Kandy Esala Perahera

Every year, during the lunar month of Esala (July/August), the romantic city of Kandy hosts Asia’s most spectacular festival, the EsalaPerahera, in honour of the island’s most important possession, Lord Buddha’s Tooth.

The Perahera, which means “procession”, is a 10-day festival and parade around the city, culminating on “Poya” or full moon. This festival has been taking place annually since the Tooth relic arrived on the island in AD 331, and the rituals and ceremonies associated with the Perahera have persisted throughout the centuries and changed little over time.

This is an incredible annual spectacle and if you are around during this time it should not be missed!

 

Nawam Maha Perahera by Gangarama Temple

Situated opposite the Beira Lake in Colombo is the delightful Gangarama Temple. It is a very well-known place of worship and quite unique, complete with a Dagoba, Bo tree, image house, relic chamber containing relics of the Buddha, museum, library, and its most revered cohabitant – their very own temple elephant. During the Full Moon or “Poya” day in February the Temple hosts a most colorful festival called the Navam Perahera, a spectacular pageant of thousands of traditional dancers and drummers accompanied by hundreds of caparisoned elephants.

 

‘The Gathering’ in Minneriya

Every year, in Minneriya National Park in the North Central Province, the largest concentration of Asian Elephants takes place on the receding shores of the Minneriya Lake. “The Gathering” in Minneriya is one of the most fantastic events in the international wildlife calendar peaking in August and September when over 300 hundred elephants congregate. 

 

A Romantic Train journey through time – The Viceroy Special

There is no better way to view the most stunning mountain scenery of the hill country or beautiful palm-fringed beaches of the west coast other than by train.

The Viceroy is the only passenger steam train operational in Sri Lanka. British-built, this locomotive was named after its appearance in the film Mountbatten The Last Viceroy Trips vary between day excursions and all-inclusive package tours. A popular journey is Colombo to Rambukkana near Kandy, where you can disembark to visit Pinnawala elephant orphanage.

However, even if you are unable to hire the Viceroy then Sri Lankan Railways offer scheduled trains running around the Island. Some of my favourite journeys include Colombo to Kandy in the Observation carriage; Peradeniya Junction, Kandy to Nanu Oya, Nuwara Eliya, and Peradeniya Junction to Ella.

 

Vesak

Vesak is the first full-moon in May which celebrates Lord Buddha’s birth, attainment of Buddha-hood and also His entering into Nirvana. The Island comes alive with beautifully lit colourful home-made lanterns and Pandals, massive bamboo framed display boards erected on the streets to celebrate the festival. The Pandal is a kaleidoscopic image illuminated by a host of assorted coloured bulbs illustrating a story in the life of Lord Buddha.

During this festival free public theatre performances and food are available to all.

 

Esala Full Moon Festival

The Esala full moon festival (July/August) draws many thousands of people to Kataragama, when some entranced devotees carry out ritualistic vows, such as being hung on hooks that are pierced in their backs and having skewers put through their cheeks and tongue. They are then swung in procession around the holy site. Fire walking is part of the festival purification ritual, as devotees seek blessings from the goddess Pattini.

 

Adam’s Peak

Adam’s Peak, known locally as Sri Pada, is the fifth highest mountain in Sri Lanka. At 7,360 ft it is located within the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary. It is vehemently believed that Lord Buddha left his footprint on top of this mountain, and since the 11th century AD, Sri Pada has attracted countless numbers of visitors to worship it. All four major religions of Sri Lanka venerate Sri Pada as their holy mountain. The Hindus accredit the footprint to Lord Shiva; the Christians say it is that of St Thomas (“Doubting Thomas”) who became a missionary to the East. The Muslims claim that it was Adam’s footprint, imprinted when he left heaven and first set foot in the Garden of Eden, Sri Lanka. Whatever one’s beliefs, no other location is so venerated by all religions.

The ideal time to climb Adam’s Peak is from December to May, when the weather is calmer. The climbing season peaks in March, and tens of thousands of people make the ascent each year.

I would recommend the shorter route from Maskeliyawhich should take around 4 hours. It is important to climb late at night, when it is cooler, and aim to get to the summit just before sunrise at around 6am.

On a clear day the dawn is quite spectacular, but you will need a bit of luck regarding the weather. As the day dawns, the hill country rises to the east, while the west slopes to the sea. As the sun ascends, it casts a stunning shadow of the mountain over the land.

  

Dolphin & Whale Watching

Whale watching has become very popular in Sri Lanka in recent times with a very high success rate. The best time is between December and April where the sea is calmer.

Boats leave from Mirissa harbour very early and are out for around 3 hours or so, usually taking around 45 minutes to sail to deep water where you will be flanked by pods of dolphin and hopefully in a good position to see Blue or Sperm Whale.

 

Leopard spotting in Yala

Possibly my most favourite pastime in Sri Lanka is going on Safari in Yala looking for Sri Lanka’s ultimate predator, the elusive leopard. Covering an area of 500 sq miles, Yala National Park is the biggest and most visited wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka, ideal for viewing the island’s natural treasures.

With a diversity of habitats, including dense jungle, plains, streams, lagoons and rocky outcrops, the terrain is extremely suitable for Sri Lanka’s leopard, Yala’s star attraction.

Other animals found in Yala include elephant, sloth bear, crocodile, monkey, buffalo, wild boar, deer, land and water monitor, mongoose and jackal. Nocturnal animals include Indian civets, pangolin, porcupine and slender loris. There are 150 different species of birds including painted stork, the rare black-necked stork, green bee-eater, pompadour green pigeon, imperial green pigeon and the orange-breasted green pigeon. Two endemic birds are the Sri Lankan jungle fowl and the brown-capped babbler. Migrants include the common blue-tailed bee-eater, the Brahminy Myrna and the rosy starling.

The best time to see Yala’s wildlife is either at dawn or dusk, safari’s start at 6am and at 3pm.

 

Sigiriya

Sigiriya, Lion Rock, is possibly the most spectacular sight in Sri Lanka. This magnificent, massive monolith rises 600 feet from the lush jungle and was one of the most beautiful royal cities that ever graced the earth, frequently referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. For more details please refer to the Elite Guide.

To reach the steps for the climb, a path will take you via the boulder garden and after about a half hour climb, the stairway through the Elephant Gate leads you to the spiral staircase which ascends to the Fresco Gallery, housing the exquisite paintings of the Sigiriya Maidens.

This metal spiral staircase maybe a little daunting for some to climb, however it is safe and it is so worthwhile to see the beautiful frescoes.

Beyond the spiral staircase, the path is protected on one side by a highly polished plaster Mirror Wall which leads onto a plateau, The Lion Terrace. The final stage of the climb to the summit takes you through the lion’s paws up a series of metal staircases and across a sequence of steps cut into the side of the rock. Flanked by a railing all the way it only takes 15 minutes or so to get to the summit, it may look difficult but it’s really not too bad with great views to reward you with. However,those who suffer with vertigo may want to remain on the Lion Terrace and enjoy the Rock from there.

Sigiryia for many will be the most memorable sight they will witness during their stay in Sri Lanka. Really something not to be missed!