Programme

Arrive Colombo Airport. After completing the formalities proceed towards Anuradhapura (206 kms.). Enroute visit the fishing village in Negombo which is the center of the island’s fishing community. It is largely Roman Catholic by faith, with huge imposing churches down almost every street. The sea & the catamarans are the backdrop to the Negombo scenery.
Reach Anuradhapura. Check-in the hotel. Thereafter leave for Anuradhapura visit the ruins of the first capital founded in the 5th century BC here is found the largest number of ancient monuments of a great civilization. "Sri Mahabodhi" the oldest historically documented tree in the world is over 2200 years. This site is where an ancient Bo tree, believed to be from the sapling that Emperor Ashoka's children brought to Sri Lanka when they came to spread the philosophy of Buddha in the island. Around the venerated tree are numerous other Bo trees said to have been planted in the past to confuse invading armies in their quest to destroy the tree. Today, this place is an essential pilgrimage point for Buddhists. There are monuments such as Ruwanveliseya dagoba, 2nd Century BC with its famous Elephant wall; Thuparama dagoba 3rd century BC. The pillars of the brazen palace which once had nine storey’s, the image of the Samadhi Buddha, one of the finest places of Buddhists sculpture, the twin ponds, guard stones & moonstones. If possible visit- Mihintale (the place where Mahinda, the Buddhist monk is said to have arrived from India on the June full moon day (Poson poya) and preached the Buddhist doctrine to King Devanampiya Tissa. As the starting point of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, the day and place is a pilgrimage point for Buddhists. The King subsequently built caves and temples for the Buddhist monks, which provides an interesting insight into the days past for the traveller today. There is also the ruins of a hospital complex, believed to be the oldest in the world, in Mihintale) Night halt at Anuradhapura.

After breakfast visit remaining places in Anuradhapura. Proceed to Polonnaruwa (104 kms.). Arrive Polonaruwa and visit- the 2nd capital of Sinhala kings dating back to the 11th & 12th century A.D. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the ‘’Parakrama Samudra’’. Numerous monuments are found in this city & ‘’Gal Vihara ‘’ complex is one of the best among them with the fine sculpture of the recumbent, Standing and seated Buddha’s. Continuation to Sigiriya climb the rock of Sigiriya built by the patricide King Kashyapa in the 5th century A.D. Today it’s a treasure trove of rare art. After lunch, proceed to Sigiriya (60 kms.). Night halt at Sigiriya.

In the early morning, visit to Sigiriya Rock (the most significant feature of the Rock would have been the Lion staircase leading to the palace garden on the summit. Based on the ideas described in some of the graffiti, this Lion staircase could be visualised as a gigantic figure towering majestically against the granite cliff, facing north, bright coloured, and awe-inspiring. Through the open mouth of the Lion had led the covered staircase built of bricks and timber and a tiled roof. All that remains now are the two colossal paws and a mass of brick masonry that surround the ancient limestone steps and the cuts and groves on the rock face give an idea of the size and shape of the lion figure. Though traces of plaster and pigments occur all over this area, there are only two pockets of paintings surviving in the depressions of the rock face, about a 100 meters above the ground level. These paintings represent the earliest surviving examples of a Sri Lanka school of classical realism, already fully evolved by the 5th century, when these paintings had been made. Earlier the Sigiri style had been considered as belonging to the Central Indian school of Ajanta, but later considered as specifically different from the Ajanta paintings. The ladies depicted in the paintings have been variously identified as Apsaras (heavenly maidens), as ladies of Kasyapa’s court and as Lightening Princess and Cloud Damsels. There are also remains of paintings in some of the caves at the foot of the rock. Of special significance is the painting on the roof of the Cobra Hood Cave. The cave with its unique shape dates from the pre-christian era. The painting combines geometrical shapes and motifs with a free and complex rendering of characteristic volute or whorl motifs. It is nothing less than a masterpiece of expressionist painting.

