Around the country in four days by a car/ලoකාව වටේ දින හතරකින් (Day 03 & 04)

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.

This is about last two days of the journey. First two days of the trip was published.

Day 03

Route
Mulative (B297)-> Kokilai lagoon (northern part) ->Nayaru (Janakapura Road)-(B60)->Kokilai lagoon (southern part) -> Pulmoddai -> Arisamale (B 424)-> Kuchchaweli -> Trincomale (A6) -> (A15)-> Mutur->Sampur->Foul point light house-> Back to Sampur (A15)->Serunuwara->Verugal->Panichchankerni bridge -> Pasikuda->Batticalo (A4)-> Kalmunai-> Pothuvil (B374)-> Arugambay.

This was the third day of our around country trip. We woke up around 5.30am to have the sun rise over Mulative Sea where famous Farah-03 ship was captured by LTTE. People have taken iron parts of the shipwreck and only the sketch remains. It was not beautiful as previous morning for sun rise. Indranatha (one of my friends) has visited us with his little one in this morning. He gave some guidance us in Mulative and we headed to Kokilai Lagoon then. The road condition from Mulative to Kokilai lagoon was excellent. When you look at Sri Lankan map Kokilai lagoon is one of special place as the costal line gets separate here. If you travel by a bicycle or motorbike it can be crossed by a ferry. Here we came to lagoon mouth from both sides. We were back to Nayaru and get a round way to other side of Kokilai Lagoon.

12/04/2021. 6. 39 Am. Mulative Beach.

12/04/2021. 6.39 am. Mulative Beach.

12/04/2021. 6.39 am. Sun rise at Mulative Beach.

12/04/2021. 6.39 am. Mulative Beach.

My friend Indranatha has visited us with his little.

12/04/2021. 7.49 am. Nayaru Lagoon. On the way to Kokilai Lagoon.

12/04/2021. 7.49 am. Nayaru Lagoon.

12/ 04/2021. 7.53 am. Nayaru RMW.

12/ 04/ 2021. 8.43 am. Most northern part of Kokilai Lagoon.

12/ 04/ 2021. 8.43 am. Most northern part of Kokilai Lagoon.

12/ 04/ 2021. 8.43 am. Black sand beach of Kokilai Lagoon.

12/04/2021. 9.20 am. We had breakfast at Nayaru Army canteen.

12/ 04/2021. 9.34 am. Passing a lake situated closer to Nayaru.

12/ 04/2021. 10.36 am. Actually this is not the southern end of Kokilai lagoon. A jetty closer to it.

12/ 04/2021. 10.36 am. Actually this is not the southern end of Kokilai lagoon. A jetty closer to it.

We have passed Pulmoddai town and came to Arisamale beach. The entrance to Arisamale beach is through Arisamale Hermitage. Then we were back to the main road closer to the coastal line and passed Kuchchaweli and Nilaweli to reach Trincomale. Our next destination was Koneshwaram Kovil at Trincomale. Then we took the circular road around Trincomale bay and came to Mutur and passed Sampur. Foul point light house was our next target but the road condition from Sampur to foul point was not good for my car. It was another time consuming journey for the day.

Protection for an archeology site at Arisamale.

12/04/2021. 11.30 am. Arisamale Beach.

12/04/2021. 11.30 am. Arisamale Beach. Sand at Arisamale beach is as round as rice.

12/04/2021. 11.30 am. Arisamale Beach.

12/04/2021. 11.30 am. Arisamale Beach.

12/04/2021. 11.30 am. Arisamale Beach.

Pudawaikkattu Bridge.

12/ 04/2021. 12.10pm. Kuchchaweli Pichchamal Wiharaya

Inscription at Kuchchaweli Pichchamal Wiharaya.

12/04/2021. 12.10 pm. Kuchchaweli Pichchamal Wiharaya.

12/04/2021. 1.18 pm. Koneshwaram Kovil. Trincomale.

12/04/2021. 1.18 pm. Koneshwaram Kovil. Trincomale.

12/04/2021. 1.18 pm. Koneshwaram Kovil. Trincomale.

12/04/2021. 1.18 pm. Koneshwaram Kovil. Trincomale.

View of sea from Koneshwaram Kovil.

Still remember the taste of Passion fruit juice I had at Trincomale.

12/04/2021. 2.23 pm. Passing Kinniya Bridge.

12/04/2021. 3.41 pm. Foul point light house.

12/04/2021. 3.41 pm. Foul point light house.

12/04/2021. 3.41 pm. Foul point light house.

12/04/2021. 3.41 pm. Foul point light house.

12/04/2021. 3.41 pm. Foul point light house.

The sea at foul point.

We were back to A15 road and passed Serunuwara but the road is under construction from Serunuwara to Verugal. Our late lunch was taken from Verugal and reached Panichchankerni Bridge over the lagoon to have sun set. Following sun set it was a night driving till we reached our accommodation at Arugambay. Here we have stopped at Arayampathy (just after Kaththankudi) to visit Shashi’s friends place. It was around 11.30pm when we reached Arugambay.

12/04/2021. 5.41 pm. Verugal Kathiraweli.

12/04/2021. 6.29 pm. Sun set at Panichchankerni Bridge.

12/04/2021. 6.29 pm. Sun set at Panichchankerni Bridge.

