Our journey started in Pune on SpiceJet SG 219, and we landed in Chennai a little after midnight. We had a reasonably long layover because our next flight was on Air India Express which was a separate ticket. We exited the domestic terminal and made our way to the international terminal at Chennai which was a short walk away. We completed the check-in and cleared security and immigration for our flight, Air India Express 671, to Colombo.
We departed just as the day broke, and it started to get bright everywhere. The flight itself was smooth, and I was surprised to get a breakfast box onboard, even though technically Air India Express is a low-cost carrier. This was probably because we were on an international flight, but very welcome nonetheless. Landing at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, we reached the terminal and docked next to Qatar Airways, a recent addition to the OneWorld alliance, parked alongside future OneWorld member, SriLankan Airlines.
Very contrary to how we usually travel, we had surprisingly not planned out the details of our first day at all. All we knew was that we had to get to Kandy and find a place to stay. We looked and hotels and transport options online and eventually zeroed in on Blue Haven Kandy. After contacting them for availability and the booking, they got us connected with one of the transport booths at the airport itself, who then arranged our ride to Kandy. After a comfortable drive, we reached our destination, a charming hillside property with a very inviting swimming pool.
After relaxing for a while we set out to explore Kandy. The owner of the guesthouse told us of a shortcut to reach the town, crossing moss-covered stone steps and walking through the greenery. We saw the Kandy Railway Station, a well-preserved colonial-era building. Our plan was to take the train back to Colombo from there in a few days. Walking towards Kandy Lake, we passed a striking Celtic high cross — a war memorial dated 1914.
Kandy Lake, a man-made lake, had a nice path for walking and jogging around it. This now forms the heart of the city, with the Temple of the Tooth on its northern shore.
We then visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Tooth Relic. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, a highly revered Buddhist temple, houses what is believed to be the left canine tooth of Gautama Buddha.
