Tour 2 - Central Highlands
A fascinating Trip through the glories of the Kandyan Kingdom - 10 days - 850 km
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Highlights
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DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAM
DAY 1. Negombo - Chilaw (Munneswaram - visit) - Panduwas Nuwara - Kurunegala - Pinnawela (visit) - 148 km
From Negombo 
, we'll drive on the main road towards Chilaw/Puttalam for a few kilometer, then turning right to Dankotuwa, running parallel with the main road, but much less traffic. Shortly before Chilaw we join the main road again. In Chilaw we visit the Munneswaram Hindu Temple , one of the most prestigious in the country.
We continue our drive past Munneswaram to Panduwas Nuwara 
, a little known but interesting site. In the 12th century King Parakramabahu I used it as his capital for some time. But as historic facts are rare, the whole episode is full of obscure legend. One story claims that he built it to hide his daughter for her lovers or pretended bridegrooms, since a prophecy forwarned that she would give birth to a son who would eventually kill his grandfather and claim the throne - perhaps there's some secret family tie with Herod after all? Whatever the legends, the remains show part of a large moat and impressive walls of the former palace, plenty of remains of monks quarters, dagobas, image houses and a large round palace (probably with multiple storeys). It's nothing to the scale of Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa, but still surprisingly large for a small hidden place.
We continue our exploration and past Kurunegala, end up in Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage 
, where we will spend the night - no, not with the elephants, but in a nearby guest house.
DAY 2. Pinnawela - Peradeniya (visit) - Kandy (city visit) - 45 km
From Pinnawela we'll head for some little jungle roads on the way to Peradeniya and Kandy. Although a short drive, it won't go fast, but at least we avoid most of the horrendous Colombo-Kandy main road.
In Peradeniya you can test your botanical knowledge against this immense collection in a more than pleasant garden setting 
. You can stroll around freely, but don't miss the splendid collection of orchids, nor the interesting spice garden.
During the afternoon there's plenty of time to visit the main attraction points in Kandy 
. As we are staying a few days in Kandy, you'll get your fair share of Kandyan dancing on one of the evenings.
DAY 3. Kandy - excursion to Victoria Dam - 76 km
After all the walking yesterday, it's good to be in the saddle again for a leisurely but exciting trip around the huge, multi-branched Victoria Reservoir, created by the equally imposing Victoria Dam. The way up we'll use the A26 main road. Although in good condition, the often steep slopes and hairraising zigzags are a challenge, but the views are magnificient. In Uragalla we leave the main road and hit for Victoria Dam itself 
. After crossing the dam, the windy road back to Kandy goes through pretty wild country, mostly devoid of any human settlement. The feeling of desolation in the overwhelming natural background abruptly changes at the end of the route, when we enter the bustling old capital again.
DAY 4. Kandy - excursion to Knuckles Range - 78 km
Today another nature round trip, but of a totally different kind. We are heading for Knuckles Range 
, a mountain range north of Kandy (with peaks up to 1900 m), where lush green and plantations mix in a magical scenery. Expect some mystical experience in the morning, when patches of clouds hang around the mountain tops, slowly clearing when the sun breaks through. Although a relatively small area, it has a tremendous variety of climatic conditions (expect some rain!), and as such a huge diversity in vegetation too. It's really a world in itself. Knuckles Range is also one of the longest inhabited places in Sri Lanka, from prehistoric times to the height of the Kandyan Kingdom. It's a region that vibrates with an unequalled load of history.
DAY 5. Kandy - Pusselawa - Ramboda Falls - Nuwara Eliya - 86 km
The trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya brings us again in a totally different landscape. The hills are getting higher, vegetation sparser, and tea estates dot the countryside. For the first part, we use an scenic interior road. Just past Gamploa we're joining the main road, which has been totally renewed, and offers a leisurely trip. At Pussellawa 
, we visit a tea factory, showing you how the little green leafs get transformed into a high quality black tea. A furter stop at the famous Ramboda falls 
will help you stretch your legs a bit, before reaching breath-taking Nuwara Eliya 
.
DAY 6. Nuwara Eliya - Brookside - Uda Pussallawa - Istripura Caves (visit) - Welimada - Horton Plains (visit) - Pattipola - Hakgala (visit) - Nuwara Eliya - 170 km
After a cool night in Sri Lanka's most British city, we gear up for a long day.
We will pass some big names in tea (Brookside, Uda Pussellawa, Kirklees) 
, before entering the mythical caves of Istripura.
After Welimada 
we prepare ourselves to the high, rough and desolate plateaus of Horton Plains 
, according to some more Scottish than Scotland. Perhaps the mist that often hangs around adds to that comparison. For a more in-depth impression of Horton Plains, you need to stay here at least one night, and visit the Sanctuary in the early morning hours. But even passing through in the afternoon is an impressive event.
From Horton plains we climb down to Pattipola. For those with a passion for vegetation, Hakgala Botanical Gardens 
will open their gates on our way back to Nuwara Eliya.
DAY 7. Nuwara Eliya - Hatton - Maskeliya - Dalhousie - 63 km
Another tea day, but of a different taste. From Nuwara Eliya we head for Hatton, but just before Lindula we leave the busy main road for a seldom experienced cross-country ride over Agratapana and Dickoya to Norwood. You won't meet much visitors on this stretch, as it's totally off the beaten track 
. Even the Survey Department has got some roads totally wrong on their maps!
From Norwood onwards we envelope ourselves with the totally magical panoramas of Castlereagh and Maussakelle Reservoirs 
. Truly one of the most enchanting regions of Sri Lanka, and hardly visited at all 
.
Finally we reach the foot of Sri Pada or Adam's Peak for our overnight stay.
DAY 8. Climb to Adam's Peak - [Alternative] touring the tea estates
For those who want to climb Adam's peak 
, it's going to be a short night in the hotel and a long night climbing. It's a challenge at any time of the year. During the Pilgrimage season (December-April) traffic jams on the road and on the mountain reach out for Colombo status, while off-season the climb is a solitary adventure, unless you embrace the company of the mountain bears.
As an alternative we offer a leisurely drive/hike combination among the surrounding tea estates 
.
DAY 9. Dalhousie - Laxapana Falls (trek) - Norton Bridge - Hatton - Kitulgala (rafting) - 76 km
At last we're heading back to civilisation! But not without a short steep descent to the foot of Laxapana Falls 
. Alas, the climb back is equally steep.
A last scenic stretch from Norton Bridge along Castlereagh Reservoir brings us to Hatton. There the luxury highway is waiting to guide us to Kitulgala for a last challenge: dipping down the rough waters for an animated rafting tour 
.
You'll crave for a filling dinner.
DAY 10. Kitulgala - Avissawela - Negombo - 95 km
After a lazy morning meditating on the past adventures - you will need some time to digest all the mental and physical experiences - we drive back to Negombo. But not without a final little challenging stretch among some hidden rubber plantations in a particularly wild setting. It's just 30 km from Colombo and practically nobody knows of this little gem, except the very local population.
Negombo awaits us with a complimentary farewell BBQ for all those that have survived the adventures of the past 10 days.
