A day in Kandy

Thankfully a nice sunny morning [ After yesterday’s heavy rain, we are going to be equipped with umbrellas just in case ]

After breakfast, we first headed to the Tooth temple. Walking along the Kandy Lake we reached a point, from where looking in the direction of the city, we saw the giant Buddha statue on top of a hill, which so symbolizes Kandy.

At the entrance of temple complex, we saw security refusing entrance to folks in shorts [narrow escape for Sayu, else we would have seen him in pink sarong next]. We bought our tickets - 1000 lkr for the two of us. They charge SAARC nations half price compared to other nations. Best was, we got just in time for the 9:30 am ceremony. Talk about timing!! So the ceremony began with three people playing some traditional musical instruments. Everybody thought there's more to it and crowded around them clicking and shooting. But then they realized that this is all that will continue and there is no further show happening here - the crowd dispersed. It was good though, different, and I believe they will play like this for next 1.5 hours. We queued up to go to the main section. And shortly got "Darshan". Whole atmosphere was similar to Hindu temples - people offering donation [money], flowers [lotus], lighting lamps, and praying. This dotted with tourists clicking and shooting away [we amongst them] and off course the guides [making loads of money from foreigners].

Prayer ceremony begins inside the Tooth Temple

This section being the main one was crowded, then we went to another section, which had a huge sitting Buddha statue [Totally majestic] , along with his foot print and lots of pictures depicting the story of the "tooth". Many more Buddha statues where there, many of them apparently gifted by other Buddhist countries. This section was mostly filled with tourists & their respective guides.

Lotus offerings by the devotees

Outside the  temple, they have a separate section exclusively to light lamps. We could see the Golden top quite clearly from here. After spending few minutes here we left the Tooth temple and decided to visit the Devales.

Tooth Temple - outside the main temple

Nearest was the Vishnu Devale and opposite to that was Natha Devale. We took turns visiting them while one of us was with Ishu, as she wasn't keen on removing her shoes again [besides it was hot]. Natha was the bigger of two, with a scared tree also. People here do consider the "Bodhi" tree scared and pray, they tie some sacred white /red thread etc around it and light lamps.

Vishnu Devale - Within the same temple complex as the Tooth Temple

Next we went to Pattini Devale. It was a temple of Hindu devi. At the time we went prayer ceremony was going on, bells ringing and pandit chanting. Inside I saw pictures of many Hindu Goddess.

Outside the temple Complex - Vendors selling Lotus flowers for offering to Lord Buddha

After this we headed out of the temple complex. We skipped the art & craft centre, as we were tired and hungry by now. We spotted couple of restaurants near by, the one which was recommended by our guest house person turned out expensive with no basic idli dosa which we were hoping for, so we went to the adjacent one. Here we got idli for Ishu, plain dosa for me and masala one for Sayu. And of course tea. It was fine and cheap.

Next we decided to head back to our room for sometime. While Ishu and Sayu slept I went to the near by Maha Viharaya. Had read online that its some known monastery. Dunno what I was expecting to see there, but except for one elaborate and big gate, there wasn't much. Everything seemed closed. I peaked inside one door and it seemed like a office with files etc. I went to the museum which ended as soon as it began. Anyway, I exchanged few words with one of the monk there, who was pretty intrigued by my presence there.

After getting some more currency exchanged, we headed to Kataragama temple. Next we just roamed around in the city wondering about dinner. Finally we just got some short eats packed, usual fruits and by now our favourite - nescafe iced coffee. It had started drizzling by now, so we chucked our original plan of going back to the tooth temple to see it lighted, and headed back to our room.

Once again Oats for Ishu [that was her dinner every night in Srilanka, which we were carrying and I cooked in the kitchen of which ever place we were staying], packed for next day and slept. Our room was comfortable with one separate small bed, and since it wasn't too hot, one corner swing fan sufficed.

By the way this was one place I got fed up of tuk tuk people. Every now and then someone will ask tuk tuk? Comm'on if I need one I'll ask for one. And what inflated price, our homestay was some 1.2 kms from station,they asked 300 for that!