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Where
to go in Sri Lanka
The Interior
Colombo
Sri
Lanka’s capital is a fascinating city, blending its older
culture with modern Western influences. A palm-fringed drive of
34km (21 miles) leads from the Katunayake (Colombo) International
Airport to Colombo. Nearby is Fort, so-called as it was a military
garrison during the Portuguese and Dutch occupation from the 16th
to the 18th century, is today the commercial capital of Sri Lanka.
Pettah, 2km (1 mile) from Fort, is a busy bazaar area. The Vihara
Maha Devi Park, named after the mother of one of Sri Lanka’s
greatest kings, is noteworthy for its collection of beautiful
flowering trees, a blossoming spectacle in March, April and early
May. The park is open daily until 2100 and is well illuminated.
The Parliament Building is at Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte. Other
attractions include the Planetarium, the National Zoological
Gardens and several museums and art galleries.
Sites of worship
There
are numerous Buddhist temples scattered around Sri Lanka: Kelaniya
Raja Maha Viharaya, 10km (6 miles) from Fort; the Vajiraramaya at
Bambalapitiya, 6km (4 miles) from Fort; Dipaduttaramaya at
Kotahena, 5km (3 miles) from Fort; and Gothami Vihapaya, 7km (4.5
miles) from Fort. Also worth visiting are the Gangaramaya Bhikkhu
Training Center and Sima Malaka at 61 Sri Jinaratana Road,
Colombo, 3km (2 miles) from Fort; the Purana Viharaya at
Metharamaya, Lauries Road, Colombo 4; and the Purana Viharaya at
Hendala, 0.8km (0.5 miles) on the Colombo–Negombo road, en-route
to the Pegasus Reef Hotel. Additionally, there are also
some Hindu temples to explore: at Kochikade Kotahena, the Pettah
and Bambalapitiya, Colombo 4; Sri Siva Subramania Swami Kovil,
Gintupitiya – within walking distance of Sea Street, Colombo 11
(Pettah). Reflecting Sri Lanka's diverse communities, there also
mosques worth visiting in the Davatagaha mosque at Union Place,
Colombo 2; and the Afar Jumma mosque in the Pettah.
Kandy & the Hill Country
Kandy,
a picturesque, naturally fortified town, 115km (72 miles) from
Colombo, was the last stronghold of the Kandyan Kings. It withheld
foreign conquest until 1815 when it was ceded by treaty to the
British. It is now an UNESCO site and a cultural sanctuary where
age-old customs, arts, crafts, rituals and ways of life are well
preserved. Good sightseeing trips should take in the Temple of the
Sacred Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa); Embekke Devale; Lankatillaka;
Gadaladeniya; Degaldoruwa temples; museums; Royal Botanic Gardens;
Peradeniya; Elephants’ Bath at Katugastota; the Kandyan Arts
Association; Kalapura (Craftsmen’s Village) at Nattarampotha
(6.5km/4 miles from Kandy); and Henawela Village – famous for
its ‘Dumbara Mats’ (16km/10 miles from Kandy).
The Coast
Sri
Lanka has approximately 1600km (1000 miles) of beautiful
palm-shaded beaches as well as warm, pure seas and colorful coral
reefs.
Southwest Coast
The
best time to visit Sri Lanka's southern beaches is from November
to April. Mount Lavinia, 12km (7 miles) from Colombo, is a good
beach resort close to Colombo and the domestic airport.
Overlooking the area is what was The Governors House, built in
1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland, and now is the famous Mount Lavinia
Hotel. Beruwela, 56km (35 miles) from Colombo, has good bathing in
the bay all year round. Bentota, 64km (40 miles) from Colombo, is
a pleasant self-contained resort destination, between the sea and
the river. The Bentota resort is an interesting diving spot where
multi-hued fish can be observed among myriad reef-dwellers.
Hikkaduwa, 98km (61 miles) from Colombo, is a beautiful coral reef
and beach. Regarded as a haven for surfers, watersports
enthusiasts and snorkelers, this is a beautiful and colorful
marine area, rife for exploration. Galle, 116km (72 miles) from
Colombo, is famous for its old Dutch fort, and is also a center
for lace-making, ebony-carving and gem-polishing. Tangale, 195km
(122 miles) from Colombo, is a beautiful bay and there is safe
swimming all year round. Negombo, 37km (32 miles) from Colombo,
near Katunayake International Airport, is Sri Lanka’s oldest and
best-known fishing village. It stands on a strand separating the
sea from a lagoon. The seafood here, particularly the shellfish,
is a specialty. The safe sea and wide sandy expanse always entices
a multitude of sun-seeking visitors. At Unawatuna in Galle is a
beach area acclaimed as being among the top 15 beaches in the
world, with safe waters within a picturesque setting. For those
searching for geological quirks, Kundawella is the scene of a
large blowhole that operates as a natural spout, gushing water
into the air and over the rocks of the beach.
East Coast
Visitors
are advised to check with the Tourist Board regarding the
situation in these areas prior to departure. The best time to
visit is from April to September. Trincomalee, 257km (160 miles)
from Colombo, is the ideal refuge for the beach addict. It boasts
one of the finest natural harbors in the world and excellent
beaches. All watersports, including fishing, are available here.
There are many tempting underwater shipwrecks to explore for the
intrepid diver. Batticaloa, 312km (195 miles) from Colombo,
surrounded by a large lagoon and a small, well-preserved fort,
famous for its ‘singing fish’ (from April to September, on
moonlit nights, musical vibrations can be heard from the water).
