Inclusions
Hotel
Food
Private Transfer
Sightseeing
DAY 01 – COLOMBO AIRPORT – PINNAWELA – SIGIRIYA
- Pickup from Bandaranaike International Airport
- Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawela
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Our English fluent speaking chauffer guide will welcome you at the arrival of Bandaranaike International Airport. Then travel safely to Sigiriya. En route visit Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawela.
Dinner & overnight stay at Sigiriya
Elephant Orphanage – Started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded, the orphanage has grown to be a big family today. The number of elephants has increased to more than 80 now, including baby elephant brought from various parts, as well as 50 babies born as a result of the captive breeding program. The best time to visit is the feeding time and the bathing time when the elephant are taken to the river close by. A unique experience never to be missed.
Sigiriya The spectacular Rock Fortress of Sigiriya, 19 kilometers North East of Dambulla is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions. Some theories affirm that Sigiriya was a Mahayana Buddhist monastery or that it was both citadel and hermitage at different times. The Citadel in the sky Sigiriya is a fantastic display of the ancient Sri Lankan architecture. The Rock was the Fortress of the “King Kasyapa” who murdered his father and stole the throne from his elder brother who was the rightful heir to the throne. Kasyapa built his fortress in this 182-meter-high rock to protect himself from his enemies. The Nigeria rock consists of the central rock, rising 200 meters above the surrounding plain, and the two rectangular precincts on the East (90 hectares) and the West (40 hectares), surrounded by two moats and three ramparts.
DAY 02 – SIGIRIYA – ANURADHAPURA - POLONNARUWA
- Anuradhapura
- Polonnaruwa
After breakfast proceed to Sacred City of Anuradhapura. The Sacred City of Anuradhapura was the first capital of Ceylon and an important Buddhist holy place. After lunch visit Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993.
Dinner & overnight stay at Sigiriya
Anuradhapura – For over 1000 years Singhalese Kings with occasional South Indian interlopers rule from the great city of Anuradhapura. It is the most extensive and important of the Sri Lankan ancient cities. Anuradhapura was founded in the 4th century BC. Anuradhapura is famous for its Dagobas (Temples), Reservoirs, and beautifully landscaped gardens, the ruins of which still remain to this day. The sacred Bo Tree (the world’s oldest tree on record) “Jayasri Maha Bodhi” and the “Ruwanwali Seya” Temple are two of Sri Lanka’s most sacred places found in Anuradhapura. In addition to this there are many other historical and religious sites found in Anuradhapura.
Polonnaruwa is 218 kilometers from Colombo, yet another well planned medieval city defended by enclosing walls, graced by palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes which bears witness to a glorious past. A dominant feature of the city, is the vast irrigation lake of 5940 acres aptly named “Parakrama Samudraya” or the sea of Parakrama after its royal builder King Parakramabahu depicting an example of the advanced engineering and construction skills prevailent during the ancient times. This gigantic reservoir was built to collect rainwater, which did not permit a drop of water to go waste.
DAY 03 – SIGIRIYA –DAMBULLA - KANDY
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Spice & Herbal Garden
- Sri Muthumari Amman Hindu Temple
- Kandy city Tour
- Traditional Sri Lankan cultural show
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
After breakfast proceed to Kandy. En route visit Ancient Dambulla Cave Temple, Herbal Garden where planted more than 400 herbal trees & Sri Muthumari Amman Hindu Temple. After lunch commence city tour of Kandy and Witness a traditional Sri Lankan cultural show.
Dinner & overnight stay at Kandy.
Dambulla the Great Cave Temple of Dambulla is 100 to 150 meters above the road in the southern part of the village of Dambulla. The gigantic rock towering more than 160 m above the surrounding area is 1.5 km. These caves were the refuge of King Walagamba when he was exiled for 14 years. On his return to the throne in the 1st century BC, King Walagamba had a magnificent rock temple built in Dambulla. Dambulla too has been designated as a World Heritage site. The caves feature a mixture of religious and worldly paintings and sculptures. Several reclining Buddha statues and a 15 m long sculpture of the dying Buddha. The famous Dambulla frescoes on the walls and ceiling dates back to the 15th-18th Centuries.
Spice & Herbal Garden – Enjoy the Sri Lanka’s world renowned spices at their source. Visit a spice garden, where smells of cinnamons, pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and mace overwhelm the senses and the visitors are provided an insight into an age old industry of spice production, which attracted many a European and Asian merchants to the ports of ancient Sri Lanka.
Sri Muthumari Amman Hindu Temple – Hindus say Sri Muthumariamman Temple to this famous Matale Hindu Temple. And also they believe Muthumariamman is the goddess for the rain. In Tamil language they say “Muthu” to pearls, “Mari” to rain and “Amman” to the goddess. Furthermore Hindu people worship this goddess for prosperity. Hinduism came to Sri Lanka from India. Most of the times they located on the lands of English cultivators. English cultivators brought the Tamils from India to cultivate their lands. After that Tamil people resided on the upcountry lands. Their religion is Hinduism. Therefore they built Hindu Temples to worship. So, the story of the Matale Hindu Temple is the same.
