One thing that stayed with me is that most of the tea pickers are Tamil women. It’s delicate, repetitive work, and they’re often paid very little.
06.03.2026 14:26
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One thing that stayed with me is that most of the tea pickers are Tamil women. It’s delicate, repetitive work, and they’re often paid very little.
The easiest way to explore the tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya is by hiring a tuk-tuk for a few hours.
It’s a very common tour, affordable, and saves you a lot of walking between estates.
you see the entire process, from fresh leaves to the final product in your cup.
After my failed attempt to climb Adam’s Peak, I took the scenic train back into the hills, this time toward #NuwaraEliya.
Nuwara Eliya is the tea capital of Sri Lanka. Visiting a plantation and factory is what you visit there.
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#srilanka #travelblogger
After hours of waiting, I had to turn back and return without reaching the summit.
Not the ending I imagined, but still an interesting experience.
Climbing Adam´s Peak in Sri Lanka
I was lucky… or unlucky, but that day it was a religious weekend, so the place was absolutely packed.
The idea is to start climbing around midnight to reach the summit for sunrise.
But the reality was an endless human queue to the top.
On that #SriLanka train journey, I made two stops along the way, the first one in #Hatton.
From there, I took two buses to reach a small town at the base of Adam’s Peak, one of the most sacred mountains in Sri Lanka.
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Still, I don’t regret it. The views were unforgettable. But it’s good to know that this journey isn’t just about beauty, it demands patience too.
And it’s long. Really long. Hours pass slowly when you’re tired, surrounded by noise, heat, and movement. I had mixed feelings. On one hand, some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen in Sri Lanka. On the other, physical exhaustion and sensory overload
But there’s another side that doesn’t always make it into Instagram reels. The train is packed. If you’re not in the more expensive classes, the journey can get… tough. People everywhere. Standing for hours. Little personal space. What looks peaceful online can feel overwhelming
Continuing with my diary, after #Kandy I took the famous train of #SriLanka toward #Ella, with a couple of stops along the way. This train is legendary on social media. Jungle, hills, tea plantations, the landscapes really are that beautiful.
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So if you go, stay aware, move with people you trust, and be cautious in dense crowds.
Holi is unforgettable, but like many intense experiences in India, it’s best enjoyed with both excitement and awareness. #Holi2026 #HoliCelebration
Many people drink a lot of bhang, a traditional cannabis-infused drink, sometimes mixed like a lassi, and when the intoxication kicks in, some take advantage of the chaos.
There are cases of inappropriate touching, some harassment, especially toward women and foreign tourists.
Me enjoying Holi in Mathura a couple of years ago
I decided to go to Mathura, and was exploding. Its smaller than Pushkar but full as well.
It’s a full sensory overload. Colors in the air, music blasting, thousands of people packed into narrow streets. You don’t just watch it. You’re part of it.
But there’s an important downside to keep in mind..
People gather in the streets throwing colored powder, dancing, singing, drinking bhang, and celebrating together. It’s pure chaos
The celebrations are especially powerful in places like #Pushkar #Mathura, where Krishna is believed to have been born, but they are also celebrated all over India
Quick pause in the travel diary because today is #Holi2026 in #India.
One of the most massive and intense festivals in the country, marking the arrival of spring, and yes, it’s exactly as crazy as it looks.
Holi is the festival of colors.
#HoliCelebration #HoliVibes #Holi
Beyond that Kandy didn’t quite click for me. Yes, there’s a lake and hills around, but the city itself felt chaotic and didn’t draw me in.
The Temple houses what is believed to be one of Buddha’s teeth, a relic of enormous spiritual and political importance in Sri Lanka.
For centuries, whoever guarded the tooth was seen as the rightful ruler of the land, which is why this place matters far beyond religion.
After visiting #Polonnaruwa , I left #Dambulla and go to #Kandy, the last stop of #SriLanka Cultural Triangle. A place I had high expectations for, but mixed feelings in the end.
The Temple of the Tooth Relic is truly impressive, without a doubt the highlight.
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I explored Polonnaruwa by bicycle, which is by far the best way to do it (you can rent a tuk tuk as well).
The entrance fee is quite high (around USD 30), but in this case, I think it’s worth it, and I’d definitely recommend it. If you need to choose one old city, this is the one
Statues of Buddha carved in stone in Polonnaruwa
Ancient trees like Angkor Wat but in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
A giant Buddha Statue behind me
The ruins are surrounded by dense vegetation, giving it an almost Angkor Wat–like feel, though on a smaller scale.
Temples, palaces, monasteries… the variety here makes the visit much more dynamic.
What stood out the most were the giant #Buddha statues and the overall sense of scale.
Again from #Dambulla, my next stop was #Polonnaruwa, one of Sri Lanka’s ancient capitals. And this time, it really clicked. Unlike #Anuradhapura, this place immediately felt more immersive and atmospheric.
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#SilkRoad #SriLanka #travelblogger #SouthAsia
Enjoying the view of Sigiriya from the Pidurangala viewpoint
So I went to #Pidurangala viewpoint instead. Much cheaper, a bit of a climb, and with incredible views facing Sigiriya.
For me, seeing that rock standing in the landscape was far more impressive than being on top of it. I definitely recommend it. #southasia
At the top, there’s an ancient fortress, and it does sound interesting.
But I decided not to climb #Sigiriya itself, it felt expensive, and honestly, I wanted to see the rock from the outside, not from above.
From #Dambulla, my next stop was #Sigiriya.
That massive rock rising out of the flat landscape had been calling my attention for a while, it really feels unreal when you first see it.
#SilkRoadDiary #travelblogger
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Dambulla itself didn’t really impress me.
The town isn’t particularly pretty, but it’s very practical as a base to move around the area and explore the #CulturalTriangle in #SriLanka
Buddhist paintings inside the Dambulla caves
Buddha statues inside the caves
After #Anuradhapura, I spent a few days in #Dambulla, using it as a base to explore key sites of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle.
My first stop was the #CaveTemple, a series of #Buddhist caves covered in wall paintings, with beautiful views over Sri Lanka’s lush green landscape.
Huge white Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
After #Colombo, #Anuradhapura was my next stop in #SriLanka.
Once the ancient capital, home to the sacred Bodhi Tree and massive stupas.
The city is important… but it didn’t really surprise me.
A few days later, #Polonnaruwa would.
#TravelBloggers #visitSriLanka
Street crowded with people in the Pettah neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka
First stop was #Colombo, the capital of #Srilanka. I didn't find it beautiful, although it had some interesting areas, like the riverside. It was crowded and full of tuk-tuks everywhere. To noisy. #SilkRoad #SilkRoadNotes
I found so much life in the streets that it was a little overwhelming at first. But in return, it seemed much more genuine than what I had seen in the #Emirates.
I officially began my #journey along the #SilkRoad in #SriLanka, a country that, while not in the center of the route, served as a port of passage for goods. I arrived from #Dubai, where I had spent the New Year holidays, and I must say the contrast could not have been greater
