Of Faith, Myth, and History- Abhishekh’s Sri Lanka Trip with Thrillophilia

So, where do we start?

Well…we had the best vacation in a while with Thrillophilia! We never expected to find such bliss and beauty in Sri Lanka, but, alas! You never know if you never see!

So, our journey started with a plan that was falling all over the place. It was my birthday and I wanted to do something the sober way…yeah, life beyond 25 can get quite unexpected…you might even end up being stunned at the person you become.

I had my partner with me who was super supportive of this decision of mine, so I tagged him along in this exciting venture of exploring Sri Lanka through rose glasses!

I was ecstatic, and really looking forward to this trip to Sri Lanka. Not only did the destination induce a sense of curiosity and wonder in us, but the thought of flying to Ravana’s homeland seemed quite an interesting thing to do.

So, growing up in India, we knew the story of Ramayana by heart, but one thing bugged me forever- Ravana was such a nice king, so why did he fall into such desperate actions?

Well, my grandfather always told me- “he lost his grip over his emotions”

This is a lesson that I carry in my heart till date.

Real solace never comes by subsiding or subduing emotions. It knocks on your door on that day when you have made peace with each and every aspect of it- guilt, love, regret, sadness, there can be millions of feelings- but to face it is to gain the power to grasp it.

Far and Wide, All in Heart
And it was years after, that I truly grasped the meaning of these words. I wanted to get close to myself, explore my own thoughts and being, and grow an identity that would be true to me, and to which I would be completely honest.

The day we reached the heart of Colombo, we were taken aback by the impeccable beauty of the landscapes. The most surprising thing that cleared the air of us and filled our minds with positive thoughts was the experience of watching elephants take a bath at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, and then being fed fruits and milk by the mahouts.

We did not know what to expect before arriving here, but wherever this trip was taking us, geographically and metaphorically, we loved it.

Our stay in Kandy was simply AWESOME! There was a balcony overlooking ranges of lofty peaks, the sight of which played hide and seek with us, thanks to the aid of the clouds. It was the peak of December and we were really enjoying the tropical winters there- comfortable and chilly with occasional drizzles.

But what stole the show was the Ambuluwawa Tower- it was a spectacular architectural wonder whose brilliant concept behind its made threw us off-guard. We were never expecting to witness such a piece of work- a multi-religious building that housed a church, a mosque, a kovil, and a temple. This diversity was reflected in its architectural structure which at a glance represented a Buddhist Stupa.

I was stunned at the sight of it. Despite staying in India which is rightfully a secular country, such an instance of inclusivity was a rare find even in the largest democracy in the world. I made sure to document the entire experience of exploring this place, and by the end of the day when I was going through the images, I could only think of one thing-

“The answer to the difference is to respect it.” -John Hume

A Tour of History and Myth, with a Touch of Folklore
Our visit to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Sigiriya and Dambulla Caves were grand and heart-warming.

Not only did we witness the ancient fortress of Sigiriya, perched atop the Lion’s Rock, but we also went to the best-preserved cave monastery in Sri Lanka for over 22 centuries. I will leave you guessing the establishment dates of both these places, whilst I talk about another aspect of our thrilling journey through the “Teardrop of India”...

…The famous site of Ramayana where Ravana held Sita Captive, the Ravana Ella caves. It was one of the most intriguing and heart-wrenching places that I have visited till date. There was a certain ambience to it which reminded us of the fate Ravana had to endure for keeping Sita captive. And then our minds got flooded with the fate Sita met…

Unjust.

Following it, we made our way to the Ravana Falls, and finally, we went to the Nine Arch Bridge which transported us to 19th century British Imperialism again.

The sheer beauty of colonial architecture proved to us how the romanticism of nostalgia is not necessarily harmful, but it can surely lead to a paradox.

We ended the tour of Ella with a nice and peaceful visit to the tea plantations. The vistas ahead of us looked surreal. I realised that it was the perfect birthday celebration. I was glad to have come here on this trip, at this time, with him.

The Final Shifts of the Voyage
The beaches of Marissa are as beautiful as raw pearls, unshaped and unpolished, but portraying the best artworks of nature. The palm-fringed horizons looked enchanting, and so did the waves that splashed against our feet now and then.

We did our short sightseeing tour of the Parrot Rock and Coconut Tree Hill. We also went for an adventurous scuba diving experience which rejuvenated us completely. Swimming and any kind of water sports actually uplift your bodily functions considerably, and after such a happening tour of Sri Lanka, we were just in need of that.

So, with a relaxing evening lounging at the beach, we called it a day, and with it, wrapped up the trip in the most magical way possible-

We strolled along the beach at the break of dusk. The sunset threw a riot of colours in the sky, mixing the blue of the ocean and the red of the sky into a purple line. It almost seemed as if the rainbow came alive!

Read More: Thrillophilia Sri Lanka Reviews