Kandy is an ancient hill capital and the last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings before the island was finally ceded to the British in 1815. It bears strong influence of the influence of Buddhism in the country and is revered by Buddhists as a sacred city because of the ‘Dalada Maligawa” Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Kandy is the venue of the annual glittering pageant each August where the Buddha’s Tooth Relic in a golden casket is paraded on a majestic elephant accompanied by over 100 elephants, fire dancers, and ceremonial whip crackers, dancers and drummers.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – Commonly known as the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Glorious Tooth Temple), is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an ‘Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession.
DAY 04 – KANDY – NUWARA ELIYA
- Royal Botanical Garden
- Gem Museum
- Ambuluwawa Tower
- Tea Plantation & Factory
- Ramboda waterfall
After breakfast visit Royal botanical garden where kept more beautiful sceneries & Gem Museum. En route visit Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Complex. Proceed to Nuwara Eliya On the way you can see Tea Plantation & Factory and Waterfalls. & also, you can feel Sri Lankan No.01 Tea cup from the Highland Tea Factory.
Dinner & overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya.
Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya is 06 km from Kandy, the magnificent river girdled 57 hectares laid out in 1832 are among the finest in the world. Its treasures of tropical flora include fine collections of orchids, aromatic spices, medicinal herbs, palms and rare endangered plant species. These gardens were the naturally camouflaged operations headquarters of SEAC Supreme Allied Commander, Lord Louis Mountbatten during the 2nd World War.
Gem Museum – Sri Lanka’s gem industry has a very long and colorful history. Sri Lanka was affectionately known as Ratna – Dweepa which means Gem Island. The name is a reflection of its natural wealth. Marco Polo wrote that the island had the best sapphires, topazes, amethysts, and other gems in the world. Ptolemy, the second century astronomer recorded that beryl and sapphire were the mainstay of Sri Lanka’s gem industry
Ambuluwawa Tower – Located 3,567 ft. above mean sea level, Ambuluwawa mountain hosts a hilltop tourist spot that houses a biodiversity complex celebrating environmentalism, culture, and religious diversity. A notable feature of this complex is a large winding tower resembling a Buddhist stupa, which is located on the mountain peak.
Tea Plantation & Factory – Proceed to a tea plantation and factory in the mountains where you will have the unusual opportunity of joining tea pluckers in picking the signature ‘two leaves and a bud’ which are later processed as tea for export around the world. This is a fine art and you will have the chance to learn it from the experts as they pluck these tender buds with precision and speed. Make your way to the factory where you will observe the process that transforms the raw green leaf in to the familiar brown particles of made tea. After experiencing tea production participate in a tea tasting session to sample some of the various grades of tea produced at the estate’s factory.
Ramboda falls (Puna Ella) double fall is unique in the ‘Y’ form where two waterfalls with two water sources merge in to one at the bottom. The water in the fall on the left is from the Puna Oya, A canal which comes through the forest reserve above. The fall on the right-hand side is made up from water from Pundalu Oya which flows through cultivated land above. Most of the year the fall flowing through the Pandalu Oya carry more volume but during periods of long drought the role is reversed. The water on flowing on the left fall remains more or less the same while the water on the other fall reduces significantly.
DAY 05 – NUWARA ELIYA – YALA
- Nuwara Eliya city tour
- Seetha Amman Kovil
- Nine Arch Bridge
- Rawana waterfall
After breakfast city tour of Nuwara Eliya. Transfer to Yala. En route visit Seetha Amman Kovil, Nine Arch Bridge & Rawana falls.
Dinner & overnight stay at Tissamaharama
Nuwara Eliya – “The City of Light” was the favorite hill station of the British, a scenic town 2500 m above sea level surrounded by misty mountain ranges, pine forests and tea cultivations. Nuwara Eliya has a much cooler climate, which is in stark contrast to the tropical climate experienced in other parts of the island. This is probably why Nuwara Eliya is also known as ‘Little England’. The areas around Nuwara Eliya also provide the main output of tea in Sri Lanka. A trip to the highlands of Sri Lanka is never complete without witnessing the age-old traditional tea plucking and sipping a cup of “Ceylon Tea”. Nuwara Eliya has a fair assortment of British Country style houses and an 18 hole Golf Course, which is a real beauty with its scenic location considered to be one of the finest in Asia and a picturesque Race Course where horse races are held.
Seetha Amman kovil – Located just 1 km from the Hakgala is the Seetha Amman kovil. This is the only Seetha Amman kovil in the world and is built according to South Indian architecture. Legend has it that Seetha was held captive and hidden in this spot by king Rama to protect her from the demon king Ravana according to the Epic Ramayana. The stream that runs close to this spot is believed to be the place where Sita bathed and the rock beside it is supposed to be the place where she sat praying. On the rock face across the stream are circular depressions believed to be the foot prints of Rawana’s elephant.There is one spot in the stream where the water cannot be drunk and legend has it that Sita cursed this spot and hence the bad taste. Water is very clear and the Temple is known in many other names such as Sita Amman kovil, Sita Amman Temple, Hanuman Kovil, Hanuman Temple and Sri Bhaktha Hanuma Kovil which all refer to the same place.