After breakfast, leave for Kandy. En-route visit the Rock Cave Temple of Dambulla (16 kms.). (dedicated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, Dambulla Cave Temple (or the Golden Temple of Dambulla) is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Situated in Dambulla, Sri Lanka in a region which includes more than 80 caves, Dambulla Cave Temple features 5 well-preserved caves, each of which houses ancient statues of the Buddha and historic artwork depicting the Buddha's life. The Dambulla Cave Temple grounds also features a functioning Buddhist Monastery dating back to the third and second centuries B.C. Built at the base of a 150 meter rock face during a long period stretching from the first century B.C. to 1250 A.D, the Dambulla Cave Temple is comprised of five distinct caves, each of which functions as a shrine room. While all five of the Dambulla Cave Temple caves are worth exploring, these three stand out: Cave of the Divine King: the first of the Dambulla Caves, the Cave of the Divine King is home to a 14 meter tall Buddha statue carved out rock. Cave of the Great Kings: the second of the Dambulla Caves, the Cave of the Great Kings contains 56 statues of the Buddha. Great New Monastery: the third of the Dambulla Caves, the Great New Monastery contains 50 statues of the Buddha and a statue of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha. During the King's rule from 1747-1782, the ceiling and walls Great New Monastery were painted in the traditional Kandy style of the times.)

Then visit the ‘Abu Simbel of Sri Lanka’ Nalanda Gedige (20 kms.) situated at the south of the Dambulla Temple, about one kilometer east of the A9, is the attractive Nalanda Gedige. The unusual image house was transferred to this spot near the town of Nalanda when the Bowatenne Tank, which is part of the Mahaweli Ganga Program, was built. The small building is designed like a Hindu temple with a mandapa, an entrance hall (originally roofed), a short passage to a bare cello, and an ambulatory round the holy center. There is no sign of Hindu gods, however, and the temple is said to have been used by Buddhists. This is one of the earliest buildings of stone constructed in Ceylon. The richly decorated facade sections, laboriously reassembled in 1975, are predominantly in the South Indian style, and may have originated in the eighth to 11th centuries, but cannot be precisely dated. However, the god Kubera appears on the south side of the tympanum over the sanctuary, and this is a feature only to be found in Sri Lanka. The temple, nestled in a marvelous setting, is hard to tear yourself away from. In addition to this, the most important thing in Nalanda Gedige is its relation to Ravana’s son Indrajith. According to Ramayana itself, Indrajith conducts a yaga to retrieve a mysterious and powerful vehicle that ever existed, granted to him by Brahma. But the yaga was disturbed and Indrajith was killed in that place. There is an unidentified statue found in Nalanda gedige by the Archaeology Department of Sri Lanka. Its appearance has no similarity with a human being but it shows more similarities to an extra terrestrial being. Hence, it could be speculated that Indrajith had called assistance from extra terrestrial beings and tried to obtain one of their aircraft which was such a mysterious and powerful vehicle. Even Ramayana itself admits that it was a kind of a mysterious vehicle granted to him by Brahma. Such is the yore and enigma of Nalanda Gedige. There is even a carving of Prince Indrajith at the top of the Nalanda pagoda which has been built in a later period to honour him. According to studies, Nalanda Gedige is the place where Indrajith carried his sacred yaga to obtain that precious aircraft). Thereafter visit to Spice garden & Batik factory in Matale. Finally proceed towards Kandy (26 kms.) Arrive at hotel in Kandy.

Kandy, the Hill Capital of Sri Lanka nestling among the misty hills in the central region of this paradise island is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was here once the Sinhala kings ruled majestically. Next to Colombo, it is also the most visited city in Sri Lanka. As the shrine holding the sacred tooth relic of the lord Buddha is placed in the heart of the city, it's also the most venerated city in Sri Lanka. Because of the history, pageantry and veneration associated with this exquisite city, Kandy is classed as a World Heritage City by UNESCO. Kandy is a reflection of the variety, harmony and diversity of the people and cultures that make Sri Lanka a great nation. It was once the capital of the Kandyan kingdom, the last bastion of resistance to the colonial domination of the nation. This royal city fell to the British in 1815 sealing the fate of Sri Lanka's long cherished independence. This last seat of the Sinhalese kings, who ceded power to the Britishin in 1815 after many a battle with the western colonial forces, still retains much of the old charm and tradition of the truly Sri Lankan life style.

