Kandy in Sri Lanka is an Ideal Place for Travelling

Sri Lanka has a temperate climate due to the presence of seas around it. 

It receives adequate rainfall in October and November. So, tourists should avoid this time. The best time of the year to visit Sri Lanka is from December to March. Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean and subcontinent. We go to Sri Lanka from Bangkok. The country is tranquil and clean. I believe Sri Lanka is ahead in South Asia in terms of politeness and civility in the country's people's behavior. However, it has been in an economic crisis for the last few years. Such a beautiful country should be visited at least once.

Dhaka-Bangkok-Colombo and Dhaka-Kolkata-Chennai-Colombo. We depart for Hotel Palm Village in Uzfetakayabar after arriving at the airport. The hotel is close to the Colombo seaport and on the seafront next to the Galle Cricket Ground. Due to the geographical location of Sri Lanka, the climate is perfect. Its climate is temperate because of the sea around it. It receives adequate rainfall in October and November. So, tourists should avoid this time. Visa is mandatory for citizens of Bangladesh to visit the subcontinental island nation. It is better to go to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Dhaka and collect the visa in advance. Getting a visa at the Colombo airport is not guaranteed; depending on the time, the round trip per person will cost 35 to 40 thousand taka. You can also go through India if you want to reduce the cost. In this way, the cost is more or less 20 thousand taka. Good hotels are available everywhere in Sri Lanka for between 40 and 60 dollars. The cost of food and travel is affordable.

After arriving in Colombo, you can go anywhere in Sri Lanka by bus or train. Everyone will help you as tourism is the main business of this country. And if you want to ride a cab or a three-wheeler, use a metered vehicle. Earlier, there were fewer metered vehicles. Now, get many metered vehicles. By doing this, trouble can be avoided. You will find hotels at all prices. One more thing. It is better to get a local SIM card in Colombo. Because your mobile may have roaming, but it will cost a lot. Is it necessary to waste unnecessarily? Many SIM card booths will be seen before leaving the airport's arrival lounge. 

Sri Lanka is a fantastic island where you can feed turtles at Hikkaduwa Beach, walk through Ceylon Plantations, summit Little Adam and Ella Rock Peaks, catch waves at Mirissa Spot, and enjoy a train ride. The railway is the most convenient, cheap, and scenic option for traveling around the islandno traffic jams. There are terrible traffic jams from Kandy to Colombo at times; you can visit almost any city, but, most importantly, the views that can be seen during the trip. From the train's open windows, you can see the nature of the island, including mountains, forests, plants, beaches, and villages where you can observe the life of the locals.

You are coming to Colombo. Do not spend much time in the capital. The town does not reflect the charm of the island. Go directly to the station and buy the candy ticket. Drive for about three hours. This city, once the residence of kings, is located in the very center of the island and is its cultural and religious center. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a complex of museums and temples. The divine tooth is kept in a golden box. If you plan to travel in August, you can visit the Esala Perahera Sacred Tooth Festival. Walk around Kandy Lake. About one kilometer long, this artificial lake came into existence in the early 19th century on the orders of Sri Vikram Rajasingh, the last king of Kandy. The ruler's harem was on a small island in the middle of the lake. You will also see monasteries and royal baths. Geese, pelicans, and herons are found around the pond. Walk through the nature reserve to learn about Sri Lankan flora and fauna: 300-year-old vines, mini cane palms, orchids, creepers, Ceylon macaques, porcupines, mongooses, emerald parrots, and pigeons. Candy's famous tea will fill your mind. Sri Lanka is renowned for its tea, so it's worth visiting a local plantation like Pedro Estate to learn how it's made.

