PROGRAM
01. Duration: 08 days Places covered:
Colombo - Harbarana - Kandy - Nuwara Eiya - Katharagama - Hikkaduwa -
Colombo
Day 01. Arrive Colombo. You will be met on arrival
and escorted till your check in at the hotel. Overnight.
Day
02. Post breakfast proceed to Harbarana, enroute visit the Pinnawala
elephant orphanage. Afternoon visit Sigiriya. Later in the evening return to
the hotel. Overnight at Habarana.
Pinnawala Elephant
Orphanage - Situated off the main Colombo/Kandy road, 13 Kms from Kigali
Town, Pinnawala is a home for young elephants that have been displaced from
their natural habitat. The only such sanctuary in the world, visitors can
watch the beasts gamboling in the water and being fed their quota of milk
from handheld bottles.
Sigiriya - A rock fortress
situated 66 Kms from Polonnaruwa, where King Kashyapa built his fortified
palace atop and around a 183-meter rocky outcrop in the 5th century.
Sigiriya is best known today for the paintings of beautiful women found on a
sheltered ledge on the side of the rock. These are considered as being part
of the world's art treasures. On the summit are the remains of the vast
palace of Kashyapa, complete with bathing pool and platforms for dancing
girls.
Day 03. Habarana/Kandy After breakfast
proceed to Kandy, enroute visit Dambulla Cave Temples. In the evening do a
city tour of Kandy including a visit to the temple of the Tooth relic.
Overnight at Kandy.
Dambulla rock temple, which was built by King
Walagambahu in the 1st century BC. Dambulla is a world heritage site and is
the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cave temples. This complex of five caves
with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings is the largest area
of paintings found in the world. The caves contain over 150 images of the
Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out
of rock and spanning 14 meters.
Kandy - 116 Kms from
Colombo, in the foothills of the hill country, Kandy was the last capital of
the Sinhalese Kings. The sacred Tooth relic of the Buddha is preserved for
veneration at the Dalada Maligawa. Kandy is the venue of the annual Esala
Perehera, one of the most colourful pageants in all Asia, held in honour of
the Buddha's relic. The royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya have a wide and
rate collection of tropical and temperate, exotic and indigenous flora, and
an orchid house with the largest collection in Asia.
Day 04. Kandy/Nuwara Eiya After breakfast visit the Royal botanical
gardens. Later proceed to Nuwara Eliya, enroute visit a tea
factory/plantation. Evening take a walk in the town. Overnight at Nuwara
Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya is the heart of Sri Lankan hill country. It
is the home of the famous Ceylon Tea and the rolling mountains are a carpet
of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and
tumbling waterfalls. The salubrious climate, misty glens and the decidedly
British character make Nuwara Eliya a must on any Sri Lankan itinerary.
Day 05. Nuwara Eliya/Katharagama Post breakfast
proceed to Katharagama, evening visit the Katharagama Kovil. Overnight.
Day 06. Katharagama/Hikkaduwa After breakfast
proceed to Hikkaduwa via Galle. Do a city tour of Galle and visit the turtle
hatchery and a mask factory. Overnight.
Galle - 116 Kms
south of Colombo, this is south Sri Lanka's most important town, and though
planted squarely on the beach circuit it derives its apotheosis from reasons
other than golden stretches of sand. It is famous for its Old Dutch fort and
ramparts.
Day 07. Hikkaduwa/Colombo After breakfast
proceed to Colombo. On arrival check in at the hotel. Later do the city tour
of Colombo. Overnight.
Colombo like many cities in developing
countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise
from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the Old World charm
is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several
British built, colonial buildings. Other places of interest are the Pettah
bazaar where one can shop for bargains, a Hindu and Buddhist temple,
residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the
Colombo museum, the Bandar Naike memorial International conference hall. An
outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People's Republic of China, is the new
Parliament in Sri Jatawardenapura and the folk art centre.
Day 08. Depart Colombo
After breakfast proceed to the airport to
connect flight for onward destination.
PROGRAM 02. 
Duration: 08 days Places covered: Colombo - Waikkal -
Anuradhapura - Polonnaruwa - Dambulla - Kandy - Nuwara - Eliya - Hambantota
- Colombo
Day 01. Arrive Colombo. You will be met on arrival
and escorted till your check in at the hotel.
In the afternoon
enjoy a river cruise or a nature walk in the nearby forest to view birds
etc.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02. After
breakfast visit Negombo Fishing village and later leave for Anuradhapura.
Negombo fishing village - Visit a characteristic fishing town set amid
lush groves of coconut palms that breathes the spirit of the sea. Negombo is
a gourmet's paradise with seafood in plenty. Old World fishing craft like
the outrigger canoe and the catamaran bring seer, skipjack, herring and
mullet and amberjack while lobster and prawns are caught in the lagoon. Also
visit the Old Dutch canal dating from the 16th century travel through the
narrow and winding waters of the dandugama oya stream.
