Complete Sri Lankan Discovery
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Complete Sri Lankan Discovery |
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This itinerary will take you through some of the most significant archaeological and natural sites, as part of the hill country and cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, followed by a stay in o�ne of the hotels o�n the idyllic Southern coast.
At a glance: Colombo, Pinnawela, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy, Temple of the Tooth, Royal Botanical Gardens, Nuwera Eliya, Udwalewe National Park and Mulgirigalla Rock Temple.
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Day 1 - Negombo
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On arrival at the airport, you will be met by your representative and transferred directly to Negombo for the rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight In: Blue Beach Negombo |
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Day 2 - Pinnawela, Polonnaruwa
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After breakfast proceed to Habarana en route to visiting the Pinnawela Orphanage.
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage After breakfast proceed to Habarana en route visiting Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. A visit to the Elephant Orphanage near Kegalle, 20km's west of Kandy o�n the Colombo Highway, where young orphaned or abandoned elephants are cared for is a must. The herd usually numbers about 50, from tiny infants to hefty adolescents and young adults. The best time to visit is between 10:00 and midday and 14:00 and 16:00 when the keepers bring their charges down to the river to bath and play.
Polonnaruwa The Medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa rose to fame as the capital after the decline of Anuradhapura. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man made reservoirs, veritable seas the most famous of which is the Parakrama Samudra or the sea of Parakrama, large in size. Don't miss the Gal'Vihare complex, with the fine sculptures of the recumbent, standing and seated Buddha's.
Dinner & overnight: Chaaya Village-Habarana or Hotel Sigiriya -Sigiriya.
Overnight In: Chaaya Village, Habarana |
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Day 3 - Anuradhapura
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After breakfast leave for a full day excursion to Anuradhapura. The best known of Sri Lanka's cities, it was the capital of the island for more than a thousand years from the 5th Century BC. A number of Buddhist monuments here date back over 2000 years.
The Brazen Palace The Loha Pasada or the Brazen Palace was founded in the 2nd century BC as a chapter house. In it's original glory it had been nine stories high with a roof of copper tiles, hence the name Brazen Palace. The original building was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and renovated several times by different Kings. What now remains is a mass of 1600 stone pillars standing close to each other. King Parakramabahu built the palace in the 12th centuary, entirely of wood with a copper roof, thus the name "brazen palace".
The Sri Maha Bodhi This Bodhi tree is a sapling of the original Tree at which Buddha sat as he attained enlightenment and was sent to Sri Lanka by King Dharmasoka through the Thero Sangamitta in response to the request made by King Devanampiyatissa. The tree flourishes to this day at the same site at which it was planted. This tree apart from being sacred to the Buddhists is the oldest historical tree of the world. Kings who came to the throne after Devanampiyatissa have embellished the site with "Prakaras", "Makara" arches, flghts of steps etc.. Channels too had been constructed for conveying the water required for watering the tree.
Ruwanwelisaya This dagoba 300ft in diameter was constructed by King Dutugemunu (167-137 BC), the first great hero of the Singhalese. The original height of the dagoba was also about the same. King Dutugemunu was, however unable to complete the work o�n the dagoba. Broad flights of steps are found at the entrance of the sand strewn courtyard as well as the paved terrace of the dagoba. The retaining wall was covered with figures of elephants in frontal aspect represented as standing cheek by jowl. SAt the four cardinal points of the dagoba are four "vahalkadas" (frontispieces) which have preserved some very old sculptures. Work o�n rthis dagoba has been done time and again after the day of King Dutugemunu.
Jethawabaramaya Dagoba Looming over the entire site, the Jetavanarama Dagoba is almost 122m (400ft) tall, with a base diameter of more than 113m (370ft), putting it o�n par with some of the pyramids of Egypt and making it the largest Buddhist building in southern Asia. Its core is a gigantic earthen mound encased in brickwork and extensive reconstruction by the USESCO Central Cultural fund is now nearing completion. Next to it stands the Jetavanarama Museum, housing finds from the site discovered during the reconstruction process. They include coins, Buddhist statues, seals made from precious stones and a huge collection of beads made from clay, silver, gems, gold and ivory.
Dinner & overnight: Chaaya Village-Habarana or Hotel Sigiriya-Sigiriya.
Overnight In: Chaaya Village, Habarana |
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Day 4 - Sigiriya, Kandy, Temple of the Tooth
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After breakfast proceed to Kandy visiting the following places en route.
Sigiriya
The remains of Sigiriya constructed by King Kasapa I whom the Mahavansa introduces as a pricide, lie five miles off Inamaluwa on the
Dambulla-Habarana Road. On the west of the rock are ponds, the remains of summer palaces and other structures, and the first part of the
ancient road, which led to the summit. In the past the entire western face of the rock had been covered with plaster and painted upon, but
only those paintings in two sheltered pockets now survive. The last lap of the ancient path to the summit had been through the mouth of a
lion, but at present only parts of the lion's legs and some of the lime stone steps from inside the lion's mouth survive
Spice Garden in Matale
Sri Lanka has been famed through the ages for its spices and aromatics like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, pepper, vanilla and citronella. There are a
number of private spice gardens along the Kandy-Matale road which can be visited by tourists.
Arrive in Kandy,
Kandy
which was the last independent kingdom of the Singhalese kings, is the most important place for the present Buddhist because of the sacred
tooth relic temple. Kandy is also the most beautiful city of sri lanka with it"s picturesque lake built by it"s last king it"s hills surrounding the
city, it"s devales the oldest the natha devale belonging to the 14th century and the palace of the last king of Kandy which are now the
districts courts and the archeological museum. Kandy also is the center for Buddhist cultural affaires with meditation center and Buddhist
publication societies
Temple of the Tooth
The Tooth Relic of the Buddha is enshrined here. This shrine was built by King Vimaladharma uriya in 17th century when Kandy was the capital of C eylon.
