Sri Lanka #11 Sacred city of Kandy

Sacred city of Kandy , was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. The temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is include in it .

In the temple of Sacred Tooth Relic , Tooth relic shown to public only three times a day, 5:30am, 9:30am, 6:30pm, at that time , you can see many Buddhists cladding in white and holding flowers come there to worship.

If you also watch the Kandyan Dance Show(refer my last blog) next to the Sacred Tooth Relic , once finish the show , you can join the 6:30pm ritual.

The Sacred city of Kandy with tight security , walk in need to check if you bring any dangerous. Buddhists and tours are separate , men and women are separate .

Entry Sacred city is free , but the temple of Sacred Tooth Relic need ticket for foreigner . Ticket for SAARC Countries & Thailand/ Myanmar are Rs. 1000, other countries are Rs.1500.

When the temple of Sacred Tooth Relic light up , it is so holy and pure.

Out side of the temple of Sacred Tooth Relic , there are the site of old Sri Lanka. A ancient wall separate the temple and the site. Some temples inside the wall, you can see Buddhists play an instrument in temples, some Buddhists praying .

I feel Sri Lankan are so pious, anytime anywhere ,even on the bus , once they see a Temple or a Buddha, they will pray.

If you are interested at Sri Lanka , but tied to see the temples , I recommend you go to the underground tunnel next to the Kandy Clock Tower. There have many printing on wall, the printing are describe the myth of Sri Lanka.

Another place I want to recommend is Nishantha Wood Carving. If you ever saw the Kandyan Dance show , you will found some of them wearing a special mask , these masks are make from this shop. Besides masks , there also have many carving of Buddha.

Sri Lanka #10 Meet a dancer who work for the Kandyan Dance Show

This day is a rainy day , Omal told me , Sri Lanka is a country with little rain, before September 2019 , there already 3 years no raining , so he want to close his coconut farm .

I stayed in Sri Lanka for 17 days , have several days was raining , lucky ~

Sri Lankan are very nice , maybe there just have a few Asian traveller , when I left coconut farm , began my trip , I saw many people ,and most of them like to say Hi with me ! some want to take photo with me ! They make me feel I am special .

This day I arrived Kandy , a big city in the central of Sri Lanka , I have no idea what to do today , just have a walk in the city .

I didn't bring my umbrella, an uncle saw me then he use his umbrella to cover me together .He talk many with me , he said he just like to talk with foreigner , he have been to many country ,and I believe him.

In a bus stop , he need to take bus , he asked me do I know the Kandyan Dance Show, and recommend me must watch it , he can take me there.

I thought I have nothing to do , that's ok, I don't need to search the way . On bus , he told me he is working there , he is one of dancers !Amazing , that means I would watch his show .

The Kandyan Dance Show is in the Kandyan Cultural Centre, which is next to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic , start at 5 pm ,so when the show finish , you can go to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic .

He bring me there and ask his friend give a good seat to me ,then he went to prepare the show .

Kandyan Dance Show is one of the defining experiences of a stay in Kandy. It is a traditional show , include 18 different kind of dances ,great and funny ,you can't miss it .

An important tips for you , that is the uncle told me , when the show almost finish , the people stand up , you should go fast . Where to go ? Go to the stage, at the end , there is a fire show , standing on the stage you can get some good photos .

Sri Lanka #9 Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple

On Google map , Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple are at the same place , but actually , they are two different temple and two different way to reach .

First the Golden Temple , is at the ground floor. If you walk from the central of city , you can easy to find it .There is a giant gold Buddha looking at you , you won't miss it !

Under the giant Buddha , there is a museum .It design as a large mouth , eat all of tourist .

When you look at its left side ,you will find a special view . There is a long long long line of Buddhist monks, their hand holding some tributes to the Giant Buddha.

Now we talk about the Royal Cave Temple, it is on the top of the hill, if you wanna reach the Royal Cave Temple , here have two mistake need to avoid .

First , as we know , in Sri Lanka , when we walk in a temple , we need to take off our hats and shoes , but Golden Temple you can wear it except you walk in the building .

Second , at the right side of Golden Temple, a stair walk to the top of the hill , and reach the Royal Cave Temple, but if you walk from this way , when you spend a long time and very tied reach the temple , the staff will told you , here no ticket for sell , you need to walk down at another stairs at the other side , buy the ticket first , then walk back !

I was make both of mistake , cause when I arrive , I saw someone remove their shoes , so I also remove my shoes , and then walk to the top , along the road , I didn't see any ticket center , when I arrived the top , my feet are so pain , and so tired , the staff told me "you need to walk down at the right stairs , buy the ticket , then come back "

"What ?! How far away ?"

" about 200 meters." But after I walk down , I found there is not only 200 meters . so don't make the same mistake as me !