Kalkudah, 32km (20 miles) from Batticaloa, is ideal for bathing as
the sea is clear, calm and reef-protected. Passekudah, close to
Kaludah, has a fine bay, clear waters and safe swimming. Nilaveli,
18km (11 miles) from Trincomalee, is very much a resort center -
all beach and watersports. Whale watching is also one of its
special attractions. Arugam Bay, 314km (196 miles) from Colombo,
3km (2 miles) from Potuvil, has a beautiful bay and good surfing.
Jaffna
Jaffna
is 396km (240 miles) from Colombo, at the country’s northern
tip, and is both city and seaport. It was once noted for its Hindu
temples, Dutch forts, the Keerimalai Baths, the tidal well and the
Chundikulam Sanctuary. Jaffna has many scenic beaches, the best
known of which is Casuarina Beach. Check with the Tourist Board,
Embassy or High Commission whether the area is off-limits to
foreign visitors.
How to Reach
Sri
Lanka is easily accessible by air from all the major countries in
the world. The international airport at Colombo receives direct
flights from Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Besides,
a huge number of flights from Indian cities like Chennai, Mumbai,
Trichy and Thiruvananthapuram also fly to Sri Lanka regularly.
However, you will have to take note that there are no domestic
passenger flights in Sri Lanka. Hence more importance is paid to
road transport in Sri Lanka. If you don't prefer road transport,
you can opt for train travel which is more comfortable but
comparatively slower. All the major attractions of Sri Lanka are
no longer than a few hours drive away from each other. Thus it
becomes very easy to explore Sri Lanka and visit all its
attractions within a short span of time. In fact you can also
drive down to a place for a day and return back by night, which
would give you ample time to indulge in some shopping and
relaxation the next day.
Best
Season, Climate, and Clothing
In the lowlands, the climate is
typically tropical with an average temperature of 27°C in
Colombo. In the higher elevations, it can be quite cool with
temperatures going down to 16ºC at an altitude of nearly 2,000 m.
Bright, sunny warm days are the rule and are common even during
the height of the monsoon-climatically Sri Lanka has no
off-season. The southwest monsoon brings rain mainly from May to
July to the western, southern and central regions of the island,
while the northeast monsoon rains occur in the northern and
eastern regions in December and January. In the summer months
cotton clothing is ideal. You may carry woolens while visiting the
hill areas of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka
Beach Tours
Surrounded
by the vast Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a typical beach country
that offers a wide range of breathtakingly beautiful beaches. Some
of them are always crowded with a variety of sporting activities
on offer while others are defined by their very seclusion and
tranquility. In other words we can simply say that Sri Lanka has
something for everyone in terms of beaches. In fact, the Sri Lanka
beach tours are so popular, that people all over the world are
ever ready to grab the first given opportunity to have their fill
of the sun, sand and water.
If you go for a Sri Lanka beach tour, you will come across some of
the most beautiful beaches you have ever seen in your entire life.
Fringed by lush green vegetation, all beaches in Sri Lanka are
indeed a treat to the eyes of any beholder. In fact, Sri Lanka is
indeed a beachcombers delight. Sri Lanka beach tours can be
planned anytime because it is said that Sri Lanka is never out of
season for a beach holiday. Indeed, life at the beaches never stop
in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka beaches have been classified as the north, south,
east and west coast beaches. Each zone has its own share of
beautiful beaches that can be said to be on par with some of the
most beautiful beaches in the world. Some of the famous beaches in
Sri Lanka are the Negombo Beach, Mt. Lavinia beach, Kalutara,
Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Trincomalee beach. For some exciting
water sports there is nothing better than the Beruwala and Bentota
beaches.
You can make your Sri Lanka beach tours luxurious and memorable by
checking in at some of the beach resorts that line all the famous
beaches. Besides, there are many other hotels and lodges available
around the beaches that offer a comfortable stay to all their
guests. On the whole, the Sri Lanka beach tours can give you some
of the most enjoyable and memorable moments of your life. Do
indulge in one collect a bagful of pleasant memories to last for a
lifetime.
Sri Lanka
Cultural Tours
Sri
Lanka has always been known for its rich history and culture,
which have collectively given it a distinct character. Its culture
and history never fails to draw tourists from all over the world
who never tire admiring these relics. In that case, the Sri Lanka
Cultural tours are a great way to gain insight into this wonderful
country that is truly one of the best places to visit in the
world. If you are keen on embarking on a Sri Lanka cultural tour,
you should first visit the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka that
includes the cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya.
These ancient capital cities offer some of the most important
historical sites in Sri Lanka like the Giritale tank, Gal Vihara
rock sculptures, relic houses of thuparamaya and the thivanka
built for the worship. Other attractions include the Brazen Palace
and the oldest documented tree in the world at 2300 years.
Embark on an excursion to Mihintale that would also take you to
the site when Buddhism was first introduced in Sri Lanka in 247
BC. A number of caves, temples and ruins dot the landscape of
Mihintale that offer interesting information about the history of
Buddhism in Sri Lanka. As you tour Sigiriya during your Sri Lanka
cultural tours, you can visit the Rock Fortress also termed by
many as the eight wonder of the world. Dambulla, situated near
Sigiriya is also a great place to explore with its beautiful Rock
temple.
