DAY 01
ANURADHAPURA
Anuradhapura in the northern centre of Sri Lanka is a sacred place worshipped by many Buddhists, as a sapling of the Bhodi tree of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in India, under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, was planted at this holy place. The Sri Maha Bodhiya is the oldest documented tree that is still living. This ancient city consists of palaces, monasteries and monuments which are all in ruins today, which are really fascinating to visit.
Ruwanwelisaya, an ancient stupa, is revered by the Buddhist community. Thuparamaya enshrines the collarbone of the Buddha and is considered to be the first dagaba, or pagoda, built in Sri Lanka. Lovamahapaya also known as the Brazen Palace is between the Ruwanvaliseya and Sri Maha Bodhiya. Jetavanarama is the largest stupa in Sri Lanka. As well as these beautiful places there are other stupas and relics, soaring over the vast acres of paddy fields in the area.
DAY 02
TRINCOMALEE
The nation’s port harbor, Trincomalee is to the more northeast of Sri Lanka. Trincomalee is a popular attraction to both travellers and locals due to its commercial reputation and the maritime location. The city is rich with a bundle of offers to the guests, whether it’s traveling with children, loved ones, and friends or merely by yourself. The guests can make their journey the best through the elements of spiritual experiences, natural wonders and elements of relaxation come together.
THIRUKONESWARAM TEMPLE
Thirukoneswaram, or the Holy Koneswaram Temple, is a Hindu temple in Trincomalee on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The temple lies on a high rocky promontory surrounded on three sides by the sea. It has a history of over three millennia where its roots in 1580 BC according to the legend.This, still beautiful, historical monument is what remains of what once was a sprawling temple city equal to the ancient city of Madurai, India. This was zealously destroyed by the Portuguese in the 17th century. The remains of the old temple still lie on the sea bed to have a look.
DAY 03
PIGEON ISLAND NATIONAL PARK
The island got its name from the rock pigeon which has colonized it. The national park contains some of the best remaining coral reefs of Sri Lanka. The island was used as a shooting range during the colonial era.
Floating in the great blue 1km offshore, Pigeon Island, with its powdery white sands and glittering coral gardens, tantalize with possibilities. A nesting area for rock pigeons, the island is beautiful enough, with rock pools and paths running through thickets, but it’s the underwater landscape that’s the real star. The reef here is shallow, making snorkeling almost as satisfying as diving, and it’s home to dozens of corals, hundreds of reef fish and turtles.
DAY 04 / DAY 05
DOLPHIN AND WHALE WATCHING
Trincomalee has won a great attraction as an important Whales and Dolphin watching destination. The best season for Whale and Dolphin watching in Trincomalee is May to October. During your excursion you will be able to spot various species of Dolphins and Whales, for instance; Bottlenose dolphin, Spinner Dolphin, Fraser’s Dolphin, Blue Whale, Killer Whale, Bryde’s whale and many more. During this season the ocean remains in tranquil, providing the most perfect surrounding to watch Whales and Dolphins in a closer proximity.
PASSIKUDAH
Around thirty-five kilometers northwest of Batticaloa town on the east coast of Sri Lanka lies Pasikuda, a coastal town with a spectacular, blue bay and soft, sandy beaches.
Pasikuda is renowned because of its extended shallow coastline, making it a great spot for sunbathing and shallow swimming. The mesmerizing, azure waters are hard to resist and, along with the pristine, white-golden sand of the beach, create an incredible sight. Much of the town was destroyed during the 2004 Asian tsunami, but since then, tourism has gradually picked up. Today, Pasikuda offers the guests breathtaking views and a tranquil atmosphere with many stylish and luxurious resorts and boutique hotels.
