An enduring memory of my trip to Sri Lanka is the warm welcome and beaming smiles of individuals who live there. This interesting country offers lots of intriguing and unusual experiences all boosted by interaction with the residents who offer them. On my last trip I enjoyed 2 extremely different village experiences, participated in a dance workshop, meditated in a cavern temple and checked out a hotel veggie garden.
My journey to each of these places was likewise a brand-new experience including the sight of wild elephants ambling along the roadway, seen on my method to Hiriwadunna Village. Hiriwadunna Town in Sri Lanka The small rural town of Hiriwadunna is located
on the banks of the Hiriwadunna Lake near the town of Habarana in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. After leaving my comfortable air-conditioned coach I walked down a track to a small clearing where my next mode of transport was waiting, a wood bullock cart. I clambered aboard and we were soon bumping and swaying along a rough muddy track. The startling green of paddy fields lay on one side of me while the opposite was forested. It was not long before we stopped and motivated to dismount and follow our guides down a narrow course skirting the lake. It was a bit difficult conquering the trembling wood jetty and developing the best balance of bodies in the catamaran-style canoes waiting to take us on a boat trip. However, we were quickly sliding throughout the still waters sprinkled with water lily blooms. I was quickly to discover some remarkable accessories that can be created from a lotus flower including a pendant and a hat. < img width =" 920"height="767"src="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20width='920'%20height='767'%20viewBox='0%200%20920%20767'%3E%3C/svg%3E"alt="" data-src="https://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/The-Hat-Maker-of-Hiriwadunna-Village-in-Sri-Lanka-920x767.jpg"/ > Our boat trip ended on the far side of the lake where we were dealt with to a home-cooked Sri Lankan lunch and a presentation of how to make a coconut sambal to accompany a tasty lunch. After paddling back throughout the lake our fourth from of transportation that day, the ubiquitous tuk whisked me back to my coach where motorist and apprentice greeted me with a sunny smile and a bottle of very welcome cold water. My 2nd town check out was a total contrast and involved a remarkable four by four trip through Sri Lanka’s hill nation in the Central Province. A vegetable garden at Jetwing St Andrews in Sri Lanka Jetwing hotels pride themselves on their outstanding Sri Lankan hospitality, a legacy of their creator Herbert Cooray. He was likewise a leader of preservation, one of the first to identify the growing importance of this aspect of tourist. I experienced both qualities here. A highlight of my check out was a tour of the hotel’s vegetable garden– the hotels main source of veggies. Gowry, the Hospitality manager, was my delightful buddy. She led me through the beautiful official gardens to a large veggie garden. We roamed between regimented rows of cabbages, crushed leaves of herbs to delight in the aromas and watched pre-owned water surging through the re-cycling tanks. It felt excellent to understand I was remaining in a preservation mindful hotel.
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Sri Lanka is a nation of colour and contrasts however a consistent is the cordial welcoming from its individuals and the smile that illuminate their faces. And that is what made my check out so unforgettable. Valery Collins Valery Collins is a travel author from south-west England, UK. Her passion for travel covers whatever from luxury safaris to sylish ski goggles.
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