DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE-SRI LANKA

DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE

SRI LANKA

        The best way to see Sri Lanka is to orgnanize a private car tour. On this occasion we stayed at Sigiriya (Elephant Rock) at

Aliya Resort & Spa

SIGIRIYA

Dambulla cave is located 148 km  from Colombo and 72 km from Kandy and is pretty much in the center of the island.

There are esssentially five caves set into a massive rock 160 meters high.The caaaaaaves date back to 154 BC and continued to be developed for over a 1,00 years. There is an entrance fee and you are required to wear a sarong over shorts.

Each cave is different with many Buddha statues seated, standing amd lying.

THE ORUWA FISHING BOAT OF THE SINHALESE FISHERMEN

THE ORUWA

SRI LANKAN FISHING BOAT

The Oruwa is the traditional sailing fishing boat used by the Sinhalese fisherman on the western and southen coast of Sri Lanka. They have a square sail tied at the top  and held in place by a bamboo pole. The look magnificant on the water of the beach.

The Secret Ella

THE SECRET ELLA

ELLA 

SRI LANKA

A BOUTIQUE HOTEL ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN

Ella is a small village in the mountains in central Sri Lanka with some very beautiful scenery at 1000 metres and many tea plantations and is a popular tourist area. There is a wide range of accommodation in Ella  ranging from peoples homes to substantial hotels and we stayed at one of the larger , a boutique hotel set amid tea plantations called 

The Secret Ella

Our room was one of four large rooms in the old Tea Plantation Manager's home and quite something with our own Butler and a small restaurants for the guests in the four rooms. Down the road at the major hotel was another restaurant as well as a swimming pool. The hotel provided a shuttle service on request although it was a pleasant walk. below the hotel was a local train track and an old bridge worth visiting. The town of Ella was a typical small village with a few restaurants and an interesting old train station. The scenery around Ella  was quite spectacular

The room

The Courtyard

The View

at

THE SECRET ELLA

LION ROCK SIGIRIYA SRI LANAKA

LION ROCK
or
Citadel of Sigiriya

SIGIRIYA SRI LANKA

LION ROCK IN THE DISTANCE FROM THE INFINITY POOL AT

ALIYA RESORT AND SPA

SIGIRIYA

The Hotel

The hotel was a few kilometres from the Lion Rock as most hotels were away from the rock itself. This was an excellent hotel with modern apartments, an excellent restaurant and great pool and grounds.The infinity pool was very large and excellent. The hotel also provided a typical 'local' Sri Lankan meal in an outside hut which was worth the experience to sample local village food.

Aliya Resort & Spa

The Rock

The Rock was a strenuous climb in humid warm weather but the view from the top is magnificent as was the remains of the old fort on the top.The stairs up were not to Australian standards but seem to have withstood many visits over time.