DAY 06
POLONNARUWA ANCIANT CITY
Great Citadel mixed in three major sectors as Religious Royalty and Civilization bears witness to several developments in economic, agricultural, cultural and religious value and provides a great learning point of technology with enormous Structural Brick Works, Wonderful Irrigation Systems, Classic Arts where King Parakramabahu created a golden era in which the premise of no water drop was to be wasted, and each one was to be used for the growth of the soil, totally self-sufficient with sophisticated agricultural and irrigation systems with a multitude of religious buildings Buddhist & Hindu Temples, Pagodas and Lakes proved to be the best in the preparation of archeological relics to bear witness to the Kingdom's regard and prominence.
SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS
Called for its initial name of "Sinhagiri" by many names including "The Lion Rock," Sigiriya is close to the town of Dambulla and is a colossal rock column nearly 200 m elevated. It was a royal citadel for 18 years (477-495) when it was fortified by King Kasyapa. Sigiriya's architectural and irrigation technologies, like the Water Gardens, are still baffling engineers. Steep metal steps with railings climb up pass a wall adorned with bare-breasted women's frescoes. They are considered unique by art specialists. The rock's summit is a hectare in region and the palace's exterior wall was built on the rock's edge with gardens and a lake softening the eerie’s harshness. Because it was built more than 1,500 years ago, it is asserted as the Eighth Wonder of the World by enthusiasts and is still a World Heritage Site.
DAY 07
HIRIWADUNA VILLAGE TOUR
This trip enables you to get to know the life of the village and experience a bullock cart ride, village walk, tuk tuk ride and even a catamaran boat ride. Join this 3-hour trip for the chance to emerge in the true Sri Lankan village's nature and culture. Hiriwadunna Village in Habarana City is a beautiful rural area. Start your tour with a Bullock cart ride near the lake of the village and you will experience a boat ride to the next side of the rural village. You can reach the village house after a brief walk in the paddy areas and vegetable cultivation. You can relax and taste a delicious Sri Lankan lunch in the village house. Tuk Tuk will bring you back after the trip.
MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK
Minneriya National Park, Sitting in the center of the cultural triangle, Minneriya is a nice solution to the busier parks in the south and in a day between visiting the ancient towns, it is simple to weave here. The dry season is the best time to visit the 8,890-hectare park, preferably from June to September, when the old tank, the lake that dominates the region, dries out and the grasses and shoots move through. During this period you can see herds of feeding and washing up to 150 elephants, as well as toque macaques and sambar deer. Cormorants and painted storks are among the hungry bird flocks. Minneriya, nearest to the ancient town of Polonnaruwa by vehicle, has been upgraded from a nature reserve to a national park due to the increasing amount of visitors coming to see the elephants.
DAY 08
DAMBULLA
The temple of Dambulla has five caves and 157 Lord Buddha statues, many paintings on the ceilings and walls that emphasize the ancient artistic talent. The cave, rock and temple history dates back to the first millennium B.C. These caves' attraction is not only the statues, but also the many complex and sensitive paintings produced with indigenous traditional paintings that cover the ceiling and walls. The premises were proclaimed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1991 due to the history, archeological and artistic consequences. For over 22 centuries, the temple has been in use and still has a feeling of benevolence and spirituality. Visitors may climb up steps to the temple and the view from the top of the rock is as inspiring as the temple's golden interior.
CEYLON SPICE GARDEN
Sri Lankan spices, wealth and diversity offered perfect grounds for traditional Ayurveda. Ayurveda is an ancient medicine type, the Long Life Science, which uses natural remedies to attain physical and mental well-being. In Ayurveda massage and alternative therapies, herbs, spices and their natural oils are prominent. Sri Lankan spices are used with 24 herbs and spices in a range of perfume, soap and other cosmetics, essential oils aromatherapy and Ayurvedic toothpaste.
SRI MUTHUMARIAMMAN TEMPLE
The temple is renowned in the region for both Hindu and Buddhist individuals. Hindus venerate the Hindu goddess of rain and fertility, Muthumari Amman, while Buddhists venerate this temple as a location devoted to Pattini goddess, the patron deity of fertility and health. Sri Muthumariamman Temple history can be traced back to the nineteenth century.
