Katharagama/Kathirkaamam, Sacred City, Sri Lanka.

Flowers on sale on the road to Kirivehara.

A Mosque and Shrine of a Muslim Saint.

'Valliammal Kovil.

Sights at the temple premises, 'Katharagama' / 'Kathirkaamam', Sri Lanka.

The story is told of how Lord Muruga / Skanda Deviyo developed sores on his body and went away from his home and wife to wander in the wilderness. He came across the hut of a Veddha Cheiftain where his young daughter 'Valliamma' was living. He fell in love and was rejected by her. Ultimately Lord Muruga got his brother Lord Vinayaga the elephant-headed God to frighten Valli at an opportune moment taking the form of an elephant. The frightened Valli fell into the arms of Lord Muruga who happened to be present and was rescued by Him. Valli subsequently married Lord Muruga and was his second wife.
To this day the 'Aaraathi Ammal' of the temple are females from the Veddha clan who address Lord Muruga as 'Machchaan'/ 'Massina'.
This Kovil is more than 2000 years old.

Sights at 'Katharagama/Kathirkaamam', Sri Lanka.

Crossing the bridge over the sacred river.

Devotees lining up for the '
Pooja' with their tray of offerings of fresh fruit.

The entrance to the temple of Lord Muruga.

Environs of 'Menik Ganga' S, 'Maanikka kangai' T, Sri Lanka.

Click on the web-link below to watch a video of snapshots taken at Katharagama:-

http://youtu.be/IlOpCh3kNVY

Entering Katharagama from the Sithulpawwa side, Sri Lanka.

A dear tree as an ornament.

A Buddhist monastery complex.

Just outside Katharagama.

Inside Katharagama.

Sights on entry from Tissa end, stay the night at Sithulpawwa and exit via Katharagama. Please click on web-link below:-

http://youtu.be/oa6DgzRnCEw

Sithulpawwa to Katharagama, Sri Lanka.

Sights, Sithulpawwa, Sri .Lanka

Ruins of an ancient building.

The beauty of a tree.

A family of Elks ( 'Goena' S - 'Marai' T) roaming free in the monastery.

Sights at Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

An old 'Chathya'.

Ruins of a long gone era looking back over millenia.

Squirrel foraging.

Sights of Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

A sylvan pool.

Sunrise.

The beauty of a vine.

Distant hill an adobe of  Buddhist meditators and 'Arahants' in the past for millennia.

Sithulpawwa as a Buddhist monastery dates back 2200 years before the present era. Even now elephants, leopards, bears and wild buffaloas roam the area.

Watching Dolphins and Whales, taking off from Galle, Sri Lanka.

The air-conditioned water-jet liner, 'The Princess of Lanka' at the Galle Fisheries harbor.

Seating accomodation in the air-conditioned area.

Dolphins

Going onto the deck to watch the Dolphins and Whales.

'There she blows' - Spotting a whale.

A 'Blue Whale'

A boat from Mirissa carrying tourists.

It was a superb service with safety and courtesy managed by the Sri Lankan Navy. The ticket of Rs.3500/- included a breakfast. Bookings had to be done in advance. Embarkation was from the Fisheries Harbour, Galle. There was enough parking space for the 200 odd passengers vehicles. We left the pier at 7.15 am and were back at 2.15 pm. It was a smooth ride in the air-conditioned interior in the water-jet propelled cruise liner. I took the precaution of taking 'Avomine' tablets. Quite a few passengers vomited. The service personnel provided polythene bags to the affected passengers. Once on the way we came out on a well protected deck. Our cameras worked overtime once the Dolphins and Whales were spotted. We saw tourist from Mirissa at the place where the whales were spotted.

I recalled the day in the early 1950s when the first ship presented to the Royal Ceylon Navy, by the British Government, a mine-sweeper renamed H.M.Cy.S Wijaya, paid a courtesy call at Point-Pedro. I was a student at Hartley College and we were invited to visit the ship. We went in a 'Vallam' and boarded the ship. It made us proud to be part of the newly independent Ceylon. The ship had the same 'spit and polish' that the 'Princess of Lanka' has now. The sailors showed us round and we returned to shore happy.

We congratulate the Sri Lankan Navy on a job done with excellence.

Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

An ant-hill near the road.

The 'Chaithya' on a hill-top.

A sunset at Sithulpawwa.

Bougainvillas blooming in the parking area.

A historic site more than 2200 years old, Sithulpawwa in the south of Sri Lanka, borders the Ruhuna National Park. The constant cry of pea-cocks adds to the solitude.