Panichchankerni Lagoon.

Panichchankerni Lagoon.

Summary of the journey of Day 04. White path. Track recorded by Keshan.

Day 04

Route
Arugambay (B374)-> Panama-> Okanda (B374)-> Back to Pothuvil (A4)->Sangamankanda point->Back to Pothuvil (A4)-> Siyambalanduwa-> Moneragala ->Buttala (B35)->Katharagama->Thissamaharama (B422)->Kirinda-> Kirindi Oya Sea mouth->Hambanthota (A2)->Dondara->Galle->Kaluthara-> Galle Face->Galle face light house.

This was the last day of around the country trip. Our first task of the day was to capture the sun rise from Panama beach. Our next target was to reach Okanda Dewalaya which is the most southern / eastern point we can reach without permission. Here onwards rest of costal line is occupied by Kumana and Yala NP. Therefore we have to turn and bypass this section through a round trip. Road condition from Panama to Okanda is bit difficult for a low ground vehicle. After getting blessings from Okanda Dewalaya we were back to Arugambay and had our breakfast. Actually we had to turn towards Siyambalanduwa from Pothuvil but we continued towards Akkaripaththuwa in view of visiting Sangamankanda point.

13/04/2021. 6.17 am. Awaiting for sun rise at Panama Beach.

13/04/2021. 6.17 am. Awaiting for sun rise at Panama Beach.

13/04/2021. 6.17 am. Sun rise at Panama Beach.

13/04/2021. 6.17 am. Sun rise at Panama Beach.

13/04/2021. 6.17 am. Sun rise at Panama Beach.

13/04/2021. 6.17 am. At Panama Beach.

13/04/2021. 7.07 am. Panama-Okanda road.

Cattles crossing the road is a common finding at eastern and northern areas.

13/04/2021. 7.35 am. Okanda Dewalaya.

13/04/2021. 7.35 am. Okanda Dewalaya.

13/04/2021. 9.13 am. Panama Bridge / Hada Oya.

Sangamankanda point was our third day task but we omitted it as no point of travelling at night time. Road condition from main road to Sangamankanda point was somewhat difficult for the car. This place is considered as the most eastern point of Sri Lanka. A small light hose like structure is placed there. Then we followed the road from Pothuvil to Buttala and Buttala-Katharagama road till Thissamaharama. This stretch was uneventful except elephant encounter at Galge area. We have just passed Thissamaharama stupa and worshiped Kirinda temple. As it was pre New Year day a less crowd was at Kirinda. We had Rotti with wood apple drinks at Kirinda.

13/04/2021. 11.28 am. Sangamankanda Point.

13/04/2021. 11.28 am. Sangamankanda Point.

Beach at Sangamankanda Point.

13/04/2021. 2.47 pm. Elephant encounter Buttala-Katharagama road.

13/04/2021. 3.00 pm. Thissamaharama Stupa.

13/04/2021. 3.30 pm. Following steps to Kirinda Temple.

13/04/2021. 3.30 pm. Kirinda temple.

13/04/2021. 3. 30 pm. Kirinda Temple.

13/04/2021. 3.30 pm. Facing Kirinda beach.

We followed the road closer to the beach and reached Kirindi Oya estuary / Kirindi Oya sea mouth. It is called as Modarawella by locals. Modarawella is an amazing place and we have noted a group of people were bathing over there. Then we headed to Hambanthota town and visited Martello tower. As it was closer to end of the day we enjoyed the sun set from Hambanthota beach. It was the last sun set for this journey and night driving started then. We have arrived to most southern point-Denodra light house with sounds of crackers of New Year dawn. We have entered Galle fort and had few snaps with Galle light house. Our last dinner was taken from Galle pizza hut.

13/04/2021. 4. 29 pm. Kirindi Oya sea mouth.

13/04/2021. 4. 29 pm. Kirindi Oya sea mouth.

13/04/2021. 4. 29 pm. Modarawella.

13/04/2021. 4. 29 pm. At Kirindi Oya sea mouth.

13/04/2021. 4. 29 pm. Kirindi Oya sea mouth.

13/04/2021. 6.07 pm. Martello tower.

13/04/2021. 6. 16 pm. Sun set at Hambanthota beach.

13/04/2021. 6. 16 pm. Sun set at Hambanthota beach.

13/04/2021. 6. 16 pm. Sun set at Hambanthota beach.

13/04/2021. 10.02 pm. In front of Galle light house.

13/04/2021. 10.02 pm. At Galle Fort.

13/04/2021. 10.02 pm. Galle light house. PC-Shashi.

13/04/2021. 10.08 pm. Last dinner from Pizza hut-Galle.

We slowly moved along the Galle road and stopped at Kaluthara Bodiya to get blessings. The Galle face ground was full of the crowd as it was the beginning of Sinhala-Hindu New year. Our last snap was taken in front of Galle Face light house where we started the journey.

14/04/2021. 12.04 am. Kaluthara Bodiya.

14/04/2021. 1.39 am. Galle Face.

14/04/2021. 1. 46 am. End of the journey at Galle Face light house.

Summary of the journey of Day 04. Blue path. Track recorded by Keshan. Click image to enlarge.

The track of whole journey. Recorded by Keshan. Click image to enlarge.

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