Around the country in four days by a car/ලoකාව වටේ දින හතරකින් (Day 01 & 02)

I had a dream of doing around a country trip for a long time. When I thought about this kind of a trip, momentarily I got the memory of Priyanjan and Mithila’s journey by bicycles. They have spent about 9 days to go from east to west by bicycles. Recently our friend Wikum did similar adventure by bicycle around the country but alone. Apart from these two stories a lot of travellers completed this task by different vehicles, sometimes by foot. My selection was a car.

Why we are by car?
1. Simply I don’t know how to ride a motor bicycle.
2. It is more comfortable.
3. Advantage in time.
4. Can drive at night time and in rain.
5. At last it is the one and only available vehicle for me.

The total driving distance of the journey was 2004kms. I can proudly say my vehicle didn’t have any problems throughout this journey. In second day we have driven about 20 hours for day. As it is a hybrid car fuel advantage was high throughout the journey. Most of the time it was above 20km/l.

Disadvantages
1. Some road conditions were not good for this law ground vehicle. As a result we had to spend the time more than we thought. I have particularly mentioned about these difficult sections.

Our route
We started the journey from Colombo fort light house and ended at same place right after four days. Here we followed the route clockwise direction as a lot of travellers follow the route anti-clockwise.
Our main objective was to follow the route closer to coastal line as much as possible. We have visited some selected places to get photos during our journey. It was bit hard to follow beach roads rather than main roads. Some roads are gravel and narrow. Therefore we spent much time than we expected.

Sri Lanka is a small country with seashore of 1340km long. But our total distance of the journey was 2004Km.
Travelling distances
Day 01- 431Km
Day 02- 561Km
Day 03- 458Km
Day 04- 554Km

Our accommodation

We have fixed our accommodation beforehand. Therefore somehow we had to reach the place at the end of the day. It made us to reach these places at late night. Here I would like to mention better you arrange accommodation day by day according to your achievement of the day.

Duration and dates
Here we selected the dawn of New Year season for around the country trip as it is easy to get leaves. We have completed the journey in four days but at the end we felt it would be good to do it in six days.

Day 01

Route
Gall Face Light House (AC31) ->Kochchikade (B596) ->Negambo (A3) ->Maha Oya sea mouth-> Chilaw (A3) ->Battalu Oya (B614)-> Udappuwa->Kalpitiya (B349)-> Palavi (A3)->Puttalama (A12)->Nochchiyagama (Oya Maduwa Road)-> Thanthirimale -> A 14->Mannar->Pesalai

Our starting point of this four days journey was Gall face light house. It was around 5.30am when we clicked our first picture of the day with aid of flashers. Then we got blessed from Kochchikade church and followed the beach road and came to Modara. It was very early morning when we had our snap over Elakanda Bridge.
Beach roads were calm till we passed Negambo then it was busy due to fish sellers and buyers. We have moved to the main road following Negambo to have breakfast. Following the breakfast we were back to beach roads and visited Maha Oya Estuary and arrived another busiest town-Chilaw. The beach road from Chilaw to Chilaw sand splits was narrow and crowded with houses by side. The place called Chilaw sand split is an amazing place where Deduru Oya sea mouth and Chilaw lagoon opening are situated together.

10/04/2021. 5.22 am. Gall Face Light House. Begin of a long journey.

10/04/2021. Blessings from Kochchikade church. PC-Keshan Jayalath

10/04/2021. 5.57 am. Modara. Hamilton Canal joins to Kelani River.

10/04/2021. 5.57 am. At Elakanda Bridge.

10/04/2021. 6.43 am. Negambo Bridge. One of the busiest fish market is there.

Negambo Lagoon joins with the sea.

10/04/2021. 7. 05 Am. Maha Oya sea mouth.

10/04/2021. 7.05 am. Maha Oya sea mouth. JW Marriott Resort and Spa.

On the way to Chilaw.

On the way to Chilaw.

On the way to Chilaw.

10/04/2021. 10.06 am. Deduru Oya Sea mouth and Chilaw Lagoon connect with sea.

10/04/2021. 10.06 am. Deduru Oya Sea mouth and Chilaw Lagoon connect with sea.

10/04/2021. 10.06 am. Deduru Oya Sea mouth and Chilaw Lagoon connect with sea.