Lastly, you can visit the city of Kandy during your Sri Lanka
cultural tours. Known for its famous pageant 'Esala Perahera',
Kandy was the last kingdom of Sri Lanka before it came under
British control. As you tour this city, you will be able to visit
the Dalada Maligawa-the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha,
the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Arts and Crafts Center.
Tours in Sri Lanka
Adventure
Tour
Day
1 : Colombo
At
the Hotel Ceylon Inter-Continental. Afternoon city-tour. Colombo
is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka with a population of 1,1
million. The Fort, in the very centre of the city, is where most
of the colonial remnants, mainly from the British era are still to
be found. Nearby Pettah is Colombo's busiest and most traditional
bazaar, a mosaic of human activities and architectural memories.
Cinnamon Gardens is the most prestigious residential area.
Day 2 : Colombo - Kandy
After breakfast you leave
Colombo and the coast and drive along a busy high-way into the
interior of the island, past paddy fields, palm groves and coconut
plantations. In Pinnewela you visit the elephant orphanage, where
about seventy elephants are well looked after, mostly young
animals that have been found throughout the country sick and
abandoned by their herd and brought to Pinnewela. If you are
lucky, you can watch the feeding or the daily bath in the river of
the jumbos. After this visit the road begins to ascend gradually.
You stop for a short visit at a rubber factory, where you will
learn in detail, how the milky sap called latex is treated to
become raw rubber. Another stop will be made at a spice garden;
where you see many unknown trees, bushes and plants. After this
stop you will enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the central
highland with its hills and mountains. At noon you reach, the old
royal city of Kandy situated at 5'000 m, beautifully nestled
between green hills. In its very centre lies a small artificial
lake and the palace of the last Singhalese king which has become a
temple and the most holiest shrine in Sri Lanka, where the tooth
relic of the Lord Buddha is highly venerated. Check-in and lunch
at the Hotel Queens or Hotel Suisse. In the late afternoon short
city-tour of Kandy with visit to a lapidary. In the evening we
shall pay a visit to the temple of the holy tooth. After the
temple visit you have the opportunity to attend a dance
performance, where you will see the famous Kandyan dances, as well
as up-country and devil dances. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel
Queens or Hotel Suisse, Kandy.
Day 3 : Kandy
In the morning after
breakfast visit of the world-famous Botanical Garden Pera-deniya.
The park dates back to1371 under the reign of king Vikrama Bahu
III when he held court here. The English put the cornerstone of
the present garden in 1821. During the Second World Warthe garden
served as the headquarters of Earl Mountbatten, the supreme
commander of the allied forces in Southeast Asia who later became
the last Viceroy of India. You will find in the garden a very
large variety of orchids, spice trees, palms, bushes, as well as
tropical plantsand flowers of all type. Lunch at your hotel.
Afternoon at leisure, dinner and overnight.
Day 4 : Kandy -
Bandarawela
After breakfast you leave
Kandy. From Peradeniya the road starts steadily to ascend and at
noon, shortly before reaching Nuwara Eliya, you will have climbed
1'500 m. You are now in the tea-country; wherever you look, you
will see tea plantations, the rich full green of thousands and
thousands of tea bushes. And out of the green in regular intervals
the white coloured tea factories will enchant your eyes.
Occasionally you can see a few rice fields and near villages,
vegetable plantations or gardens. Lunch at the Grand Hotel, Nuwara
Eliya. During the British rule, the Grand Hotel was the summer
palace of the English governor. The small resort town of Nuwara
Eliya, situated at 2070 m above sea level, lies on a little lake
and is surrounded by mountains covered over and over by tea
bushes. At the town boundaries there are a lot of vegetable planta-
tions and flower fields, but also along the roads of Nuwara Eliya
and in most of its gardens flowers are blooming. After lunch the
journey descends to the town of Bandarawela at 1200 m, which you
willreach in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the
Orient Hotel. Whenever possible, we shall do our best, to allow
you to make the journey from Peradeniya to Bandarawela by train. A
journey by train through the tea-country, past waterfalls,
mountain creeks and through the tea planta- tions is something
very special! With no more then 40 km the train drives uphill and
masters the severest inclines by means of impressive tunnels. Your
driver brings you in Pera-deniya to the railroad station and waits
for you upon your arrival in Bandarawela. You will take your lunch
packet along from the hotel and have lunch on the train.
Day 5 : Bandarawela -
Kuda - Oya
After breakfast at the hotel
you leave Bandarawela to the south, passing tea and vegetable
plantations, occasionally a waterfall, forests and many small
villages and hamlets. From the descending road you have again and
again a beautiful view to the mountains and into the valleys.
After reaching the plain you will again see coconut and rubber
plantations and the familiar paddy fields. At noon you will reach
for lunch the Task Safari Camp situated by a small flowing river,
surrounded by jungle. Accommodation in the camp will be in insect
proof canvas tents, equipped with simple beds with pillows and
clean linen, tables and chairs. Each tent has an attached shower
and toilet. Meals are on full board basis with a choice of
American or Sri Lankan breakfast. Lunch is a typical rice and
curry served in traditional clay pots followed by a barbecue style
dinner. A wide array of luscious tropical fresh fruit and home
made yoghurts and treacle would add to the meals offered in the
camp. A selection of fine wines and beverages from a well stocked
bar and a superb personalized service by courteous well-trained
staff will make you feel utterly pampered. Sitting around a
campfire, relishing a drink of your choice and enjoying the sheer
silence around you disturbed intermittently by the intrinsic
sounds of the wilderness will make you appreciate the mysterious
yet hauntingly beautiful serenity of a typical night out in the
forests of Sri Lanka. After lunch you will drive to the Uda Walawe
National Park, where you will change to a Land Rover and go into
the park on a photo-safari, accompanied by an experienced ranger
from Wildlife Department. After the safari you return to the camp.
