COLOMBO
- SIGIRIYA - KANDY - NUWARA ELIYA - YALA – NEGOMBO -COLOMBO
SNS
/ SL / WORLD HERITAGE / 1 / 182/2002/3
Day
01: ARRIVE COLOMBO
Arrive in Sri Lanka. You will be met by our representative
and transferred to Colombo.
Afternoon Sightseeing: Colombo - City Tour
Dinner & Overnight stay at Galadari Hotel, Colombo
Day
02: COLOMBO-SIGIRIYA
After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa
Enroute Sightseeing: Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
Sightseeing: City tour of Polonnaruwa.
Then transfer to Sigiriya.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Sigiriya Village Hotel (non
a/c), Sigiriya
Day
03: SIGIRIYA-KANDY
Breakfast, Sightseeing: Climb the Sigriya rock fortress.
Thereafter leave for Kandy. Enroute Sightseeing: visit Dambulla
Cave Temple, a spice garden and batik factory in Matale.
Dinner & Overnight stay at The Swiss Residence (non a/c),
Kandy
Day
04: KANDY-NUWARA ELIYA
After breakfast Sightseeing: City tour of Kandy
Thereafter proceed to Nuwara Eliya, visiting a tea estate
and factory en route
Dinner & Overnight stay at St. Andrews Hotel, Nuwara Eliya
Day
05: NUWARA ELIYA-YALA
Breakfast, Sightseeing: Nuwara Eliya
Afterwards proceed to Yala via Bandarawela, Ella & Wellawaya.
Sightseeing: Yala National Park.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Yala Safari Game Lodge (non
a/c), Yala
Day
06: YALA-NEGOMBO
After breakfast leave for Negombo.
Enroute Sightseeing: Sightseeing of Galle.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Blue Oceanic Beach Hotel, Negombo
Day
07: NEGOMBO - COLOMBO
After breakfast transfer to the airport for departure OR transfer
to the preferred beach resort.
Sight Seeing Description :
• Colombo - City Tour (SNS / SS /SL / CMB / 20):
A drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial
areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens.
Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military
garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmiths quarters in the heart
of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where is also a Hindu Temple with
elaborate stone carvings, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal
dating back to 1749. The historic Dawatagaha Mosque and the
former Eye Hospital are two buildings in Cinnamon Gardens
worth looking at. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of
Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square.
•
(Enroute) Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage (SNS / SS /LK / KAN
/ 296):
Started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded, the
orphanage has grown to be a big family today. A unique experience
never to be missed.
•
City tour of Polonnaruwa. (SNS / SS /SL / COL / 299):
Polonnaruwa - the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th - 13th Century,
contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatileke,
Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest shrine
ruins and Tivanka has the best example of frescoes of the
Polonnaruwa period. Rankot Vihara and Kiriwehera 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.
•
Climb the Sigriya rock fortress. (SNS / SS /LK / SIG / 300):
Sigiriya is home to 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 fortress. Within its
triple-moated defence the huge rock rises almost to a sheer
height of 500ft. On its summit are the foundations of what
was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete
with swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known
ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form
of Frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and
delicacy of their original colour.
• Dambulla Cave Temple, Spice Garden & Batik Factory
(SNS / SS /LK / KAN / 301) :
Thereafter leave for Kandy. En route visit Dambulla Cave Temple,
a spice garden and batik factory in Matale. * Dambulla is
a vast isolated rock mass 500ft high and a mile around the
base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First
Century BC. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the 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 on the Island.Spice Garden at Matale and see the
luscious Cinnamons, Cardamons, Pepper plants etc. You can
also purchase your requirements of spices.
Batik Factory where you can see the manufacture of beautiful
Batik prints. The shop contains a wide variety of Batik items.
•
Kandy-City Tour (SNS / SS /LK / KAN / 298):
Afternoon commence city tour of Kandy, including Upper Lake
Drive, Market Square and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
* Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - ever since 4th Century
A.D, when the Buddhas Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden
from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess hair, the Relic
has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout
the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lankas most prized
possession.
•
Royal Botanical Gardens (SNS / SS /LK / KAN / 292):
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, Sixty Seven hectares
of exquisite beauty and botanical treasurers containing more
than 4000 species, this is haven not only for Scientists but
to every nature lover as well.
•
Nuwara Eliya (SNS / SS /LK / NGO / 31):
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 coldest places on the island,
but is really just like an England spring day although the
temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you
will see evidence of the British influence. Houses are like
country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.
•
Yala National Park. (SNS / SS /SL / YAL / 303):
Yala is a haven for Fauna both indigenous and migrant. Bird
concentrations are by the Lagoons/Salvers. Here are thousands
of Flamingoes, Assemblies of spotted Billed Pelicans, Spoonbills,
Cormorants and various species of Herons. Pheasants, Pea Fowl,
Peacocks and the Wild Fowl are found in hundreds. Wild Buffalo
and herds of wild Elephants are a common sight. Whether it
is birds or animals you have them all at Yala.
•
Sightseeing of Galle. (SNS / SS /LK / NGO / 304):
Galle - Sri Lankas most historically interesting town is Galle.
Built on a premonitory rock in the south of the Island. It
was a major port until about 100 years, but today still handles
shipping and sailing boats in the natural harbour. Stroll
around the Light House and harbour or visit the old town where
you can see the traditional lace makers and carvers and purchase
some the finest shell-craft souvenirs in the world
Kandy
- the hill capital. Venue of the annual Perahera. The last
stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British
in 1815. Kandy is an example of the Buddhism’s influence in
Sri Lanka today. Temple’s shrines and monasteries keeping
alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere.
