Tuktuk, Tee und Elefanten - Sri Lanka
Tuktuk, Tee und Elefanten - Sri Lanka
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Temple on Rock and Beautytime, visiting Dambulla and Sigiryia

प्रकाशित: 15.09.2023

On Thursday morning we board the half-occupied, air-conditioned minibus to Dambulla. When we got there it was raining a little, but that didn't stop us from walking to our accommodation, which was a little outside (Hotel Hideaway Garage). On the way there we pass a beautiful and clean reservoir, which is a dime a dozen here. They are used as water reservoirs for irrigating rice fields.

Puppies of the accommodation

At the accommodation we are warmly welcomed by two still nameless puppies. Antonio the owner explains to us that two weeks ago they were picked up on the side of the road by guests without their mother, and he has now taken them in with him.

Filled dumplings

As a small lunchtime snack we treat ourselves to filled dumplings in a "motorway rest stop". Dambulla is the traffic hub as 4 major highways intersect here. The open kitchen looks so fresh and delicious that we decide to come back for dinner (we are assured with all our might that it is also open in the evenings).

Leonie in front of the rock temple mountain
Dambulla rock temple
Dambulla rock temple

The path takes us further to the rock temples of Dambulla. A ruler once retreated into the caves here. When he finally managed to regain control, he founded 5 beautifully decorated temples in the rock caves.

Extended monkey family
It's baby time

On the sweaty way up we meet the largest family of monkeys to date, which consists of at least 20 animals. We see many mothers with the babies clinging to them.

The wholesale market

Climbing back down from the rock, we go to the wholesale vegetable market, which is located here due to its convenient location.

Trucks can be so beautiful

Here the truck is the shopping cart. The (sometimes impressively beautifully decorated) trucks and dealers' shops wind their way through three huge exhibition halls, stocking up on everything the area has to offer: cucumbers, eggplants, bananas, onions, pumpkins, garlic, cassava, beans, herbs, ginger, turmeric , coconuts, cabbage, the list isn't even close to being exhaustive...

Nail time

On the way through Dambulla, like in Germany, we do pedicures together every two weeks (of course not). A bit embarrassing when you laugh out loud because it tickles your feet, well the tears roll down. When we finally arrive at the restaurant, there are a lot of guests there, but the kitchen is empty and a lady tells us that there is nothing to eat.

Kottu made from coconut roti

We think it's a shame, we must have misunderstood them, but we quickly find another snack bar where we eat kottu (chopped coconut flatbreads fried with vegetables and onions). Very tasty and very filling! On the way home we walk past the previous restaurant, where it's suddenly busy again. We probably caught the lunch break from 6-7 p.m.

The next morning we take the bus to Pidurangala to climb the King's Rock.

Pink meets pink

The footpath is lined with flowering trees. Of course there is also a (smaller) cave monastery here.

Rock fortress of Sigiriya (or for the nephews: a really big royal rock)

However, the rock is much better known for the view it offers of the rock fortress of Sigiryia, where another ruler previously retreated. After a bit of climbing, the volcano-formed hills rise impressively in the otherwise flat landscape.

Ayurvedic herb garden

After the descent we are drawn to an Ayurvedic herb garden. The guide introduces us to aloe vera, cloves, cinnamon, lemongrass, ginger, and many other plants that are less well-known to us. The tour is free but from the well-stocked medicine wall We like to take a bottle of oil with us for back pain and osteoarthritis.

Time for Ayurveda

We take the rest of the afternoon for an Ayurvedic healing treatment. We are massaged, kneaded, dripped with oil and powdered with herbs for two hours and afterwards we feel like we have been reborn. The bus takes you back to Dambulla.

Work in progress

In the evening, Leonie sneaks into the kitchen of the accommodation, because you never stop learning when cooking curry.

Curry without coconut milk

For example, the vegetables are boiled with water after seasoning and frying; the (homemade) coconut milk is only added at the very end.

It's served up

Antonio and his crew conjure up a pumpkin curry, an okra curry, a chili carrot curry and a cabbage curry for us, while also frying a few prawns and an omelet and frying fresh papadums. Sugar-ripe pineapple for dessert.

It's plated up

Good luck!


Tomorrow morning we set off for Nilaveli, a beach town in northeast Sri Lanka. Antonio is jealous and raves to us about the snorkeling trips there. We'll see =)

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