For dinner there will be, if weather permits, a barbecue at the
river side.
Day 6 : Kuda Oya -
Koggala
After breakfast you will
leave the camp and drive to the south, the closer you get to the
coast, the countryside becomes more and more barren and near to
the sea, you will see along the road many salt-fields from which
salt is produced. At Dondora you will reach the most southern
point of the island and continue in westerly direction along
large, beautiful, white,palm-fringed beaches. You will reach
Koggala at noon. Check in and lunch at the Koggala Beach Hotel. -
Afternoon at leisure at the beach of Koggala.Dinner and overnight
at your hotel.
Day 7 : Koggala - Colombo
You will leave Koggala after
breakfast, a short drive takes you for a visit to the old city of
Galle The fort with its impressive great rampart is well
preserved. In 1505 the Portuguese took the town from the
Singhalese king and built large fortifications which they called
Santa Cruz. In 1640 the Dutch stormed the fortress. They later
incorporated the remains of the Portuguese fortification in an
imposing new fort for the protection of the harbour and the sea
routes. On the way to Colombo you will be passing through well
known resorts as Hikkaduwa, Bentota, Beruwala, Kalutara. There are
still a lot of things to be seen, for instance the "toddy-tappers",
young men who climb high into the trees to collect the sweet,
milky sap of the coconut blossom, or one of the many turtle
hatcheries. In the evening you will reach Colombo. Accommodation
and overnight at the Hotel Ceylon Inter-Continental.
Day 8 -
Colombo.
Breakfast
at your hotel and end of tour.
Hill
Country Tour
Day 1 : Colombo
Stay in Colombo at one of the
first-class Hotels, in the afternoon city-tour. Colombo is the
commercial capital of Sri Lanka with a population of 1,1 million.
The Fort, in the very centre of the city, is where most of the
colonial remnants, mainly from the British era are still to be
found. Nearby Pettah is Colombo's busiest and most traditional
bazaar, a mosaic of human activities and architectural memories.
Cinnamon Gardens is the most prestigious residential area.
Day 2 : Colombo - Kandy
After breakfast you leave
Colombo and the coast and drive along a busy highway into the
interior of the island, past paddy fields, palm-groves and coconut
plantations. In Pinnewela you visit the elephant-orphanage, where
about seventy elephants are well looked after, mostly young
animals that have been found throughout the country sick and
abandoned by their herd and brought to Pinnewela. If you are
lucky, you can watch the feeding or the daily bath in the river of
the jumbos.After this visit the road begins to ascend gradually.
You stop for a short visit at a rubber factory, where you will
learn in detail, how the milky sap called latex is treated to
become raw rubber. Another stop will be made at a spice garden;
where you see many unknown trees, bushes and plants. After this
stop you will enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the central
highland with its hills and mountains. At noon you reach, the old
royal city of Kandy situated at 500 m, beautifully nestled between
green hills. In its very centre lies a small artificial lake and
the palace of the last Singhalese king which has become a temple
and the most holiest shrine in Sri Lanka, where the tooth relic of
the Lord Buddha is highly venerated. Check-in and lunch at the
Hotel Suisse or Hotel Queens.In the late afternoon short city-tour
of Kandy with visit to a lapidary. In the evening we shall pay a
visit to the temple of the holy tooth. After the temple visit you
have the opportunity to attend a dance performance, where you will
see the famous Kandyan dances, as well as up-country and devil
dances. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Suisse or Hotel Queens.
Day 3 : Kandy
In the morning after
breakfast visit of the world-famous Botanical Garden Peradeniya.
The park dates back to 1371 under the reign of king Vikrama Bahu
III when he held court here. The English put the cornerstone of
the present garden in 1821. During the Second World War the garden
served as the headquarters of Earl Mountbatten, the supreme
commander of the allied forces in Southeast Asia who became later
the last Viceroy of India. You will find in the garden a very
large variety of orchids, spice trees, palms, bushes, as well as
tropical plants and flowers of all type.Lunch at the Hotel Suisse
or Hotel Queens. Afternoon free for personal activities. Dinner
and overnight at your hotel.
Day 4 : Kandy - Nuwara
Eliya
After breakfast you leave
Kandy from Peradeniya the road starts to ascend steadily and at
noon, shortly before reaching Nuwara Eliya, you will have climbed
1'500 m. You are now in the tea-country; wherever you look, you
will see tea plantations, the rich full green of thousands and
thousands of tea bushes. And out of the green in regular intervals
the white-coloured tea factories will enchant your eyes.
Occasionally you can see a few rice fields and near the villages,
vegetable plantations or gardens.Whenever possible we shall do our
best to organize your trip from Peradeniya to Nanuoya by train. A
journey by train through the tea-country, past waterfalls,
mountain creeks and through the tea plantations is something very
special!! With no more than 40 km the train drives uphill and
masters the severest inclines by means of impressive tunnels. Your
driver brings you in Peradeniya to the railroad station and waits
for you upon your arrival in Nanuoya (at about 2 PM). The drive
from Nanuoya up to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya takes about half an
hour.The small resort town of Nuwara Eliya, situated at 2070 m
above sea level, lies on a little lake and is surrounded by
mountains covered over and over by tea bushes. At the town
boundaries there are a lot of vegetable plan-tations and flower
fields, but also along the roads of Nuwara Eliya and in most of
its gardens flowers are blooming.(Late) lunch, dinner and
overnight at the Grand Hotel or Windsor Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.Should
it not be possible to take the train, the journey up to Nuwara
Eliya will be done by car. After lunch at the hotel you would have
the opportunity to visit the Hakgala botanical garden with its
collection of sub-tropical trees, bushes and smaller plants and
its well - known rose garden.