Anuradhapura - This ancient city which was founded in the 05th century
AD has the largest number of ancient monuments of the great Sinhala
civilization which flourished in this region. Visit the royal palaces,
shrines, dagobas and Sri Maha Bodhi. Taking pride of place is the Sri Maha
Bodhi, the "bo tree" grown from a branch of the very tree under
which "the Buddha" attained enlightenment - the oldest
historically documented tree in the world, over 2200 year old.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03. Post breakfast drive to
Polonnaruwa visiting Aukana Buddha statue.
The Aukana Buddha,
undoubtedly the most magnificent undamaged ancient images in the island. The
5th century statue, ascribed to King Dhatusena, is 42.5 feet (13 meters)
high, standing beneath a recently constructed brick shelter, reconstruction
of an image house said to have constructed it 1000 years ago. Aukana means,
"Sun eating", and the image is best viewed when the sun rises. It
is situated 32 miles southeast of Anuradhapura via the great tank of
Kalawewa.
Polonnaruwa - Visit the ruins of the Audience
hall, Council chamber, the Royal Citadel, the Kumara Pokuna (pond), Royal
pavilion, Siva Dewale, The Thuparama, the Vatadage relic house, Kiriwehera,
Gal Vihare, with some of the most impressive sculptures and the reservoirs.
Overnight in Polonnaruwa.
Day 04. Post breakfast drive to Dambulla visiting Sigiriya enroute.
Sigiriya - A rock fortress situated 66 Kms from Polonnaruwa,
where King Kashyapa built his fortified palace atop and around a 183-m rocky
outcrop in the 5th century. Sigiriya is best known today for the paintings
of beautiful women found on a sheltered ledge on the side of the rock. These
are considered as being part of the world's art treasures. On the summit are
the remains of the vast palace of Kashyapa, complete with bathing pool and
platforms for dancing girls.
Dambulla rock temple, which was
built by King Walagambahun in the 1st century BC. Dambulla is a world
heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cave temples. This
complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and
ceilings is the largest area of paintings found in the world. The caves
contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal
figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters.
Thereafter continue to Kandy, enroute visiting Batik factory and a spice
garden.
Evening visit temple of the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha
and witness a cultural dance performance.
Overnight at Kandy.
Day 05. After breakfast drive to Kegalle and then visit Kandy.
Pinnawala Elephant orphanage - Situated off the main Colombo/Kandy road, 13
Kms from Kegalle town, Pinnawala is a home for young elephants that have
been displaced from their natural habitat. The only such sanctuary in the
world, visitors can watch the beasts gamboling in the water and being fed
their quota of milk from handheld bottles.
Kandy - 116
Kms, from Colombo, in the foothills of the hill country, Kandy was the last
capital of the Sinhalese Kings. The sacred tooth relic of the Buddha is
preserved for veneration at the Dalada Maligawa. Kandy is the venue of the
annual Esala Perehera, one of the most colourful pageants in all Asia, held
in honour of the Buddha's relic. The royal botanic gardens at Peradeniya
have a wide and rare collection of tropical and temperate, exotic and
indigenous flora, and an orchid house with the largest collection in Asia.
Afternoon leave for Nuwara - Eliya, enroute visiting a tea estate
and a tea factory.
Overnight at Nuwara - Eliya.
Day 06.
After breakfast tour of Nuwara - Eliya & Hakgala Botanical gardens.
Nuwara - Eliya is the heart of Sri Lankan hill country. It is the
home of the famous Ceylon tea and the rolling mountains are a carpet of
velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and
tumbling waterfalls. The salubrious climate, misty glens and the decidedly
British character make Nuwara - Eliya a must on any Sri Lankan itinerary.
Hakgala botanical gardens with exotic trees, shrubs and herbs
know to thrive best in hill country. It has an excellent rare collection of
roses, orchids, and a carefully tended fernery.
Leave for
Hambantota.
Overnight.
Day 07. Morning visit Bundala bird park.
(REMEMBER TO CARRY
YOUR PACKED BREAKFAST ALONG ON THIS SAFARI) Bundala
is one of the largest national parks in Sri Lanka. At Bundala sanctuary,
flamingoes are often seen during the northeast monsoon. Elephants sometimes
retreat to the Bundala salt pans during times Of drought. It is the latest
addition to the national parks in Sri Lanka. All species of water birds
reside in the Island and the migrant birds inhabit this park.
Bundala is the home of wild elephants, wild boar, wild buffalo, deer,
crocodiles, large flocks of birds and herds of wild animals.
Thereafter drive to Colombo. Overnight in Colombo.
Day 08.
After breakfast take the city tour of Colombo.
Colombo, like many
cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight,
sky scrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts,
the Old World charm is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock
tower and several British built, colonial buildings. Other places of
interest are the Pettah bazaar where one can shop for bargains, a Hindu and
Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the
affluent, the Colombo museum, and the Bandaranaike memorial International
conference hall. An outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People's Republic of
China, the new parliament in Sri Jayawardenapura and the folk art centre
Later in time transfer to airport to connect flight for onward destination.
It
is believed by many that Prince Vijaya came to Sri Lanka from northern
India, during the 6th century BC and ruled the native people in Sri Lanka.