KANDY
The ancient kingdom of Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha as well as Edwardian buildings, a king-made lake, a nature reserve and exciting shops.
As the island's largest town and the capital of the Central Province, Kandy has evolved from being a medieval kingdom to a friendly, busy town set in wooded hills encircled by tea plantations and close to Peradeniya's Royal Botanical Gardens. There are many Buddhist monasteries and Hindu worship areas to visit as well as cultural dance performances to watch as well as the Tooth Temple.
Kandy is a convenient base for staying for a couple of days while exploring the Cultural Triangle as there are comfortable hotels suitable for every budget. The town can be readily reached by rail and highway.
TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH
The golden canopy of the medieval Temple of the Tooth is a landmark dominating the ancient kingdom, now contemporary town, of Kandy. The Sacred Relic of Buddha's tooth was brought from India in the 4th century before being placed in the 16th century in a specially built temple in Kandy. The moat was later added to the octagonal structure. The relic of the tooth is enclosed within the confines of the temple in seven golden caskets decorated with gemstones, in the form of a Stupa. The temple is open to visitors. In August there will be an annual procession (Perahera) of a tooth casket replica. Elephants are colorfully caparized and garlanded with flowers and lights as crowds love the sight of fire eaters, stilt dancers, whip crackers and jugglers parading Kandyan drums' rhythmic vibrations.
KANDYAN CULTURAL SHOW
This cultural display, held in Kandy town, portrays multiple types of Kandyan dancing that was once indigenous to the region but has now spread to distinct areas of the island. Originating from a dance conducted by Indian shamans who went to the island, Kandyan dance plays a significant part in the culture of Sri Lanka and is a highly anticipated event during the processions of perahera. During the show, you will see several dances depicting the graceful motions of birds and animals that trace their roots back to the ancient ritual known as the Kohomba Kankariya, as well as vigorous acrobatic performances where people execute a sequence of jumping pirouettes and stunts such as plate-spinning and the spectacular fire walk that ends the show.
DAY 09
ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens is near Kandy, known for its collections of exotic orchids and acres of expansive lawns and trees. The British developed it in the 19th century in a royal park with crops collected from around the island, along with Indian tea seedlings. Today this is an attraction for both visitors and young individuals in the lovely parkland landscape enjoying each other's business. The gardens feature a classic Palm Avenue, stretching over 147 hectares, home to 4,000 plant species including orchids, spices, herbal and medicinal plants, and a variety of palm trees. The gardens are surrounded on three sides by a loop formed by the Mahaweli River with a cool climate and elevation of about 500 m above sea level.
CEYLON GEM MUSEUM & ARCADE
Sri Lanka is a renowned nation for Precious Gems & Minerals as Blue Sapphire is one of Sri Lanka's most popular products and you'll be trailing on an advanced Gem Museum & Arcade that offers a one-stop shop in Gem Museum, Model Mines, Crafters Workshop and Gem Arcade that you can buy even on your manner or the budget you're earning. Through Sri Lanka customs, the all bought are duty free and likely more cost-effective compared to other nations.
WOOD CARVING FACTORY
The Sri Lankan Wood Carving industry is completely distinct from what you've seen so far. Because traditional craftsmen use traditional techniques and easy traditional tools to materialize these ancient designs. To create them more appealing and the wonder is that even sand papers are not used to smooth them; instead, they use their chisels to smooth them. You can see how those lifeless, shapeless pieces of wood become ornamental elephants, wooden wall hangings, stilt fishermen, figures of animals and people. It's their talent. So, visit it, see the difference.
BAHIRAVAKANDA VIHARA BUDDHA STATUE
The Bahiravakanda Vihara Buddha statue, with its steps up the back leading to a dramatic perspective over the town, is a literal as well as spiritual highlight of your visit to Kandy. The 88 feet pure-white statue, which contains a gallery showing photos of Buddha's life from child to manhood, is part of a tiny, intimate convent on the hillside just outside the town. Building started in 1972, and ten years later the statue, its crowning glory, was finished. The monastery and statue is now an established characteristic of the Kandy tourist path with all the classic accoutrements, including sculptures and traditional historical depictions.
