Friday, December 17, 2004

Misty Mountain Hop

Away from the palm fringed beaches, the brilliant white sand, and the impossibly clear water of the Southern Coast, lies a different Sri Lanka. Steeply forested hillsides rise up to meet the clouds, waterfalls thunder from the sky, and mist hangs over the endless green carpet of tea plantations. The interior of Sri Lanka is a different world.



We journeyed to the interior along the southern edge of the island, with stops in the colonial Dutch town of Galle and the Sri Lanka Turtle Conservation Project. As we turned north towards the mountains, the clouds closed in and the rain began to fall.

The de facto capital of the misty interior is the hip urban town of Kandy. Set along the shore of a spectacular lake, and surrounded by lush, jungle-draped hillsides, Kandy has a modern vibe missing from the rural towns of Sri Lanka. Cosmopolitan food, a myriad of shops and galleries, and beautiful colonial architecture combine to make Sri Lanka’s second largest town hum.

At the other end of Sri Lanka’s rickety mountain railway the sleepy town of Ella sits contemplatively, enjoying the best view on the island. Clinging to a hillside at the head of the Ella Gap, Ella gazes south through a thickly forested canyon more than 100 kilometers to the sunny coast. Unlike the bustle of Kandy, Ella is about sitting on a terrace, drinking tea, and watching the setting sun paint the surrounding peaks in crimson.

The interior of Sri Lanka offers the perfect juxtaposition to the spectacular ocean beaches of the coast. The result? Sri Lanka is a destination that has it all.

Enjoy the Interior Sri Lanka Photo Gallery.

Enjoy the video of Monkeys Wrestling on our Hotel Balcony.

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