Mangroves around Bentota, Sri Lanka

[anshjain97]

Since we just had to stay in one beach resort during our trip, we went to Bentota. I was expecting those 2 days to be pretty boring, because I don't like beaches and being cooped up in a resort.
So it was a surprise when our driver told us about these, and we went. These mangroves are mostly around the river which goes around, which is called the Bentota Ganga. We went by a small boat, which we had chartered.






Our first stop was a small island occupied by only one family who grew cinnamon. The smell of cinnamon was evident- and very strong- even as the boat docked. They sold cinnamon sticks and the like.

Our next stop was at an island completely occupied by a Hindu and Buddhist temple.





Now, the Hindu part of the temple.


The last stop was just for feeding the fish.


The last shot of the report: a solitary tuk-tuk crossing a bridge.

[bixaorellana]

Most interesting, Ansh, and very pretty.

All kinds of "what could it be?" things in the pictures -- the very large oven or kiln of some kind in the 2nd picture, the tiny A-shaped shelter in the 4th, and the fish-feeding area in the 5th. Do you know if the fish were being farmed there, or were they exotics?

I didn't know there were shared Buddhist and Hindu temples. Is that specific to Sri Lanka, or common to that part of the world? Also, do you know who the blue deity is?

[anshjain97]

Hi, Bixa, thanks. All those "what could it be" are mysterious to me as well, so sorry, can't answer your questions.

The blue deity is Shiva.
This is actually the first temple I've seen with both Hinduism and Buddhism, so I don't know if there are others. In any case, this could be possible in other areas where there are lots of Buddhists and Hindus, such as Nepal and the north Indian state of Bihar.

[lugg]

It looks an intersting trip , great photos Ansh

I think the bird is the Indian Cormorant maybe ?

[anshjain97]

Sorry, I have no idea about birds...

[spindrift1]

I'm enjoying your pictures, Ansh....thanks.

[Deleted]

I love that kind of little boat trip. It's like the ones that are organised in the bay of Phang Nga in Thailand or the Mékong delta in Vietnam with a variety of places to see along the way. Were there a lot of tourists there interested in this sort of thing?

[anshjain97]

Thanks, guys.
Didn't see any other tourists except for a tour group at the cinnamon growing island.