Janet's Journal

This was to be the first of several tours with Tharindu as my driver/guide.

We left Kandy for a leisurely drive back to Diyatalawa stopping at Ramboda Falls viewpoint, Lake Gregory and the Sriramajayam Kovil in Nuwara Eliya

We set off the next morning at 4.30 to see the spectacular sun rise at Horton Plains before going into the National Park.

Frost covered ground made for a chilly start to the seven kilometre walk taking in Baker’s Falls and World’s End, it wasn’t long before the sun broke through and then I was too hot

With no chance to relax we set off the following morning for Ella and a day of walking and climbing. First was Little Adam’s Peak, the climb rewarding with stunning views of Ella Rock from the top. Ravenna Falls had hardly any water – but plenty of monkeys.

Next was a climb to the entrance of the Ravenna Ella Prehistoric Cave, one of the sites where King Ravenna is alleged to have hidden Sita.

The final climb was at Demodera down to the Nine Arch Bridge and a walk along the railway track.

Saying farewell to the hill country we headed west for Wadduwa, stopping at the viewpoint in Haputale, then on to Bambarakanda Falls. At 263 metres these are the tallest in Sri Lanka dropping from the heights of Horton Plains.

A visit to a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda made a pleasant change from hill climbing. We were also able to visit The Puppet Museum in Balapitiya, four generations of the same family have been puppeteers here putting on shows telling the old traditional stories.

I couldn’t resist buying a Maha Sona Rukadda puppet. I would worry how to get it home in one piece later.

Once again, I went back to Negombo for a couple of nights before returning to England.