DAY 10
RAMBODA WATER FALLS
Ramboda Falls is 109 meters elevated and 11th largest waterfall in Sri Lanka, consisting of 03 parts and 729th highest waterfall in the globe located in the region of Pussellawa, on the Ramboda Pass highway. It was created by Panna Oya, a Kothmale Oya tributary. The fall’s altitude is 945 meters above sea level.
TEA PLANTATION & FACTORY
Nuwara-Eliya Located at approximately 2000 meters above sea level which is surrounded by lush tea plants and misty mountains. It is also the "heart" of the tea productions of Sri Lankans and produces the world's finest tea. Ramboda Tea Factory is located in the town of Ramboda at about 1200 m above sea level. And it's surrounded by quiet, scenic surroundings. Visiting the tea factory is an education on the procedures engaged in the withering, rolling, fermentation, drying, cutting, sieving and grading of tea. It's likely the most extensive tea factory tour around, and then you can taste the finest cup of tea from Sri Lanka and purchase the highest quality tea products from the showroom at the factory.
NUWARA ELIYA
At an altitude of more than 1,800 m above sea level, Nuwara Eliya's scenic landscape is known as "Little England" due to its similarity to English bungalows and its cool climate (in some hotels there are even log fires).
Piduruthalagala, Sri Lanka's highest mountain overlooks Nuwara Eliya. It was the retreat for British residents from coastal heat in colonial days and even today rituals such as horse racing, boating on the lake, lovely flower garden contests and golf tournaments take place during the April and August local holiday season. Most of the new flowers, fruits and vegetables in Sri Lanka are cultivated in the region and dairy and strawberry farms are also available. The Haggala Botanical Gardens close the city, like a walk across Horton Plains, is a prime attraction.
DAY 11
HORTON PLAINS
In 1988, Horton Plains was officially declared a National Park, 32 km by road from Nuwara Eliya in the hill country, stretching 3,000 hectares across the hills to plunge into World's End. The Park gets rainfall from both northeastern and southwestern monsoons as well as inter-monsoonal rains; three primary rivers start in this region, namely Kelani, Walawe and Mahaweli, the country's longest river. The plains are famous for trekking and rich in biodiversity, with much of the park's endemic flora and fauna discovered only there. Forests are dominated by a variety of gigantic tree ferns and the park is also renowned for flowers and abundant wildlife such as leopard, sambhur and wild boar. Although this plateau is cold, the variety of birds is very high.
NEW ZEALAND FARM
There are two farms in Ambewela, Ambewela Farm and New Zealand Farm. It boasts its superior cattle breed, contemporary technology and high-quality pastures where cattle graze freely because of the ideal climate in the hill country. The farms have Ayreshire and New Zealand purebred livestock. The farm management requires excellent care to provide them with a balanced diet and sterilized water to preserve the quality of milk from the cows. They also receive outstanding 24-hour healthcare. Also portion of the Ambewela farms are Sri Lanka's biggest grasslands. It has rabbits, pigs and goats besides the cattle.
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
Queen Elizabeth toured this quintessentially British church when she arrived at Nuwara Eliya during her official visit to Sri Lanka in 1954. The Queen later gifted the church a royal-blue carpet and a beautiful stained-glass window to commemorate what she considered to be a special highlight by all accounts. It is reported that she was particularly fascinated by the enormous (and unfortunately now obsolete) pipe organ of the church and the two ancient lych-gates, where the planters who went to the church would dismantle. The church's first wedding was of a Ceylonian pair, and the first baptism in 1843 was of a soldier's girl in the 95th Light Infantry.