10/04/2021. 10.06 am. Deduru Oya Sea mouth and Chilaw Lagoon connect with sea.

Then we were back to Chilaw town and followed the main road till Anawilundawa. The beach roads after Anawilundawa were gravel at some places but it was so disastrous following Udappuwa. We have stooped for a mouthwatering lime juice at rural church. (Can’t remember the name of church) It was amazing to see flourished vegetable farms at Kalpitiya with aid of drip irrigation system. The sky of Kalpitiya is almost now occupied by Wind mills. With my patient driving we were able to reach B349 road at Norochcholai area after passing gravel roads. After few kilometers we again followed the beach road in view of reaching Uchimunai point at Kalpitiya but it was unsuccessful as sandy road started. We were back to main road to visit Kalpitiya Fishery Harbor and left Kalpitiya peninsula.

10/04/2021. 10.42 am. Over Deduru Oya Bridge.

10/04/2021. 10.42 am. Over Deduru Oya Bridge.

At Anawilundawa area.

10/04/2021. 11.32 am. One of a beach road at Anawilundawa.

10/04/2021. 11.46 am. Taste a lime juice at a peripheral church.

10/04/2021. 12.20pm. Wind mills at Kalpitiya.

10/04/2021. 12.20 pm. Wind mills at Kalpitiya.

10/04/2021. 1.16 pm. Kalpitiya Vegetable Farm.

10/04/2021. 2.08 pm. On our way to Uchimunai Church Kalpitiya.

10/04/2021. 2.08 pm. Kalpitiya Beach.

10/04/2021. 2.08 pm. Kalpitiya Beach.

The point where we reached Kalpitiya.

10/04/2021. 2.37 pm. Kalpitiya Fishery Harbor.

10/04/2021. 2.37 pm. Kalpitiya Fishery Harbor.

Here you can’t follow the coastal road from Puttalama to Mannar as old Mannar road is closed following Eluwankulama. Therefore we had to drive into the country at this stretch. We couldn’t stop much places following Puttalama as were running out of time. We have passed Puttalama, Nochchiyagama then reached Anuradhapura-Mannar road. We have captured the sun set at Yodha Wewa area.
Following that it was night time driving till we reached our accommodation at Pesalai. Here we didn’t stop for the lunch in day one, but had our dinner from Army canteen at Thiruketheeswaram.

10/04/2021. 3.59 pm. Thabbowa Lake.

10/04/2021. 4.52 pm. At Mannar Road.

10/04/2021. 6.46 pm. Sun set at Mannar.

10/04/2021. 6.46 pm. Sun set at Mannar. Last picture of the day

Summary of the journey of Day 01. Yellow path. Track recorded by Keshan. Click image to enlarge.

Day 02

Route
Pesalai->Thalaimannar (A14)->Back to Mannar->Vankali (B403)->Marichchukkaddi-> Upper border of Wilpaththu->Back to Vankali-> Thiruketheeswaram (A32) -> Pooneryn (Kawatharimunal road)-> Kalmunai old surveyor point->Back to Pooneryn (A32)-> Jaffna (AB21 & AB39)->Kurikadduwan jetty-> Karainagar jetty-> Kayts-> Back to Jaffna-> Point of Pedro->Mulative

It was a long day as we had to cover remains of first day. We started the journey from Pesalai by 5am and drove up to Adam’s bridge at Thalaimannar to enjoy the sun rise. We followed the road to Vayu hotel and got the beach access near catholic shrine. It was the perfect time to enjoy the sun rise and it was the best sun rise we had for the journey. The road condition from Pesalai to Thalaimannar was not good and under construction. Then we were back on Mannar road and drove along Vankali up to Marichchukkaddi. Wilpaththu upper border was the last point we can arrive along this route as old Puttalama-Mannar road is closed due to court case between RDA and Wild life. This area was so popular during last few years due to deforestation. We have visited Arippu fort and Doric Bungalow on our way to Marichchukkaddi.

11/04/2021. 6.18 am. Sun rise at Thalaimannar closer to Adam’s bridge.

11/04/2021. 6.18 am. Sun rise at Thalaimannar close to Adam’s bridge.

11/04/2021. 6.18 am. Sun rise at Thalaimannar close to Adam’s bridge.

11/04/2021. 6.18 am. Sun rise at Thalaimannar closer to Adam’s bridge.