The correct way is , if you walk from the central of Dambulla city , when you see the golden temple , keep walking , when you see below road , walk in , there is the way to the ticket center.

Sri Lanka #8 Pidurangala, where can get a great view of Sigiriya

If you want to visit Sigiriya , the local people will more recommend Pidurangala than Sigiriya. Why ? Same as Sigiriya , Pidurangala is a giant rock ,when you standing on the top of Pidurangala Rock ,you can see the whole Sigiriya Rock, and the ticket is much cheaper than Sigiriya.

Of cause you can with both of them ,the way to Pidurangala is same as to Sigiriya , so you can take the bus or tuk tuk to both spots.

Tuk tuk driver also will tell you some secret spot on the road to Pidurangala.

This lake next on the road , but hide by trees , if you take bus or drive here , maybe you will miss it . Although the lake is so beautiful , it is also danger, should be many crocodiles under water , when I arrived , there is a crocodile bask on the rock ,so don't try to swim in the lake .

I also saw a dancing elephant in another lake , cute ~

As we know ,Sigiriya is known as Lion Rock, but in some point of view , it is more like an elephant .

Back to talk about Pidurangala, it is a temple at the lower rock , so you need to remove your hat and shoes when entry , but bring it ,cause when you walk up leave the temple area , you need to wear your shoes to walk to the top. Temple ticket is Rs.500 , much cheaper than Sigiriya USD30.

And Pidurangala is more challenging than Sigiriya. First , you will see a long long long stairs , but this still a easy grade , the most challenge at the top of the rock.

A house under the rock ?! Amazing ! It looks no one living here now ,but it should not empty for a long time , I can see some modern things in the house.

Dose the stairs at right side made by old Sigiriya people ?It was dug on the rock.

A very narrow road , are you enough slim ?

The branches enough strong to prop up the rock ?

Keep walking , I saw a ruin , maybe really someone ever living here.

Look at my finger, yes , that is the way to the top , there without road , if you want to reach the top , you must climb the rocks ! that's why I said Pidurangala is more challenging than Sigiriya .

Some signal on the rock to avoid you walk the wrong way .

And you can see the road is like below ,so be careful when you climb.

Finally , I reach the top by myself , good job ~Here you can get the great view for the Sigiriya and whole town, especially when the sunset or sunrise .

Sri Lanka #7 The Ancient Town Anuradhapura

In China , I never heard the place Anuradhapura before , actually I didn't do any plan for this trip , I just buy the air ticket and go .But my first week in Sri Lanka was as a helper in a coconut farm, the farm owner is a kind man, he recommended some place to me , otherwise , I will never know Anuradhapura .

After I know this place , I check the details on web , found that such less Chinese information for this town, then I check in English , also less information , but at least ,more than Chinese.

The greatest monastic city of the ancient world that date from the middle of the 5th century B.C. remained the proud seat of kingdom of Sri Lanka until the 11th century A.D. .As we know , Sir Lanka was colonized by Portugal and the Netherlands and the UK, this town is older than the colonized period .

If you travel in this city , you should rent a bicycle or a tuktuk . If you rent bicycle , that is more free , you can go where you want to go ,at that time , I rent bicycle from my hostel , Rs 500 per day. If you rent a tuktuk , then maybe cost more , but you have a tour guide too , they are local people, so they know the history of here , and where must visit.

Below I will tell you some place where I went .

The ancient part and modern part are separate clearly on the map ,you can found the ancient at the west side , the modern part at the east side.

For foreigner , visit the historic site need to buy ticket , USD 25, for Sri Lankan , that's free, I wanna say , Sri Lankan ticket really very expensive for foreigner.

Kuttam Pokuna, the other name is the Twin Ponds, are two bathing ponds in ancient Sri Lanka. Dating back to around 7th-9th centuries AD, these were built for the use of resident Bikkhus of Abhayagiri.

There is many monkey near the ponds , they are not scare people , I feel that I was more afraid they would take away my phone , once I walked close them , them were looking at me , seems wanted to jump to me .But normally , they just pay attention at food , if you are not holding foods , they won't attack you .

Most places of the ancient part need to take off your hats and shoes before entry, make sure you are wearing socks , really very pain if you walking on small stone road.

I saw a Buddhist talking with Sri Lankan, were them taking lessons ?

Below is one of the place must visit, here is the Abhayagiri Stupa , built by King Walagamba in the 1th century BC .the central Cultural fund began the conservation of the Stupa in 1997. Ater the completion of the conservation work the Stupa is now open to the public for their veneration .

When I visit there , I found all people walk around the Stupa through the clock , just me walk the back way , a little bit shy.

I like below pond , this is elephant pond , which is for elephants take shower, it's very big , and peaceful here.

Isurumuniya Rock Temple, here is the second on I think must visit . Its special is the temple build on a big stone , when you come at the evening , you can claim on the top of the rock ,and get a great sunset view .