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Sri Lanka Tour 2 - Duration: 10 nights / 11 days
Cultural Attractions: The Lion Rock Citadel, Sigiriya (479-496 AD),
Polonnaruwa (846 AD - 1302 AD),
Golden Dambulla Rock Temple (76 BC-1778
AD), Kandy the Royal City (1469-1815 AD) (All are World Heritage sites).
Eco Attractions: Lion King
(Sinharaja) Tropical Rain Forest (World heritage site)
Wildlife Attractions:
Ruhuna Yala National Park
Itinerary
Day 1: Colombo
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Arrive at Colombo
International Airport, Katunayake. Meet, assist & transfer to hotel in Colombo. |
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Afternoon: we are on a city tour driving past Fort, Pettah,
Cinnamon Gardens, Town Hall, Independence square,
Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).
If the time permits we will be visiting
Kelaniya Royal Temple
at Kaleniya. |
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Dinner & overnight at a hotel in Colombo. |
Day 2: Colombo / Anuradhapura
Day 3: Anuradhapura / Polonnaruwa / Sigiriya
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After breakfast at hotel, we leave for Polonnaruwa
(846 AD - 1302 AD), (WHS). Polonnaruwa was the Island's
capital during the period of 9th -13th century A.D. The city
in its day was fortified with three concentric walls,
beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many
shrines. At Gal Vihare, we
find magnificent Buddhist sculptures carved out of massive
rocks. Polonnaruwa
Vatadage (Vatadage Relic House). We will visit the royal
ruins of the Audience hall, Council Chamber, the Royal
Citadel, the Kumara Pokuna (pond), Royal Pavilion. The ruins
of Buddhist temples of Thuparama, Kirivehera, Hatadage. Most
of all are the vast ancient rainwater reservoirs which
irrigate dry zone plains to date providing the lifeline. |
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The Lion Rock
Citadel, Sigiriya (479 - 496 AD) (WHS). Climb 200 meters to get to
the summit of Sigiriya rock fortress, by way of an iron
staircase sheer on the rock, to be amidst the ruins of a
palace & two pools. The rock is ringed by a moat and rampart
and extensive gardens including the water gardens. Renowned
frescoes of the "Heavenly maidens" of Sigiriya & mirror
wall are tucked in a pocket of the rock. |
Day 4: Sigiriya / Dambulla / Kandy
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After breakfast at hotel we leave for
Kandy the Royal City,
(1469 - 1815 AD) where the last Sinhalese kings held out
against European powers. |
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Enroute visiting Sri Lanka's finest cave temple
Golden Dambulla Rock
Temple (76 BC-1778 AD) (WHS). A vast isolated rock mass where King
Valagambhahu (104-76 BC) took refuge during the South Indian
invasions. Having regained the kingdom, the king had the
rock caves ingeniously converted into a rock temple
(complete with a never ending supply of water - a well
controlled subterranean flow of water) built in gratitude.
The temple consists of a series of 5 caves containing many
statues and paintings including a 47 ft. long statue of the
Buddha. |
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We continue to Kandy, visiting a spice garden in Matale en
route. |
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At Kandy, we visit the "The
Holy Temple of the Tooth" which shelters one of the
holiest relics of the Buddha in the entire world. This is
the treasury of the culture of Sinhalese Buddhists. |
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Overnight is at a hotel in Kandy. |
Day 5: Kandy / Pinnawela / Peradeniya
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After breakfast at hotel, we leave for
Pinnawela
Elephant Orphanage, here you can view the feeding of
elephants, which takes place daily. The highlight of this
event is to observe feeding of baby elephants using Milk
bottles. (All these events can be photographed.) After
feeding of the elephants they will be taken by foot to
nearby river for their daily bath. |
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Afternoon: Sightseeing tour of Kandy - the last capital of
the Sri Lankan kings. |
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Visit the
Peradeniya Royal
Botanical Gardens, home to a rare collection of tropical
exotic and indigenous flora & the famous Orchid House. |
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Visit to the Market Place and an Arts & Crafts showroom.
