DAMBULLA TO KANDY

We got picked up at 9.30am but before we left our hotel at Dambulla I took some more photos of the grounds to try and show how big the complex was. Then we drove to Kandy but stopped at several places on the way. First of all we had a quick stop at the Golden Temple just to take photos from the outside. All these temples each one you go to you have to take your shoes off to go inside. You can imagine shoes everywhere. Then onto Dambulla Cave Temple, we then drove onto Kandy to visit the Matale Spice Garden (80kms / 2hours 20mins) to see different spices  for which Sri Lanka is famous for. We were introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed. Next stop was to learn about Sri Lanka's  precious stones and  how they dig for them in 10mtr deep in which they brace the sides with wooden poles and pack ferns in between the poles to reinforce them to stop the sides of the pits from caving in. They then start digging up the stones in the mud and have pans a bit like gold mining. Where they swirl them round in the pan of stones and water until they can pick out the precious stones. Then after going through small towns and so much traffic to deal with which made it very slow. We wound up the mountains getting higher on a narrow winding road. Finally arrived at our Hotel right up in the hills. Once we reached the Kandy area it was now raining, our first rain in the whole trip. This is very common in this area of Kandy and of course the higher you go the less you see of the mountains with the clouds getter lower as the day goes on. So nice to be up high a far better temperature. Some relief from the heat but still warm enough to be comfortable. 

Before we left the hotel in Dambulla took some more photos of the grounds of the hotel to show how much it was spread out over acres of land which ran down to the edge of this lake.

Turning around from the lakeside, looking  back to the hotel huge area and so much space.



Then I kept walking nearer to the hotel umbrellas on the left are the swimming pool area and on the right the main restaurant.

This one we had just walked out from our villa to walk down these pathways meandering through the trees. So different from an ordinary hotel.

We have certainly been going to a variety of different hotels which makes it very interesting.

Our two delightful boys who did our housekeeping. Standing outside our villa as we were we're leaving to say goodby. They were the ones that made our swans on the end of the bed and always pick frangipani flowers and placed them around the deck which gave a beautiful perfume. Even petals on the bed!! We really enjoyed our stay.

Our first stop to see the golden Temple just from the outside.

Next stop was at Dambulla Cave Temple. The monkeys greet you after climbing up a steep drive, half way up a hill to the entrance of the temple. Once more very very hot. Note the monkey in the middle has stolen a bunch of bananas and wouldn't share them with his mates. You start to think oh another Temple but they are all so different so it keeps the interest up.

This shows how the temple is built into the rock to make it a Cave Temple amazing. It is a UNESCO World Hetitage site. It is one of the largest and best preserved Cave Temple complexes in Sri Lanka.

A close up of the middle of  the temple all built under the rock outcrop.

We are now inside the cave, quite amazing. Seeing the many ceiling paintings is a great experience. Robin I think that you will enjoy this art work.

Some of the 29 Buddha statues inside. 



Imagine painting this looking up to the ceiling.  They must have had strong necks.

Still inside the same cave. The cave consists of many very large rooms which just keep on going. This shows how the ceiling looks above.

This was a beautiful room. Very impressive.

More ceiling paintings. Really enjoyed this Temple so different and so old,  4th century.

We now leave Dambulla and continue our drive to Kandy.

Now starting our tour with this guide who was taking us through the the Matale Spice Gardens. He was very interesting and explained everything very well, telling us what all the different spices did for your body. I enjoyed listening to him as you can see in this photo PT took without me knowing. Very engrossed. The retaining wall on the right is all made with coconut husks. All the plants set out around the walkway are all named as to what Spice is produced from them. As you can see this one is ginger. We then sat in a room while he explained all the medical uses such as muscle pain oils and herbal balm,from the plants, headache cream and spices. They also made Aloe Vera cream for the skin. I also got a three minute neck massage. 

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Arrive at our next hotel Amaya Hill part of our last hotel Amaya Lakes which is in the hills of Kandy. There is always a 🤡 in the party. I was trying to take a photo of the room and this clown kept getting in the way.

Very nice room

View from our balcony. You can just see the mountain range in the distance. May get a better view tomorrow if it stops raining.

Not long later the clouds came down.


Looking down over the garden from our balcony.

You see these posies of flowers are all around the hotels in Sri Lanka, in India it was marigolds bright yellow ones.



Night has come in clouds very low possibly below us. Another nice swimming pool.

I have enjoyed the day a bit different with the sightseeing and also great to get up in the hills as we are finding it a little more refreshing but still warm.