Srilanka Package

On your arrival at Colombo. You will be met and transferred to Dambulla . On arrival check in at the hotel, Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Dambulla.

After breakfast you will climb the Sigiriya rock, thereafter you will leave for Polonnaruwa and explore the 2nd ancient capital of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya s a "World Heritage Site" and the 5th Century "Fortress in the Sky" which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels still shining in their original colours. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and the Caves within the enclosed area should not be missed. Polonnaruwa s another "World Heritage Site" and was the Capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th-13th Centuries, it contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatilake, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and Tivanka has the best examples of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankoth Vehera and Kirivehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists. The medieval capital, Polonnaruwa was fortified with inner & outer moats and inner & outer walls. The Parakrama Samudra is on the western side of the city. The Royal Palace, Audience Hall and other buildings in the inner city were enclosed by another tall wall. Dinner and overnight stay at Dambulla.

After breakfast leave for Kandy and en route you will visit Dambulla rock cave temple, a spice garden and a batik factory in Matale. Dambulla Cave Temples is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here you will find the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found in the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the walls and the ceiling are the oldest here but they are over painted in the Kandy period. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures with few statues of Gods and Kings. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes, which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhalese people. Spice Gardens at Matale - You will see many spice gardens at Matale and in Mawanella on the Colombo-Kandy road where Cinnamon, Cardamom, Pepper Creepers and all other spice trees, plants and creepers are planted for visitors to see them. Spice products are also available for those who would like to buy them. At all Spice Gardens visitors are taken around and shown each tree and plant and at the end an explanation is given for the use of them in food preparations. Afterwards visit a Batik Factory where you can see the manufacture of beautiful Batik prints. These shops contain a wide variety of Batik items. Enquire About This Trip Dinner and overnight stay at Kandy.

After breakfast you will be taken to do the Shaheen Trail. Dinner and overnight stay at Kandy.

After breakfast you will have a city tour of Kandy including a visit to the Temple of the tooth relic and the botanical garden in Peradeniya. Kandy - the hill capital is another "World Heritage Site". It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the "Dalada Maligawa" - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace ("Maha Wasala"), "Palle Wasala"- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, "Meda Wasala" where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, Natha Devala and Vishnu Devala are situated close by. The Bathing Pavilion ("Ulpenge") is by the Lake and in the Centre of the lake is the Island called "Kiri samudraya" (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse. Today it is the centre of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. Visitors can see these Dances & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city. Royal Botanical Gardens - Peradeniya - 147 acres in extent, Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue (Royal Palm Avenue) was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world is one such avenue. Dinner and overnight stay at Kandy.

After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya en route you will visit a tea factory and a tea plantation. Your evening is at leisure Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England' of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic and is also good for Birding as you get some rare birds in this Park. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (march to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the "seasons" when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea level heat and humidity. Dinner and overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast leave for Ella, Ella is 127 miles from Colombo and 8 miles from Bandarawela, on the leeward side of the central mountains. The view from Ella Gap is one of the most spectacular scenic sights in Sri Lanka - the landscape falls away in a dizzy drop of 3000ft to the eastern plains. The Ella rock is famous for the cave of Ravana a legendary king of Sri Lanka ruled during the pre-historic times. The 1080-foot high waterfall few miles from the Ella Rest house is one of the most beautiful falls in the country Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

After breakfast leave for Yala and check in at the hotel. Late in the afternoon you will be taken on a 4X4 jeep safari to Yala national park Yala (Ruhunu) National Park covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this were established in 1938.Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of Elephants, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Crocodiles, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, and many other animals. More than 130 bird species are recorded which includes the resident and winter visitors. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

After breakfast leave for Colombo and check in at the hotel. This afternoon you will have a city tour of Colombo. Colombo is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, only a few miles away. Colombo was only a small seaport, which came into prominence in the 16th Century with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 and the development of it as a major Harbour took place during the British period. Colombo became the capital of Sri Lanka in 1815 after Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British. The remains of the buildings during the period of the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule are found in every area of the city. None of the Portuguese & Dutch fortifications are found today but some of their buildings and churches could be seen in the Fort & Pettah areas.You will visit The Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith's quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area where there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Kayman's Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple dating to 6th C.B.C., Davatagaha Mosque, Colombo Museum and the Natural History Museum are some of the sites to be visited. Also visit the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), see the replica of Avukana Buddha in front and the Independence Memorial. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your exit flight.