Kandy – VAGABOND IMAGES

Experience the best of bush, beach and highlands in Sri Lanka!

Upendra SwamiJuly 31, 20192472 Views0

It’s not about a hotel, but about a whole chain of hotels. We often review hotels on their facilities, rooms, comfort, but here I am talking about the outdoor experience that these hotels guarantee and I can assure you that these are the reasons good enough to try them, and while you do so you won’t be compromising on any other thing that you would like to judge this hotel upon. Having said that, this is a fact that tiny island nation of Sri Lanka is an amazingly rich place in natural heritage and it gives you some very fascinating encounters with beautiful, beautiful world of wildlife. What more can be fun when you get some fantastic deals to stay and enjoy. That is all experience with Cinnamon is all about. Into the wild of Yala If you’re keen to make the most of incredibl...

International

Negombo, I remember

Upendra SwamiApril 29, 20191379 Views5

It was painful to watch the aftermath of carnage at St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo. For that matter, heart pained for Sri Lanka as a whole. No innocent people need to die this way anywhere in the world. This bloodshed takes us nowhere but to more bloodshed. It has to end. Period! I felt a connect to Negombo as soon as I heard about the incident. I spent my first night at Negombo on my first trip to Sri Lanka exactly ten years back in 2009. So, my first impressions for this beautiful island nation came from Negombo. It was a also the starting point of a memorable almost a week long road trip of the island nation. Also read: An orphanage for the mighty at Pinnawala Saint Stephen's Church at Negombo which was consecrated in 1880, when Britishers ruled the island nation. Church is ...

AdventureInternational

Visit Sri Lanka for some warmth this winter

Upendra SwamiJanuary 9, 20191372 Views4

Is the winter too harsh here in the north? Well, if you need some sunshine, why don’t you move south… further upto Sri Lanka. And, its not just sunshine, it is a perfect holiday destination to give you some unforgettable experiences. I had a fantastic experience in Sri Lanka, every single time I was there. It’s close, its fun and its affordable too. So let me list out the reasons, why you should be in Sri Lanka right now or may be later this month. What an exciting first trip of the new year it can be. So, let’s go! Tea gardens of central Sri Lanka 1. Brilliant weather and immaculate beaches One of the perks of vacationing in an island country like Sri Lanka are the stretches of pristine beaches, azure ocean waters and seemingly endless horizon. The beaches of Southern Sri Lank...

InternationalNews

This full moon experience the Kandy Esala Perahera

Upendra SwamiAugust 22, 20181349 Views0

Held annually in the full-moon month of ‘Esala’, the Kandy Esala Perahera is the ultimate celebration and showcase of Sri Lanka’s rich heritage and vibrant culture. The significance of the month of ‘Esala’ (which falls on July or August) is that it is believed to commemorate the very first teaching imparted by the Buddha, following his enlightenment. Conducted in reverence to the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha which is contained in the ancient palace of Kandy known as ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’, the flamboyant annual procession unites Sri Lankans from all corners of the island and draws culture enthusiasts from across the globe. This year, the Kandy Esala Perahera is taking place from 16th to 26th August in its usual series of colourful Kumbal Peraheras, Randoli Peraheras and vivacious ritua

InternationalPhotogallery

ऊँ at the Colombo World War Cemetery!

Upendra SwamiAugust 27, 20162155 Views0

Every city has some hidden gems that normal tourists are unaware of. Every city also has a fabulous history whose all aspects are not known to us. What you need to do is to travel like a local and let yourself soak in the atmosphere. Many a times, while travelling to some secluded, not so popular places, you might not find tourists around you, at least not as much as you would find at popular tourist destinations. But that would be a good chance to know about the insights of culture and history of a place. That’s what happened to us in Colombo. Sri Lanka or erstwhile Ceylon shares a lot with India, in terms of culture and history. Britishers, after controlling whole of India, also occupied Ceylon in early 19th century. They controlled the whole Indian sub-continent as a single territory.

InternationalPhotogallery

Dalada Maligawa houses Buddha’s sacred tooth as relic

Upendra SwamiJuly 11, 20162575 Views12

Well, India shares a lot of its history with Sri Lanka - since mythological times! Ditto with Buddhism, which spread from India to Sri Lanka. As a traveler Indians will often feel home there. Kandy is beautiful place to be for the tourists for elephant orphanage of Pinnawala near by and also for its Royal botanical garden. Kandy is in heart of Sri Lanka - virtually as well as actually. Geographically it is in the centre of the emerald island nation. Kandy is also famous for Dalada Maligawa temple known also as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha (image below). The temple is located in the royal palace complex (image below) of the former kingdom of Kandy. In the buddhist nation, this relic was held in such a high esteem that it w

AdventureInternationalPhotogallery

An orphanage for the mighty at Pinnawala

Upendra SwamiDecember 11, 20151550 Views5

Small islands don't have big animals- goes the saying, not actually so for Sri Lanka. The little emerald island with population less than 17 of Indian states has a big population of elephants. And actually Sri Lankan elephants are largest among the Asian elephants and only two species of African elephants are bigger than Sri Lankan elephants. But Sri Lankan elephants had their share of tragedy because of civil war. Pinnawala elephant orphanage came in handy during that time. Although it was established in 1975 to take care of the orphaned or abandoned baby elephants found in the wild, but many injured elephants in the civil war also found shelter there. Orphanage earned its most popularity during that time. Pinnawala is known to have a largest herd of captive elephants in the world.

Photogallery

Looking down- A photo experience!

Upendra SwamiSeptember 15, 20151612 Views7

How one feels while looking down deep! Is it a feeling of fear... or of being high up then others! Does it make you any humble or too realistic about life! Does it make you feel in thin air! Or it gives you a new meaning to life... A collection of images clicked at various times to reflect upon feeling of 'Looking Down' and my interpretation to them... Just because, I like these photos. Hope you too (See them all)! Looking down at your means to gain height! (Male Airport, Maldives) Looking down at speed you gain to move ahead! (Somewhere in Indian Ocean, Maldives) Looking down at lines nature creates! (Pacific Ocean, Eastern Japanese coast) Looking down at lines we move on! (Singapore) Looking down at jungles we love! (Ranthambore, Rajasthan) Looking down at Jungles we crea

InternationalPhotogallery

Peradeniya, Kandy: Much beyond a Botanical Gardens

Upendra SwamiNovember 13, 20131802 Views1

Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, Kandy in heart of Sri Lanka is truly spectacular, much beyond a mere botanical garden, a paradise, riot of colours, heaven of orchids. A must see for all travelers to Sri Lanka. So huge that not easy for a normal traveler to see it in a day. Need to have ample time to enjoy its rarity. Situated in suburbs of Kandy, it is a huge botanical preservation with a large and unique collection of plants, trees, herbs, flowers and anything related to flora. Beautiful setting with walkways and gardens. Some of the rarest and oldest plants can be seen here too. Fruit bats, bamboo higher than a 3 story building, monkeys and plants/trees you wouldn't see anywhere else. It holds an admirable collection of orchids, palm trees and endemic plants. Not to be missed by ...