.	11/04/2021. 6.29 am. Thalaimannar beach closer to Adam’s bridge.

11/04/2021. Passing Vankali.

11/04/2021. 8.37 am. Arippu Bridge.

11/04/2021. 8.44 am. Arippu Fort.

11/04/2021. 8.44 am. Arippu Fort.

11/04/2021. 8.58 am. Doric Bungalow.

11/04/2021. 8.58 am. Doric Bungalow.

11/04/2021. 9.41 am. Passing Marichchukkaddi.

We were back to Vankali and followed a cross road to reach Thiruketheeswaram. Here we had our vegetarian breakfast from Sri Rudram hotel. We knew it is the only meal we get till dinner time. Then it was almost nonstop drive till we passed Pooneryn except Mathota RMW and traditional Palavi pond of Siva. Our next destination was another costal point called Kalmunai old surveyor point facing Bay of Pork. It was kind of a hard journey to drive from Ponneryn to this point and we decided to go back in several times. But we enjoyed this hard driving as we have not exposed to this beautiful costal area before.

11/04/2021. 9.47 am. Breakfast at Sri Rudram pure vegetarian Hotel.

11/04/2021. 10.35 am. At traditional Palavi pond of Siva.

11/04/2021. 10.35 am. Traditional Palavi pond of Siva.

11/04/2021. 10.44 am. Mathota RMW.

11/04/2021. 12.44pm. On our way to Kalmunai.

11/04/2021. On our way to Kalmunai.

On our way to Kalmunai.

This was kind of photogenic place and we stopped here for a while.

This was kind of photogenic place and we stopped here for a while.

11/04/2021. 1.26 pm. Kalmunai Jetty.

11/04/2021. 1.26 pm. Kalmunai Jetty.

11/04/2021. 2.39pm. The beach at Kalmunai Old Surveyor Point.

11/04/2021. 2.39 pm. Kalmunai old surveyor point.

11/04/2021. 2.39pm. The Sea at Kalmunai Old surveyor point.

11/04/2021. 2.39pm. The Sea at Kalmunai Old surveyor point.

11/04/2021. 2.39 pm. Kalmunai Old surveyor point.

We were back to Pooneryn road in evening hours after a hard journey and crossed Sangupitty Bridge to enter Jaffna Peninsula. We have passed Jaffna town and reached Kurikadduwan Jetty as it is one end of Jaffna Peninsula. Then we were back to Kayts and reached Karainagar Jetty. For the first time I have visited Kayts fort and enjoyed the sun set at Kayts beach.

11/04/2021. 4.41 pm. Sangupitti Bridge.

11/04/2021. 4.41 pm. Sangupitti Bridge.

11/04/2021. 5.29 pm. Kurikadduwan Jetty.

11/04/2021. 5.29 pm. Kurikadduwan Jetty.

11/04/2021. 5.29 pm. Kurikadduwan Jetty.

11/04/2021. 5.29 pm. Kurikadduwan Jetty.

11/04/2021. 5.29 pm. Kurikadduwan Jetty.

11/04/2021. 6.12 pm. Karainagar Jetty.

11/04/2021. 6.12 pm. Karainagar Jetty.

11/04/2021. 6.12 pm. Karainagar Jetty.

11/04/2021. 6.25 pm. Kayts Fort.

11/04/2021. Sun set at Kayts.

11/04/2021. Sun set at Kayts.

11/04/2021. Sun set at Kayts.

11/04/2021. Sun set at Kayts.

We were back to Jaffna town and had our dinner (actually lunch + dinner) from Jaffna KFC. The rest of the journey to Mulative was happened as a night driving. The road through KKS was closed at night and we had to find an alternative road around Palali airport. It was another unforgettable experience and everyone was exhausted once we reached most northern point of SL at middle of the night.

11/04/2021. 11.26 pm. Sakkotai cape. Most northern point of SL.

11/04/2021. 11.26 pm. Sakkotai cape. Most northern point of SL.

11/04/2021. 11.26 pm. Sakkotai cape. Most northern point of SL.

We headed to Mulative passing Elephant pass and only stop was Elephant pass war memorial. It was around 2.30am when we reached our accommodation at Mulative.

Summary of the journey of Day 02. Red path. Track recorded by Keshan. Click image to enlarge.

Last two days of this journey is published as a separate report.

Thanks for reading