Meeting the Medicine Man

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.

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.

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.

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 the water. What amazed me is how the elephants responded to the words of their trainer... they have a special language they speak to the elephants (45 words). Whatever it is, it was amazing to see the elephants scatter from the pack, and then with the yell of the trainer they returned back to the pack.

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

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 bought 6 jumbo-sized pinapples for 200 rupees (that's $2 US). I also was educated that to grow pinapples means that you are also creating a breeding ground for some very deadly snakes, and the owners of the houses on these plantations need to check their beds before sleeping.

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 pharmacy where you can purchase some magic potions. Even love potion #9.