Sri Lanka #4. North: Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kalpitiya
ANCIENT
,
ANIMAL WORLD
,
ARCHITECTURE
,
ASIA
,
COAST
,
SRI LANKA
Dambulla
Cheap and hotel is New Peacock Resort
A hospitable host, hot water, bad internet. You`ll not have dinners there, but you can have a good meal in Mango Mango nearby. Don`t take desserts there. And remeber, the portion of rice is really huge there.
From Dambulla you can get to Polonnaruwa on 41 or 48 buses.
Polonnaruwa
This is an ancient city. The entrance fee is 25 dollars. The best option is to rent a bicycle because of the large area of the city + a very beautiful road by the lake. You can rent a bicycle for 200 rupees.
There are several facilities that you can see for free
1
2
It was probably electrocuted
Sigiriya Lion Rock
There is a very expensive entrance, 30 or 35 dollars per person. So we replaced it with the Pidurangala Rock, where you will see the same view, but for 500 rupees!
Dambulla Cave Temple
Anuradhapura
In Anuradhapura, we were only one day and decided to just cycle along the local lake. Entrance to the territory of the famous ancient city costs $ 25, but after Polonnaruwa we did not want to visit him.
By the way, on the shore of the lake we saw two large otters, but, unfortunately, they fled before I guessed to photograph them.
Parrots
Kalpitiya
In Anuradhapura, we took a bus to Puttalam (number 4 or 87). It was a nightmare. A lot of people, bags on their heads, cold wind and incredible noise from talking and shouting.
From Puttalam, we took the bus to Kalpitiya, and it was another fun adventure. We drove just 50 km in 2 hours. The local sat next to me and tried to start the conversation, but I put on my headphones and wanted to disappear.
In Calpitia, the first day we settled in the Ocean View hotel. The hotel is right on the beach by the ocean. Noise of wind and waves ... But there is no hot water, a lot of sand everywhere and a tasteless dinner.
Very delicious dinners you can find in Cocodance.
On the second day we lived in a nice villa.
What you need to know about Kalpitiya:
1. There are very few people here (residents and tourists). A small village on the outskirts. Silence, peace and loneliness.
2. This is the famous kitesurfing. There are constant winds here.
3. There are many mangroves (those that grow in salt water).
4. Wild donkeys live here, they walk along the beach and search for food.
5. You can rent a boat to see the huge flocks of dolphins. If you are lucky, you will see whales. It will take 2 hours. The cost per person is 3500 rupees on average (depending on how many people will be in the boat). Jumping on the waves on the boat is unforgettable. You will be wet from head to foot.
Mangrove forests
Ocean gifts
Donkey, dog and pig on the ocean... Whaaat?)
Wild donkeys
Cheap and hotel is New Peacock Resort
A hospitable host, hot water, bad internet. You`ll not have dinners there, but you can have a good meal in Mango Mango nearby. Don`t take desserts there. And remeber, the portion of rice is really huge there.
From Dambulla you can get to Polonnaruwa on 41 or 48 buses.
This is an ancient city. The entrance fee is 25 dollars. The best option is to rent a bicycle because of the large area of the city + a very beautiful road by the lake. You can rent a bicycle for 200 rupees.
There are several facilities that you can see for free
1
2
It was probably electrocuted
Sigiriya Lion Rock
There is a very expensive entrance, 30 or 35 dollars per person. So we replaced it with the Pidurangala Rock, where you will see the same view, but for 500 rupees!
Dambulla Cave Temple
Local Philip Kirkorov (Russian pop singer)
Anuradhapura
In Anuradhapura, we were only one day and decided to just cycle along the local lake. Entrance to the territory of the famous ancient city costs $ 25, but after Polonnaruwa we did not want to visit him.
By the way, on the shore of the lake we saw two large otters, but, unfortunately, they fled before I guessed to photograph them.
Parrots
Kalpitiya
In Anuradhapura, we took a bus to Puttalam (number 4 or 87). It was a nightmare. A lot of people, bags on their heads, cold wind and incredible noise from talking and shouting.
From Puttalam, we took the bus to Kalpitiya, and it was another fun adventure. We drove just 50 km in 2 hours. The local sat next to me and tried to start the conversation, but I put on my headphones and wanted to disappear.
In Calpitia, the first day we settled in the Ocean View hotel. The hotel is right on the beach by the ocean. Noise of wind and waves ... But there is no hot water, a lot of sand everywhere and a tasteless dinner.
Very delicious dinners you can find in Cocodance.
On the second day we lived in a nice villa.
What you need to know about Kalpitiya:
1. There are very few people here (residents and tourists). A small village on the outskirts. Silence, peace and loneliness.
2. This is the famous kitesurfing. There are constant winds here.
3. There are many mangroves (those that grow in salt water).
4. Wild donkeys live here, they walk along the beach and search for food.
5. You can rent a boat to see the huge flocks of dolphins. If you are lucky, you will see whales. It will take 2 hours. The cost per person is 3500 rupees on average (depending on how many people will be in the boat). Jumping on the waves on the boat is unforgettable. You will be wet from head to foot.
Mangrove forests
Ocean gifts
Local beggars
Donkey, dog and pig on the ocean... Whaaat?)
Wild donkeys
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