Sri Lanka offers visitors a rich experience
From the ruins in Sigiriya and the temple in Kandy, to an elephant orphanage, Xu Lin offers visitors a mixed experience in Sri Lanka
It’s almost dusk. And I can just about see the bats hanging upside down on trees far away. Gradually, the trees seem more white as flocks of egrets arrive to roost.
The bats then fill the sky, signifying a change of shift. The bats and the egrets seem to take turns to rest on the trees.
The site is close to Yala National Park, Sri Lanka. And I am amazed by the beauty of the wildlife even before my safari tour in the park.
The next day, I wake up at 5:30 am and carry my breakfast to a vehicle.
Our tour guide has sharp eyes, so it’s easily to spot wild boar, crocodiles, peacocks, lizards, elephants and deer.
It’s better to carry a pair of binoculars to see different species of birds.
The park has one of the highest leopard densities in the world.
But seeing one really depends on your luck, as a large cat can appear and vanish in an instant.
On the trip, my friend suddenly spots a black leopard descending from a tree. We then try to track it down for about half an hour, but never see it again.
More Chinese tourists are traveling to Sri Lanka for encounters with animals, the sea and its cultural heritage.
The prices also make a difference. For example, it’s much cheaper to do a wild safari in Sri Lanka than in Africa.
For most travelers, their first stop in Sri Lanka is Negombo, home to Bandaranaike International Airport.
At Negombo’s fish markets, fishermen unload their catch and vendors hawk seafood.
Also, fish are arranged in an orderly manner on straw mats along the beach to be dried.
For those who love elephants, a visit to the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is a must. The orphanage, established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife department, is home to injured and maimed elephants and abandoned baby elephants.
It is noon when we get there. And a herd of elephants are crossing a road after taking a shower in the lake, while a policeman directs traffic.
Besides watching elephants shower and feeding them, tourists can also buy notebooks and postcards made from elephant dung.
About two hours’ drive from there is Sigiriya, or lion rock, one of the finest examples of ancient urban planning.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
The fortress complex, built by King Kashyapa during the 5th century, includes the ruins of an ancient palace on the flat-topped summit of an enormous rock about 200 meters high.
After the king’s death, the site was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.
There, I am fascinated by the gardens and ponds and their symmetry.
It’s breathtaking to climb the spiral stairs attached to sheer walls that lead to the colorful frescoes.
Then, I come to a small plateau and see a pair of gigantic lion’s paws carved into the bedrock.
It was an entrance originally built in the form of a lion but its upper parts have been destroyed.
Starting from there, a series of vertiginous staircases on a large rock take me to the upper palace — the best place to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
It’s not uncommon to bump into monkeys or stray dogs during the climb.
From Sigiriya, we head to the city of Kandy which is famous for the Sri Dalada Maligawa temple where the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is kept.
The temple’s grand festival, Kandy Esala Perahera, is held in July and August annually.
The Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, in Kandy boasts exotic species of plants such as orchids, spices and palm trees.
From Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, I take a train to enjoy views of the tea plantations and forests on both sides.
My next stop is the old town of Galle and its fortifications, which in 1988 was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A sea port for trade during the 14th century, Galle has now become a popular destination for tourists from home and abroad.
Its architecture is typically European due to its colonial history, when it was controlled by Portugal, the Netherlands and Great Britain.
Galle now has churches, old hotels and stores that sell jewelry, spices and tea.
And local children practice cricket on the playgrounds.
It’s pleasant to walk along the well-preserved Galle Fort and enjoy the breeze from the Indian Ocean.
Finally, on a train from Galle to Colombo, the country’s commercial capital, I am excited to see the Indian Ocean just beyond the windows.
That train journey also marks the end of my satisfying trip to Sri Lanka.