On the way to Kandy, however, we stopped at Pinawala Elephant Orphanage. It is an elephant sanctuary; One thousand rupees per person has to be paid to enter there. It is like a reservoir for elephants. A herd of elephants is engaged in strange activities in the water and on the rocky ramparts. Don't forget to visit this wonderful place when you come to Sri Lanka. If you come here, you will not only love elephants; you will surely fall in love with the place. A visually impaired person took my particular attention, could not see, but behaved normally. After staying there for a while, I went to the top slope. Like flying in the air! As far as the eye can see from the summit, there is only forest and forest. Some mountain ranges are along the border, right between Sigiriya and Pidurangala. The sunset in Sigiriya is truly mesmerizing. The sunset festival in such an uninterrupted sky is enough to make you feel heavy with emotions. The cricket stadium in Kandy is very famous, and everyone comes to watch cricket.

A huge lake in the center of Kandy city. Scattered around the lake are the Temple of the Buddha's Tooth, the Sinhala Cultural Center, where traditional dances are held regularly, the Udawattakele Sanctuary, and more like exploring. Udawattakele Sanctuary has a lot of fauna. A group of monkeys roams around in a place near the entrance. But they are very harmless monkeys. There are good places to stay in Kandy, such as Swarnanankara Mawatha in Bengal on Swarnalankar Road. Budget-friendly accommodation is available here for backpackers, and the quality of the accommodation is quite good. Some hotels have free rivers. A road runs along the side of the lake into the town. A little further along that road, past the Temple of the Tooth, there is a mosque. Here are the best candy string hoppers we know: lung chili, coconut chutney, etc.

We went to see the Sigiriya Rock Fortress early the following day. First, after seeing the museum, we walked through Sigiriya Park and the Rock Fortress. It takes 45 minutes to reach the top via stone and iron steps. In the middle of the path, there is a carved lion door. There are some other religious signs in different places. We didn't stay on top for long as there was a lot of sun.

Sri Lanka is very suitable for travel. Sri Lanka is the cleanest country in South Asia. Sri Lanka is also the best in South Asia in terms of politeness and civility. A country so beautiful as our near neighbor must be visited. Sri Lanka has a lot of similarities with Bangladesh. A similar hot and humid climate prevails there. However, in Sri Lanka, the seasonal variation felt in Bangladesh does not happen. As it is near the equator, there is not much seasonal temperature variation. But even there, the rainy season comes under the influence of monsoons. Monsoons occur on both sides of the island twice a year. So, if you want to visit any part, it will be better to understand the weather there. If you want to experience the blend of traditional traditions and modernity in Sri Lanka, there is no alternative to visiting Colombo. There is traditional quietness as well as modern brilliance. If you are interested in history, culture, Buddhist philosophy, etc., leave a day for the National Museum.

However, women in Sri Lanka seem to be able to move freely. At 11 or midnight, we saw girls going from one place to another by bicycle, especially in rural areas, which we liked. There seems to be no fear of violence.

Negombo, a small seaside town near Colombo city, has many cheap hotels. There are also sky-high hotels, but the expensive ones are already booked with tour guides. Smaller ones are better for backpackers. The sea is almost calm here. Those who have the habit of swimming in the ocean can swim comfortably. You can swim about 50 meters from the shore if the weather is good. Experienced players can go up to 100 meters. There is a missionary school in Negombo. A small grocery store near the school sells coconut patisapata pitha in the morning. Its name is Coconut Hopper. It's delicious to eat.

If you are interested in history, culture, Buddhist philosophy, etc., leave a day for the National Museum. The National Museum building is stunning, probably built during the colonial period. In front of the museum is a white meditating Buddha statue under a banyan tree. For those interested in Buddhist philosophy, there is much to see, hear, and learn all over Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is considered the base of Buddhist philosophy. If you go to Colombo, you can go to the Gall-Face area. People fly kites in the afternoon in a large field next to the sea, young people sit and talk, and parents come for a walk with their children. Enjoyable environment. If you want to shop in Colombo, go to the House of Fashions, where everything is available.

Written by Hiren Pandit

Bio: Hiren Pandit is an essayist and a research fellow.

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