SITA AMMAN TEMPLE
Legend has it that Sita Eliya's colorful Hindu Seetha Amman Temple marks the place where Sita prayed for Rama to rescue her when the demon king Rawana kept her captive. Many Tamil wedding groups make a point of stopping here for puja, gathering across a stream by the rock face where circular depressions are said to be Rawana's elephant's footprints. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Tourism is planning to create the temple complex an official pilgrimage site based on allegations that the tale is not just a legend, but that Sita has actually been jailed here.
hedged gardens in forms like birds and animals.
GREGORY LAKE
Built in 1873 by a former British governor, this amazing lake in the middle of Nuwara Eliya is now a favourite attraction for inhabitants and tourists alike. It also offers an increasingly famous seaplane taxi and airborne sightseeing services landing strip, as well as frequent flights between Nuwara Eliya and Colombo. Features include swan boat rides, pony rides, paddle boats and jet skiing, while paved walkways and bicycle trails run through hedged gardens in forms like birds and animals.
DAY 12
SCENIC TRAIN JOURNEY
This highland scenic train rides a glimpse of panoramic green highland through the clouds as well as train moves through long tunnels with never-ending sequence where train reaches the highest elevation track in Sri Lanka and you pass through Tea Plantations, Tunnels, Bridges, Mountain Forests, Deep Valleys and Typical Highland Countryside during this 03 hours ride.
ELLA
Ella is a tiny, highly advanced hill country town with autonomous guesthouses bordered by hills, estates and waterfalls, with stunning views and a dramatic legendary history. In the great Indian epic, Ramayana, which dates back more than 1,000 years before Christ, it is written that Ravana, king of Lanka, used Sita Cave, 2 km from Ella, to hide Sita, Rama's lovely wife. This attracts many visitors from India who are following the Ramayana story. Equally appealing is the view through Ella Gap as well as Ravana Falls. Ella is also a famous stop on the backpackers' path from west to east of Sri Lanka and many tiny cafes and low-cost guesthouses have opened up to cater for them along the primary highway through the village. The quaint hamlet is best reached by train, 204 km from Colombo.
NINE ARCH BRIDGE
This is certainly Sri Lanka's most lovely train bridge, and the amazing surroundings throughout the region make it a paradise. When you travel from Ella to Nuwara Eliya, between Ella and Demodara railway stations, you come across this colonial-era railway. It's a solid, up to 300 feet long building. Nine Arch Bridge, Demodara has become one of the island's top tourist attractions, so make sure you see it and don't miss it when you visit Ella.
RAVANA FALLS
This waterfall measures an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop about 25 m (82 ft) in height and cascades. During the local wet season, the waterfall becomes what is said to look like an areca flower with fading petals. But this is not the case in the dry season, where water flow dramatically decreases. The falls are component of the Wildlife Sanctuary of Ravana Ella and are situated 6 km (3.7 mi) from Ella's local railway station. This popular fall has its origins in connection with the Ramayana, the renowned Indian epic.
DAY 13
YALA NATIONAL PARK
Also known as the Ruhunu National Park, Yala National Park is one of the country's largest jungles. It is a 305 km drive from Colombo, located in the southeast of Sri Lanka. Elephants are the primary attraction of the Park, although leopards are often seen and occasionally the sloth bears. Yala is also home to hundreds of endemic and foreign bird species, including jungle fowl, domestic bird of Sri Lanka, and peacocks flocks. Yala also has a front beach and crocodiles haunted swamps. As one of the first national parks to be developed in Sri Lanka (1938), Yala is an established location for visitors to visit and stay as it has plenty of accommodation close to its doors, both luxurious and budget, and even camping. Morning and evening jeep safaris can be readily arranged.
