Avidimu: Nilaveli Trip

NILAVELI TRIP by Nishan

25th and 26th October, 2014

Accommodation: Hotel Shahira, Nilaveli

Buddies: Nishan, Mogan, Dhanushka and Prasath

Transport: Honda Fit Aria

Route: Kandy-Habarana-Trinco-Nilaveli-Pigeon Island/Tiriyaya-Trinco-Pasikuda-Chekaladi-Mahaoya-Mahiyangana-18 bends-Back to Mahiyangana-Loggal Oya-Raja Mawatha-Kandy

Activities: History at Koneswaran and Tiriyaya, Relaxing at Nilaveli, Snorkelling at Pigeon Island, Driving through mist, rain and landslides at 18 bends and Raja Mawatha

We left Kandy at 3.30am on the 25th and arrived at Hotel Shahira after a nonstop drive around 7.30am. We checked in and immediately went back to Trinco and visited Koneswaran Temple. After performing pooja and taking photos of the beautiful scenes and lover’s leap, we proceeded to town for breakfast. Hotel Arafa, a Muslim joint similar to The Muslim Hotel, Kandy provided us with a fantastic meal of Parata and Stringhoppers.

We went back to Shahira and had a drink and chat and a sleep to pass away the hot afternoon and had Mogan’s mutton curry for lunch ☺. Around 4.30pm we went to Nilaveli Beach and had a maxa time on the beach while having drinks and snacks and finally dinner at the restaurant closest to the beach. The cuttle fish devilled curry there was SUPERB!!!

After coming back we sat up quietly listing to the sound of waves and then went to sleep. We got up next morning and had a breakfast of Stringhoppers before setting out to Pigeon Island on a boat kindly arranged by the Hotel manager for Rs. 5000/=.

Pigeon Island was a place out of this world and snorkelling for the first time we had a fantastic experience and saw among other things, Jelly Fish, Star Fish and scores of other marine animals and plants. It was quite safe and our boat package included life jackets and snorkelling gear.

Coming back with a heavy heart we checked out and proceeded to Tiriyaya, 33km from Nilaveli, to see the first stupa ever to be built in Buddhist history. After enjoying the serene ruins and beautiful views we came down pouring with sweat and bought iced cold water to cool down.

We drove to Trinco town for lunch at a cool little place called Oshin where we had a very tasty rice and curry with chicken for just Rs. 180/= in an air conditioned room. After lunch we drove south via China Bay to Vakarai where we got some Toddy to accompany us on the rest of the trip ;)

We briefly stopped at Pasikuda before proceeding southwards to Chenkaladi where we turned on to the Maha Oya road. We had a refreshing bath at Maha Oya hot wells before coming to Hasalaka via Mahiyangana. We bought some pol roti and fried fish for the rest of the journey and started climbing the 18 bends when the rain came down in sheets. We drove through the mist and rain, avoiding small landslides and at the top of bend no. 6, found a van which has skidded off and hit the embankment.

We got down in the pouring rain and ran to the van and found the occupants cold and scared but ok. The front of the van was crushed, but no one was injured. As we could not help further we called 119 and then proceeded to Hunnasgiriya where we found a huge landslide blocking our way. We had to turn back and through the mist and rain came down the 18 bends, (passing the van whose occupants were rescued by the Hasalaka Police) and proceeded via Loggal Oya and Raja Mawatha again through thick mist and heavy rain to Kandy. All in all it was a fantastic trip! ☺

1. On the way