Solo Budget Backpacking to Srilanka ~22K

Reached Colombo International Airport around 8AM . Since it was a budget trip, boarded from chennai even though I have direct flights from kerala . From Colombo airport my first plan was to go to Colombo city and visit nearby places .From airport i got local bus to city for a 150 LKR . The only thing about it was we need to wait until the bus is full,it will take approximately half hour . Reached Colombo central bus station by 9.30 AM. Initially my plan was to walk around all major spots, which o have already set on Google map (downloaded offline map since I have no plans for buying sim card since it is only 4 day visit ). Anyway jio network was there .

After reaching bus station ,my mind changed about walking around city and decided to catch a tuk tuk (auto rickshaw) and ask him to show me all the places in my list. Initially i approached one person ,and he asked me 3000LKR for the 7 places in my list.I felt it as expensive so I decided to walk and ask rate someone else also . Then I got Mr Njanesh, a part time tuk tuk driver for last 9 years .He has no idea about what I asked,but he agreed to show me all the places in my phone list and charges will be based on meter only . I agreed and we started the trip .He took to me all the places , waited for me till I explore the places . He looked after my luggage and shoes which I kept in his tuk tuk . We ended up in Galle Face Green Beach and had some special sea fish food from there enjoying the spectacular beauty of Colombo .So the entire plan for Colombo city finished by just 1PM , so I thought of not staying in Colombo for that day so that I can cover Pinawala as soon as possible .

Njanesh dropped me at Colombo fort railway station and he charged me the meter rate around 1200LKR. He helped me in getting the train ticket to Rambukana ,where I should get down to visit pinawala elephant orphanage .Ticket price was around 260LKR for 2nd class. I waited for the train at Colombo for station for around 20 minutes and train came. It was around 2 hours journey to Rambukana. I Reached there by around 3.30pm . I took one tuk tuk from railway station . He tried his best to take me to some private elephant orphanage so that he may get some commision . But I insisted to visit pinawala since it was the most important one in my plan . Entry fee for indians were 800LKR . I walked through the orphanage and had some small shopping from the shops outside the orphanage.

The next destination was kandy which was about 2 more Hour journey from there .I decided to take bus from there to kandy . In the bus stop, i met Mr Ishant,a Lankan local guy who was also in his trip to pinawala. He joined me and we both started out journey to kandy in a local bus . Reached kandy around 6PM . Just Walked to Temple of Tooth Relic and had some spiritual time there. Then our plan was to have some food and some beer. We bought food and some special beer and planned to take room and have it there. That was day 1 .Slept with the next days plan Sigiriya in mind..!!

Wake up early morning to catch the first bus to Sigirya .After walking 200m from room, we got one tuk tuk to bus station . There was one AC bus to sigirya but it will take only by 6.30 . , We waited for half an hour and boarded the same bus since no other buses was there . While going through the plans once more, i found that the golden cave temple was located on the way to sigirya. So suddenly decided to get down to Dambulla to visit the cave temple. There was no cloak room or something to keep our luggage's ,but ishtant spoke to security and he allowed to keep bags on his cabin while climbing the mountain . We took almost one hour to complete the cave temple . By 10.30 ,again started our journey and this time ishtant wanted to get down the next stop ,since his family was waiting for him to go somewhere. So from there, i continued my solo journey .

Sigirya was around 1 hr journey from Cave Temple . I saw Sigirya mountain from the bus itself .Stepped out and walked towards it .There was one security check and officer insisted me to take tickets and showed the way to follow .I enjoyed that walk of around 1.5km to the ticket counter. Ticket cost for SAARC nations was 2700LKR which includes entry to both sigirya monument and museum .From one of the staff there, i came to know that museum is nothing much to see. So i decided to climb the mountain . The place was so crowded than any other spots .There was some security check and then I entered the premises.It was around 60om walk before climb starts. I have to climb a lot of stairs to reach up the mountain . Even though it was tough with backpack ,i slowly climbed up . It was a scenic view up there . Just took some rest up there and came back .

After having some snacks ,then I decided to catch the bus Asap so that I can save time . I was little bit confused to go to kandy again or Colombo .Then I decided to go to Colombo so that I cannot be worried about reaching airport the next day .There was no direct bus from sigiriya to Colombo. I have to go to Dambulla and from there to Colombo . Almost 3~4 hours of journey .Mean while I booked a dorm in Downtown monkey hostel in Colombo ,Which was just 1km from city centre. Reached hostel by 6.30pm .Checked in and took a bath and walked out ti hang around the city and have a night walk in Colombo. After having some food and shopping came back to hostel by 9Pm and slept well because is were too tired .

The last day of my trip, woke up by around 7 Am . Hostel aunty offered the complimentary breakfast.I told I will take after bath . I Found other roommates starting their day plans , had some chit chats with them .It was nice seeing peoples with same travel mind from all over the world . The all I was talking to them was about kerala . Also , welcomed some of them to gods own country. Then I decided to have bath and then my breakfast .

After breakfast aunty told I can have my bed upto 10.30 Am . But I don't want to be in bed since I came srilanka not to be in bed . I looked my bag and checked out from hostel. Aunty wished me for my remaining journey. Since i had no other plans for the day , i thought of having some sea food and shop something . I walked through the streets covering with two sides full of small shops . Street was so crowded in the morning itself . I didn't found anything interesting to spend some LKR . So decided to go to Galle Face green Beach again and have some fish food. Took one tuk tuk and reached my destination . Just walked through sea side ,having some sea food snacks and taking some selfies. After spending around 1 hour there ,i decided to go to airport and rest remaining time there. So I catched ine tuk tuk to the central bus station . There was always one bus to airport,so no needed for waiting . Again 150LKR to airport . Reached airport by 2Pm,and then came to know my flight was delayed by 1 hr. But I had no other plans in mind ,so decided to check in and waited in airport. Updated time of my flight was around 6.45 PM. Reached chennai by 8PM. I was little bit worried because my train from chennai to ernakulam was at 9 PM and I want to travel almost 19km from airport to central railway station.But thanks to god and the ola driver, he dropped me at railway station by 8.55pm and I got my train to kerala . Reached Ernakulam by 9Am next day..That was my 1st Solo International Trip ...But not last !!!!