Explore
Walk through active rice paddies and traditional farming plots to see how locals cultivate crops.
Agriculture sustains the roughly 2,500 residents of Hiriwadunna village. During this walking section of your tour, a local guide leads you along dirt paths and mud bunds. You will see firsthand how rural Sri Lankans grow endemic vegetables and protect their harvests from local wildlife.
20 minutesDirt paths and mud bunds
Follow your guide through the village’s active rice paddies. You walk for about 20 minutes along narrow paths bordering the green crops. Stick to the raised mud bunds to avoid stepping directly into the wet fields. Wear comfortable walking shoes or sandals that you do not mind getting muddy.
15 minutesEndemic crops and spices
Explore traditional slash-and-burn agricultural plots known as Chena gardens. Locals use this cleared land to grow endemic crops and vegetables. You spend about 15 minutes walking among the plants. Ask your guide to point out the specific spices and vegetables grown on site.
10 minutesPanoramic landscape view
Stop at a rustic wooden platform built high in the trees. Local farmers sleep in these watchtowers to guard their crops from wild elephants at night. You spend about 10 minutes at this location. Climb up the structure for a clear view of the surrounding agricultural landscape.