Then we go for a drive - Upper lake road for a panoramic
view of the Kandy lake and its environs/picturesque
University premises by the side of River Mahaweli. |
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Overnight at Hotel in Kandy. |
Day 6: Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
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After breakfast, we leave for
Nuwara Eliya.
Kandy - Nuwara Eliya Road is a spectacular journey
- winding climbing hills, mountain passes, waterfalls, tea
estates. |
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En route, we visit a tea plantation and a tea
factory-plucking, processing, packetting. |
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Sight seeing in the Nuwara-Eliya Town, Market place,
Victoria Park, Golf Course, the Hill Club, and drive around
this hill station viewing Lake Gregory. |
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Overnight at Hotel. |
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya / Horton Plains / Nuwara Eliya
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Early morning leave the hotel with a packet of breakfast for
an excursion to Horton Plains
National Park. |
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The scenic landscape of this high misty plateau 2400m above
sea level are unique in Sri Lanka, combining mountain
grassland with areas of miniature elfin forest-dwarf forms
of trees shrubs adapted to the cool climate & skimpy soil of
the plains. The World's End, the 700m drop-off that forms an
abrupt southern boundary to the plains. Since we arrived
early, before the mist set in, the view down to the valley &
all the way to the southern coast is clear. It's an
exhilarating scene. |
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We are free in the afternoon at hotel at Nuwara Eliya. We
can drive or stroll to busy market, Lake Gregory, golf
course, race course, market place, railway station,
vegetable gardens & hills. |
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Overnight at Hotel. |
Day 8: Nuwara Eliya / Ruhuna Yala National Park
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Having taken breakfast at hotel, we leave for Hambantota.
It's a long drive. |
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Evening visit the
Ruhuna Yala National Park for a safari by private jeep. |
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Ruhunu Yala National Park covers more than 1260 sq km of
scrub jungle, open savannah, riverine woodland & a long
coastline which curves around Sri Lanka's southeast coast.
With the resident naturalist we will have the chance to spot
mammals. Elephants, Deer, Wild Boar and Sambhur. But we are
confined to the jeep. |
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Dinner & overnight at the hotel. |
Day 9: Ruhuna Yala National Park / Ratnapura
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After breakfast at hotel leave for at
Ratnapura, the city of gems. |
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Afternoon: Commence on a city tour. Visit Maha Saman Shrine,
Ancient Ayurvedic oil bath boat. Visit a Gem Pit, Gem Museum
and a Gem Lapidary. |
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Dinner & overnight at hotel. |
Day 10: Ratnapura / Lion King (Sinharaja) Tropical Rain Forest
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Early morning we leave the hotel with a packet of breakfast
for an excursion to
Lion King (Sinharaja) Tropical Rain Forest (WHS). |
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An extensive tract of undisturbed lowland rainforest in Sri
Lanka. This world heritage site, primeval forest covering an
area of 8000 ha (19768 acres) is reserved for scientific
exploration, relaxation and meditation. Dense stands of
towering trees, enmeshed in fantastic tangles of ferns &
lianas & then again diversity of species & the sight of
carnivorous flowers are amazing. There is a high degree of
endemism among the butterflies, fish, amphibians, reptiles,
birds and mammals. We cross shallow streams & trek past
minor waterfalls. |
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Afternoon: Return to Colombo. |
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Overnight at hotel. |
Day 11: Colombo / Colombo Airport
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After breakfast at hotel we leave for Colombo international
airport or transfer to a hotel in Colombo. |
Extension of the tour for a beach stay [Colombo / Bentota
Beach Resort / Colombo]
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Day 11 - After breakfast we leave for Bentota. Afternoon at
Bentota sight seeing. |
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Day 12 - Bentota Bay Beach Resort. Beautiful bay beach with
all sorts of water sports. Sri Lanka's prime beach resort.
Beach and lagoon. |
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DAY 13 - After breakfast transfer to a hotel in Colombo or
to International Airport, Katunayake. |
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