Sri Lanka, a teardrop-shaped island nation off the southern coast of India, offers a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and historical significance. From the ancient ruins of Sigiriya to the serene beaches of Bentota, Sri Lanka boasts a diverse landscape that will leave you spellbound.
Kandy
Nuwara Eliya
Bentota
Colombo
Transfer to Kandy – En Route Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – Temple of Tooth – Peradeniya Botanical Garden – Gem Gallery – Cultural Show PINNAWALA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE (from Aiport to Pinnawala 02:15 hrs) App. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo-Kandy Road is Pinnawala, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now, including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as some of the more than 25 babies born as a result of the captive breeding program. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs. and 1330 1400 hrs. and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs. and 1400-1430 hrs. when all the elephants are taken to the river close by. The Pinnawala Elephant orphanage timetable is laid down as follows for your convenience. • 08.30 am – Opens for the visitors • 09.00 am – 09.45 am Fruit feeding • 09.15 am – 09.45 am Milk feeding • 10.00 am – 12.00 pm Herd to the river (Bathing Time) • 12.00 pm – 01.45 pm Fruit feeding • 01.15 pm – 01.45 pm Milk feeding • 02.00 pm – 04.00 pm Herd goes to the river (Bathing Time) • 05.00 pm – Milk feeding • 05.30 pm – Ticket counter closes • 06.00 pm – Closes for the day KANDY TEMPLE OF TOOTH (1 hrs) (Please Note: No shorts, sleeveless or body revealing attire is allowed) The Dalada Maligawa, also known as, the Temple of the Tooth, is one of the landmark sites in the city of Kandy. It is located in the heart of Kandy town surrounded by the lake and the commercial district. The Maligawa was once the royal palace inhabited by the king and his consorts, but after the demise of the Kandyan Kingdom, the palace was transformed into a Buddhist temple that holds Buddha’s tooth. It is a must-visit location for all tourists. Visitors can catch a glimpse of Buddhist rituals, explore the museum that includes several ancient artifacts, and pay tribute to the tooth relic at one of the Buddhist ceremonies held at the premises. The architectural splendor and the historical importance of the Dalada Maligawa are sure to amaze you. The Aluth Maligawa, Audience Hall and the World Buddhism, Museum are points of interest. Before preparing for your visit, remember that the Maligawa is a Buddhist shrine and you will need to wear attire covering your shoulders and legs. The temple is open for devotees every day from 5.30 a.m. till 8.00 p.m. ( 0530 GMT) Theva time table Morning Service - 5.30 a.m. - 7.00 a.m. Midday Service - 9.30 a.m - 11.00 a.m. Evening Service - 6.30 p.m - 8.00 p.m. ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDEN (Opening 07:30 AM to 05:00 PM / 01 hrs will be gone for cover) Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 4,000 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 are one such avenue. GEMS OF SRI LANKA (30 Minutes) The world’s best gems are available in Sri Lanka such as Blue and Yellow Sapphire, Star Ruby and Star Sapphire, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye, Alexandrite, Topaz, Amethyst, Quartz, Garnet, Aquamarine, Moonstone, Tourmaline When comparing with other countries you will be lucky to buy pure and valuable gems at Sri Lanka for a competitive price. You can get the education about gems, making jewelries and other requests with them. You can buy gold, white gold and silver jewelry at your choice. You can even get them Tailor Made as per your preference Evening witness the Cultural Dance Show featuring various dancing types of Sri Lanka… KANDY CULTURAL SHOW (Starting Time of the Show – 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM) The Kandy Lake Club Cultural Dance Show is a stimulating Sri Lankan Arts, Dance and Cultural Heritage Show that is a must see for any visitor who visits the historic city of Kandy. The Kandy Lake Club Dance started in 1982 with the view of having a cultural dance performance bringing together all Sri Lankan dance types to one platform. It is the first Cultural Dance Show of its kind to be established in Sri Lanka. It has since become a tourist attraction for many people visiting the country and keen on a glimpse of its rich cultural heritage. Hence it has been performing continuously for the last 35 years.
