Sri Lanka Grand Yatra

My colleague John, a Sri Lankan, now a Singaporean, proposed and planned a trip to go around Sri Lanka, revised the travel plan 8 times, and encouraged us to travel with him. As a Sri Lankan, he himself had also not been to some of these places or revisited the places for more than a quarter century.

I had not been to Sri Lanka. Although the idea sounded exciting, I hesitated because I had a little concern over security. It was not a normal tour whereby we simply planned to travel in a tour bus and visit a few famous tourist spots. Our itinerary included places which were battle fields in less than a year ago. But being curious about what Marco Polo called  “the most beautiful island in the world” really looks like, I decided to participate. Another friend of mine Tay decided to join immediately.

John called it a grand yatra because we planned to visit many and most sacred sites, like going on a Pada Yatra. Pada Yatra is a pilgrimage from Jaffna in the north to the holy Hindu Kovil in Kataragama in the south done on foot. It started at ancient times and it is still being done this way today.

So the Grand Yatra team had 3 team members. We visited more than 50 places, travelled about 1,500 Km in 10 days from 26 Aug to 4 Sep, 2010. We travelled in a Toyota Light Ace. The route we took is shown in the map below, basically in a clockwise direction, starting and ending at Katunayake Airport. Colombo was the last city we visited. We had our last meal in Sri Lanka in Flag & Whistle Restaurant, overlooking at Colombo Port.

Day-1: Katunayake Airport-Nittambuwa-Pinnawala-Rambukkana-Peradeniya-Kandy-Ramboda-Nuwara Eliya
Day-2: Nuwara Eliya-Ambawela-Horton Plains-Nuwara Eliya
Day-3: Nuwara ELiya- Kandapola-Hanguranketa-Kandy-Kurunegala-Kuliyapitiya-Udubeddawa
Day-4: Udubeddawa-Hettipola-Wariyapola-Padeniya-Anuradhapura-Habarana
Day-5: Habarana-Sigiriya-Minneriya-Polonnaruwa-Kalkudah Bay
Day-6: Kalkudah Bay-Passikudah Bay-Batticaloa-Kalmunai-Pottuvil-Arugam Bay
Day-7: Arugam Bay-Panama-Kumana-Moneragala-Maligawila-Buttala-Wellawaya-Ella-Bandarawela-Mahaulpotha
Day-8: Mahaulpotha-Bandarawela-Diyatalawa-Dambetenna-Haputale-Pelmadulla-Madampe-Deniyaya-Galle
Day-9: Galle-Ambalangoda-Aluthgama-Katukuranda-Kalutura-Mount Lavinia-Colombo
Day10: Colombo-Katunayake Airport

Although some activities we did were arduous, like walking 7 Km along the trekking trail in 3 hours in Horton Plains and climbing up the steel staircases to the top of Rock Fortress in Sigiriya, the rest were really enjoyable. We had a chance to stay over night in a coconut plantation, a tea plantation and a seaside bungalow near Passikudah Beach. Now I have to agree with Marco Polo that Sri Lanka is indeed the most beautiful island in the world.

What Marco Polo did not mention is that the Sri Lankan people are even more beautiful than the island itself. They are nice and friendly people. While we were there, they were always willing to help when we lost our way – 100% of the times. Wherever we went, we were frequently greeted with the warmest of smiles and the friendliest of hellos. I could feel that Sri Lankan people treasure their land, love their country, and feel proud of their own culture.

I really enjoyed the trip. Thank you! Sri Lanka! A Land Like No Other! A Surprise at the Turn of Every Bend of the Road!


Click on pages on the right-hand side to view pictures taken on each day during the Grand Yatra.