Thereafter visit Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Tooth Relic). Sri Lanka is considered the foremost sacred place of worship in the Buddhist world. Built in the 16th century this temple house the sacred. Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka from the Kalinga province in ancient India in the 4th century AD. Several building have been added to the temple complex by successive rulers, the latest being the Golden Canopy over the inner shrine where the Tooth Relic is placed). Night halt at Kandy.

After breakfast, visit the city of Kandy. The most famous landmark of Kandy is its lake, in the center of the city. Udawatte-kele is a nature reserve surrounded by city. Thereafter proceed towards Pinnawala (32 kms.) & visit the elephant Orphanage. This orphanage was established to feed nurse & house young elephants found abandoned by their mothers. Often the young ones fall into pits and ravines in their request for water during drought period. This is the home to some 60 or more elephant orphans. A place you will really enjoy and never forget. Most orphans are accustomed to their curious human visitors are harmless. Started in 1972 the Elephant Orphanage was relocated to at the present site in 1975 Bathing time at Ma Oya just in front of the orphanage is sharp at 10 am and 2 pm. Feeding time is about and hour earlier.

Further visit the royal botanical gardens of Peradeniya (Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, the finest of its kind in Asia, the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, couldn't be better located. In the Mediterranean climate of Kandy, the gateway to the Central Highlands, the Gardens, at an elevation of 500 meters above sea-level, were tightly bounded on three sides by a loop of River Mahaweli (Great sandy river), the largest river of Sri Lanka. More than 4000 species include indigenous and introduced plants. This garden is best known for it’s collection of orchids the largest in Asia. Peradeniya is believed to take its exotic name from Sinhalese names Pera (guava) and Deniya (a plain). The name also reveals, although Guava is not indigenous to Sri Lanka, introduction of the fruit to the island and cultivation had occurred even prior to the era of British Colonialists in Ceylon.)

After lunch, leave for Nuwara Eliya (76 kms.) the center of hill country, En-route visit a tea plantation and witness the manufacture of the world famous ‘’ Ceylon tea ‘’. Arrive Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya, most famous hill resort in Sri Lanka, is located at the altitude of 2000 metres. Land of the renowned Ceylon tea, the waving mountains of Nuwara Eliya are carpeted by green tea plantations, punctuated with bublisng streams and waterfalls. This picturesque town is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the highest mountain in Sri Lanka. It was once favorite hill station of the British in Sri Lanka. Spend the evening walking in the cool climate. Night halt at Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast, departure to Ratnapura, arrive Ratnapura. Check-in the hotel.

Ratnapura-located at 103 km from Colombo-is the famous gem-mining town of Sri Lanka. In fact the name Ratnapura literally means, the City of Gems. Sri Lanka has the greatest concentration of gems on earth and is ranked among the top five gem-bearing nations. One can find all types of gems in Ratnapura-from familiar to exotic. These include: white, yellow, pink, orange, purple and blue star sapphires, ruby and star ruby, cat's eye, topaz, amethyst, moonstone, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet, zircon, spinel, alexandrite, citrine, etc., and the exotic ones such as patite, sinhalite, ekanite, enstatite, andalusite, kornerupine, etc., sought by the connoisseur. The mining operation for gems has been virtually the same since the days of the Alexander the Great or perhaps the Pharaohs times except for the modern addition of the water pumps for dewatering of the pits. Visit to Ratnapura Gem factory.

