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[title]Southern Sri Lanka is not only popular for its endless number of exotic beaches as well as religious sites such as the Paravi Duwa Temple. Traversing further inland from Matara, is the quaint town of Deniyaya. Travellers taking the hairpin bends can experience the cooling climes of the verdant hills and rows of neatly pruned tea estates. The mist-enveloped town has a charming surrounding with cascading beauties in the nearby vicinity.
Taking the bends, one can witness frequent sightings of the flourishing fishtail palms also known as jaggery palms, camouflaged by the dense forest. The verdant mountains, lush greenery and cooling climes provide a surreal feel. Tappers climb the trees that grow to an average height of 40ft to tap the kitul mala. Morning hours are the best time to collect the sap of the palm tree. If you wish to see the making of the kithul pani, it is ideal for you to visit in the early morn- ing hours to see the kitul tappers in action. Once the sap is collected, it is brought down to be boiled to a fluid consistency, which once left to cool becomes the kitul pani. The cooled pani is packed in bottles and distributed to many places. Those in search of authentic kitul pani can enjoy this sweet delicacy with hoppers, curd or yoghurt, a wonderful combo!
While there’s plenty more to explore, a good hike to reach the cascading beauty of the Patna is what matters. Hikers can enjoy the serenity of the atmosphere while experiencing attractive views of changing landscape. Upon reaching the top, the picturesque view of the Patna will bring exciting thrills. Families and friends can enjoy a good splash in the waters or simply sit back on the large boulders and savour hot and fresh wadey and rotti, accompanied by lunu miris while sipping a fresh cup of plain ginger tea. Camping is also an ideal option for adventure enthusiasts. Nearby hotspots such as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the Sathmahal Ella past Pallegama Road and Getabaru Raja Maha Viharaya are beautiful encounters with nature and history.