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Kandy Journals

Meeting the Medicine Man

A November 2000 trip to Kandy by OzGirl

                          Mahaweli Reach Photo - Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy, Sri Lanka More Photos
Quote: Kandy is located in the center of the island of Sri Lanka: a 3 hour drive from Colombo on 2 lane traffic filled roads. Occassionally, there is an elephant in the traffic.
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Meeting the Medicine Man Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Working Elephant Photo - Kandy, Sri Lanka
Quote:
The city is nestled a midst low hils, looped by Sri Lanka's largest river (Mahaweli) and is considered sacred ground by buddhists.

Kandy is renowned for its gems, cultural dancing, elephant orphanage, buddhist temples, rice paddocks, spice gardens and tea plantations.

Quick Tips:

There are many temples here. One of importance to the buddhists is the Dalada Maligawa "Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic" (that's where one of buddha's teeth can be found. Rituals are enacted here on a daily basis

Best Way To Get Around:

You can have your own driver or take a tour.
                          Mahaweli Reach Photo - Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Quote:
This hotel is a 5* hotel, where 4 acres are nestled snuggly on the backs of the Mahaweli River. The surroundings of your lodging are well-maintained tropical gardens which compliment the beauty of this establishment. Rooms are air conditioned, have piped music, telephone, TV and mini bar.

Facilities: pool, tennis court, massage, ping pong, squash, and river cruises. Excursions to sites in Kandy and surrounding areas can be arranged by the hotel.

Dining: There is a large dining area with an extraordinary international buffet (all you can eat)
Breakfast 425 rupees
Lunch 600 rupees
Dinner 800 rupees

I want to come back here.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 17, 2000

Mahaweli Reach Hotel
35 PBA Weerakoon
Kandy, Sri Lanka
(08) 232-062

Peradeniya Rest House Photo - Peradeniya Rest House, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Quote:
This is a rest stop with local flavor frequented by both locals and tourists alike. You will find good value for your money here. While we ate lunch, we were serinaded by a four person band playing music of Sri Lanka. The average cost of a meal was 230 rupees. One word of caution: a hamburger means a "HAM" burger not beef.



Rooms are also available here...but didn't check them out.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 17, 2000

Peradeniya Rest House
Galaha Road
Kandy, Sri Lanka
08 388299

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "When the elephants come marching in"

Climbing to the Jungle Photo - Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Pinnawala, Sri Lanka
Quote:
The Elephant Orphanage is run by the Department of National Zoological Gardens. Open 8:30am to 6 pm daily. Entrance fee is 150 Rupees. (A video camera will cost an extra 200 rupees). These elephants are rescued from the jungles of Sri Lanka (supposedly orphans or injured). The activities that you can enjoy are: -a milk feeding (9:15am, 1:15am & 5:00pm) -elephant bathing (10am, 12pm & 4pm) I watched the bathing process at 2pm... 55 elephants came marching down this dirt road through kiosks which sell local crafts. To experience the bathing we sat at a resturant along side the Mahaweli River, enjoyed a light meal as the elephants frollicked in t...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 17, 2000

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala, Sri Lanka

Kandyan Art Association and Cutural Centre Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Dances of Sri Lanka"

Dances Of Sri Lanka Photo - Kandyan Art Association and Cutural Centre, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Quote:
We entered an outdoor covered theater... at 7 pm the lights dimmed and the show began. The performance lasted an hour and a half displaying 12 traditional dances of Sri Lanka. The dances demonstrated some incredible acrobatics and beautiful costumes. The grand finale was an exhibition of fire walking.

Show time is now 5pm from Dec 1, 2000
Entry fee: 150 rupees

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 17, 2000

Kandyan Art Association and Cutural Centre
72 Sangaraja Mawatha
Kandy, Sri Lanka
(0)81 2223100

On the road again Best of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Pineapple Village Photo - Kandy, Sri Lanka
Quote:
Along the way to Kandy from Colombo there is a lot to see. You will pass through villages where they sell their produce on the roadside. One of the vivid images that will stick out in my mind is the girls of the Nut Village... dressed in brightly colored sarongs waving their wrists at the passing cars to try to get them to stop and buy their nuts. You also pass by many rice paddocks being worked by hand in 100 degree plus temperatures. If the paddock is owned by a wealthier person you may notice a cow helping in the process. On the return trip to Colombo, stop and pick up some pinapples in the Pinapple Village. Sri Lanka has the best tasting pinapples in the world. I boug...Read More
Quote:
Spice Garden "Ayubowan" Old Village Karandupana Kegalala Sri Lanka Phone: - 03-25298 The spice Garden is open daily 8am to 6pm. Dr. Prasad (an herbal doctor) took us on a tour of the spice garden. He explained what spices and herbs grow in Sri Lanka, how they grow and how they are extracted and used medicinally. I saw a real cocaine plant here. At the end of the tour you go into a hut and test many of the medicines. I tried the Ayurvedic therapy (edicine massage, I woke up the next morning feeling terrific! This treatment leads me to believe there are many medical secrets out there in the rainforest. Finally, at the end you are escorted to the herbal pha...Read More