Day 5 : Horton Plains
After breakfast in the hotel,
you leave for an excursion to the Horton Plains, the most
beautiful plateau in Sri Lanka. The variety of its manifold
tropical and sub-tropical flowers, plants, bushes, trees, birds,
and butterflies are remarkable. A walk over the plateau to World's
End, considered the finest view in all of Sri Lanka, is a must,
here the terrific escarpment drops vertically for about 1500 m. On
a clear day one can see the Indian Ocean about 80 km to the south.
You can choose to return to the hotel for late lunch or take your
lunch package with you and stay longer on the plateau. Today you
will also visit a tea factory where you will learn in details, how
the green tea leaves are treated to become high-quality Ceylon
Tea. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Hotel or Windsor Hotel,
Nuwara Eliya.
Day 6 : Nuwara Eliya -
Colombo
You leave Nuwara Eliya after
breakfast and drive in western direction towards the coast,
passing at first tea and vegetable plantations, waterfalls,
forests and small settlements. From the descending road you have
now and then a fabulous panoramic view to the surrounding
mountains and hills and into the many valleys. After reaching the
plain you see again paddy fields, coconut and rubber plantations.
In the evening you reach Colombo. Check in and overnight at your
hotel.
Day 7 - Colombo.
Breakfast
at your hotel and end of tour.
North
Sri Lanka Tour
Day 1 : Colombo
Stay in Colombo at one of the
first-class Hotels. Afternoon city-tour. Colombo is the commercial
capital of Sri Lanka with a population of 1,1 million. The Fort,
in the very centre of the city, is where most of the colonial
remnants, mainly from the British era are still to be found.
Nearby Pettah is Colombo's busiest and most traditional bazaar, a
mosaic of human activities and architectural memories. Cinnamon
Gardens is the most prestigious residential area.
Day 2 : Colombo -
Dambulla - Sigiriya - Giritale - Polonnaruwa
- Giritale
After early breakfast you
check-out of your hotel and you drive along a busy highway into
the interior of the island, past paddy fields, palm-groves and
coconut plantations. In Pinnewela you visit the
elephant-orphanage, where about seventy elephants are well looked
after, mostly young animals that have been found throughout the
country sick and abandoned by their herd and brought to Pinnewela.
If you are lucky, you can watch the feeding or the daily bath in
the river of the jumbos. After this visit you continue your
journey through Kurunegala. Later in Dambulla you will ascend for
a visit of the most impressive of all the many cave temples in Sri
Lanka. The Raj Maha Vihara temple complex consists of five
separate caverns with numerous statues of the Buddha and Hindu
deities. The ceilings of the caves are fully illustrated with
paintings mostly from the many lives of the Buddha. The history of
the caves dates back to the 1st Century BC when this place served
as refuge to the king Valagam Bahu being driven out of
Anuradhapura by invading armies from South India. After the king
returned to his capital, the caves became a Buddhist sanctuary.A
short drive will bring you then to the Sigiriya rock. This
impressive monolith which rises 200 m out of the jungle has been
transformed in the 5th Century by king Kassapa into a fortress and
became his capital, as he feared for his life. On top of the rock
was the king's palace "The Heaven Castle", what remains
today are only foundation walls of this once magnificent building
and the many fortifications. What remains to be seen and is worth
the difficult climb are the phenomenal frescoes of the Sigiriya
Maidens. No one knows whom the seductive beauties, painted in
brilliant colours on the rock walls, represent. One can think of
them as heaven dwelling nymphs from a realm of radiant light.After
this visit you continue to the Giritale Hotel, Giritale, for
check-in and late lunch. In the later afternoon you leave your
hotel and drive to Polonnaruwa for the visit of the well preserved
remains of the city which has been the capital of the Singhalese
kings from the 11th to 13th Century. The famous Singhalese king
Parakrama Bahu the Great (1153- 1186) has built in the environs of
Polonnaruwa an impressive irrigation system with many artificial
tanks interconnected with irrigation channels. The reservoir near
Polonnaruwa has been until recently, when the large dams were
built in the mountains, the largest and most beautiful artificial
lake. After this visit you return to your hotel for overnight.
Day 3 : Giritale -
Anuradhapura - Mihintale - Giritale.
After breakfast you leave
for Anuradhapura in order to visit a selection of the most
remarkable sights. As per written records Anuradhapura has been
made royal capital by the king Panduk Anhaya in 380 BC. It
remained residence and royal capital for 119 successive Singhalese
kings till the year 1000 AC when it was abandoned and the capital
moved to Polonnaruwa. You will see some of the most famous as well
as the tallest dagoba of Sri Lanka, remains from palaces, temples,
monasteries, ceremonial baths and the temple of the holy Bo-tree.
