While the world shifts and adapts, we sought inspiration in travel, a reminder that journeys are about experiences, healing, learning, and sharing. In uncertain times, it felt important to look beyond the familiar. So, an impromptu adventure began: a week away from the city to uncover Sri Lanka’s lesser-known treasures.
With backpacks and resilience, we travelled light, relying mostly on public transport, tuk-tuks, and sometimes hitchhiking. The unpredictability taught us humility, patience, and adaptability.
Our journey began in Polonnaruwa, reached by the night mail train from Colombo Fort, an experience of “organised chaos,” alive with commuters and bewildered tourists. Arriving in the early hours, stray dogs and a kind guesthouse host welcomed us. At dawn, bicycles carried us past the Parakrama Samudraya reservoir, rice fields, and villages. The smiles of children, king coconuts by the roadside, and a breakfast of local treats made the ride unforgettable. By bus, we reached Wasgamuwa, where villagers’ warmth and generosity shone through. That evening’s safari revealed elephants by the Mahaweli River, their trumpets echoing in the wild.
Next came Meemure, a remote village nestled in the Central Province. A trekking guide failed to appear, but chance introduced us to Lal and Ranjith, two locals who became our companions. Over six hours, they led us along river paths, shared stories of rural struggles, and reminded us how travel fosters genuine human connection.
From there, the adventure grew bolder: a two-day climb to “the Lonely Cave,” an unfinished rock fortress linked to King Saddhathissa. Guided by Chief Aththo of the indigenous Veddha community, we carried supplies through thorny plains and up steep rocky slopes. The summit rewarded us with sweeping views, a stone-carved pool mirroring the sky, and the cave itself, our home for the night. Over bread and sprats curry by a woodfire, Chief Aththo shared Veddha chants and beliefs in animism, blurring boundaries between humans and nature. At dawn, we descended, spotting elephants from afar and ancient granite canal ruins nearby, mysteries of history left incomplete.
