Off Season

Sri pada season is from December to April each year. Any other period is off season and not many people go there. The weather is not suitable and temple at the top of the mountain is closed and open for few hours during full moon poya days only.

Yet, travelling during off season has other virtues.

This picture was taken in June this year, which had one of the highest level of rainfall, compared to last few years. The result is so many waterefalls that you would not see on other times.

I saw this anonymous quintuplet on the way to Sri pada just after this bend.

Makara Thorana to Sama Vihara

This is the path from Makara Thorana to Sama Chethiya on the way to Sri Pada peak (Nallathanni Route). When you take the bend, you will see four more water falls.

Thalawathugoda

This picture was taken at Thalawathugoda, just 8km from Colombo city limits.

For more sky views, visit - Skywatch Friday

Kaluwara and Kalumediriya

I have a few Kaluwara (Ebony - Diospyros ebenum) trees in my garden. The timber is jet black and one of the hardest. These plants are now available at many places in Sri Lanka.

I am still looking for a rare tree called Kalumediriya (Calamander or Coromandel - Diospyros quaesita). The tree seem to be very similar to Kaluwara. It is more expensive than Kaluwara and the wood is known as the most beautiful of all timber. The wood is black but has a brown stripe. 

There were many Kalu mediriya trees in the 18th and 19th centuries and all were cut off for furniture. Right now it is almost extinct. So far, my visits to Forestry Department (and many other places) looking for Kalumediriya saplings, have been fruitless.

The picture here is one of the ebony trees in my garden.