This tree was grown from a sapling of the very tree under which
more than 2500 years ago the Buddha found enlightenment. Lunch en
route. In the afternoon you will pay a visit to Mihintale. This is
the place where in the year 247 BC Buddhism originated in Sri
Lanka. The message of Buddhism was brought to the Singhalese King
Devanampiya Tissa by Mahinda son ofthe great Indian Buddhist
Emperor Ashoka. In a series of flights, 1840 ancient granite slap
steps lead majestically up the hillside. In the late afternoon
return to the Giritale Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 : Giritale -
Kandy.
After breakfast you continue
your journey to Kandy on the way along the road you will see paddy
fields, coconut groves, rubber and spice gardens and plantations.
You will stop at one of the spice gardens there you can see a lot
of trees, bushes and plants cropping spices. Arriving in Kandy you
will proceed to the Hotel Suisse or Hotel Queens for check-in and
lunch.Kandy, situated at 500 m, is beautifully nestled between
green hills. At its very centre lies a small artificial lake and
the palace of the last Singhalese king which has become a temple
and the holiest shrine in Sri Lanka, where the tooth relic of Lord
Buddha is highly venerated. You will visit this temple in the
afternoon during a short city-tour of Kandy. In the evening you
will have the opportunity to attend a dance performance,where you
will see the famous Kandyan dances, as well as up-country and
devil dances. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Suisse or Hotel
Queens.
Day 5 :Kandy - Nuwara Eliya
In the morning after
breakfast visit of the world-famous Botanical Garden Peradeniya.
The park dates back to 1371 under the reign of king Vikrama Bahu
III when he held court here. The English put the cornerstone of
the present garden in 1821. During the Second World War the garden
served as headquarters of Earl Mountbatten, the supreme commander
of the alliedforces in Southeast Asia who became later the last
Viceroy of India. You will find in the garden a very large variety
of orchids, spice trees, palms, bushes, as well as tropical plants
and flowers of all type.From Peradeniya the road starts steadily
to ascend and at noon, shortly before reaching Nuwara Eliya, you
will have climbed 1'500 m. You are now in the tea-country;
wherever you look, you will see tea plantations, the rich full
green of thousands and thousands of tea bushes. And out of the
green in regular intervals the white-coloured tea factories will
enchant your eyes. You will stop at one of these tea factories
where you will learn how the green tea leaves become the
well-known Ceylon teas. Occasionally you can see a few rice fields
and near some villages, vegetable plantations or gardens. Check-in
at the Grand Hotel or Windsor Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.The small resort
town of Nuwara Eliya, situated at 2070 m above sea level, lies on
a little lake and is surrounded by mountains covered over and over
by tea bushes. At the town boundaries there are a lot of vegetable
plantations and flower fields, but also along the roads of Nuwara
Eliya and in most of its gardens flowers are blooming.
Day 6 : Nuwara Eliya -
Hambantota
After breakfast at the hotel
you leave Nuwara Eliya to the south, passing tea and vegetable
plantations, occa- sionally a waterfall, forests and many small
villages and hamlets. From the descending road you have again and
again a beautiful view to the mountains and into the valleys.
After reaching the plain you will again see coconut plantations
and the familiar paddy fields. The closer you get to the coast,
the countryside becomes more and more barren and near to the sea,
you will see along the road many salt fields from which salt is
produced.You will reach Hambantota for Lunch. In the late
afternoon you have the option to do a photo safari into the
Bundala game park. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Peacock Beach
or Hotel Oasis, Hambantota.
Day 7 : Hambantota - Galle
- Colombo
After breakfast in the
morning check-out and you leave Hambantota. At Dondora you will
reach the most southern point of the island and continue in
westerly direction along large, beautiful, white, palm-fringed
beaches. You will pass Matara and you stop later for a visit to
the old city of Galle The fort with its impressive great rampart
is well preserved.In 1505 the Portuguese took the town from the
Singhalese king and built large fortifications which they called
Santa Cruz. In 1640 the Dutch stormed the fortress. They later
incorporated the remains of the Portuguese fortification in an
imposing new fort for the protection of the harbour and the sea
routes. Lunch en route. On the way to Colombo you will be passing
through well-known resorts as Bentota, Beruwala, Kalutara. There
are still a lot of things to be seen, for instance the
"toddy-tappers", young men who climb high into the trees
to collect the sweet, milky sap of the coconut blossom, or one of
the many turtle hatcheries.You will reach Colombo in the evening.
Check-in at your Colombo Hotel.
Day 8 : Colombo
Breakfast at your hotel and
end of tour.
Royal
Cities Tour
Day 1 : Colombo
Check-in at one of the
first-class hotels. Afternoon city-tour. Colombo is the commercial
capital of Sri Lanka with a population of 1,1 million. The Fort,
in the very centre of the city, is where most of the colonial
remnants mainly from the British era are to be found. Nearby
Pettah is Colombo's busiest and most traditional bazaar, a mosaic
of human activities and architectural memories.Cinnamon Gardens is
the most prestigious residential area. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2 : Colombo -
Kandy
After breakfast you leave
Colombo and the coast and drive along a busy highway into the
interior of the island, past paddy fields, palm-groves and coconut
plantations. In Pinnewela you visit the elephant orphanage, where
about seventy elephants are well looked after, mostly young
animals that have been found throughout the coun- try sick and
abandoned by their herd and brought to Pinnewela. If you are
lucky, you can watch the feeding or the daily bath in the river of
the jumbos. After this visit the road begins to ascend gradually.
