• Latest
An off-road journey

An off-road journey

December 1, 2022
Ponniyin Selvan 1: Leveraging the Lure of History and the Power of Storytelling

Ponniyin Selvan 1: Leveraging the Lure of History and the Power of Storytelling

January 11, 2023
Rumination and Emotional Process

Rumination and Emotional Process

January 13, 2023
Segar Represents Sri Lanka in Asia Art Bienniale in Dhaka

Segar Represents Sri Lanka in Asia Art Bienniale in Dhaka

January 11, 2023
Good Conversations Start with Mlesna

Good Conversations Start with Mlesna

January 11, 2023
Exclusive Screening of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ on its Global Premiere at KCC Multiplex

Exclusive Screening of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ on its Global Premiere at KCC Multiplex

January 11, 2023
Humble Journey of Podi Hamuduruwo

Humble Journey of Podi Hamuduruwo

December 1, 2022
KCC: Kandy’s Marvel

KCC: Kandy’s Marvel

December 1, 2022
Sweet Dreams and Serene Night

Sweet Dreams and Serene Night

December 1, 2022
Lashings of Nelli Juice: Jaffna’s Inimitable Nectar of Life

Lashings of Nelli Juice: Jaffna’s Inimitable Nectar of Life

December 1, 2022
Sustainable Island Tourism from Tenerife to Just to the Maldives

Sustainable Island Tourism from Tenerife to Just to the Maldives

November 8, 2022
Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar: The 10th Custodian of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar: The 10th Custodian of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

November 8, 2022
50 Hudson Yards Opens in New York

50 Hudson Yards Opens in New York

November 8, 2022
Retail
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Subscription
Advertise
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 2022
      • January 2022
      • February 2022
      • March 2022
      • April 2022
      • May 2022
      • June 2022
      • July 2022
      • August 2022
      • September 2022
      • October 2022
      • November 2022
      • December 2022
      • January 2023
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Archive
  • Find Us on Magzter
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

An off-road journey

in August 2019, Featured
0 0
0
Palm fringed terrain from Iyakachchi to Chundikulam.

The Northern sun was blazing in the morning, but we were on an adventure. Curious about a fort in Iyakachchi, we embarked on an off-road journey that took us upto Chundikulam, providing us glimpses of life away from the limelight.

Words Udeshi Amarasinghe. 

Photographs Menaka Aravinda.

We traveled inland, having taken the turn from the A9 in Iyakachchi. Our eyes were on the lookout for a fort. The landscape was of the rural North, vast land dotted with palmyra trees. We reached a shaded grove, and through the trees, we were able to make out remnants of a stone structure. We had reached Fort Beschutter (also known as Fort Pass Beschutter). Only a small section of this fort remains, which was built during colonial times in a strategic location to protect Jaffna. It had apparently been in the shape of a square.

Deciding to continue on our journey, we ventured along the unpaved white gravel road. The terrain changed continuously. Dry zone shrub jungle opened up into vast open plains. The continuous blow of wind indicated that the ocean was nearby and also provided comfort from the scorching heat. We passed lakes with blossoming lotus flowers and saw a farmer tending to his cattle.

The beautiful northern ocean came into view, and the color contrasts were mesmerizing. Our attention was drawn to the activity on the shore. Walking towards them, we soon realized that the group of fishermen was hauling a huge net using a tractor.

Remnants of Fort Beschutter.

As we approached them, one fisherman asked us to take off our slippers. None of them were wearing footwear either. It was a sign of respect for the place they worked. The net being hauled from the ocean was far out and was slowly but surely being brought closer to the shore. Others were engaged in sorting the fishing nets and making preparations for the next journey to the sea.  Back on the road, we were  the only ones, and we were occasionally met by tractors carrying wood or random motorbikes, making their way to the town. On another instance, a young boy was filling water into colorful containers from one of the wells in the area. We passed small fishing villages neatly organized, creating a postcard setting. Coconut trees came into view, in some instances similar to large coconut estates.

We reached a small town like area, and we ventured towards the beach. It was an uninterrupted view of the Indian Ocean, a beautiful panorama. A blue and white statue of Mother Mary carrying Baby Jesus provided spiritual protection.

As Chundikulam drew closer, the two sides of the road were completely different. On one side, it was the ocean, coconut trees and flat plains, while on the other, there were giant sand dunes with scrub jungle.

Chundikulam is famed for birds, and as we reached small water bodies, there were flocks of birds navigating the wind current or simply idling near the water.

We reached the end of the road, which was the delta (moya) in which the lagoon connected to the ocean. Birds were out in all their glory. The landscape was beautiful, and the wind was blowing as if to a rhythm. We could not go any farther and turned back to journey a few hours back to the A9. It was indeed an enjoyable off-road experience, where man and nature had found a peaceful co-existence.

TweetShareShare

Search

No Result
View All Result

Recent News

Ponniyin Selvan 1: Leveraging the Lure of History and the Power of Storytelling

Ponniyin Selvan 1: Leveraging the Lure of History and the Power of Storytelling

Rumination and Emotional Process

Rumination and Emotional Process

Segar Represents Sri Lanka in Asia Art Bienniale in Dhaka

Segar Represents Sri Lanka in Asia Art Bienniale in Dhaka

Explore Sri Lanka

Explore Sri Lanka Online, the web edition of Sri Lanka’s leading monthly corporate publication. Founded in 1996, the magazine currently has a distribution of over 6,000 copies island-wide.

Recent News

  • Ponniyin Selvan 1: Leveraging the Lure of History and the Power of Storytelling
  • Rumination and Emotional Process
  • Segar Represents Sri Lanka in Asia Art Bienniale in Dhaka

Find Us

Explore Sri Lanka
20-2/1 Lauries Place Facing
R. A. De Mel Mawatha
Colombo 04
Sri Lanka.
(+94 11) 259 7991
(+94) 715 134 134
info@btoptions.com
btoptions.com

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 Explore Sri Lanka | Designed by Lithic Labs

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 2022
      • January 2022
      • February 2022
      • March 2022
      • April 2022
      • May 2022
      • June 2022
      • July 2022
      • August 2022
      • September 2022
      • October 2022
      • November 2022
      • December 2022
      • January 2023
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Archive
  • Find Us on Magzter

© 2022 Explore Sri Lanka | Designed by Lithic Labs

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In