Sri Lanka - Culture, Scenery, People

Nuwara Eliya

Some images of culture, scenery and people enjoyed during our recent trip to Sri Lanka, following back-to-back our trip to India (see post following). This shot was taken early in the morning as we descended the hill town of Nuwara Eliya to the lowlands.

Horton Plains

Horton Plains National Park in the central highlands of Sri Lanka was an interesting mix of moist forest and native grassland.

Tooth Temple

The Tooth Temple in Kandy is one of Sri Lanka's main tourist sites.

Tooth Temple drummers

Several times a day in the temple, a traditional ceremony is held featuring some fine drumming.

Kandy

In Kandy's Botanic Gardens L-R - Ketil, Chandima, Bente, Glenn

Nuwara Eliya

Tending the veges opposite our hotel.

Nuwara Eliya

A mother helped by her young son as she does the daily washing.

Yala National Park

We had a full day's safari in Yala National Park. This is an image from the coast in the park.

Yala National Park

We rushed our picnic lunch in Yala as a rain squall approached, raining out the rest of the day.

Rock Python

A huge rock python was seen in Yala, its head disappearing down a burrow.

Tea factory

We visited a tea factory near Kandy. 

Galle

Galle

The historic fort at Galle on the southern coast is another key Sri Lankan cultural site.

We had two nights near Galle at the delightful Bay Beach Hotel.

Tea pickers

Tea plantations were widespread. These tea pickers were at Sinharaja.

Sinharaja

Sinharaja World Heritage Area was our most important birding site. This is the view across the valley from our hotel.

Sinharaja

In the forest at Sinharaja. L-R - Chandima, Greg, Ketil

Kithulgala

Locals enjoying a boisterous day out in the water at Kithulgala.

Kithulgala

This is the site of the bridge near Kithulgala in the famous old movie, Bridge Over River Kwai.

Gomez Hotel, Negombo

We had a few restful days at the end of the trip in a hotel in Negombo, north of Colombo.

Fish drying in the sun, Negombo

Negombo Beach