India & Sri Lanka with Ceylon Express International

Schoolchildren and their teacher in Chennai, India. Photos: Robinson

I enjoyed another exceptional trip arranged by Varini de Silva of Ceylon Express International (9542 Dumbreck Dr., Huntington Beach, CA 92646; 800/423-9566, www.ceylonexpress.com). This one, 30 days in length, for four people, was to southern India and Sri Lanka, Feb. 1-March 2, 2006. Land and internal air cost $6,220 per person. Airfare from San Jose, California, added $1,820.

Flying from Los Angeles to Singapore nonstop, we traveled very comfortably in Singapore Airlines’ Executive Economy class. This class has almost business-class space, and the seats recline much more than in standard economy class. With the excellent service and amenities of Singapore Airlines, we were well cared for.

Our next leg took us to Chennai, arriving late at night. Particular highlights of the 18-day southern India portion of our trip included visits to exquisite temples in many cities, a night at Periyar National Park, a night on a kettuvallum (houseboat) in Kerala, a Kathakali dance performance and a cooking demonstration in an Indian home.

We finished the southern India segment with two days at the Kings Sanctuary at Nagarhole National Park and one day in Bangalore. Besides the temples, highlights were the incredible color of India, the rural scenes, a school visit and the extreme friendliness of the people.

Our eight days in Sri Lanka comprised three days in Dambulla, three days in Kandy and two days in Bentota. From Dambulla we visited the rock caves, Anuradhapura, Aukana, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya; this area contains five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Seated Buddha at Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.

Highlights of the Kandy stay were a visit to the Tooth Relic Temple, a tour of the Botanical Gardens and a visit to a tea factory as well as a cultural dance program.

En route to Bentota we visited the elephant orphanage at Pinnewela, another highlight. We also stopped at Ratnapura, the city of gems. Unless one has a particular interest, this visit could be eliminated.

Bentota is delightful and the hotel there is perfectly named, the Taj Exotica. This was a wonderful way to end a long vacation — a beach, a marvelous pool and excellent food.

The 8-hour layover in Singapore on the way home was softened by finding the airline’s Premium Lounge, where for US$16 we had access to snacks, showers, a workout room and free Internet.

On this tour, the hotels all were 4- or 5-star, excellent, with superb food. Particularly notable were Taj Fisherman’s Cove, Taj Garden Retreat, Spice Village, Brunton Boatyard, Kandalama, Mahaweli Reach and Taj Exotica. The guides were extremely well informed and spoke excellent English. This was a trip that I would highly recommend.

KARL ROBINSON

Saratoga, CA