Nine Arch Bridge – The Nine Arch Bridge is built by British rulers at the time of colonial era. With its beautiful nine arches located between Ella and Demodara station is one of places that you surely want to visit when in Ella. The train ride in the highlands with the Kandy to Ella train is named as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. The bridge itself located between dense jungle and agricultural setting and very picturesque and is made out of entirely by rocks bricks and cement no metal at all.
Rawana Falls which is about 82ft (25m) high and cascade from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. Forming part of the Rawana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, the source of the fall is the Bandarawela Hill Oya Reservoir, and it flows to the Kirindi Oya Reservoir. Rawana caves are near Rawana Falls: According to legend, it is said that King Rawana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Seetha, and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Rawana Ella (Rawana falls) Cave. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of wilderness. There is small pool which consider as queen Seetha bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall.
DAY 06 – YALA – GALLE – BENTOTA
- Yala National Park
- Turtle Hatchery
- Madu River Jungle Boat Safari
- Galle Dutch Fortress.
Early morning Wild Safari at Yala National Park. Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest National Park in Sri Lanka. You can see Elephants, Leopard, Crocodiles and many more animals at open Jungle. Proceed to Bentota. En route visit Galle Dutch Fortress, Madu River Jungle Boat Safari & Turtle Hatchery
Dinner & overnight stay at Bentota
The Yala National Park is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Situated in the south- eastern corner of the island. It is famous for its high density of leopards, perhaps the highest in the world. Yala is also home to a plethora of reptilian species and platoons of crocodiles. Common in Sri Lanka, there is a huge diversity of spectacular birdlife, including migratory species such as the flamingo. It is also one of the few places in the world where you can still see the severely endangered black-necked stork
Galle Dutch Fort – Old Galle is a world heritage site; a unique example of a preserved 17th C colonial Fortress. The Galle Fort itself is still a living monument with a bustling community within the great ramparts, massive bastions, pepper pot towers, while narrow streets display its Dutch heritage with beckoning pillared verandas and fretwork facades.
Madu River Jungle Boat Safari – Take a magical boat ride down the beautiful Madu River, a wetland estuary spreading over 900 hectares of which 770 hectares is covered with water and inhabited with 64 islands. The boat ride is a wonderful way to take a closer look at this complex wetland ecosystem; a world heritage site protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands being one of the last wetlands in Sri Lanka to contain a pristine mangrove forest. Journey past massive mangrove forests, glide under the canopy of the forest tunnels as they curve playfully towards the watercourse. Take in the unique biodiversity of the Madu River and its surrounding islands that boasts of hundreds of birds, plants, fish and animals.
Turtle Hatchery – At the north end of Induruwa is one of the turtle hatcheries set up to protect turtle eggs till they hatch. Turtle eggs, which would otherwise be eaten, are bought for a few rupees each from local fishermen & re-buried along the beach. Once hatched, the baby turtles are kept in holding tanks. Small tanks contain hundreds of one to three-day old turtles, as well as larger one, including an albino, kept for the collection. In the night, you can release a three-day-old turtle into the Indian Ocean to fend off itself.
DAY 07 – BENTOTA – COLOMBO
- Colombo City Tour
After lunch Proceed to Colombo. En route city tour in Colombo
Dinner & overnight stay at Colombo
Colombo derived from Sinhalese name Kola-amba-thota which means “mango harbour”, altered by the Portuguese to honor Christopher Columbus, population 737,396 Colombo, is the largest city and commercial center of Sri Lanka. Colombo was probably known to Roman, Arab, and Chinese traders more than 2,000 years ago. Muslims settled there in the 8th century and controlled much of the trade between Sinhalese kingdoms and the outside world. The Portuguese arrived in the 16th century and built a fort to protect their spice trade. The Dutch captured the city in the 17th century. The British made the city the capital of their crown colony of Ceylon in 1802.
DAY 08 – COLOMBO – AIRPORT
After breakfast proceed to Colombo airport to connect with the departure flight.
Price Includes
- Accommodation according to program sharing double or twin room.
- Meal Plan – HB (Breakfast & Dinner)
- Entrance fees as per the given program
- All sightseeing as described in the program.
- Transport by an air-conditioned vehicle.
- After round tour transfer to Colombo Airport.
- Service of Chauffer Guide
- Local government taxes.
Price Excludes
- Lunch
- Compulsory X mas & New Year Gala Dinner Supplement.
- Entry Visa fees
- Entrance fees to sites not specified above.
- Air Fare
- Cost of beverage throughout the tour.
- Expenses of a personal nature.
- Tips and Porterage.
- Any other services not specified above.
