower bed in the Nuwara Eliya Gardens
Slides on video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4J38bue7_g

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.

The Post-Office, Nuwara Eliya.

A tree in the park, Nuwara Eliya.

A visit to Nuwara Eliya in the central highlands of Sri Lanka during April or August is thrilling experience The natural beauty of the place and the bracing cold climate is spectacular.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHUFQAi-adQ

Temple at Seetha Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.

Entrance to the Seetha Eliya temple.

Paintings of the legend of Seethadevi

The stream flowing by the side of the temple.

The 'Hakgala' (Jaw shaped stone) hill as seen from the temple.

Legends are related of 'Hakgala' being the site of the palace of Ravana the mythical king of Sri Lanka. The stream and the temple near the stream are claimed to be the site where 'Sitha' the wife of Rama was held captive.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xduWRU33izE

Hakgala Botanical Gardens, Nuwara Ekiya, Sri Lanka.

Near the ticket counter.

Entrance driveway.

Pavement hawkers opposite the entrance.

Ticket counter - Rs.100/- for Sri Lanka Identity Card Holders, others Rs.1100/-

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxkFED3SXcw

We DID NOT enter the Hakgala Gardens as the entry fee for non Sri Lankan Identity Card holders was Rs.1100/- each. A Sri Lankan bystander told us to see the Nuwara Eliya Gardens where the show was better and cheaper - Rs.300/- for foreigners. No ID card was needed to prove that you were a Sri Lankan.

'Thangamalai Sanctuary' Haputhale, Sri Lanka.

The footpath

Adisham Bungalow

Monkey family

Video;-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPjWiC29hVg


Please click on the following web-links also:-


http://imagessrilanka.blogspot.com/2010/12/adisham-haputhale-sri-lanka.html

http://imagessrilanka.blogspot.com/2010/12/adisham-sri-lanka.html

Tea-pluckers, Haputhale, Sri Lanka.

The plucked 'leaves and bud' from a tea plant.

The Haputhale valley below with cultivated tea bushes.

Gathering the plucked leaves.

Weighing the plucked leaves.

Tea was the main foreign exchange earner of Sri Lanka till recent times. The tea-pluckers form the backbone of the tea industry. These pictures show a point where the plucked green leaves are weighed.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k_EP2NUtAQ

'Surathalee' waterfalls, Badulla Highway, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbztH4a89NU

The beautiful 'Surathalee' S - 'female beloved' - waterfalls lies a bit off the Colombo Badulla highway, past Belihul Oya. It is not visible from the road but one can hear its roar. A walk of 75 meters on a footpath brings it in sight. You can asses the size of the waterfall by the couple bathing in a pool in the rock in the centre of the picture in the middle. 

Waterfall on the Colombo - Badulla highway, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DClJQu9iSFs

This waterfall is visible from the Colombo - Badulla highway at the 147/10 culvert. This is 147 Km from Colombo after passing the Belihuloya Rest House. A short slippery walk after descending a stairway from the highway leads to it. This walk is not for the faint hear-ted.

The 'Belihuloya' stream, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXOTgHMavRU

The 'Belihuloya' is a stream which passes close to the Belihuloya Rest House, on the Colombo - Badulla highway. It carries clear water originating from the Horton Plains above and its water is icy-cold. On rainy days it can become a roaring muddy torrent. It is strewed with rocks and boulders and has many pools where one could bathe. However having a bath among the boulders can have its dangers where treacherous currents can drag one down.

'Saman Dewale', Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Elephant on the Kelany Ganga, Karawanella, Sri Lanka.

The Kelany Ganga at Karawanella. You can see Adam's Peak in the distance. A domesticated elephant is being bathed by its Mahout.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tViCSo6ys_g

'Bopath Ella', Kuruwita, Sri Lanka.

Shaped like the leaf from a 'Bo tree' - Ficus reliogosa - this waterfall draws numerous visitors year round. Its upper reaches can be very slippery and have caused many fatalities.


Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U04to8fv-U

Kelany Valley train, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HKjbewFEJY

The narrow gauge train called the 'Kelany Valley Line' ran from Colombo to Opanayake. With time it was curtailed to Rathnapura and later to Avissawella only. The line was slow and running at a loss unlike the early days of absence of good road transport. The narrow gauge was converted to the standard broad gauge and now runs at a profit. There is a lot of talk about straightening the curves and making it run faster. At present one gets a good shake while travelling in it. The old label on bottles of medicine - 'To be shaken before you are taken' - holds true on this journey.

Crowds at Wesak 2012, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Everyone is on the road on the Wesak night. Pictures show a 'Dansala' and pedestrians.

'Aluth Nuwara Dewale', Mawanella, Sri Lanka.

Going past the town of Mawanella on the A1 - Colombo Kandy highway - one reaches the turn off to Aluthnuwara Dewale. In the old days this was the place for travellers to stop and drop a few coins - 'padura' S, 'kaanikkai' T - wishing for a trouble free journey in a wayside temple. It still draws a few travellers. It must have been a busy spot. This old dilapidated building more than a hundred years old must have had its hey-day. You can see the cracked mud and bamboo walls. The old type 'Sinhala tiles on the building are still servicable. Alas its days are numbered.

Drive through the Peradeniya University Campus, Sri Lanka.

Driving from Ramanathan Hall to the A1 junction at Peradeniya.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_annotate?v=qoH8OWP6WDM

Southern Expressway Guide, Sri Lanka.

Southern Expressway - Kottawa to Mathara - Sri Lanka:-
http://203.115.0.35/uwc/webmail/attach/Guide-to-Southern-expressway.pdf?sid=&mbox=INBOX&uid=17996&number=4&filename=Guide-to-Southern-expressway.pdf

'Dalada Maligawa', Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The 'Dewa Sannhidhana' - courtyard in front of the 'Dalada Maligawa', with a temporary tent put in place for a State function for Wesak day celebrations. The 'Paththiruppuwa' is behind the tent.

The entrance gate to the 'Dalada Maligawa'

A view from the 'Paththiruppuwa' - the premises of the 'Natha Dewala'

The moat in front of the 'Dalada Maligawa'

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_annotate?v=r7ZGg1xtPIU

Kandy town, Sri Lanka post-Wesak, 2012.

Queens Hotel

Old Walkers

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_annotate?v=3o4r-3ZfxhA

Biscuits and fruit drinks 'Dansala', Kudagama Road, Avissawella.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itqSmI6vCfM

Wesak decorations, 'Peoples Leasing', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRSzMr2_tLI