SIGIRIYA (Opening 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM -- 2hrs to 3 hrs will be gone for cover) Sigiriya is 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 colors. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and the Caves within the enclosed area should not be missed DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE (30 Minutes) Dambulla cave is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here is found 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.
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. HANUMANJI TEMPLE (RAMBODA) Opening 7 AM to 1 PM / 03.30 PM to 6.30 PM (1hr) ***Ensure to wear a charm dress which covers your knees and shoulders*** Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple is built by Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka. Located in Ramboda on Kandy-Nuwara Eliya Road located approximately 30 odd kilometers North of Nuwara Eliya on A-5 route facing the Kotmale Reservoir. The 16 feet idol of Shri Hanuman made of black granite. The Chinmaya Mission is a Hindu spiritual organization engaged in the dissemination of Vedanta, the science of the self as expounded in the Vedas, particularly the Upanishads, and other important Hindu scriptures including the Bhagavad Gita. The Chinmaya Mission was established in India in 1953 by devotees of the renowned Vedanta teacher Swami Chinmayananda. The temple itself is situated about 500m from the main road on a hill having a commanding view of the surrounding area. Legend has it that king Ravana has hid Sita in this area at one time and Hanuman come to this area in search of her. A good tar road connects the temple and the main road. Three wheelers are normally available to take you from main road to the temple and back. The temple is not too big nor very ornately decorated. The surrounding garden area of the Kovil is spotlessly clean and well maintained by the mission. The idol of Hanuman is of black granite and it is carved beautifully and stands tall at 16 feet. You are not permitted to photograph the idol. There is also an ashram containing about 16 rooms, with room names based on characters on the Ramayan – Vibheeshan, Jambavan, Sugriva, etc.… A well-maintained vegetarian restaurant is maintained at the temple. Panorama. Valley View and portion of Kotmale Reservoir seen from Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple Panorama. Valley View and portion of Kotmale Reservoir seen from Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple PM Velankar licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0. From the location of the temple one can see the Kotmale Reservoir and the entire Kotmale Valley. The view is simply breathtaking. Even if you are not a religious person visit to this place is strongly recommended just for the scenic beauty and the awesome view one gets from this place. If you are not appropriately dressed, you will not be allowed to enter the temple. If you are visiting Ramboda falls, you can plan a visit to this temple. RAMBODA FALLS Ramboda Falls is 109 m high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world. It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda Pass. It formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of Kothmale Oya. The falls have an altitude 945 m above sea level TEA PRODUCTION IN SRI LANKA (20 Minutes) Formerly Ceylon, is of high importance to the Sri Lankan economy and the world market. The country is the world's fourth largest producer of tea and the industry is one of the country's main sources of foreign exchange and a significant source of income for laborers, with tea accounting for 15% of the GDP, generating roughly $700 million annually. In 1995, Sri Lanka was the world's leading exporter of tea, (rather than producer) with 23% of the total world export, but it has since been surpassed by Kenya. The tea sector employs, directly or indirectly over 1 million people in Sri Lanka and in 1995 directly employed 215,338 on tea plantations and estates. The humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall in the country's central highlands provide a climate that favors the production of high-quality tea. The industry was introduced to the country in 1867 by James Taylor, the British planter who arrived in 1852.