Thereafter visit- Sinharaja Rain forest (to & fro- 60 kms.) Moist and muggy, murky and mysterious; an experience of Sinharaja is like nothing else in Sri Lanka. Trekking through this magnificent jungle, the last surviving stretch of virgin rainforest on the island is a treat; through a bewildering land of exotic colours and wonderful sounds is an truly enriching experience. From top to bottom the forest is teeming with life, colour and sound; gushing waterfalls,gurgling streams, ants marching, leaves rustling, leeches waiting, crickets creaking and fluttering butterflies combine to stir the senses. Sinharaja is a UNESCO International Man and Biosphere Reserve. Located in the southwest corner of Sri Lanka, 40km inland from the historic city of Galle, the Sinharaja rain forest straddles a series of mountains and ridges in the country’s wet zone, containing a number of streams, waterfalls and fresh-water springs which flow into the Gin Ganga (‘Ganga’ means ‘River’) on the southern boundary and Kalu Ganga to the north. The Sinharaja region has long played an important role in the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. For folklorists, the name of the forest, which literally means ‘lion king’, suggests its significance as the primary home of the legendary lion of Sri Lanka. Other less romantic historians believe that the name refers to Sinharaja’s role as the ‘king-sized’ or ‘royal’ forest of the Sinhalese people, at a time when over 100,000 hectares of wet evergreen jungle covered the South Western hills and lowlands of Sri Lanka. Since that time, with much of the land having been cultivated by both colonial settlers and local inhabitants for tea estates and other forms of enterprise, the thin sliver of forest (21km long and 3.7km wide) that remains, is but a glimpse of its former glory. Only relatively recently was the urgency of conserving this precious segment of land was seriously recognised when it was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1976. In 1989 UNESCO seconded this move and made it a World Heritage Site in 1989. The forest not only offers a window into in Sri Lanka’s distant past but is also houses an incredible array of flora and fauna (including a sum total of 73 endemic species of birds, butterflies, fish, mammals, reptiles and amphibians) making a world famous hotspot for biodiversity). Night halt at Ratnapura.

After breakfast, leave for Tissamaharama Region Stop at Ella to admire the magnificent view. & the sacred city of Kataragama (124 kms. from Ratnapura) (Kataragama a popular pilgrimage destination frequented by adherents of all religions in Sri Lanka. The main shrine devoted to Skanda popularly described in eulogies as God having six faces and twelve arms whose assistance is sought for worldly gain. The history of the shrine dates back to 2 century BC. The annual procession held in July or August is the main event of the shrine with fire walkers and Kawadi dancers. Offering to the got are made at 4.30 am 10.30 am and 6.30 pm daily). In the afternoon take a safari in Yala park by jeep.

The Elephant is undoubtedly the best known attraction at Yala, seen in small & large herds. Herds of spotted deer are seen all over the park. Monkeys-the pinkish rhesus and the Grey-faced Langur Monkey live and play on the tree-tops and the ground below. Wild buffalo & wild boar could give you a good surprise & the sight of a leopard sunning itself or drinking water at a water hole could be memorable experience .the peacock is easily the most famous of the birds at Yala. The painted stork, many varieties of heron, the spoonbill, the bee-eater, parakeets, and king-fisher & wood pecker are some of the birds can be seen in the park. Arrive at hotel. Night halt at Yala.

After breakfast, leave for Galle (140 kms.). Reach Galle. Check-in the hotel.

Galle is the capital of the southern province is a city with a colourful history. UNESCO declared World Heritage Site the magnificent Dutch fort is the most popular attraction of the town. 300 year old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive around the fort and amidst its many historical buildings not invaded by the skyscrapers. The beautiful beach of Unawatuna is just 6 kms. south east of the city centre. The southern coastal belt is the most popular among the tourists and comes to life mainly from October through April when the monsoon moves northeast and the sea becomes calm with blue skies. The earliest European administrative centre of Sri Lanka was the major port and the largest city until the British shifted the port to Colombo. The City of Galle had been the European administrative centre over 4 centuries.