King Weeraprakkrama Narendrasinha rebuilt the temple reducing it from three stories to two stories. The last king of Ceylon, Sri Wickremarajasinha added the
OCTAGON to the shrine and built the moat at its boundary. As the tooth relic was considered the palladium of royalty the Temple of the Tooth was always
built beside the King's place. The Temple of the tooth has painting of the Kandy period on it.
Late evening witness a cultural dance performance. Overnight In: Chaaya Citadel, Kandy |
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Day 5 - Nuwara Eliya
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After Breakfast you will leave Kandy for Nuwera Eliya, en-route visiting a tea plantation and factory.
Tea Plantation Tea Plantation - visit a tea plantation and a tea factory where o�ne the best teas in the world is produced. You will be told all about the process of manufacturing tea and also gain first hand experience o�n the manufacture of some of the best teas in world. If youre lucky you may be invited to taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea which begins its journey as raw green leaves in the hills and ends up as a final golden-brown graded product which we all but know too well
PM City tour of Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka's premier hill resort with a fine bracing mountain climate. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country producing 50% of the worlds best tea. Sri Lanka's highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 ft) is located here. Nuwara Eliya is the location for o�ne of the finest 18 whole golf courses in Asia. Dinner is included at St.Andrews Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. Overnight In: St Andrews Hotel, Nuwara Eliya |
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Day 6 - Udawalewe National Park
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In the morning, depart for a Jeep Safari to Udawalewe National Park.
Udawalewe National Park - is an area of 31,800 hectares, which was declared a protected sanctuary with full national park status in 1972. The park area which falls within two provinces of Sri Lanka has an annual rainfall of 1,520 mm and an average temperature of 29.4 C. Surrounded by mountain ranges, the terrain of the park is a mixture of grassland, which of all Sri Lanka�s wildlife reserves, best rivals the Savanna of Africa and shrub jungle. Teak plantations, water holes and two important factors make this park special - the large Udawalewe Reservoir and the Walewe River, which ensure a supply of water for the fauna within. Internationally renowned for its large herd of elephants, the park is also known for several species of Deer, Wild Boar, the dangerous Wild Buffalo, Jackal and very rare sightings of Leopard.
Check in at the hotel and spend the rest of the evening at your leisure. Dinner included. Overnight In: Dickwella Village |
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Day 7 - Mulgirigalla Rock Temple
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Early morning leave to �Mulgirigalla Rock Tempele�
Mulgirigalla Rock Temple - " The summit of the Rock " :- was confusingly known as adam's berg or Adam's Peak until the 18th century. The Portuguese, infamous for their destruction of Buddhist sites, misunderstood the monks who explained that the frescoes were of the " first man " . Rather than Buddha, they decided that these were images of Adam and left the cave temples untouched. In the 17th century a Dutch general misled some visiting persians who hadlanded in Matara asking to be taken to Adam's Peak. Having no intention of marching 160km (100miles) through difficult territory, he led them o�n a roundabout route from matara to Mulgirigalla dragging the journey out for six days. Probably founded in the 1st Century BC, this 105-metre (350ft) rock temple is smaller than Sigiriya but rises almost vertically out of the surrounding forest. With well preserved and beautifully painted cave temples carved into five levels, the rock was also th site of an important Discovery; the ola-leaf scripts discovered here in the 19th century were the key to the translation of Sri lanka's most informative ancient text, the Mahavamsa. It is also the site of a Buddhist graveyard, a rarity enforced o�n the monks by the British who disapproved of cremation.
The �Hummanaya� or Blowhole:- It�s a natural fountain, caused when sea water rushes through a submerged cavern and is pushed upwards. The spray is often as high as 25 meters,giving o�nlookers a sea bath o�n land o�n completion proceed to visit the Blowhole in Dickwella
�Rakawa� After an early dinner travel to the �Rakawa� Turtle sanctuary where members of the turtle conservation project would conduct a short briefing of the conservation project before taking you to the protected beaches to witness Turtles laying their eggs. Although chances are fare in spotting Turtles through out the year the season is usually between January and April of each year. Return to the hotel to retire for the night. Dinner & overnight Dickwella Village, Dickwella Overnight In: Dickwella Village |
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Day 8 - Beach Resort
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After breakfast you will transfer to a hotel of your choice o�n the Southern/Western Coast, to complete your voyage of discovery in beautiful Sri Lanka. |
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| Start City: Colombo, Negombo |
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| Pricing |
| Travel Dates |
Twin |
| Standard |
| 01'Apr - 31'Oct'10 |
| 01'Nov - 15'Dec'10 |
| 11'Jan - 30'Apr'11 |
| 16'Dec - 23'Dec'10 |
| 25'Dec - 30'Dec'10 |
| 01'Jan - 10'Jan'11 |
| 24'Dec - 24'Dec'10 |
| 31'Dec - 31'Dec'10 |
| What's Included |
Accommodation on half board basis commencing with dinner on day 1 and ending with breakfast on day 8 |
Air-conditioned transportation with English speaking guide for 2 �6 passengers. |
For 7 or more passengers, an additional accompanying guide. |
All applicable entrance fees as per the itinerary. |
Porterage. |
Cultural performance in Kandy. |
All applicable Government taxes. |
Discounted prices for groups of 4+ travelling together. |
| What's Not Included |
| Camera charges etc. |
| Personal tips. |
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