07 Nights / 08 Days - SRI LANKA DISCOVERY
Day 01
On arrival at the Colombo Airport you will be met by a representative of us and transferred to a Hotel in the city of Negombo (15 minutes drive from Airport) for Dinner & Overnight stay.
Day 02
After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura (170 kms from Negombo) for sightseeing.
· Anuradhapura is the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. The city’s greatest treasures are its dagobas constructed of small sun-dried bricks and hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagabas are the Ruvenveli, which dates back to the 2nd Century BC and is 300ft in diameter; the Jetawanarama is 370ft and the Thuparama, which enshrines the collarbone of the Lord Buddha. The city’s most renowned relic is the Sacred Bo-Tree, which is said to have grown from a branch of the Tree under which Lord Buddha gained enlightment. It was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest Historic Tree in the World.
Dinner and Overnight stay in Sigiriya - (82 kms from Anuradhapura)
Day 03
After early breakfast climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress
· Sigiriya is home to the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge Lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Fortress. Within its triple-moated defense the huge rock rises almost to a sheer height of 500ft. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color. Sigiriya was never conquered by any invading forces that had such an affect on the Island of Sri Lanka. It was however ceded to the British during the colonial rule without force.
Afternoon Excursion to Polonnaruwa.
· Polonnaruwa – The Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th – 13th Century contains some splendid and spectacular status. Lankatileke, Tivanka, and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest shrine ruins and Tivanka has the best example of Frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankot Vihara and Kiriwehera are well preserved large Stupas, and Gal Vihare – a Rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lanka artists
Dinner & Overnight Stay - Sigiriya
Day 04
After Breakfast proceed to Kandy (92 kms from Sigiriya) En route visit Dambulla Cave Temple, Spice Garden and a Batik Factory at Matale.
· Dambulla – Is a vast isolated rock mass 500ft high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century BC. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found on the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The Frescoes on the ceiling date back to the 15th-18th Centuries. In the second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life size statues of Gods from the Buddhist Religion along with numerous images of the Buddha himself. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes, which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the History of the Sinhala People.
· Spice Garden at Matale – And see the luscious, Cinnamon, Cardamoms, Pepper plants etc. You can also purchase you requirements of spices. Afterwards visit a Batik Factory where you can see the manufacture of Beautiful Batik Prints. The shop contains a wide variety of Batik Prints with Sri Lankan Culture depicted in them.
Evening witness the Sri Lankan Cultural Show in Kandy. Dinner & Overnight stay in Kandy.
Day 05
After Breakfast visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela. (42 kms from Kandy)
· Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage – Situated close to Colombo – Kandy Road is the Elephant Orphanage started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of Elephants has increased to more than sixty now, including baby elephants brought from various parts, as well as the babies born, as a result of the captive breeding programme. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930 to 1000 hours and 1330 to 1400 hours and the bathing time from 1000 to 1030 hours and 1400 to 1430 hours when all the Elephants are taken to the river close by. It is one of the best moments to watch all the elephants frolicking in the river.
Back to Kandy in the Afternoon - A City Tour and a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
· Kandy – The Hill Capital. The last stronghold of the Sinhala King was finally ceded to the British in the Year 1815. Being the second largest City after Colombo, Kandy is an example of Buddhism’s influence in Sri Lanka today. Temples, shrines, Monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere. To the Buddhist of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.
Dinner & Overnight stay in Kandy.
Day 06
After Breakfast leave for Nuwara-Eliya. (77 kms from Kandy)
En route visit Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, A Tea Plantation and a Tea Factory. This Road to Nuwara Eliya drives through scenic mountain ranges many covered with Tea Plantations.
* Royal Botanical Gardens – Peradeniya - Sixty Seven Hectares of exquisite beauty and botanical treasures containing more than 4000 species, this is heaven not only for Scientists but to every nature lover as well.
· Nuwara Eliya – The “Little England” of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coldest places in the Island, but it is really just like and English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All round Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British Influence. Houses are like Country Cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.
Dinner & Overnight stay – Nuwara Eliya.
Day 07
After Breakfast Proceed to Yala - (192 kms from Nuwara Eliya)
· Rawana Falls – A Beautiful Waterfall of 90m altitudes close to the road from Ella to Wellawaya about 6 kms south of Ella. The stream, a tributary of Kirindi Oya plunges with a foaming spray over a series of ledges into the valley close to a road bend. The waters rise from Wewatenna highland above the rocks (1050m), In general the rocky underground of the waterfalls in Sri Lanka consists of hard gneiss or granite, but here the material is khondalite, a kind of limestone, which undergoes decay faster. Thus there are caves near the falls. Rawana of Ramayana legend is said to have lived none of the caves above the waterfalls.
Afternoon Visit the Yala National Park by Jeep
· Yala – Is a heaven for Fauna both indigenous and migrant. Bird concentrations are by the Lagoons/Salvers. Here are thousands of Flamingoes, Assemblies of spotted Billed Pelicans, Spoonbills, Cormorants and various species of Herons, Pheasants, Pea Fowl, Peacocks and the Wild Fowl are found in hundreds. Wild buffalo and herds of wild Elephants are a common sight. Whether it is a bird or animals you have them all at Yala.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Yala.
Day 08
After Breakfast leave for Beach Hotel or Hotel closer to Airport to connect departure flight back Home.
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