Sri Lanka Holidays : Sri Lanka Tour 3 - Duration: 11 nights and 12 days

Cultural Attractions: Anuradhapura (437 BC-845 AD), 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).

Colonial Heritage: Nuwara Eliya in the Central Highlands, Galle VOC Dutch Fort (WHS)

Beaches: Bentota Bay Beach Resort

Itinerary

Day 1: Colombo

+	We are at your service on arrival at Colombo International Airport. We will meet & assist you at the airport. And transfer to a hotel in the capital, Colombo.
+	City tour: Kelaniya Royal Temple of splendid paintings, colonial building of Old parliament, modern Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Town Hall.
+	Dinner & overnight at a hotel in Colombo.

Day 2: Colombo / Anuradhapura

+	Breakfast at Hotel. Leave for ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura (437 BC-845 AD). Enroute we are on one of a kind of elephant conservation & fun site. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is government run home of injured & healed, tamed & trained elephants ranging from tuskers to calves. Baby elephants herein are born in captivity. We can join them in the nearby river at their bathing time & feed them on return to orphanage.
+	Then we proceed to Anuradhapura, the first Capital of Sri Lanka founded in the 4th Century B.C. We will visit Isurumuniya, Sacred Bo-tree, the Brazen - Palace, Golden Sand Stupa, Samadhi Statue, Abhayagiri Stupa, Moonstone Twin Ponds and Jetavana Dagoba.
+	Overnight at Hotel at Anuradhapura.

Day 3: Anuradhapura / Polonnaruwa / Sigiriya

+	Breakfast at Hotel. And we leave for Polonnaruwa (846 AD-1302 AD, 2nd Capital of Sri Lanka. We will visit the Gal Vihare with its majestic rock statues of the Buddha in standing, reclining and seated forms, the Thuparamaya, the princes' pond, Lankatilaka Vihara and the relic houses of Polonnaruwa Vatadageya, Hatadageya and the Atadageya.
+	In the P.M. we will be climbing The Lion Rock Citadel, Sigiriya (479-496 AD). The fortress contains beautiful frescoes of heavenly maidens. Palace garden with an intricate irrigation system. This was the Royal Citadel of King Kasyapa who ruled in the 5th Century A.D.
+	Over night stay at Hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 4: Sigiriya / Dambulla / Kandy

+	After breakfast at hotel we leave for Kandy the Royal City, (1469-1815 AD) where the last Sinhalese kings held out against European powers.
+	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.
+	Spice garden at Matale is just one of many in the Kandyan province. Spices of Sri Lanka attracted the early sea-faring merchants who made the long voyages to purchase this precious merchandise. Sight seeing in Kandy including a lake drive. Visit an Art and Craft Centers.
+	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.
+	Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy.

Day 5: Kandy / Peradeniya / Nuwara Eliya

+	Breakfast at Hotel & leave for Nuwara Eliya. En-route visit the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. The pleasure garden of a Kandyan King of the 16th Century was developed into a Botanical Garden by the British rulers.
+	Nuwara Eliya, the misty city with salubrious climate & English countryside home gardens, yards & meadows is located over 6000 feet above sea level in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka.
+	From Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, we drive through seamless Tea Plantations covering the hills interspersed by cascading waterfalls. We will visit a Tea Plantation and a Tea Factory en route to gain an introduction to the process of producing Ceylon Tea.
+	Arrive in Nuwara Eliya (Little England) of well preserved colonial architecture with bungalows that were once the residences of British administrators & Planters. Sight Seeing in Nuwara Eliya which includes visits to the 18 Hole Golf course, Race Course, Lake Gregory, busy markets.
+	Overnight at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 6: Nuwara Eliya / Horton Plains / Nuwara Eliya

+	Leave for Horton Plains early in the morning with packetted breakfast so that we could reach before the mist set in the Horton Plains National Park.
+	Horton Plains are located in the highest plateau of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 7200 feet above sea level. At the end of the long track running through the plains is The World's End, a terrific escarpment which drops vertically for about 700m. On a very clear day, one could view the southern coast. Rare species of fauna and flora are found here. These Plains was once the hunting ground of the British. Today the wildlife herein is protected, i.e. deer & sambur.
+	Overnight at Hotel.

Day 7: Nuwara Eliya / Ruhuna Yala National Park

Breakfast at Hotel. This is a favourite wildlife reserve among the Sri Lankans too. En route stop at Ella Grand Motel to enjoy the view of the famous Ella gap at Ella, the paradise village. We will also visit Ravana Falls as you descend to the low lands. At Ruhuna Yala National Park, we will enjoy a Safari tour by jeep with a professional tracker. Elephants, Leopards, Bears, Wild boar, Dear, Buffalo & Monkeys. Bird watching including peacocks.

Overnight stay Hotel in Yala or Tissamaharama Hotel.

Day 8: Ruhuna Yala National Park / Kirinda / VOC Galle Dutch Fort / Kosgoda / Bentota

+	After breakfast, we leave for South Coast Beach Hotel in Galle. En route visit Kirinda. VOC Galle Dutch Fort is an ancient port & fort city. It was the most important sea port since the days of the Romans. This is also where the Portuguese first set foot in the year 1505 and built a fortress, which was later captured and fortified by the Dutch. The fortress is the best preserved colonial sea fortress in Asia. You can easily spend a whole day walking along the ramparts built covering the peninsula, visiting bastions, Dutch era buildings, Dutch churches, residences of Dutch commanders, museums. This is bound to turn out to an unforgettable experience.
+	Turtle hatchery at Kosgoda is one of the projects set in the southern coastal belt of Sri Lanka. You can enjoy having a baby turtle on your palm & release it back to the ponds.
+	Overnight stay Hotel in Galle or Bentota Hotel.

Day 09/10/11: Bentota Bay Beach Resort

+	Breakfast at Hotel. Prime beach resort of the island. Beach, lagoon & river for you to enjoy a long stay. Enjoy the Sun and Beach at leisure at the prime beach resort of the island with all sorts of water sports. Waterskiing, Wind Surfing, Snorkeling. Sea food & fresh local fruits.
+	The traditional Life Style of the inhabitant of the islands of the River Madu (Madu Ganga Wetlands) is only a boat ride away. The boat safari ride that takes you through the thick mangroves, small islands, the bird life around, traditional river fishing and prawn trapping.
+	Dinner & overnight at the hotel.