An adventure in Sri Lanka

The GP 14 class are going to Sri Lanka to hold their World Championships and as John and myself have been to Sri Lanka many times both backpacking and staying in 5*hotels we thought perhaps a little blog giving travel and accommodation tips and links would be helpful....

I will leave the event organisers to give you the info on Negombo, the event venue, as my blog is about your adventure either before or after the event....
My first recommendations for a short 4 day trip with plenty to see and staying in a family run Inn and a 5* hotel

prebook a car/van for very early morning to take you to Kandy calling to see the elephants on the way there.

PINNAWALA ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

KANDY ....stay over night at Sharon Inn

DAMBULLA

SIGIRIYA.... stay over night at Kandalama Hotel

POLLONARUWA stay another night at Kandalama or back to Kandy to Sharon Inn

http://www.lanka.com/photos/pinnawala-elephant-orphanage-sri-lanka-362.html

After spending time with the elephants your driver will take you on to Kandy and The Sharon Inn ,my favorite lodge ,I would say to stay two nights as there is lots to see ,The Temple of the Tooth , The Botanical Gardens The massive Buddha on the hill over looking the cricket ground. The Sharon Inn must be prebooked as its one of the best ...prices from about R2000 per room but please check with The Sharon Inn..SEE LINKS.....It is high above Kandy with views of the lake from your room , we prefer room 9 (see pics of view from room 9)
Dont leave food out as we had a visit from a troupe of monkeys. The Sharon Inn is owned by a German/Sri Lankan couple Sue and Faiesz Samod who run the small hotel
to perfection and cook the best evening buffet meal of rice and many veggie curries. We haven't found better in the whole of the country ...

http://www.hotelsharoninn.com/index.html

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g304138-d634812-Reviews-Sharon_Inn-Kandy.html DAMBULLA AND SIGIRIYA

Faiesz , the owner of The Sharon Inn will organise your transport of a car or van and a driver who will stay in staff accommodation and be ready to take you where ever you want to go . The Temples of Dambulla and the rock top palace of Sigiriya are on route to Pollanaruwa and can be done in a day and then on to your prebooked 5*eco hotel on the edge of the lake amongst all the wild life any one could want .. "Kandalama Hotel" is built in the jungle which creeps onto your balcony ..The rooms and the food are very good but the restaurant has a dress code (no shorts)
http://www.dambulla.com/ http://sigiriya.org/gallery.htm
I would stay for two nights perhaps enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the wild elephants with aerial views of Sigiriya

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g304133-d315685-Reviews-Heritance_Kandalama_Hotel-Dambulla.html

POLONNARUWA

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/celynog/Sri%20Lanka/polonnaruwa.htm
The hotel I recommend for a beer and a sit by the lake only is The Rest house http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g304140-d583236-Reviews-Polonnaruwa_Resthouse-Polonnaruwa.html ....we stayed in the room the Queen had occupied ..but from the reviews perhaps not a good idea any more ....and after seeing the ancient sites back to "Kandalama Hotel" to enjoy a dip in one of the three pools and a superb dinner before returning to Kandy and Negombo

This is the first of my blogs about travels in Sri Lanka ,next one will be about the train to the hill country and the tea plantations .