You stop for a short visit of a tea factory where you will learn
in details, how the green tea leaves are treated to become
high-quality Ceylon Tea. After this stop you will enjoys a
beautiful panoramic view of the central highland with its hills
and mountains.At noon you reach, the old royal city of Kandy,
situated at 500 m, beautifully nestledbetween green hills. At its
very centre lies a small artificial lake and the palace of the
last Singhalese king which has become a temple and the holiest
shrine in Sri Lanka, where the tooth relic of Lord Buddha is
highly venerated. Check-in and lunch at the Hotel Suisse or Hotel
Queens.In the late afternoon short city-tour of Kandy with visit
to a lapidary. In the evening youwill pay a visit to the temple of
the holy tooth. After the temple visit you have the opportunity to
attend a dance performance,where you will see the famous Kandyan
dances, as well as up-country and devil dances. Dinner and
overnight at the Hotel Suisse or Hotel Queens.
Day 3 : Kandy -
Dambulla - Sigiriya - Giritale.
In the morning after
breakfast visit of the world-famous Botanical Garden Peradeniya.
The park dates back to 1371 under the reign of king Vikrama Bahu
III when he held court here. The English put the cornerstone of
the present garden in 1821. During the Second World War the garden
served as headquarters of Earl Mountbatten, the supreme commander
of the allied forces in Southeast Asia who became later the last
Viceroy of India. You will find in the garden a very large variety
of orchids, spice trees, palms, bushes, as well as tropical plants
and flowers of all type.Lunch en route. You will leave now the
central hill county, proceeding north. Along the road you will see
paddy fields, coconut groves, rubber and spice gardens and
plantations. You will stop at one of the spice gardens there you
can see a lot of trees, bushes andplants cropping spices. Later in
Dambulla you will ascend for a visit of the most impressive of all
the many cave temples in Sri Lanka. The Raj Maha Vihara temple
complex consists of five separate caverns with numerous statues of
the Buddha and Hindu deities. The ceilings of the caves are fully
illustrated with paintings mostly from the many lives of the
Buddha. The history of the caves dates back to the 1st Century BC
when this place served as refuge to the king Valagam Bahu being
driven out of Anuradhapura by invading armies from South India.
After the king returned to his capital,the caves became a Buddhist
sanctuary. The next visit will be to the Sigiriya rock. This
impressive monolith whichrises 200 m outof the jungle has been
transformed in the 5th Century by king Kassapa into a fortress and
became his capital as he feared for his life. On top of the rock
was the kings palace "The Heaven-Castle", what remains
today are only foundation walls of this once magnificent building
and the many fortifications. What remains to be seen and is worth
the difficult climb are the phenomenal frescoes of the Sigiriya
Maidens. No one knows whom the seductive beauties, painted in
brilliant colors on the rock walls, represent. One can think of
them as heaven-dwelling nymphs from a realm of radiant light.
After this visit, the driver will take you to the Hotel Giritale,
Giritale for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 : Giritale -
Polonnaruwa - Giritale
After breakfast you drive
to Polonnaruwa for the visit of the well preserved remains of the
city which has been the capital of the Singhalese kings from the
11th to the 13th Century. You see the excavations: Temples, dago-
bas, the royal palace, the royal library. The most famous
Singhalese king Parakrama Bahu the Great (1153-1186) has built in
the environs of Polonnaruwa an impressive irrigation system with
many artificial tanks inter-connected with irrigation channels.The
reservoir near Polonnaruwa has been until recently, when the large
dams were built in the mountains, the largest and most beautiful
artificial lake. After the visit you return to your hotel for
dinner and overnight.
Day 5 : Giritale -
Anuradhapura - Colombo
After breakfast you leave to
Anuradhapura in order to visit a selection of the most remarkable
sights. As per written records Anuradhapura has been made royal
capital by the king Panduk Anhaya in 380 BC. It remained residence
and royal capital for 119 successive Singhalese kings till the
year 1000 AC when it was abandoned and the capital moved to
Polonnaruwa. You will see some of the most famous as well as the
tallest dagoba of Sri Lanka, remains from palaces, temples,
monasteries, ceremonial baths and the temple of the holy Bo-tree.
This tree was grown from a sapling of the very tree under which
more than 2500 years ago the Buddha found enlightenment.After the
visit of Anuradhapura you leave for Colombo with lunch en route,on
the way you pass paddy fields, coconut plantations and huge areas
with rubber trees and plantations. You will reach Colombo in the
evening. Check-in and overnight at your first-class hotel in
Colombo.
Day 6 : Colombo
Breakfast at your hotel and
end of tour.
South
Sri Lanka Tour
Day 1 : Colombo
Stay in Colombo at one of the first-class hotels. Afternoon
city-tour.
Day 2 : Colombo -
Galle - Hambantota
After breakfast you leave Colombo and drive along the palm fringed
coast to the south passing well-known beach resorts like Kalutara,
Beruwala, Bentota and Hikkaduwa. Along the road there are many
interesting things to be seen, for instance the
"toddy-tapers", young men who climb high into the trees
to collect the sweet, milky sap of the coconut blossom, or one of
the many turtle hatcheries.After an early lunch you will stop at
the old city of Galle. The fort with its impressive great rampart
is well preserved. In 1505 the Portuguese took the town from the
Singhalese king and built large fortifications which they called
Santa Cruz. In 1640 the Dutch stormed the fortress. They later
incorporated the remains of the Portuguese fortification in an
imposing new fort for the protection of the harbour and the sea
routes. At Dondora you will reach the most southern point of the
island and continue in easterly direction along large, beautiful,
white, palm fringed beaches. The countryside becomes now more and
more barren and before you reach your hotel in Hambantota, you
will see along the road many salt-fields from where from seawater
salt is produced. Dinner and overnight at the Peacock Beach Hotel,
or the Hotel Oasis, Hambantota.
