SriLanka : The Unexpected Pride

Astonishing coral reefs with an emerald green ocean, historical forts by the Bay of Bentota, majestic and incredible Kingdom of Ravana, a land of gems, enlightening temples, monasteries & churches all under the one hub of SriLanka.

SriLanka is a tiny island with exotic emerald beaches and scenic landscapes. Above are a few pictures of the time I stayed at the Bentota Beach Club , a place with beautiful wooden houses residing on an island, surrounded by a river on one side and an ocean on the other. Since I was a little terrified of water, I was skeptical about the water activities we had to be a part of but this tour changed me in an amazing way.

I experienced a different world among the mangroves. The best part about mangrove boating was that I encountered a baby crocodile and I was taken aback by the fact that a reptile could be so beautiful. The feeling of holding a baby crocodile in my hands made me speechless. After two days of the event, me and my team headed to explore SriLanka and that’s where the actual fun started.

On our very first day we headed towards the “Galle Fort”, a 423 years old fort that falls under UNESCO. It is maintained by the archaeological department of SriLanka. The mesmerising emerald blue and green costal belt with its lush green environment adds a scenic beauty to this place making it a perfect gem to the eye. After that, we gazed at the different shades of the nature. Next, we headed towards “Weligama Bay”, famous for its turquoise green crystal clear water. Later, we had our lunch at a nearby cafe and rested in the car itself.

Next we went to the most awaited destination, The Unawatuna Beach which is world famous for its fishing technique known as Stilt Fishing. The technique where men sit perched on sticks with fishing sticks in their hands. That place was truly magical, so rich in colours and had a fascinating view. Make sure you visit this place whenever you are in SriLanka to fathom their beautiful fishing culture and enjoy the beauty of this beach.

Since childhood we have always heard that SriLanka is famous for its gemstones and Ravana’s Kingdom. Yes! You heard it right. Ravana’s kingdom is one of its kind with all the greenery embracing it from all the sides. To get a view of his empire, one needs to hike to The “Sigriya Rock Cave”, famous for its lion fortress on top of this rock. It has 1200 steps in approx and takes 2 to 2.5 hours to reach at the top. The view from above is breath-taking. Being the second highest mountain in SriLanka, it offers a panoramic view of the landscape which is surely a treat to everyone’s eyes. Sigriya Rock Cave is a world heritage site and this is what attracts a lot of travellers every year.

Sometimes you wonder or dream about being somewhere and the next moment you realize you are there in no time. That moment is surreal. I lived it. I lived that moment. I was on my way to the Dambulla Cave to see its World famous Reclining Buddha Statue. While travelling, I was flipping through the pages of a SriLankan travel magazine and I found a picture of Reclining Buddha Statue shot by our very own Shri.Uddhav Ji Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Inspired by his shot, I tried to capture it in the same way.

For a person who loves nature and enjoys every single moment, SriLanka would be the best place to visit. Endless beaches with each beach having its own beauty. Mirissa Beach which is famous for having world’s ten enormous blue whales. The beach has its own charm and the day we arrived I was amazed to see the flock of clouds touching the sea horizon. I stood still mesmerised by the beauty that my eyes could witness. I spent some time at the “Kandy- Sacred Tooth Relic Temple” with some pleasant evening and prayers too.

SriLanka was not just my first International Tour but it also helped me understand who I am. Thank you for your beautiful time and patience. I hope that at some point, this journey has inspired and enlightened your soul in some way. Also a big thank you to our tour manager who made this journey smooth and enthralling. On our last day of the tour, he even took us to his house, we had a great time with his family over some tea & snacks. Such wonderful gestures are all one awaits for.