SEETHA AMMAN TEMPLE (1 hrs) The Sita Amman Temple, located halfway between the highland village Sita Eliya and the Hakgala Botanical Gardens, has become the most venerated of all Ramayana Trail sites in Sri Lanka, because it is believed to be the place where Sita lived most of the time of her captivity on the island of Lanka. After she refused to stay in Ravana's magnificent palace she was transferred to Ashok Vatika or Ashokavanam where she lived under Ashoka trees. It was here that Ravana's wife Mandodari visited her and that Hanuman met her for the first time, identifying himself with the finger ring of Rama. Sita is said to have bathed in the nearby stream. There are remarkable holes in the rocks at the river bank believed to be footprints of Lord Hanuman. HAKGALA BOTANICAL GARDEN (2 hrs) Four miles southeast of Nuwara Eliya is another prominent peak, Hakgala. At its foot lie the Hakgala Botanical Gardens, and above it is the Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve. The gardens 55 acres in extent is smaller and less exotic than the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, but at 5,600 feet (1,707 meters) elevation the species of flora are quite different. Opened as an experimental Cinchona plantation for the production of the malaria antidote quinine in 1860, the pride of the gardens is now roses and tree ferns. GREGORY LAKE (1 hrs) Gregory Lake was created in 1873 by the British era Governor at the time, Sir William Gregory, supposedly for the purpose of providing electricity. However, the lake was mainly used for leisure and recreation after it was built. At its peak of fame, Gregory Lake was the most prominent attraction in the area and was used a place to relax by many visitors. Recently the hilly district of Nuwara Eliya received a complete facelift by the government. With these renovations, the Gregory Lake area, which is located right in the center of the Nuwara Eliya town, has been converted into a sort of Lake Park with many recreational activities. Now visitors can follow the ancient British era tradition of relaxing picnics on the shore of the lake, or more modern leisure activities such as rides in swan shaped paddle boats, normal boat rides, pony rides along the shore, water walking balls, watersports such as jet skis, windsurfing and etc. As such with these many attractions Gregory Lake is a family friendly historic location of SriLanka, attracting many holiday makers who visit the country.
SPICE GARDEN SRI LANKA (Open from 07:00 AM to 07:00 PM) 45 Minutes You will see many spice gardens at Bentota 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 round explaining each tree and plant and at the end explaining the use of them in food preparations
THE MADHU GANGA RIVER LAGOON The Madu River Lagoon is popularly known as the Madu Ganga. The town of Balapitiya which lies about 80km from Colombo is the waters-meet for the Madu Ganga. It is located in southwest Sri Lanka. The ‘Amarapura Nikaya’ a Buddhist sect, held its first higher ordination ceremony balanced on a fleet of boats that were anchored, in 1803. The Madu Ganga wetland with its estuary and mangrove islets makes up a coastal wet-land ecosystem. It is home to about 303 species of plants and 248 species of vertebrate animals. It is considered one of the last expanses of immaculate mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. The boat weaves through the dense mangrove forest and surrounding islets, and you can witness the varying species of Mangrove, about 10 of which are endemic to Sri Lanka. On your way, you will also be treated to a view of a wide variety of flora and fauna, such as monitor lizards and a number of beautiful birds. The Mangrove Forest is a vital part of the ecosystem, nourishing and sustaining the environment. KOSGODA TURTLE HATCHERY Where you can see five species of turtles-Green Turtles (Cheloniamydas), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelysimbricata), Loggerhead Turtle (Carettacaretta), Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelyscoriacea) and Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelysolivacea). The eggs collected by the Villagers and Fishermen are purchased by the Kosgoda Hatchery and kept in sandy pens until they are hatched. The newly hatched ones are kept in seawater tanks and released to the sea in the night. This Hatchery alone has released more than 1,750,000 young turtles to the sea. An endowment by the Hasselblad Estate was responsible for the establishment of this hatchery. The island citizens of these islets produce peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil and you are sure to have the opportunity to experience this indigenous production.
COLOMBO (2 to 3 HRS) Colombo is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayewardenepura 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 Harbor took place during the British period. Colombo became the capital of Sri Lanka in 1815 after the Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British. The remains of the buildings during the period of Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule are found in every area of the city. None of the Portuguese and Dutch fortifications are found today but some of their buildings and churches could be seen in the Fort and Pettah areas. Visit 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. LOTUS TOWER (1 ½ HR) (Opening 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM) It has been called a symbolic landmark of Sri Lanka. As of 2019, the tower is the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia; the second tallest structure in South Asia after the guy-wire-supported INS Kattabomman in India; the 11th tallest tower in Asia and the 19th tallest tower in the world.
<<<<<Have a Safe Flight>>>>>
02 Night- Radisson Kandy (4 star) - Kandy
02 Night- Araliya red ( 4 star )- Nuwara Eliya
02 Night- Tangerine (4 star)- Bentota
01 Night- Radisson Colombo (4 star) - Colombo
Breakfast - 07
Dinner - 07
Supplement Per Person cost for Entrance: