Kandy | Lion Rock & Local Farmhouse: The Most Authentic Feelings!

From the balcony of our hotel, we could see Lion Rock—such a unique sight! The hotel itself was amazing, with a fantastic atmosphere 🏨. After breakfast, we first headed to the Lion Rock viewpoint, where we snapped some great photos 📸. Then we made our way to Lion Rock itself, and along the path, there were plenty of monkeys 🐒—keep an eye on your belongings! There were local guides who spoke . To be honest, the guy’s introductions weren’t the best, but he was helpful: he used his connections to get us through a fast track (for a little extra money) and was super enthusiastic about taking photos, capturing lots of nice group shots. His service was on point, though his commentary left something to be desired.😍 At the top of Lion Rock, the ancient palace is long gone—only ruins remain. But the view over the entire city is incredible, with wide-open vistas that make the climb worthwhile.😊 Lion Rock Village Activities (Recommended by Our Driver) – 160 USD After coming down from Lion Rock, my arms were noticeably tanned 🌞. Persuaded by our driver, we joined this village farmhouse experience. It included a bullock cart ride, a boat trip to spot lake animals (lizards, birds, etc.), a village tour, and a traditional Sri Lankan lunch prepared by locals. During the meal, they showed us how to open a golden coconut, using the flesh in side dishes. There were tons of dishes, and we got to try the local-style hand-eaten rice 🥥. After lunch, we tried activities like smearing flour (a cultural ritual), weaving coconut leaves into roof thatch, and even joined in. On the way back, we took a tractor, and the locals let me get down to try driving—what a thrill! Though at the end, he subtly hinted for a tip 💸. Golden Buddha We then hit the road to Kandy, passing several temples along the way. One of them had a huge golden Buddha—so imposing that we stopped to take a few photos. There was also a massive Hindu temple, which we quickly snapped pics of too.🙌 Esala Perahera (Tooth Relic Festival) According to the navigation, we’d reach the Temple of the Tooth Relic around 6 PM. But with the Esala Perahera celebrations happening, main roads were blocked, and it was nearly impossible to get a good spot to watch. We decided to skip it for now, head back to the hotel to rest, and visit the temple early the next morning. We asked our driver to stop at a supermarket, where we bought local black tea, hair oil, chocolate, biscuits, and instant noodles. The staff barely spoke English—definitely an authentic, local spot 🛒. Hotel Our hotel was tucked away on a winding mountain road, with a stunning setting (more photos in the next post). In the evening, there was a live performance during dinner—a guy sang specially for the guests, and it was fantastic 🎶. We watched most of the Esala Perahera live stream at the hotel, which let us feel its magic too.😘 #SriLankaTravel #SriLankaEsalaPerahera #LionRock #LionRockEighthWonderOfTheWorld #KandyToothRelicTemple #Travel