Visit Galle fort ( this fort was built first by the Portuguese, then modified by the Dutch during the 17th century. Even today, after 400 years of existence, it looks new and polished with reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. Today Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world. The Dutch fort also known as Ramparts of Galle withstood the Boxing Day tsunami which destroyed the Galle town. There are many Moor families who live inside this fort along with Sinhalese, Dutch, English, Portuguese and Germans. More details regarding the history of the fort can be found at the visitors centre and at the Dutch period museum inside the Fort. Today, the citizens of Dutch fort in Galle are trying to make this a free port and a free trade zone. If successful no taxes are levied on the companies and individuals who reside inside the city) and Dutch Reformed Church Built by a Dutch Army officer at the site of a previous Portuguese church and completed in 1754 the church is situated close to the new entrance to the fort. The church contains record of marriages since 1748 and baptism from 1678. The other significant of the building id there are no pillars inside the building and the weight of the roof is supported by the walls). Night halt at Galle.

After breakfast, proceed towards Colombo (116 kms.). Enroute visit to Bentota (this famous golden beach is safe for swimming and particularly popular with foreign tourists. But other areas have strong currents, so take local advice. The name is said to come from a demon “Bem” who ruled the local river (river bank = “tota”). The area is famous for jewellery, and it is possible to visit the moonstone mines. There are Buddhist temples at Kande Vihare (160 ft tall) and Sri Kalyanarama Maha Viharaya, Kaluwamodera (made from ancient marble) There is a range of water sports on offer. There are boat trips on the Bentota and Maadu rivers, with visits to local temples and cinnamon estates and great opportunities to observe the local wildlife. A romantic river safari is the highlight of many people’s holiday, but more active holidaymakers can try surfing, skiing and diving on the reef at Akurela beach. The Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka operates a famous turtle hatchery near Bentota. It was established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka's turtles from extinction. The hatchery pays fishermen for eggs that they collect at night along the long sandy beach. 10% of the hatchlings survive their journey to the sea – 10 times the rate in the wild. Visitors can see and sometimes handle new born and older turtles. The main laying season is from October to April but some eggs and hatchlings can be found at Kosgoda throughout the year. The hatchlings are usually released at 2-4 days old).
Arrive Colombo. Check-in the hotel.
Thereafter visit- Colombo Fort (originally a fort during the Portuguese and Dutch periods but now a major commercial center of the country and housing major offices, big hotels, some of the better shops, airline offices, banks, main post office, immigration office, travel agents and restaurants. Within Fort are several places of tourist interest, which can be conveniently seen on foot), Pettah (adjacent to Fort is Pettah-Colombo's leading bazaar district. It has narrow cobbled streets lined with shops and street stalls that offer the most fantastic bargains and the most unimaginable range of goods varying from bright printed fabrics, suitings, undergarments, children wear, footwear and handbags to electrical goods, semi precious jewellery, watches, rare first edition books, cutlery and other household items. Each criss-crossed lane of Pettah leads to the main street and each has developed its own specialized characteristic. For example, household goods are found on Keyzer Street. Prince Street is famous for glass, mirrors and electrical items. Malwatte Avenue sells English, Sinhala and Tamil music cassettes), Galle face green (a promenade on the sea face stretching one and a half kilometers, it is a relic of the British era. Laid out in 1859 it was used for horse racing. Today it is the largest open space in Colombo and a famous picnic spot.) and National Museum (Housed in a grand colonial building, the National Museum is the custodian of Sri Lanka's cultural heritage. Among its exhibits are a vast collection of half a million books, more than 4000 archaic palm leaf manuscripts, rock sculptures from the ancient cities, bronze brassware and royal weapons of Sri Lankan kings, fascinating paintings of by gone eras and an excellent collection of antique demon masks. The most interesting among the exhibits are the regalia of the Kandyan Kings dating back to the 17th century) Evening free for relaxation. Night at Colombo.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to connect your flight for further destination.