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Kandy lake – the centre of town
Kandy lake is in the centre of it all, literally. Whether you are hopping around in a tuk-tuk, heading from one spot to another, checking the views of the city from the viewpoint up on a hill, or simply taking a leisurely evening walk, the lake dominates the town. And why shouldn’t it. View of Kandy lake from the hilltop It is in the heart of Kandy town. Surprisingly, with a ring road that goes along one side of the lake, it is peaceful, offering you respite from the busy street. The island (Photo credit: Neel Mitra) This body of water wasn’t always there though. It was a stretch of…
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A cup or eight of tea please
I’ve only drunk tea the way I know to make it, using tea bags dipped in hot water for a couple of minutes and then adding milk. Refreshing and satisfying it is. But is it necessarily the best tea I’ve had? That is open to debate. Inside the tea shop at the factory (Photo credit: Neel Mitra) While I’ve been drinking tea since I can remember, it was would always be a cup for breakfast and another one later that evening. However, once I got into university, all that went for a toss. Sitting in the canteen, it would be anywhere between 10 to 15 small glasses of tea through…
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Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
It involves a princess on the run smuggling across land and sea. It had the protection of kings, eager to retain power over their kingdom. With an air of mystery surrounding it, it is one of most well-protected sites anywhere in Sri Lanka. This is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The royal palace complex The Temple of the Sacred Tooth relic, also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, sits north of the lake, within the palace complex of the former Kandyan kingdom. Thanks to its historical, cultural and spiritual significance, the temple is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of eight sites across Sri…
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One of those days
Tired of walking around? Had an overdose of culture? Need a break on a break? When traveling, there are some days when you’d rather not do anything. That’s when you should head to the nearest bar or restaurant, preferably with fantastic views. Enjoy views with a laos beer. Once you’ve found your spot, sit back, settle down, raise your legs, and soak in the atmosphere. As minutes turn to hours, you’ll see families untying their boats anchored to another, starting the motor, and gently heading into the sunset. Or a haze of smoke slowly descent down and envelopes the river and hills in the background. Envelop yourself with the sights…
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Exploring Piazza Della Signoria
If there is one image that best sums up Florence, it would probably be the most beautiful ‘L’ shaped square – The Piazza Della Signoria. Modern art that pales in comparison (Photo credit: Neel Mitra) Surrounded by some of the most buildings in the city, it feels like an outdoor museum, in no part thanks to its famous sculptures strategically placed throughout the square. Any wonder it’s always full of visitors, trying to outdo each other as they smile while clicking photographs for posterity. Statue of David at Piazza della Signoria (Photo credit: Neel Mitra) It is these sculptures and buildings that have come to symbolise the city’s renaissance past…
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The myth of Perseus and Medusa
Any visit to Italy must include the beautiful city of Florence. And once in the city, everyone naturally gravitates to the centre of town – the historic Piazza della Signoria. Brimming with artwork, this is a treasure trove for art enthusiasts. The clock tower at Palazzo Vecchio (Photo credit: Neel Mitra) Centuries ago, Florence was the centre of a renaissance sweeping through the Roman empire. Talented artists went out of their way to outdo the other with some of the paintings and sculptures that, centuries later, still leave visitors awestruck. Some of these greats, including Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Alberti, Donatello and Ghiberti, went about not just transforming the city with their…
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What’s in a name?
Plenty, it turns out. Among the many things I was looking forward to in Sri Lanka was to sample a variety of its cuisine. Thankfully, this small family run business on a hill in Kandy didn’t disappoint, barring its odd name – No Name Restaurant. The seating inside the restaurant The pleasures of dining locally One of the joys of travelling to another country and its cities to so experience its varied cuisine. Sri Lanka was no different. The last time I was there on the beaches of Hikkaduwa, we had hired a tuk-tuk. Hungry for a decent meal after our tour of Galle, we asked him to take us…
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The 12:40pm train from Colombo to Kandy
One of the highlights of travelling through Sri Lanka is journeying from one destination to another by train. The Colombo to Kandy train didn’t disappoint at all. Colombo Fort railway station Sure, there have been plenty of train travels, mostly in India and also around the world, including on one of the most famous train journeys that I am sure is on everyone’s bucket list if they haven’t done it already – the Reunification Express. However, nothing prepared me for my train journey from Colombo Fort station to Kandy station, or through Sri Lanka. A crowd lining up for tickets outside the station (Photo credit: Neel Mitra) What you pay…
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Colombo highlights in six hours
What’s it about some cities around the world. You land at its airport, and immediately connect to another flight, train or bus and head to other parts of the country. Getting a fleeting glance of the city, as it quickly disappears behind you, only to see it again, when you are heading back to the airport to leave. Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital and primary point of entry into the country immediately comes to mind. The train from Colombo to Kandy On my previous two visits to the country, that’s exactly what I did. It was merely a transit point before I headed to the sunny beaches down south in Hikkaduwa…
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In praise of train travel
What’s it about long-distance train journeys that brings out the little child in me. A sense of happiness each time I take my seat, listening to the train as it whistles past towns and the countryside. Hurtling through tunnels or racing with the setting sun. There is something that is magical and wonderful about train travel, letting me be the little kid that I always will be. Whizzing through a tunnel between Mostar and Sarajevo Hours spent watching from a window or door of a moving train, as scene after scene unfold. Striking up conversations with complete strangers as they get in at different stations, heading to places near and…