MIRISSA
Mirissa’s harbour is renowned as the best place to charter a boat for whale and dolphin watching from November to April. In reaction to backpackers flocking there, the tourist settlement on Mirissa's shoreline has sprung up to enjoy hours of paragliding, body boarding and sea kayaking as well as snorkeling and diving. The seas are perfect for surfing from September to April months. Mirissa's beach is popular with budget and mainstream visitors despite the opening of upmarket properties nearby. It is located at 150 km from Colombo off the south coast highway and can be reached rapidly from Colombo to Matara via the new Southern Expressway. The finest beach cove extends east of the headland that distinguishes Mirissa from Weligama Bay and is covered in stuffed shacks with sunbeds and restaurants.
STILT FISHING
This is a very exciting traditional Sri Lankan fishing technique to watch. Fisherman Stilts is the name given to those who do it. For a few years, the tsunami that destroyed a significant proportion of the coastal region of Sri Lanka prevented this traditional fishing technique, but you can now witness it along the southern coastal fields of Ahangama, Koggala, and Kaththaluwa. Even under the guidance of specialist fishermen, you can attempt this exciting fishing method.
UNAWATUNA BEACH
Unawatuna's vibrant city remains one of Asia's top holiday spots, even deemed one of Asia's finest beaches by some. The Dutch settlers, who fought for Galle in 1640, constructed houses in this town for their officers, some of whom are seen to date, in their untouched outskirts during the Dutch colonial period. During most times of the year, the city is alive today, attracting visitors and fun-seekers to its quiet beaches. In this region, the coral reef and shipwrecks can be studied through the many scuba diving and snorkeling operations provided along the beach by different diving centers.
DAY 14
GALLE DUTCH FORT
Galle Fort, begun in the 16th century by the Portuguese, expanded by the Dutch in the 17th century and consolidated by the British in the 19th century, is not a historic ruin but has been transformed into a living, thriving contemporary settlement. Located at the island's southwest corner, the Fort covers 52 hectares and includes nearly 500 buildings within its wide, gray granite rampart walls. Entrance to the Fort is through either of two main gates, one of which includes on one hand the Dutch Coat of Arms and on the other the British. The Fort is World Heritage Sites Number 200 on the UNESCO list and is free to enter and explore. The paved roads are lined with buildings from the Dutch and British eras, with some masterpieces of art deco, many of which have been transformed into boutique stores and stylish guest houses.
MADU RIVER SAFARI BALAPITIYA
First you will meet "Captain" at River Excursion Point as you will welcome by himself very prominent way and will tell you about the "Safari" and compliments of the excursion with many security advice, then you will take a Boat Safari in River Madu a Wetland Conservation which Shallow Water Body (River & Lake) where extremely cultivated Mangrove ecosystem that lives from 248 animal Species and untouched environment of beautiful sceneries. Also River Safari is featured with Fish Doctor Treatment (On Extra Cost) which would be very pleasurable activity you will also experience on some instructional path about Ceylon Cinnamon Industry and typical Southern genuine lifestyle. The wetland estuary covers more than 900 hectares, 770 hectares of which are covered with water and 64 islands are inhabited.
SEA TURTLE HATCHERY
The Kosgoda Beach Turtle Care Center is one of 18 turtle hatcheries along Sri Lanka's southern shoreline. The center is situated in Kosgoda southwest coastal village and was set up in 1981. It is also very common as all five turtle species that visit Kosgoda Sri Lankan nest. This is not so with many of the island's other hatcheries whose beaches host only some of the species. The center acts primarily as a hatchery and makes enormous attempts in their very original phases to boost the hatching rate and the survival of baby turtles. But the Care Center also operates on individuals who are sick or wounded; they are treated and released back into the ocean. They also run volunteer programs and awareness programs for local and international visitors.
COLOMBO CITY TOUR
Colombo is Sri Lanka's commercial capital and Sri Lanka's most Westernized & advanced town with all facilities, known as an East-West meeting point and now Colombo is transforming into one of the world's most lovely towns with Western Standard Road Network, Clean City Concepts, Sustainable Green Environment, Tourism Applications, Additional Safety Programs and Waterway Integrations.
