Day 1 — 1st October 2019 · Colombo & Negombo
We landed at Colombo airport (Bandaranaike International) around 7.11pm on Indigo flight 6E 1205. The airport was pleasantly quiet — a good sign that the tour wouldn't be crowded despite it being the start of southern Indian holidays. Immigration was smooth, with numerous counters on both sides and minimal queues.
Our driver Pradeep met us in the lobby and drove us to Goldi Sands beach resort in Negombo through heavy rain. The hotel was ready and waiting — we only needed to show a passport. We were welcomed by Rajith, Anthony, and a very good orange juice. Our room initially had twin beds; the staff promptly moved us to a double-bed room with a swimming pool and beach view. Dinner was a buffet with local arrack and beer — limited for vegetarians but a wide spread for non-vegetarians.
Day 2 — 2nd October 2019 · Negombo Beach & Kandy
At 6.30am we went to the beach and watched fishermen pulling their nets from the sea. I joined in and noticed they worked in silent rhythm — no music, just synchronised steps. After two hours of hard work by 29 men, they brought in barely 50kg of fish. They also caught a water snake that they released back. The fishermen were generous — no demands for money, unlike many commercial beaches.
After breakfast we checked out and drove to Kandy, stopping at Peradeniya Botanical Garden. Entry was LKR 1,000/person. We hired an electric cart (LKR 2,000 for the large one) and explored flower pathways, an orchid hall, palm avenues, double coconut trees, monkey bridges, and a Sri Lanka-shaped pond. The palm avenue was particularly royal in feel.
We then visited the Tooth Relic Temple in Kandy (LKR 1,000/person). The highlight was having the inner golden door open just as we arrived at 6.45pm — a rare moment where we could see the gold crowns housing the relic. We also visited the shrine room with a large golden Buddha and then drove to the viewpoint overlooking Kandy lake and the city. Dinner featured a talented musician named Chapa — an employee of Sri Lanka Telecom by day — who played Hindi songs on guitar upon our request.
Day 3 — 3rd October 2019 · Dambulla Cave Temple & Polonnaruwa
A 2.5-hour drive from Kandy brought us to Dambulla Cave Temple. Entry was LKR 1,500/person — buy the ticket at the bottom or you'll be turned away at the top. The climb of 345 stairs took us about 30 minutes. At the summit, natural caves contain hundreds of Buddha statues and ceiling paintings made with natural colours, some dating back to the 3rd century BC. Photography is allowed but standing with one's back to the statues is not.
We couldn't visit Polonnaruwa ruins due to heavy rain, but did see Parakrama Samudra — the largest water tank in Sri Lanka. We drove to Medirigiriya Vatadage (38km away), a serene 100-acre site with no entry fee. The granite-carved Buddha statues here are extraordinary — their expressions of meditative peace are captivating despite being over a thousand years old.
Day 4 — 4th October 2019 · Sigiriya Rock & Priyamali Farmer's Lunch
We started for Sigiriya at 8am and arrived at 9.30am. Tickets for SAARC nationals were LKR 2,730/person after the 50% discount. The story of Sigiriya is remarkable: King Kashyap built his fortress palace atop this volcanic rock after seizing the throne from his father, King Dhatusena. The famous mural paintings of women on the rock face are 1,800 years old, painted with natural colours that still partially survive.
We reached the top at 11.20am after starting at 9.50am. The view from the iron platforms attached to the rock face is both breathtaking and terrifying. On the descent we took the slope rather than the stairs. On the way back, our driver Pradeep suggested lunch at Priyamali Gedara — a farmer's family restaurant that serves an extraordinary 25-dish Sri Lankan buffet on handmade lotus-leaf plates for just LKR 1,100/person. It was the best food of the entire trip. The family cooks on firewood — no gas or electricity.
Day 5 — 5th October 2019 · Nuwara Eliya
After a breakfast of string hoppers, potato curry, and pol sambol, we drove to Nuwara Eliya. The road from Katugastota was heavily congested due to a local children's festival. We stopped multiple times along the way — the valleys, mountains, and waterfalls were simply too beautiful to drive past without pausing.
We visited Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple, then the stunning Seeta Amman Temple — a red and gold structure below road level beside a ferocious mountain river. Across a bridge lies the Ashok Vatika, where, according to the Ramayana, Hanuman ji met Seeta ji. The footprints of Hanuman ji in both his Vanara and Vishwaroop forms are preserved here. We ended at Gayatri Padam Temple, which houses 108 natural Shivlings from Narmada river, and a remarkable growing Shivling called the Praanling.
Day 6 — 6th October 2019 · Back to Colombo via the Waterfalls Route
After breakfast, our son enjoyed a Jetski ride at Gregory Lake (LKR 3,500 — thrilling and worth it). We drove back to Colombo stopping at St. Claire Waterfall and Devon Waterfall. The drive through tea estates on both sides of the road was extraordinarily scenic.
In Colombo we had a quick Sri Lankan lunch at Niwahana (LKR 250/head) and then spent time at Nauritake — a famous porcelain factory store — where we bought a fine quality dinner set for around INR 30,000. We visited House of Fashions for clothes shopping, then walked along Colombo beach where the Chinese-built Port City is under construction. Our hotel Colombo 7 by Jetwings was overpriced, poorly managed, and far too cold — not recommended.
Day 7 — 7th October 2019 · Colombo City & Departure
Breakfast at the hotel was crowded and slow. We visited Pettah city market looking for souvenirs — a wasted hour, as there were almost no souvenir shops. We eventually found what we needed right by the parking area. The Red Mosque in the area is beautiful. We claimed our VAT refund at the port authority — efficient and fast — and bought a beef burger at Burger King for a friend back home. Our porcelain dinner set survived the flight in checked baggage without a single chip.
⭐ The Unsung Hero of the Trip: Pradeep, Our Driver-Guide
One very important thing that cannot go unmentioned: the WOW factor that made this tour memorable, easy, enjoyable, and safe was our tour guide Pradeep. He speaks less and lets you enjoy silence and private conversations. He is knowledgeable, extremely polite, punctual, professional — but most of all, willing to go the extra mile. He voluntarily stopped at many unplanned places that turned out to be highlights of the trip. He climbed all the way to Sigiriya with us, though he didn't have to. He suggested Priyamali Gedara for lunch, which we were apprehensive about but which became the best meal of the journey. We have travelled extensively and know how much a good guide matters — Pradeep is exceptional. You may reach Pradeep on +94 761 027 517.
