Country trip: Lithuanian flavour in Sri Lanka (1)

Counting almost one year in Sri Lanka (Can you believe?!) I have seen and experienced a lot. Unfortunately, I found myself being extremely lazy and demotivated to share all my experience with others. That cost minimum information and no photo albums in my Facebook profile. 

For those who really would like to see Sri Lanka, this is an opportunity to see and get to know this beautiful, colorful and spicy country I found my corner to live.

If Giedre does not come back to Lithuania, Lithuania is coming to visit Giedre

There weren’t any Lithuanians on my daily way here in Sri Lanka, but now 5 girls (me, my sister, cousins and a friend) are traveling all around the country which by size is pretty much the same as our mother land, but completely different by the views we are just about to see.

Trip starts in Colombo international airport with huge mountain of suitcases and some warm home smell in it – delicious cheese, salami, dark bread and chocolate.

Driving to Colombo was a bit shocking for girls. Crazy driving, huge 5 pm. traffic, poverty outside the windows, frightening local men attention in the streets, pollution and loud noise made them feel really uncomfortable.

But we saw something which put a smile on our faces - flag colors ;)

Day No.1

Anuradhapura-Mihintale

We started at 5 in the morning with 4 hours’ drive to a thousand-plus historical heritage and buried history – ancient city Anuradhapura.

The way was long, but we had some fun.

First destination point - one of the greatest cities at its age Anuradhapura. It was functioning as island’s center of both spiritual and governmental power. 

The city oversaw the Golden Age of Singhalese culture and sadly was destroyed in 993 AD by Indian invaders.

But the place still tells us a story of thousand monks living in 9 story building, and shows a bo-tree branch, brought from India. There is a belief that under this tree Buddha felt his enlightenment. 

As for now, Anuradhapura is known by its enormous dagobas, which by their scale can be compared with great pyramids of Giza.

Restourated in early 80s by UNESCO program, nowadays the ancient capital is highly visited by locals. However, their attention and curiosity are devoted not only to sacral places, but coming tourist too.

Second destination point – magnificent Mihintale temple. It is said that here Buddhism was introduced to the island.

Challenging way up, 1850 steps can be hard, but the scenery and from the top is a breath taking.

Mihintale has 3 significant uphill areas: big Buddha statue, amazingly beautiful and a bit scary to reach view point and white Mahaseya dagoba. 

In each of them tourist like to take different kind of ‘take-it-quickly-until-i-can-smile-and-not-to-show-how-scared-I-am’ pictures.

Day No.2.
Trincomalee

Trinco is a harbor city, highly used for military purposes. During the war it has become the main point for war-displaced refugees. With Fort Frederick, temples, attractive beaches and calm neighborhood, Trincomalee is a safe and definitely worth to visit place. So here we, without seeing town, we went directly to the beach. 

As most tourists do, we directly went to Nilaveli beach to experience the best snorkeling place – Pigeon Island and its coral reef...

... or beautiful and surprisingly calm scenery.

Day No.3
Pollunarowa

Trip to another ancient city wasn’t easy, but leaving blue see with white sand cost and meeting bumpy roads to another great ruined capital Pollunaruwa was already scheduled.

Small but always full of people city is one of the richest highlights of Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle. Big amount of ancient monuments shows glorious period of Vijayabahu ruling. To build 26 square kilometres area of new Shingalese capital, his successor Parakramabuhu imported architects and ingineers from India.

Wait for more...