Even with the rapid development witnessed by the 21st century, small villages in Sri Lanka remain largely untouched by the dramatic changes in transportation and lifestyle. A place where time seems to slow down and life becomes uncomplicated, most villages in the island scarcely witness fancy modes of transportation and stick to bullock carts to transport produce and other items from the fields to their homes or to the local village markets as they are cost efficient. A glimpse into this village lifestyle is a valuable insight tourists can obtain when staying at a Sigiriya hotel in the vicinity of the Habarana villages such as Chaaya Village Habarana. One such way, in addition to close proximity, is to indulge in a bullock cart ride through the village while a three wheeler, or in the more popular vernacular, a tuk tuk, would be the best way to explore the city.
A bullock cart ride is undeniably a very traditional mode of travel, but it is a modern way to explore the undisturbed village life in the rural areas. When travelling in a bullock cart, tourists will have the opportunity to travel through lush green paddy fields and observe the manner in which the villagers lead their daily lives. Since the roads are often mere footpaths, travelling by car would be highly uncomfortable, but the bullock cart traverses the well trodden country lanes with ease. The slow paced travel provides tourists with ample time and opportunity to witness the beauty and serenity of the village.
Exploring the nearby villages should also include a visit to a village house where tourists can have the opportunity to taste the delights of a ‘plain tea’ sweetened with a small piece of juggery. This coupled with an authentic Sri Lankan lunch of red rice and curry is bound to leave tourists yearning for the simple life.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
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