Day 3 : Hambantota -
Nuwara Eliya
In the first light of dawn you can participate on an optional
photo safari to the nearby Bundala game sanctuary. After an early
lunch at the hotel you continue your journey to the north across a
dry jungle area. From Wellawaya the road starts to ascend going
into the hills. After a few miles you will be in the tea-country;
wherever you look, you will see tea plantations, the rich full
green of thousands and thousands of tea bushes. And out of the
green in regular intervals the white -coloured tea factories will
enchant your eyes. Occasionally you can see a few rice fields and
near villages vegetable plantations or gardens. After passing
through Bandarawela (1200 m) you will reach Nuwara Eliya in the
evening. The small resort town of Nuwara Eliya, situated on 2070 m
above sea level, lies on a little lake and is surrounded by
mountains covered with tea bushes. At the town boundaries there
are a lot of vegetable plantations and flower fields, also along
the roads of Nuwara Eliya and in most of its gardens flowers are
blooming. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Hotel or Hotel
Windsor, Nuwara Eliya.
Day 4 : Nuwara Eliya -
Kandy
After breakfast in the hotel you leave Nuwara Eliya and a short
while later you will reach the Ramboda pass at 2'200 m, the
highest elevation of your tour. From the descending road you see
again and again the rich full green of the tea estates with the
White-coloured tea factories. You will stop at one of these tea
factories where you will learn how the green tea leaves become the
well-known Ceylon teas. While descending into the lowlands, you
will come across the paddy fields and vegetable plots, which
border the settlements.At noon you reach the old royal city of
Kandy, situated at 500 m, beautifully nestled between green
hills.At its very centre lies a small artificial lake and the
palace of the last Singhalese king which has become a temple and
the holiest shrine in Sri Lanka, where the tooth relic of Lord
Buddha is highly venerated.Check-in and lunch at the Hotel Suisse
or Hotel Queens, Kandy. In the late afternoon short city-tour of
Kandy with visit to a lapidary. In the evening you will pay a
visit to the temple of the holy tooth. After the temple visit you
have the opportunity to attend a dance performance, where you will
see the famous Kandyan dances, as well as up-country and devil
dances. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 5 : Kandy -
Dambulla - Sigiriya - Giritale
In the morning after breakfast visit of the world-famous
Botanical Garden Peradeniya. The English put the cornerstone of
the present garden in 1821. During the Second World War the garden
served as the headquarters of Earl Mountbatten, the supreme
commander of the allied forces in Southeast Asia who became later
the last Viceroy of India. You will find in the garden a very
large variety of orchids, spice trees, palms, bushes, as well as
tropical plants and flowers of all type. Lunch en route. You will
leave now the central hill country, proceeding north. Along the
road you will see paddy fields, coconut groves, rubber and spice
gardens and plantations. You will stop at one of the spice gardens
there you can see a lot of trees, bushes and plants cropping
spices. Later in Dambulla you will ascend for a visit of the most
impressive of all the many cave temples in Sri Lanka. The Raj Maha
Vihara temple complex consists of 5 separate caverns with numerous
statues of the Buddha and Hindu deities. After this visit, the
driver will take you to the Sigiriya rock. This impressive
monolith which rises 200 m out of the jungle has been transformed
in the 5th Century by king Kassapa into a fortress and became his
capital as he feared for his life. On top of the rock was the
kings palace "The Heaven Castle", what remains today are
only foundation walls of this once magnificent building and the
many fortifications. What remains to be seen and is worth the
difficult climb are the phenomenal frescoes of the Sigiriya
Maidens. No one knows whom the seductive beauties, painted in
brilliant colours on the rock walls, represent. One can think of
them as heaven-dwelling nymphs from a realm of radiant light.
After this visit you will drive to the Hotel Giritale, Giritale
for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 : Giritale -
Polonnaruwa - Giritale
After breakfast, departure to Polonnaruwa for the visit of the
well preserved remains of the city which has been the capital of
the Singhalese kings from the 11th to the 13th century. You see
the excavations: Temples, dagobas, the royal palace, the royal
library. The most famous Singhalese king Parakrama Bahu the Great
(1153- 1186) has built in the environs of Polonnaruwa an
impressive irrigation system with many artificial tanks
interconnected with irrigation channels. The reservoir near
Polonnaruwa has been until recently, when the large dams were
built in the mountains, the largest and most beautiful artificial
lake. After the visit you return to your hotel for lunch.
Afternoon at leisure at Giritale.
Day 7 : Giritale -
Anuradhapura - Colombo
After breakfast you leave to Anuradhapura in order to visit a
selection of the most remarkable sights. You will see some of the
most famous as well as the tallest dagoba of Sri Lanka, remains
from palaces, temples, monasteries, ceremonial baths and the
temple of the holy Bo-tree. This tree was grown from a sapling of
the very tree under which more than 2500 years ago the Buddha
found enlightenment. After the visit of Anuradhapura you leave for
Colombo with lunch en route, on the way you pass paddy fields,
coconut plantations and huge areas with rubber trees and
plantations. You will reach Colombo in the evening. Check-in and
overnight at your first-class hotel in Colombo.
Day 8 : Colombo
Breakfast at you hotel and end of the tour.
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