We spent our third night in Sri Lanka in what appeared at first sight to be an ancient temple but turned out instead to be a hotel, the inappropriately named Palm Garden Village. Entering the reception hall was awesome but we were soon wafted away to a colonial-style cottage with equally veteran looking furniture.
The following morning I took a look at the place and found a delightful lake at the end of beautifully landscaped grounds.
There was also, somewhat incongruously, this chapel frescoed with Giottesque copies.
The hotel complex, clearly unfinished, was started in the 1990’s and still needs some investment. I felt it was almost like an oriental equivalent of that disappeared folly, Fonthill Abbey. It was certainly one of the more unusual hostelries I’ve stayed in.
The following morning was dedicated to climbing up another sacred mountain, this time that of Mihintale, the site of a meeting between the monk Mahinda, son of King Ashoka, and King Devanampiyatissa; a meeting marking the beginning of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
I found this area exceptionally evocative. Large rocks were scattered around the luxuriant forest and caves marked the location of hermit monks. There was an atmosphere of peace and quiet: the place diffused a mystical religious feel.
At the base of steps leading to the crowning stupa were the remains of an ancient hospital and a monastery with rules for the novices still inscribed on stones on each side of the entrance.
We then started on our climb of 1840 steps to the stupa.
From its platform magnificent views extended down to Anuradhapuram and its stupa which we had visited the previous day.
What glories and what mysteries are unwrapped in Sri Lanka’s history so unknown to the majority of westerner!
But now we headed towards the sea, passing smatterings of the island’s wildlife the way and
further Buddhist statues.
